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Original poster

Can we have an Asian and ethnic minorities board please?

277 replies

KenAdams · 16/09/2020 19:17

I thought we were included on the Black board but I've been told in no uncertain terms its not for us so could we have an Asian and ethnic minority board please? Global majority is also fine. No one is excluded, everyone can post on it but it will be easier to note those posts that have a particular cultural element to them.

OP posts:
Original poster
KenAdams · 29/09/2020 16:57

@NumbsMet workplace diversity issues for example apply to a number of BAME groups.

What questions haven't I answered? I don't want to dictate anything here, but I would like some discussion around what an AME board might look like.

I have nothing against black MNers having a board and if it doesn't include AME that's obviously fine, I'm merely asking for a space for AME people that's all. I have nothing against the OP of the previous thread, I just wanted to clarify who she invisioned the board as being for.

OP posts:
Original poster
KenAdams · 29/09/2020 17:03

And to clarify my intent it is to establish whether or not AME posters are welcome on the black board and if not, if we could have our own group and to invite discussion from posters who may wish to join that group what it could look like.

That's it - no alterior motive, no agenda, just a simple question to MNHQ, which is why I've posted it in site stuff. I still haven't had a response from them though. If they say no, it's ok, I was just asking a question.

OP posts:
NumbsMet · 29/09/2020 17:05

@drspouse yes but none of that requires use of the black boards, surely? OP started this thread to a) complain that he wasn't welcome over there and b) ask for an AME board. The latter is a very good idea. The former is trying to make one group of people feel responsible for accommodating every other minority group's needs, because their issues sometimes overlap on a Venn diagram of racism. I don't see why a lot of people seem not to get that. You seem to understand that though, and that's brilliant. I asked the OP my question because he seems not to be able to accept that when people want a space for issues that don't concern him, it's doesn't mean that they're excluding him.

NumbsMet · 29/09/2020 17:07

@KenAdams you have had a response from MNHQ Confused it's on this thread.

MrsK21 · 29/09/2020 17:26

@mnhq I think an Asian specific board is a great idea. Issues such as in laws, children expectations, religion etc, hijab, marriage, daughter in law duties etc likely will not fit in an existing MN space and I’ve seen unhelpful responses to some people’s genuine questions as they don’t understand the culture. A dedicated space (perhaps with sub boards for different specifics like Jewish etc) will be really helpful

drspouse · 29/09/2020 19:06

none of that requires use of the black boards, surely?

Since I have, for example, posted about holiday destinations and been told "don't teach your children about racism and nobody will bother you" and "my sister's cousin's hairdresser is Asian and she was never shouted at when she went on holiday to Norfolk", why yes, I CAN post about all of those on the main boards, but just like the Black posters, I didn't find the replies helpful*

*understatement of the year.

NumbsMet · 29/09/2020 19:48

@drspouse at what point did I say to use the main boards?

I said you can't discuss those things on the black boards. As they're not related.

Original poster
KenAdams · 29/09/2020 21:36

Not with a decision they haven't.

OP posts:
Original poster
KenAdams · 29/09/2020 21:40

I just wanted to apologise for the suggestion of having AME board. I didn't mean to offend anyone and it doesn't look like there's much appetite for it. I'm not a confrontational person so I'll drop it. Sorry all.

OP posts:
PlanDeRaccordement · 29/09/2020 21:56

@OhReallyThen
white people decided that for thousands of years those of us who were 'different colours' were sub human and treated us as such.

Quite an exaggeration there and not even remotely true. You don’t even know basic world history.

titnomatani · 29/09/2020 22:15

Asian here and hate what MN is becoming. Isn't there enough segregation in society? I enjoyed MN because I could come and choose topics I was interested in and find commonality with other anon like-minded souls without giving a shit about their race and to learn about things I didn't know about previously. I hate that MN created a separate Black board because anyone who isn't black can't join in (based on the debate that took place upon its request) which leaves the rest of us brown folk left wondering where we belong! I always felt an affiliation with the black community but it seems on MN most of the people who said we couldn't join in on the Black group, don't give a shit about us.

NumbsMet · 29/09/2020 22:16

@PlanDeRaccordement I'm glad you got that out of your system.

