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MNHQ

We've deleted the Madeleine McCann thread

244 replies

JustineMumsnet · 04/05/2009 22:34

Because had we deleted all the posts that were worthy of deletion contained within it we would have lost half a thread, and what remained would have made no sense.

We would like to remind folks that Mumsnet's central philosophy is to make parents' lives easier. The McCanns are parents, they haven't been found guilty of anything and they have lost a child. By all means discuss the issues around this tragic case but please don't attack them personally here.
Thanks,
MNHQ

OP posts:

scaredoflove · 04/05/2009 23:44

Three examples from dad thread, all very near the beginning, all allowed to stand

Why??

He was so wrapt up in his piece on the side that he wasn't fucking paying attention to his young kids.

ffs.

mistress bit is very relevant. Sincerely fucking doubt the mum was going to not put the brake on the buggy.

If I was the mother, I'd be fucking furious with him (if I had any energy to do anything other than grieve). The kids shouldn't have been there in the first place - what kind of creep takes his babies along on a date with the 'mistress'? And if he had taken them out on his own, he might have been paying a bit more attention to them, not the other woman.

Whilst I have every sympathy for his loss - which is shattering and life altering - I have absolutely no hesitation in condemning his behaviour. His daughter died in an accident yes - but an accident that occurred because he was where he shouldn't have been and was focusing on someone he shouldn't have! He has to live with the knowledge that his daughter died because he didn't take care to prevent it - unfortunately so does the rest of their family.

AitchTwoOh · 04/05/2009 23:47

pertinent that they were at the beginning, surely? so people vented, then they reflected? doesn't sound like that's what happened on this other thread. mind you, i stopped reading it this morning as it was clear that it was the usual suspects after blood.

anyhoo, at the risk of stomping on your right to discuss everything, wouldn't it be best to let that drop?

bigted · 04/05/2009 23:48

bloody right we should stop a discussion when it gets to the level on the McCann thread.

MintChocAddict · 04/05/2009 23:49

scaredoflove - the big difference there is that we all know what happened with the buggy case because the father admitted how the accident occured.
NO-ONE here knows what happened to Madeleine McCann. Some of the posters on the McCann thread were throwing around accusations of involvement. This is the very reason that the tabloids paid out damages to the family.

scaredoflove · 04/05/2009 23:52

These were near the end, then it turned into a peronal row. Some continued to blame the man, there was no reflection

Oh wait I know someone who would be dumb enough to let go of a double pushchair on a cliff by the sea in order to snog someone!

.......A love sick idiot having an affair.

It wouldn't be good enough for me, I'm afraid.

If a nanny had done such a thing, she would be in court for gross negligence.

I fail to see why a parent is exempt from the usual rigours of the law.

What I find confusing about this thread is the number of posters who want this to be something that could happen to anyone. Who want to assert that any one of us could take our young children out for a walk on a sloping, uneven path that led to a drop to a wild sea and not hold on to the handle for dear life.

Letting go of the handle wasn't an accident. He didn't trip, or have to chase a toddler, or sneeze or stumble. He let go to kiss someone. It was a choice.

scaredoflove · 04/05/2009 23:55

I don't see it as different

no one knows, people discuss, most on todays thread were questioning events, one person was openly accussing, most were supportive

The thread was almost 1000 posts long, it would have died down, pulling just seems odd to me (and prob others)

mamadiva · 05/05/2009 00:11

I am probably one of the people being spoke about here and I was also one of the few who broke off half way to talk about our sense of humour..

But then again if we are getting into that if you actually bothered to read the entire convo when it broke off that was about 2 posts on the whole we were talking about music because we assumed the thread was not going anywhere else and we were having a good conversation about other things, don't see the problem.

I am getting fed up with the one track mind of some MNers am seriously considering leaving, I have been on here for almost 2 years and people constantly saying oh but you said this and you are wrong because this is what I think and you must be brainwashed.

I did in the end stand up and say no the accusations are just getting rediculous but me and my black sense of humour and all, it was mentioned twice FFS then we started talking about Greenday and Coldplay god shoot us why don't you!!!

Seriously though the you will agree with me or I shall flame you and report you mentality is pathetic I liked MN because it's not all hugs n tickers but now some folks just take the piss, if you want everyone to agree with you fuck off to netmums or summit!

