Conflict in the Middle East: Can we stop the copy/paste spamming, please?

[Pizdietz]

Thread after thread after thread in the "Conflict in the Middle East" board is just post after post after post of someone copy/pasting a "newsflash" from their X/Insta feed. For example, the one on "Documenting Israeli army racism and torture" kicks off with no fewer than EIGHT copy/pastes from the same poster, and continues in the same vein.

This kind of spamming is not discussion or intelligent debate, and has reduced the quality of threads to the point where there is no point commenting.

Would it be possible to introduce a rule on that board, where it's fine to share a news link but only if the poster explains what is new and interesting about it, apart from "Look what monsters Israel are"? And could there be a limit on repeated copy/pastes? Or is there another way round this, e.g. should we report these as spam?

It's quite clear that some of the links haven't even been read by the poster themselves. False information has repeatedly been shared, which is potentially dangerous in a war that is also fought with propaganda.

I would also like to see it made unacceptable to deny the atrocities of 7 October. These are repeatedly dismissed as Israeli lies, when there is clear evidence to the contrary, sadly. It's not just a matter of opinion, and it's outrageous that posters are taking this approach.

@PurpleChrayne I'm really sorry your family had to endure that. That is obviously antisemitic.
On the Internet as a poster pointed out, you cannot know anyone's intention, so does that mean we shouldn't critisize Israel just in case the poster has antisemitic feelings? That means a complete silencing of an issue that is in the forefront of international news. We'd have to ban any talk of Hamas, Saudi Arabia and LGBT issues in ME, as they have been used to mask Islamophobia too.
Surely as long as it doesn't break talk guidelines any topic should be able to be discussed?

ref points above re 7th October, my counter point is that I also believe that denying and censoring the racist behaviour, torture, killings etc of the IDF and Israeli govt towards Palestinians should not be allowed. No censorship or denial, on either side.

Hi all

We have no plans to stop links or copy & pasted news articles being shared. We allow this from all who are involved in the discussion and we would treat these like any other posts - if they break talk guidelines, we will remove them.

If you have concerns about whether a link is unreliable, please share this with us.

@LilyMumsnet thank you for your commitment to fair and free speech. Any posts that break guidelines should definitely be reported, we all agree.

Just to highlight how disingenuous this poster is, here is Pizdietz's post on that thread in full (I hope this is ok to post @Pizdietz ?)

I have wondered about starting similar threads, just to counterbalance the floods and floods of what borders dangerously on Hamas propaganda that dominate MN.

The thing is, I don't think anyone will really join in on these threads. People mature enough to have a more nuanced grasp of the situation are unlikely to have the time to sit on MN all day copy/pasting news updates from their X/Insta feed.

As you have found, the voices dominating MN on this topic are not interested in intelligent discussion, only in scoring points. I think we just have to leave them to have their bun fight and accept that the place for discussion is not on this forum.

To be clear, ssd is the poster deliberately misrepresenting things.

Op is saying

I’ve thought about doing a thread like this one however I don’t think anyone would join so I’ve not started it

quite different to
Hey op don’t think you should open a thread that is mainly for copy pasting. I don’t think you should be opening for things like this.

it’s quite different and it’s what @ssd is reporting.

@ProvincialLady1 lots of the posters on that thread you refer to have been on the pro-Palestinian one trying to derail, you'll see plenty of deletions from certain pro-Israeli posters because their posts have been downright offensive, naming no names of, but multiple posters trying to derail, deflect and generally be abusive. I'm not saying every pro-Israel poster is like that, there's been some good debate and some stuff needs challenging, but for sure it works both ways. And again those same posters pop up on other threads all over and their posts are deleted because they repeatedly break talk guidelines, in similar ways.

Thanks for your interpretation, but I think this is quite clear:

People mature enough to have a more nuanced grasp of the situation are unlikely to have the time to sit on MN all day copy/pasting news updates from their X/Insta feed

Yes, it's very clear. Amazing how people try to twist things.

Thanks for this! I understand your position, but this thread provides a useful opportunity for frustration and concern to be expressed about the way MN's sense of fair play seems to be open to abuse.

