Page 2 | Do Mumsnet have to report intent to break the law

LovelyLovelyMe · 2020-09-10T09:19:43+00:00

If a poster openly declares an intent to break the law, are Mumsnet under an obligation to forward their details to the police?

DioneTheDiabolist · 10/09/2020 15:41

Yeah but to make a Conspiracy charge stick, the police usually need evidence that some action has been taken. Like a WhatsApp group or invitations saying "BTW don't tell the rozzers".

ivfbeenbusy · 10/09/2020 15:43

I would prefer MN to report law breaking if I'm honest. And they have a legal and moral duty to do so

Who is MN to decide which laws are flexible and that don't have to be followed? And how do they decide which laws are reportable or not?! What might be a victimless "minor" crime to some MN members isn't the case for others

ApolloandDaphne · 10/09/2020 15:44

I really don't think that you can compare someone perhaps declaring their intention to kill or carry out a terrorist attack with someone planning to convene a birthday party with more than the legal number of people! Let's have some common sense here.

Original poster

LovelyLovelyMe · 10/09/2020 15:47

@ApolloandDaphne

I really don't think that you can compare someone perhaps declaring their intention to kill or carry out a terrorist attack with someone planning to convene a birthday party with more than the legal number of people! Let's have some common sense here.

Are you suggesting that we all decide what laws to follow and which to ignore?

Do you think there might be a problem with that down the road?

@ivfbeenbusy. Yes, that what's I want to say. you've said it better.

OP posts:

Aposterhasnoname · 10/09/2020 15:48

Are you seriously expecting Mumsnet to give report and pass on personal details of someone to the police for having a party for 10 people instead of 6. Really!

Fuck me is this what we’ve become. There’s really no hope for us.

PremierInn · 10/09/2020 15:49

Timewasting is also a crime

SqidgeBum · 10/09/2020 15:49

@ApolloandDaphne common sense isnt something that is encouraged these days, just rule following ..... except when the government says to use your common sense ..... but then shouts at you for using it ..... People are more about 'reporting' those around them these days.

I know a few other countries, both now and in the past, where reporting those who go against government law around civil liberties like who you can see and where you can go was/is encouraged. It always works out well.

Saucery · 10/09/2020 15:50

Report a throwaway email address and false details to the police? They probably won’t be doing that, no. I expect the police have better things to do, as they will when people phone them to say their neighbour has 6 people visiting them.

Original poster

LovelyLovelyMe · 10/09/2020 15:52

What if it was 15 people, 20 people, 100 people, 1000 people?
at what point would you think it is reportable?

What if the next person disagrees with your figure and doubles it? The

Luckily, you don't have to decide because it has been set at 6. It's not a grey area for you, me or Mumsnet to decide. It has been set at 6. The line has been drawn and there it is. Over 6 and you will be fined.

OP posts:

ApolloandDaphne · 10/09/2020 15:52

@LovelyLovelyMe Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. Some things in legal terms are far more serious than others. MNHQ have better things to do than trawl through threads and report to the police all the small and petty ways in which people break laws.

Original poster

LovelyLovelyMe · 10/09/2020 16:02

Try looking at it this way.

A burglar is breaking the law. Hopefully, we would all want the burglar punished. It doesn't matter if the stuff taken was worth £100 or a million pounds.

It doesn't matter if the gathering is 7 or 700.

The law is absolute for a reason.

Good point about false email address but can't the computer be traced somehow. isn't that how Mumsnet bans posters?

Even if the poster couldn't be traced, what is the legal role of Mumsnet in this?

That was my original question. If they don't take a post down, a post clearly giving intent of breaking the law, maybe even inciting others to do the same, are they condoning it?

They're not unaware of it because it's been brought to their attention.

.

OP posts:

Moondust001 · 10/09/2020 16:03

And only yesterday people were rubbishing comparisons to fascist and totalitarian states. Seems to me that we are getting way past theory. Now you should be locked up for thinking.

Iammariedtojacksparrow · 10/09/2020 16:06

It has been set at 6. The line has been drawn and there it is. Over 6 and you will be fined.

Unless its a school, workplace, wedding, funeral or a sporting event. The rules are not as black and white as you seem to be making out

Saucery · 10/09/2020 16:07

They host a wide range of views, none of which they condone as such. As a site they host the views and allow debate.
There’ll be something legal in the guidelines that makes that clear, I imagine.

