Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

Original poster

On the subject of deleting threads...

34 replies

BitOfFun · 13/06/2009 09:16

Would there be any way of a thread being frozen after a certain number of complaints until MNHQ has time to look at it?

There is an incredibly offensive one in Active Convos which divvies keep bumping because they are understandably outraged, and it's been going for ages without deletion, presumably because it's the weekend.

It is not nice to think that groups like the BNP are able to come here and wind members up, and if a thread could be frozen after, say 25 people reported it until you had a chance to assess things, at least the trolls would stop being fed and it wouldn't stay active to offend and upset even more people.

Just an idea- I'm not sure how workable it would be?

OP posts:
flamingobingo · 13/06/2009 09:17

Very good idea.

Original poster
BitOfFun · 13/06/2009 09:32

It would be good if it worked! Any tech-savvy types know if it's possible?

OP posts:
Original poster
BitOfFun · 13/06/2009 11:05

Well I see the thread in question is staying

I hope the BNP don't do their usual slimy trick of staying just the right side of the rules to spread their vile crap here. They are pretty media savvy these days.

OP posts:
psychomum5 · 13/06/2009 11:19

I 'spect the MNHQ top bods are all in a corner rocking and whimpering after the onslaught of trolls and deleting this week, and are not aware that it is still continueing.

either that or they are out having a life fun!!

Original poster
BitOfFun · 13/06/2009 11:32

No, it's staying because it doesn't break any rules, apparently!

I am getting ready for a lovely family barbie, so nothng will wind me up for now

OP posts:
AitchTwoOh · 13/06/2009 11:37

i've not seen the thread in question but i'm against censorship in general. tbh i even loathe it when mnhq delete posts, i think if there is an offensive bit of a post (such as calling someone insane, for example in an otherwise thoughtful and factually correct post) it's not beyond the ken of MNHQ do delete that bit and leave the rest.

wrt to the BNP, i'm actually fairly keen to see what they have to say in public and am appalled that some daft lefty group is saying that they're going to egg griffin every time he speaks.

Trikken · 13/06/2009 11:38

sounds like fun BOF. Am jealous, I have to work later!

AitchTwoOh · 13/06/2009 11:39

egg griffin, lol, sounds like a very decadent meal.

policywonk · 13/06/2009 11:40

I guess, from MNHQ's POV, they can't delete every thread that upsets someone. There has to be a stronger reason (abuse, legal issues etc). The thread in question is based on a crappy premise, but the OP hasn't been personally abusive, and she isn't saying 'rape is fine, get over it' - she's just demonstrating some ignorance (and, as one of the posters on that thread pointed out, it's probably a POV that is more widely shared than we like to admit - so having so many rebuttals on the thread is actually performing a valuable re-education service).

AitchTwoOh · 13/06/2009 11:43

oh is that the 'how can etc in marriage' one? that's not offensive in itself, imo. she's just ignorant and, some might say, fortunate.

policywonk · 13/06/2009 11:50

Yeah, that's what I think, I think

Have a good day, BoF. Don't suppose you want to edit an article about house-building in the UK while I go to your BBQ?

psychomum5 · 13/06/2009 11:53

right, so that thread is ok, upsetting people and the OP is ignorant (to be mild), but that is ok.

so what was wrong with all the other threads this week that they deleted with no reason then that we can see, and certainly were not upsetting anyone bar one person off board who might/might not be real???

daftpunk · 13/06/2009 11:55

BOF....how do you know that thread was started by someone from the BNP?....i've re-read it and tbh it sounds like a woman just ignorant to of few things.....i'm not sure the BNP have even heard of mumsnet....a bit too fluffy for them i would have thought..

policywonk · 13/06/2009 11:56

Do you mean S t e i n e r threads, Psycho? Or were there others this week?

TheDevilWearsYFronts · 13/06/2009 11:57

Divvies, haha.

I read that thread and had to sit on my hands.

policywonk · 13/06/2009 11:59

And I really don't think we can delete stuff just for being upsetting. We're all upset by different things - I've used this example elsewhere this week, but I'm extremely upset by posts slagging off smokers and saying that the NHS shouldn't treat them (as my mother died recently of a smoking-related disease), but I don't for a minute expect MN to cater for this.

And I really do think that the thread in question is doing a rather good job of correcting a fairly common misconception.

Surely it's better to discuss these things in the open?

psychomum5 · 13/06/2009 12:01

policy, was not thinking of those TBH.....there have been others this week that I have been on that were.

having said that, the threads you allude to, they too also seem to get deleted don;t they??

I was thinking about it tho lots last night....(yep, still thinking MN when I am not on it......addicted, me, nahhh), and I think that MNHQ have been burnt so much by the legal action they went thru, as much as we have been with trolls (and on my part I have been!), that I think they are maybe getting over cautious now and delete thru worry(IYGWIM).

daftpunk · 13/06/2009 12:02

exactly PW...a thread was started this week calling all the striking RMT workers "lazy greedy arses"....that's offensive imo.

StayFrosty · 13/06/2009 12:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

policywonk · 13/06/2009 12:05

I think it's true that MNHQ are deleting threads that might lead to legal trouble fairly quickly. I find it hard to blame them too much for this though - it's not like they're a national newspaper with an enormous legal fund. If they get taken to the cleaners, MNHQ founders will be personally responsible for the costs.

psychomum5 · 13/06/2009 12:06

you make a good point policy.

policywonk · 13/06/2009 12:09

Aw, does that mean you're not going to debate with me and I'm going to have to do some work instead?

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 13/06/2009 12:15

I remember a thread ages ago where the OP was asking for info on how to translate a foreign language document on how to make a bomb or something stupid like this. It was very quickly removed. I can't see why they leave others when they are clearly designed to cause distress. The mental health of each person on here should be equally as important as the threat of an MI5/MI6 investigation. (I know it's extreme but can you see my point?)

TheDevilWearsYFronts · 13/06/2009 12:19

I'll debate with you Policywonk,

so, erm , does my bum look big in this?

daftpunk · 13/06/2009 12:22

wow..MI5 investigations on mumsnet.