Why Justine Roberts should not give in to demanding celebrities

[IwantToRetire]

Please note this post is NOT about the politics of the letter itself but about the ill advised attempt by celebrities to put one woman on the spot in public, and misunderstanding what the power of mumsnet is.

Irrespective of whether anyone does or does not support the letter written by self regarding luvvies https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XJv6qEHsa8XAQHfc_wjzUvNTqI2uCrvU0k45uk8H-UM/edit?pli=1&tab=t.0 they have no right to put one woman in the public spotlight by demanding Justine Roberts works with them.

So this was my first reaction to this situation. It is about as rude and unsisterly as demanding that Starmer's wife joins their campaign. Or like those immature tv presenters who long for a gotcha moment and go on and on asking the same question to try and get some celebrity or politician to make a public statement.

Secondly, with all due respect to Justine Roberts in her skill and willingness to create such an important forum for "mums", what makes mumsnet important is the wide range of contributors who do not look to JR like hive bees do to their queen!

So if these self publicists want mumsnet to get behind them, have the decency to sign up to mumsnet or request a guest post and then be prepared to respond to what will be a wide ranging and no doubt intense debate.

So not only should they not have put JR on the spot in the public domain, if they suceed in getting a "mumsnet" response via MNHQ then it leaves mumsnet open to any number of no doubt sincere campaigners demanding that they to get MN recognition.

So stop the public bullying of JR.

It is not a very nice thing to have done.

(for those who want to discuss the campaign itself there are a number of threads, one on AIBU and one on FWR)

If course it is.

Its like the priest declaring who paid the dues from the pulpit, everyone knows who didn't pay.

Was judy dench exhorted to sign via a published letter? Were any of the other signatories?

Should they name the women they asked privately who didnt sign?

Justine is not the "leader" of Mumsnet, we don't all have follow or agree with her opinions!

If Justine shut Mumsnet down today would Mumsnetters still exist as the separate entity they seem to think they are?

We would still exist as the separate numerous individuals we are...
What even is the point you're trying to make?

Those who think its such a fab idea need to explain why it couldn't be done privately.

Quite. The whole point of doing it publicly is to shame/pressure/intimidate. That’s the point of an open letter. It’s the playbook of the left though, using public shaming as a campaigning tool. It’s exactly what they did with the trans issue.

Well it's achieved it's purpose. I wouldn't have been aware of this letter unless you had started to complain about it. You have all publicised it brilliantly. Well done!

‘Well it’s achieved it’s purpose’

Has it? What has it achieved?

I think it’s because they haven’t asked her privately to make a decision about this.

now people know she’s been asked and will watch. If she doesn’t speak out/doesn't get MN to run a campaign on it she runs the risk of being targeted by the likes of Palestine Action who will no doubt set up a camp outside her house with flags and whistles and chanting.

If she doesn’t speak out she will upset the people who say “ah well what about Oct 7th”.

sometimes it feels like an impossible situation and I do think she should have been afforded the courtesy of a private decision. But of course the purpose was to,put her in a difficult position to increase the chance of her agreeing to what they want. It’s a bit bullying to be honest.

Do you genuinely not understand how 'Media Requests' on MN work or are you being deliberately obtuse?

Do you also think this thread is MN endorsing recreational drugs for mothers?
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/media_requests/5438686-media-request-the-taboo-of-mothers-taking-recreational-drugs

In this thread, are MN advocating for children to be kept off school in the run up to Christmas in case they catch something?
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/media_requests/5460276-media-request-choosing-to-keep-children-off-school-this-week-because-of-all-the-winter-bugs-going-around

Are MN shilling for private healthcare in this thread?
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/media_requests/5436392-media-request-looking-for-people-who-have-opted-for-private-healthcare-over-nhs-waiting-lists

Or are all of these, along with the reform thread, very obviously media requests which are simply being passed on, without endorsement, for a fee?

Does the text at the top of the board not give you a clue?

'If you're a journalist and are looking for case studies, or would like MN users' input on stories, please contact [email protected] and we will post your request here.'

Or the identical post from MN in each OP?

Hi there,

We've received the following media request.

Thanks,
MNHQ

I, for one, would not have been aware of this request if you hadn't all got cross about it. Therefore you have all raised its profile, so the publicity they hoped it would receive has been.

Perhaps several of the signatories of the letter are now thrilled that their names have been identified as supporting a letter that asked the MN lady to rally MN membership to Uhm oh I’ve forgotten women and girls Palestine something like that. Social justice points for said celebrities, with no personal effort whatsoever. Unless you count lifting a pen. Not even that these days.

Perhaps now these erstwhile celebs can do the same for women and girls in Iran, Sudan, and Afghanistan, grooming gang victims in the uk, child brides in the US, women and girls in Pakistan.

I look forward to all of these Letters demanding action from a woman in the UK.

Maybe we could pick one of them at random and send them an open letter asking them why they haven't done anything about one of those issues? I am sure they would really welcome being individually spotlighted in the press and see it as an entirely reasonable way to go about things.

I have no issue with them raising the profile of these concerns.
That's quite separate from my issues around the way they have gone about trying to strong arm Justine into getting involved. I have to say my respect for all the women who signed that letter has plummeted because it's clearly unacceptable to target an individual in the way they have done. And really it's accomplished nothing whereas an open to Yvette Cooper would have at least kept it high on the relevant government ministers agenda

It’s a great letter.
Honestly - what a waste of time getting annoyed with this!

You clearly don't understand the profoundly concerning implications of this setting a precedent

What are those concerns? And don’t respond with the “private individual” shtick because the letter was addressed to Justine Roberts, owner and MD of a multi million £ business with strong influence, not Justine Roberts private individual.

What do you think the 'it' is that has received publicity? The situation in Gaza or Justine's views on that situation?

If the former, why would an open letter to someone in government/the Israeli ambassador/another relevant person not have done the same? If the latter, why is that important?

It is fantastic. If the aim is blackmail. Otherwise no.

Because the entire aim of such a letter is to raise awareness and create publicity for whichever cause they are highlighting. You are all doing a wonderful job of doing that for them by complaining about it.

You hadn’t heard of this particular cause before now?

The best course of action would be for JR to ignore this and all other begging letters. She has enough punch to directly support what she wants to. Otherwise just don’t jump on any band wagons.

Then why was everyone who's signed contacted privately? Why was there no open letter to each of them?

Exactly. Why did Justine get a different treatment from all the signatories of the list?
Would they like to be individually singled out in an open letter in the press insisting that they take on some cause or other?