Dear black people of mumsnet

[PatricksRum]

Ideas for a black section on mumsnet.

Should we have separate sections i.e black hair and beauty, black parenting, black cooking or a general black section?

Link to previous

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4018383-black-section-on-mn

For the sex topic, posters have to have been members of MN for a given period before they can post there, to keep the worst of the sleazes away. That might not work for the new board but it might be a good idea to have it locked every night for a while, so that people can only post when most moderators are around to deal with the (inevitable) racists and GFs.

@BoreOfWhabylon

For the sex topic, posters have to have been members of MN for a given period before they can post there, to keep the worst of the sleazes away. That might not work for the new board but it might be a good idea to have it locked every night for a while, so that people can only post when most moderators are around to deal with the (inevitable) racists and GFs.

Good idea.

Did everyone agree on the username?

Also, which extra guidelines do you think are needed?

AMemeByAnyOtherName

The OP asked a question, I answered, It can't be derailing.

I have also offered some suggestions.

To paraphrase midge
"if you don't like it don't respond"

@FrippEnos

AMemeByAnyOtherName

The OP asked a question, I answered, It can't be derailing.

I have also offered some suggestions.

To paraphrase midge
"if you don't like it don't respond"

It was a rhetorical question.

We all know why they won't let it rest.

Agree also with Bore, that's a very good idea for the first few weeks or months.

Regarding guidelines, I've been thinking a lot about language which may not be offensive on the whole but becomes offensive when used in certain contexts. Things like saying you have a chip on your shoulder or calling you aggressive. Negative descriptions of body features. Talk guidelines have been updated to include certain words during conversations about trans issues, perhaps they could extend that to this new place.

I would have thought that the current guidelines cover most things, but with it explicitly stated that the board is an area for black posters to discuss whatever they want, within usual Talk Guidelines, without the need to explain/justify things to other MN members (but expressed more elegantly than I just have ).

PatricksRum

Also, which extra guidelines do you think are needed?

The idea that BoreOfWhabylon had of new posters not being able to post in the section is a good idea. I have seen that work well on other forums.
You may want to have an opt in to active and trending (like the SN board) for those that frequent the board.

Anyway, I'll bow out now. Good luck OP.

Just a quick note on the name suggestion, ‘black mums net’, it’s important to remember that Mumsnet, is not just for mums.
It is also for those who aren’t mums, including men/dad’s! who would like advice to do with their own children, wives partners etc. So I don’t think that name is appropriate. It has long caused confusion on this site why anyone would come on Mumsnet if they are not a ‘mum’, and it’s been explained multiple times that there are loads of things to talk about other than children. The name obviously started of because it was mother’s that were in mind but it’s evolved a lot since then.

If the black section is going to attract traffic the naming has to be right.

@MagicCircle

Just a quick note on the name suggestion, ‘black mums net’, it’s important to remember that Mumsnet, is not just for mums. It is also for those who aren’t mums, including men/dad’s! who would like advice to do with their own children, wives partners etc. So I don’t think that name is appropriate. It has long caused confusion on this site why anyone would come on Mumsnet if they are not a ‘mum’, and it’s been explained multiple times that there are loads of things to talk about other than children. The name obviously started of because it was mother’s that were in mind but it’s evolved a lot since then.

If the black section is going to attract traffic the naming has to be right.

But the whole site is called Mumsnet. We know it's used by more and the name hasn't prevented others from using it. We have a Dadsnet, Gransnet etc.

@AMemeByAnyOtherName

Agree also with Bore, that's a very good idea for the first few weeks or months.

Regarding guidelines, I've been thinking a lot about language which may not be offensive on the whole but becomes offensive when used in certain contexts. Things like saying you have a chip on your shoulder or calling you aggressive. Negative descriptions of body features. Talk guidelines have been updated to include certain words during conversations about trans issues, perhaps they could extend that to this new place.

This is what I was thinking.

A lot of seamlessly harmless comments become racist and offensive when used on these threads.
We also want to prevent derailing.

Perhaps a pinned post at the top with rules?

I'm glad you like Did that just Happen?

Sometimes you don't have anyone to ask immediately and sometimes it is so incredulous you can't believe it.

I quite like BlackNet

I meant Blackmumsnet not BlackNet

The whole site is called ‘Mumsnet’, because that’s what it started of as but as I said above, it does cause confusion for some people. It’s just a suggestion, of course you’re welcome to name it how you like.

I wonder if it would help if name changing was banned or at least very restricted within that topic?

That way it should be easy to weed out the snidey goaders who manage to stay just on the right side of talk guidelines but manage to stir up shit with 'innocent' posts and fake naivety.

It should also cut down on 'invasions' by groups of racists, as by the time they get to build up a posting history they should hopefully have been banned.

Sometimes these people aren't always obvious 'invaders' and slip through the net, just by name changing and being a bit more snidey. It can take other posters a lot longer to see through them and report them.

Wow Worra I didn't know that was even possible. That would be great if it could happen.

@WorraLiberty

I wonder if it would help if name changing was banned or at least very restricted within that topic?

That way it should be easy to weed out the snidey goaders who manage to stay just on the right side of talk guidelines but manage to stir up shit with 'innocent' posts and fake naivety.

It should also cut down on 'invasions' by groups of racists, as by the time they get to build up a posting history they should hopefully have been banned.

Sometimes these people aren't always obvious 'invaders' and slip through the net, just by name changing and being a bit more snidey. It can take other posters a lot longer to see through them and report them.

This is a great idea

I've skimmed this thread. It's depressing and disappointing but not surprising. I really appreciate the posters, OP and others, who have been able to respond to horribleness as well as think about the point of the thread. There's a lot to admire in this. I hope you get this section. MN needs a fist emoticon to show solidarity! But knowing MN it would end up being used in other ways!!!

(white person posting)

I absolutely support your request for a separate section if, as it seems,, you feel you need it.

One question:
Would I, a white person who has curiosity about different cuisines, be able to ask questions if there were a black cookery section?

@Jux my personal response is yes. For example, somebody who visited the Caribbean and tasted something they really loved, asking users what it could have been by giving a description. I can imagine it would make for a lovely thread.

I think it's terribly sad that we're seeing suggestions of shutting the topic down at night to stop posters, or keeping it out of active/trending. Surely that's just another way of silencing black voices?

That said, it's evident that this topic is likely to be the target of racist posters. Probably some of them from MN itself, as well as those who come here just to cause trouble.

How about Mumsnet creates a 'black night watch' - similar to the existing night watch, just a team of black MNetters, who have powers to hide trolling/goady/unpleasant/racist posts? I'm sure there must be plenty of black MNetters who might be prepared to do that.

I wonder do MNHQ have any black staff?

@Jux

I absolutely support your request for a separate section if, as it seems,, you feel you need it.

One question:
Would I, a white person who has curiosity about different cuisines, be able to ask questions if there were a black cookery section?

I should imagine so, in the same way that if I was planning a visit to Scotland or buying a house up there that I’d ask scotsnet.

It could well open interesting debate as there’s a lot of history surrounding the origins of Caribbean food. (People tend to forget that black people are not indigenous to the Caribbean so the food history is interesting)