Moondust001 · 10/09/2020 16:07

The law is absolute for a reason.
I'm sure the Chinese government agree with you. However, in a democratic society, that is not the case. If it were, then we would still have no votes for most people, slavery, and children working down mines. The law can be wrong, and it is a right to challenge the law and to protest. It doesn't matter whether you like it or not - in a democratic society people have the right to dissent, even if something is the law. That is how laws change.

Unless you are the current government, who appear to change laws simply because they have thought of a new one.

Rudolphian · 10/09/2020 16:09

Unfortunately this government is an absolute shitshow.
I dont think mnhq should be reporting people to the Police for organising a birthday party for 10 guests.
Is they have made ludicrous laws as citizens we have our own mind.
We all know the difference between drink-driving/ terrorism/ murder and sitting in the same house as your parents.
Some of the above is something to report to the Police but sitting in a group with your parents is not, nor is organising a birthday party.

BittersweetMemories · 10/09/2020 16:12

Well done. You have won the award for thee most ridiculous thing I have ever read on here.

To be clear, you are saying that you think MNHQ should report, to the police, the name and contact information of a person on an anonymous Internet forum for intending to have a gathering of more than 6 people.

Are you okay????

Kinneddar · 10/09/2020 16:12

It would need to be something really very serious and perceived to be a really credible threat. Tracing someone with the details MN hold is almost impossible. Its a slow time consuming process and it certainly wouldn't be considered for something like covid breaches - if that's what the OP is referring to

Saucery · 10/09/2020 16:15

Isn’t it the police who have to put in a request for user details anyway? Not the site owner who has to offer them?

Pebblexox · 10/09/2020 16:15

This is the most pathetic thing I've ever read. The police will do their job in determining who is breaking the law and who isn't. If people are taking the piss other people will complain I'm sure.

Rudolphian · 10/09/2020 16:17

@LovelyLovelyMe

Try looking at it this way.

A burglar is breaking the law. Hopefully, we would all want the burglar punished. It doesn't matter if the stuff taken was worth £100 or a million pounds.

It doesn't matter if the gathering is 7 or 700.

The law is absolute for a reason.

Good point about false email address but can't the computer be traced somehow. isn't that how Mumsnet bans posters?

Even if the poster couldn't be traced, what is the legal role of Mumsnet in this?

That was my original question. If they don't take a post down, a post clearly giving intent of breaking the law, maybe even inciting others to do the same, are they condoning it?

They're not unaware of it because it's been brought to their attention.

.

Not sure if you realise but a burglar won't be punished. First of all the police are too busy to spend any time or resources on your burglary. The most you'll get is a reference number for your insurance. Even if the burglar is caught all they will get is a slap on the wrist. And it does matter if they stole £100 or a million worth of goods. If you're rich the Police will assist, the burglar will probably get caught and appropriately punished. If you've had your pension payment for the week stolen , well let's hope you've got a family member who can help cos it's unlikely you'll get any assistance from the state.

rambleon1 · 10/09/2020 16:17

OP must be on a wind up, no one gives a toss that much, do they?

Batshitbeautycosmeticsltd · 10/09/2020 16:18

@Aposterhasnoname

Are you seriously expecting Mumsnet to give report and pass on personal details of someone to the police for having a party for 10 people instead of 6. Really!

Fuck me is this what we’ve become. There’s really no hope for us.

This!

Yeah, you sound really 'lovely', OP.

I got told off and told I needed counselling for suggesting such a thing on that thread, Moondust, told I was 'sneery' and ridiculous.

FFS, now this 'duty' to trawl through tens of thousands of posts a day, if not more, to make sure none of them is 'against the law' and reporting them.

JFC.

Bluntness100 · 10/09/2020 16:18

Op. Not all crimes are equal. The ones you mention are simoly not comparable to someone having a birthday party for ten people. A birthday party for ten people is more akin to driving at 32 miles an hour in a thirty zone.

I think you need to try to calm yourself down. I think we all understand for you it’s breaking the law and you wish the poster reported. But for most other people that’s just too much.

BittersweetMemories · 10/09/2020 16:18

I am honestly boggled at this.

Are you aware of the absolute filth that lives on the Internet, stuff a thousand times worse than someone considering holding a birthday party because it is against the law

Maybe you could spend all your free time reporting that to the police.