Banned for calling out dogwhistling posts

[DebbieHurry]

Yesterday, there was yet another dogwhistlng, vague post on the lines of " Should I send my kids back to school in September? Social media warns of a terrorist attack". This is about the 5th such post in the last 10 days. All by posters spreading panic and fear. I have reported in the past and MN has ignored it. Posts continue to mushroom.

Yesterday, I posted telling people not to get news from Tiktok and pointed out that there have been a spate of such posts.
My posts were deleted, and then my account was banned. My previous username was @KateMiskin.

Could @MN please explain why they allow blatant scaremongering and dogwhistling on a parenting site when the police commissioner has urged people not to spread rumours? And why my account was deleted? I said nothing offensive or that broke the rules. I have been a member for over 20 years.

Not really. When lies and misinformation are brought to their notice with appropriate evidence and they refuse to remove a post, they are then complicit and taking an active part in disseminating misinformation.

That is socially and legally unacceptable in real life and in my the same rules apply on social media in that they are irresponsible.

And when they are libellious statements mn are taking a particularly dangerous stance.

It took them a while to delete a post about an organised mass beheading of school children.

I saw that. But at least it was deleted.
With disinformation like that, how can anyone argue that they are posted in good faith by anxious mums?

Yes, really.

Life is full of moral and ethical conflict - its a rich source of debate on MN.

As to the alleged legalities - that’s for MN and their lawyers to worry about (or not). You are not able to influence matters, despite what you may believe.

My life isn't full of moral and ethical conflict. I'm proud that I spent my entire life and career fighting for what is equitable and just in accordance with English law.

But as this is a hot topic nationally and internationally why should it not be discussed here?

Should mumsnet be only about babies, gardening etc..

At the moment we can discuss nearly everything (within the law). If we can’t discuss anything then topic boards need to be reviewed and a lot of them deleted or have guides of what is and is not up for discussion and people can report posts that stray from the thread topic.

If you don’t want to see posts about immigration policy stick to boards about other topics. I agree it would be fair to delete posts if they are for example in a gardening topic and start wanging on about immigration - as they are off topic.

Congratulations, well done.

A poster today claimed that 17 women were raped by 'illegals' last week. Couldn't provide any evidence obviously.

Not sure why you would repeat this? What was the purpose?

Oh the irony. You are always telling people to find and quote evidence!

Advertising standards in this country require advert to contain information that is legal, decent, honest and truthful. I fail to see why similar standards aren't applied posts on MN. It's hardly excessive.

Ooh... I must look it up and see what it's all about. I enjoy reading nonsensical fiction.😂

Hopefully a constructive suggestion.

Modern life is obviously full of controversial topics that can cause anxiety/upset.
Something that might help some people to an extent is making the “chat” topic non political. E.g. “Chat - non political” so that it is threads about family dynamics/what to have for tea etc and ask that posts about immigration/flags/migrants in hotels etc are put on the politics boards.

Screen shot of current chat board
Some of the topics are not really “chat” in the expected sense.

Then (and I’m not really familiar if this is possible) but people can mute the politics boards if they want to?

Because mumsnet doesn’t have the resources to provide a BBC Verify level of fact checking for thousands of posts each day.

Posts about migrants murdering children when they go back to school have been in every topic from Parenting to Home Schooling and Chat. You may have missed them.
I am not anxious or upset about such posts. They are lies and should be called out as such.

I would have thought that was obvious on a thread about disinformation and racist rhetoric.

The UN were apparently endorsing it.

I would have thought that not giving oxygen to something so patently absurd, might be the way to go, but hey.

It's an example of the disinformation being discussed in the thread.

In the absence of a laugh emoji perhaps we could have a flying pig?

🐷

Ok, so let’s say that we are all agreed that ‘misinformation’ exists on MN.

How do you plan on ‘solving’ it?

You did well to start this discussion, Kate, it needs to happen as MN no doubt agree. It would be very detrimental to an, as yet, impeccable reputation for it to become known as complicit in the distribution of far-right propaganda.

Sorry, hang on.

Does MN agree? Please confirm.

’Far right propaganda’? Really?

I have no idea, pay closer attention to what you are reading. Yes, far right propaganda. It's easy to identify. I'm surprised you haven't noticed any.