MintChocAddict · 05/05/2009 00:20

Maybe you don't see the problem mamadiva. You are entitled to your opinion. I am also entitled to mine and the hilarity mid-post left a very bad taste in my mouth. Particularly as two people who haven't been found guilty of anything, and who have lost their child let's not forget, were being personally attacked by some and outright accused by at least one other. You're right, I obviously just don't get your sense of humour.
So shoot me.

mamadiva · 05/05/2009 00:33

That's not what I am saying mintchoc, the fact was no one had posted for atleast 15 minutes when it was atleast 3 posts a minute so we thought it must have been killed off.

We are entitled to talk and this was waaaay before the vile personal attacks on them started infact it was a day ahaead.

None had posted but we were still talking and it certainly was not about our dark sense of humour taht was related to the music, nothing to do with the McCanns or Madeleine.

Sorry should I go start another thread now since this is off topic so as not to ruin the topic?

MintChocAddict · 05/05/2009 00:37

We'll obviously have to agree to disagree Mamadiva. I just felt it was an error of judgement to start lighthearted banter in the midst of a thread about a missing child. There were actually personal attacks, particularly against Kate McCann at the start of the thread.

mamadiva · 05/05/2009 00:42

I was on the thread from page 1.

As far as I could see the only attacks were being ignored or disputed.

We started speaking about music I really fail to see the problem with that no one had posted and there was no point in starting a big thread about greenday just because of 2 comments that were made.

Funny right enough that it has changed from 'talking about our black humour' to it being bad that we were talking about music.

I have seen far worse on MN but I allow people to have an opinion right enough that seems to be the problem on here now though.

MintChocAddict · 05/05/2009 00:48

You ARE entitled to your opinion. Of course you are - but folks are entitled to disagree with it and criticise you for it as they see fit, just as you are entitled to do right back to them. That's the whole point of a discussion forum.
Seriously, let's just agree to disagree.

Ledodgy · 05/05/2009 00:53

Really good descision imo. Wd MNHQ.

onagar · 05/05/2009 02:25

I expect the thread was pulled to avoid the possibility of legal action and not to please the "oh no there are people on the internet who disagree with me!" brigade.

flamingobingo · 05/05/2009 05:53

Hoping that onagar is right, in which case - good call.

If it was pulled because it upset people then really bad call - censorship is v. bad IMHO.

Stopped reading the thread after a few pages, so can't comment, but if illegal things were said (libel etc.) then it should have been pulled.

pottycock · 05/05/2009 06:21

Thank you for removing that- it was full of vile claptrap anyway.

A number of the posts were absolutely libelous.

Buda · 05/05/2009 06:38

It was horrible. I did post on it a couple of times but then couldn't even read it as it got so horrible and one poster in particular was clearly on a mission.

belgo · 05/05/2009 06:42

Good. I agree with mumsnet's decision.

Bucharest · 05/05/2009 06:58

Agree with Onagar, tbh. You're certainly not allowed to have McCann threads on AnotherParentingForum I used to hang out on as they were afraid of legal action.
I was on the thread, but hopefully attacked no-one, either posters present or the McCanns.
I actually saw only one poster whose comments were so outrageously absurd that even the "anti-McCann" posters were (presumably the same one Buda is talking about)
I actually changed my mind a bit about the whole thing by reading one particularly informative and (seemingly) unbiased link on the thread (the Times one)

HecatesTwopenceworth · 05/05/2009 07:34

Since our system is "innocent until proven guilty" - and that is 'proven' by a court, not by public speculation - and the McCann family have already taken (or threatened) legal action against those who have publicly speculated or suggested or attempted to lay blame at their door, I think that it was a wise business decision for MNHQ to not leave themselves open to legal action.

People will say what they want, they will talk about it in the pub, at the school gate...that's not the same as it being in black and white on the www.

RealityIsMyOnlyDelusion · 05/05/2009 07:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

mamadiva · 05/05/2009 07:52

Right sorry was v.bad night for me last night LONG STORY.

Mintchoc I am sorry for coming across so aggressive last night.

FWIW I do agree it was right to pull that thread, there was one poster who was bang out of order it went a bit too extreme, even for me!

Also agree with Hecate that speculation is rife everywhere yes but here is not the place to broadcast (especially such vile) opinions on this case.

daftpunk · 05/05/2009 07:54

wrong to delete the thread. they may have been a few posts that needed deleting, but i've seen worse said on here about madonna.

it was a discussion, and quite frankly posters who are calling certain other posters "vile" and "disgusting" should be ashamed.......we are all parents on here you know!

herbietea · 05/05/2009 07:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

shootfromthehip · 05/05/2009 08:02

Thank goodness that it's gone- I don't shock easily but that thread had me breathing in sharply more than once. Fugly thread, fugly ideas, fugly situation- best left alone.

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