So you’re calling those that post links immature and those that are mature don’t have time for writing in the threads . Also , you skipped the bit where you said

“The thing is, I don't think anyone will really join in on these threads. People mature enough to have a more nuanced grasp of the situation are unlikely to have the time to sit on MN all day copy/pasting news updates from their X/Insta feed.”

again, you’re not complaining about the thread having links on the one@ssd is pointing at

I’m glad mnhq is happy to let those threads continue (both)

This. There's been an element of throwing toys out of the pram because there isn't enough support. As a result, the MO has been to come on threads, claim they are ignorant/immature/lacking in critical thinking/antisemitic/have mental health issues/Hamas supporters. And yet they continue to respond 🤔.

@feralunderclass quite. and there have been numerous different attempts to have that thread shut down, in underhanded ways as well as more overt ones like this. It does strike me as the "throwing toys out of the pram" you describe, very much so.

Sure. Because you don’t already have a thread already complaining about MN and also use it to laugh at other posters that are not aware you’re talking about them, insult them and so on? This thread wasn’t about the links but about trying to shut down voices you don’t agree with.

There's plenty of support. Just no point in posting on super-charged echo chambers filled with tik-tok links etc. There's a much better quality of discussion to be had, it's a shame these types of posters drown that out, but essentially it's the same small group talking to each other.

@ProvincialLady1 you can have a say as much as anyone with an opposing opinion. The idea of "drowning out" is ridiculous. Because there are more voices supporting the other side on certain threads, that is now "wrong" to you? That sounds an awfully lot like censorship to me. Feel free to start your own threads, maybe in the OP say you would prefer XX style of debate or declare it a "safe space" for XXX voices. That way you might get more of what you want without feeling the need to shut down other threads you are less happy with.

So why don't you start "much better quality discussion?" instead of moaning about an echo chamber? I'm all for good discussion, there have been a few threads where posters share opposing views and it's been very interesting.

Ahhhhh, so perhaps it was you who reported me for a "personal attack" for daring to suggest, on a thread NOT EVEN ON THIS BOARD, that some of the posters who repeatedly post dogma and shut down responses might be suffering from a form of mental illness such as an anxiety disorder?

This was (a) not personally addressed to anyone and (b) not an insult. In my view, it is a rational and even compassionate explanation for behaviour that I otherwise find hard to excuse.

Being stalked across MN is a new experience for me!

Op likes copy and print echo chambers where she agrees with the thread links.

Or am i being mean and spiteful pointing out the obvious?

Ironically was just reading about censorship of pro-Palestinian voices on this article. There's definitely something in the air.

https://artistsforpalestine.org.uk/2023/11/30/olivia-colman-among-1000-artists-accusing-art-institutions-of-censorship-on-palestine/

Olivia Colman among 1000+ artists accusing art institutions of censorship on Palestine

More than 1300 artists have launched a letter addressed to the arts and culture sector, that accuses cultural institutions across Western countries of:

“repressing, silencing and stigmatising Palestinian voices and perspectives”.

Reminds me of this thread!

I'm not aware of the inner goings on here, but please do not gaslight by saying the accusations of possible mental health diagnoses are rational or coming from compassion. I've seen it many a time, and it's so far from either of those.

I didn't say it was wrong. I think it's unintelligent, unhelpful, and full of misinformation (which should be challenged, but obviously more difficult with the 'avalanche of dodgy links' approach). It does also feel quite spammy in places. I can certainly understand OP's concern given the wider implications of antisemitism and obviously the lack of nuance or balance, not checking sources, and the issue of Hamas (a proscribed terrorist organisation) propaganda being spread. But ultimately it's up to those people how they choose to post, and other more sensible posters will simply avoid. It's a shame they won't leave threads about antisemitism or Israeli hostages alone but that's for another discussion.

That wasn’t the comment you got deleted

This is a forum. You don’t get stalked and you don’t own threads that other people can’t read / write on. As long as you stick to the guidelines and don’t try to shut down voices that are against your opinion then you are welcome on any thread

I don't see the point in joining threads where I will be piled on and bullied and silenced.

Call me weird.

But thanks for yet another spiteful personal attack.