Could Mumsnet clarify the purpose of the sex and gender forum?

[Lexibletheflexible]

Can we get some clarification on the actual "purpose" of the sex and gender forum, please?

Many members on there seem to allude to it being for GC people rather than to discuss issues related to gender and sex. They make posts like this one:

"and the overall purpose of the sub forum."

What is this "overall purpose" that some members seem to be privy to and isn't outlined in the group title?

I can show various other posts by regular members who seem sure of the same thing. I think it would help all of us if we understood what the site/staff intended its purpose to be.

Yep. It’s certainly a thing.

Everyone is entitled to post on any thread. They’re not “interfering”. They have as much right to post as you.

Isn't people posting on threads the actual point of a chat forum? It would be pretty pointless if it was just every poster posting one original post and nobody responding.

Well quite.

This is a discussion forum. You have started a thread, which invites discussion. If you only want one reply, you should only message one person.

MN is like sitting in a pub. If you join a table of punters and ask someone a question, everyone in the table is likely to chip in. If you want a quiet word, you have to take someone off to one side.

oh FGS - if you want to speak to MN in private speak to MN by email.

If you want to shout in public post on the site and accept that anyone on MN can post and respond here.

Its really not difficult.

I'm sure @Lexibletheflexible is very happy that @BeckyAMumsnet answered the ridiculous straw man question they came up with to disparage one poster on FWR.

Becky basically clarified that the info at the top of the subgroup is correct, but given the OP's commitment to their straw man I'm sure they'll present this as a mighty victory.

No board is there to 'endorse' any views. Members post their own personal individual views. That's kind of how online chat forums work? People may disagree but it's a discussion.

Basically you can only post on there if you agree with everything they say

Have you or have you not posted on there? I think you have. Nice try though.

Now that is absolutely not true.
Anyone is entitled to post.
You may not find that your arguments stand up to scrutiny but you can make them, nonetheless.

I think some of these posters are thinking of Reddit and Bluesky rather than MN when they say people aren’t “allowed”.

Untrue.

The only person who's been banned recently (afaik) for posting non-GC stuff was the bloke with his splintery rolling pin. Everyone else is welcome on here, but I do understand that for some it might be difficult to be so robustly challenged by GC women if they're not used to it.

Being asked to evidence your claims is not the same as not being allowed to speak. The very opposite, in fact.

They do seem to want to be able to post whatever they want without any evidence, scrutiny or challenge. I wonder why they think that’s a reasonable position?

And what stops you posting? If anything breaks guidelines then report but you can choose to post and be prepared to debate your position or avoid it entirely.

The great thing with MN is that you have the option to hide topics

Other posters may insinuate that, but it isn't MNHQ's responsibility to demand that only certain views are allowed on that board.

Crikey, I said that 'just imagine what would happen if someone had a user name detrimental to trans' and even the suggestion that would not be allowed was deleted, yet the user name insult to JKR still stands.

It's an open board, people can say or insinuate anything they like. If you think it breaks the talk guidelines, you can report
the post and someone from MNHQ will take a look at it and, if appropriate, delete it. But it's not for you or any other forum member to police what people are allowed to say or where they're allowed to say it.

Do you often find yourself attempting to involve institutional authority to make other people do what you want? Did any particular activist movement encourage that as a tactic? Does it actually feel worthwhile and empowering to you?

No you didn't, you referred to trans people in a derogatory way. Don't be disingenuous.

no

site stuff is a discussion board, people are allowed to discuss and state their opinion

if you want an answer from mnhq without ‘reading’ what others have to say about the subject you need to email them

Lol, the irony.
Where will you go to 'clarify the purpose' of the Site Stuff board, I wonder?

So annoying when users 'interfere' with your one-way public conversation with MNHQ.