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Goading and group pile ons

6 replies

LuckyHazelFox · 26/09/2026 10:04

I would be grateful if you could confirm what measures you take to deal with goady posters and pile on attacks. I am seeing this on here every day and nothing is being done about it. I have sent you two emails.

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MNHQ

BeckyAMumsnet · 26/09/2026 13:28

Hi @LuckyHazelFox we're sorry you’re feeling picked on.

We do expect people to disagree on Talk and some subjects will inevitably provoke strong views but that is not a free pass for personal attacks. We do think it's worth saying that disagreement from several posters doesn't necessarily equate to a pile on, and we'd need to look into the wider context. Please feel free to get in touch if you have any specific concerns.

MNHQ

BeckyAMumsnet · 26/09/2026 15:50

Thanks to all who contacted us with their concerns. We've posted on this thread now with an update. https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5575770-labour-isnt-working-thread-40?page=2&reply=154986127

We'd very much appreciate your cooperation in ensuring these threads are a decent place to debate thorny political issues without being personally attacked.

Page 29 | Labour isn't Working - Thread 40 | Mumsnet

A chat thread for those who *don't* like this Labour government. 🥀 ^The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's mone...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5575770-labour-isnt-working-thread-40?page=2&reply=154986127

MNHQ

BeckyAMumsnet · 28/09/2026 09:05

Morning all.

No, we’re not saying you can’t disagree with someone, challenge what they’ve said, or ask them for evidence. A lively debate is very much part of Talk.

What we’re asking is that people keep the focus on the post rather than the poster. So it’s fine to say “I don’t think that’s right, because…” or to ask for a source. It’s not fine to keep demanding an answer, treat someone not replying as proof they’re being dishonest, or start digging through their history to build a case against them.

No issue with using Advanced Search to find old threads or information. It becomes a problem when it’s used to trawl through one poster’s history and bring that into a thread to make claims about them personally, rather than addressing what they’ve said.

Hope that clears things up a bit.

MNHQ

BeckyAMumsnet · 28/09/2026 09:28

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 28/09/2026 09:19

OK. So @BeckyAMumsnet you seem to be saying that we are allowed to challenge or request evidence once, but we aren't allowed to ask again or point out that the poster hasn't provided the evidence requested?

When I have reported disinformation previously, the moderators have told me that MN can't determine what's true and what isn't, but we should feel free to challenge disinformation on the threads.

What you now seem to be saying is that we aren't really allowed to challenge on the threads in any meaningful way after all, because posters will just ignore the initial challenge and carry on posting whatever nonsense they are eager to promote. In other words, disinformation must be allowed to stand.

As for saying "I disagree because...", that is not always possible when someone has made a very vague sweeping statement without any evidence - hence the need to ask for evidence so the the point can be properly debated.

Sadly, it seems that you are confirming that MN is no longer a place for robust and rigorous debate where people can actually be challenged effectively and held to account for what they say, because we are all expected to pretend that everyone is here in good faith and that all posts are equally valid.

What a shame.

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We’re not saying that asking for evidence or noting that it hasn’t been provided is out of bounds.

However there is a point at which a discussion can become less about the claim itself and more about pursuing a particular poster. We’re sure most people can recognise the difference. As ever, we’ll look at reports in context.

MNHQ

BeckyAMumsnet · 28/09/2026 09:36

TemperanceWest · 28/09/2026 09:33

Okay. That is a helpful clarification, thanks. Maybe something could be added to TG so everyone is clear?

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It is already covered by the Talk guidelines, particularly the parts about keeping things civil and not making discussions personal. We’ve clarified it here because it’s a useful reminder of how those guidelines apply in practice.

MNHQ

BeckyAMumsnet · 28/09/2026 10:05

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 28/09/2026 09:38

Sorry, @BeckyAMumsnet I am not trying to be obtuse here, but that doesn't actually clarify it for me at all. If someone is repeatedly pressing for evidence of a particular claim and pointing out when that evidence is not forthcoming, how is that about the poster and not the particular claim in question?

Obviously, I understand that it becomes about the poster if personal remarks are made in relation to that poster. But your instruction on the other thread was about repeatedly asking for evidence and pointing out that the poster clearly doesn't have an answer because they haven't responded. So are we still allowed to do this, as long as there are no personal attacks and we remain focused on the specific claims that are not being evidenced?

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Hey @MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack no one is saying you can only ask for evidence once, as that's clearly unworkable and frankly we can't moderate to that degree of granularity!

Posters aren’t obliged to keep answering the same question, either. If they don’t respond, you can say why you think the claim is unconvincing, offer other evidence, or simply leave it there.

It starts to become an issue when the thread turns into repeated tags, “still waiting” posts, or conclusions about what someone’s silence supposedly proves. These are all things we see repeatedly and they do not make for a useful or interesting discussion for anyone. At that point, the focus has shifted from the claim to the poster.

Hope that makes the distinction a bit clearer.

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