PlanDeRaccordement · 29/09/2020 22:18

I’m Asian (Chinese) and I do support an Asian or Ethnic minority board within mumsnet. Sometimes you just need a corner where there are humans with similar culture and life experiences to chat with.

NumbsMet · 29/09/2020 22:19

@titnomatani again, which topics of discussion do you feel you are missing out on here? Afro hair care? Afro-Caribbean food? Black people haven't created a space to go and talk about the weather. They've created a space where they don't have to explain what steups means before they use the word. How on earth does that lead you to have an existential crisis?

NumbsMet · 29/09/2020 22:25

I enjoyed MN because I could come and choose topics I was interested in and find commonality with other anon like-minded souls

And the black board is a topic like any other. As so many people have pointed out before, there's a dog house, a litter tray, fishnet, craicnet, scotsnet, all so that people don't have to post in chat or AIBU to talk about a topic that only some people are interested in. I don't want to talk about my weight loss on the chat board. I don't want to create an AIBU to talk about which hook size to use for crochet. And I don't want to create a thread in style and beauty to talk about my Afro hair. People have tried, it was a sorry response. It really is that simple.

titnomatani · 29/09/2020 22:26

Woah, defensive much? I work with the black community in a very front-facing role and while that might not qualify me as being worthy in your eyes, the fact that I can't join in on discussions relating to the black community (the bits I do have a bit of knowledge on) or ask questions to find out more about things I don't know reeks of exclusion and racism. How people can't see irony in that is shocking.

titnomatani · 29/09/2020 22:28

Waiting to be told to fuck of/stop being snow flake/precious/entitled, etc. yawn

NumbsMet · 29/09/2020 22:30

Well, I hope you're not waiting too long. I don't know why you'd want someone to say that to you though. Each to their own.

PlanDeRaccordement · 29/09/2020 22:34

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

NumbsMet · 29/09/2020 22:36

Blacks? Hmm

I think this discussion is over.

BIWI · 29/09/2020 22:42

@titnomatani

Asian here and hate what MN is becoming. Isn't there enough segregation in society? I enjoyed MN because I could come and choose topics I was interested in and find commonality with other anon like-minded souls without giving a shit about their race and to learn about things I didn't know about previously. I hate that MN created a separate Black board because anyone who isn't black can't join in (based on the debate that took place upon its request) which leaves the rest of us brown folk left wondering where we belong! I always felt an affiliation with the black community but it seems on MN most of the people who said we couldn't join in on the Black group, don't give a shit about us.
You absolutely can join in, if it's relevant and you have something constructive to offer.

Just like if you wanted to talk about keeping tropical fish you could go to fishnet

... or if you want to talk about going to the US you can go to the longhaul board

But you wouldn't go on to fishnet to ask about a problem you have with your cat, and nor would you go to the longhaul board to ask about holidays in Cornwall

It's absolutely not about segregation and it isn't about leaving people out. In fact, it's absolutely the opposite - it's about making spaces on MN that are more inclusive for posters who aren't white/the majority of posters here

Nobody has said you can't post on the black topic - and you don't have to join anything.

BIWI · 29/09/2020 22:44

@titnomatani

Woah, defensive much? I work with the black community in a very front-facing role and while that might not qualify me as being worthy in your eyes, the fact that I can't join in on discussions relating to the black community (the bits I do have a bit of knowledge on) or ask questions to find out more about things I don't know reeks of exclusion and racism. How people can't see irony in that is shocking.
You can join in on those conversations and no-one has said you can't! But only if you have something helpful or constructive or relevant to offer.

To call it racism is, frankly, rather stupid.

PlanDeRaccordement · 29/09/2020 22:46

@NumbsMet

Blacks? Hmm

I think this discussion is over.

Why? Read the thread, and how it repeatedly refers to us as “Asians” If it’s good enough for us, it’s good enough for others.
NumbsMet · 29/09/2020 22:49

That is in no way similar. People say Brits, Ghanaians, Africans, Americans. It's geographical.

'Blacks' is demeaning. And you know that.

PlanDeRaccordement · 29/09/2020 22:52

@NumbsMet

That is in no way similar. People say Brits, Ghanaians, Africans, Americans. It's geographical.

'Blacks' is demeaning. And you know that.

And “Asians” isn’t? Did not a PP, who I agree with, post at the very beginning how “Asians” is not a good term because it lumps so many ethnicities together? How we don’t especially like it?