Michael Jackson moderation

[RachelMumsnet]

Hi there
As you can imagine we've had a few complaints this morning about some of the comments and allegations made against MJ. Our policy normally is not to delete posts on the grounds of distaste as what is distasteful to one is another person's idea of humour, however in this situation, given that someone has just died, we're finding it hard to just leave things. So we thought we'd ask you. Do you think comments such as 'I hope he burns' and the onslaught of MJ jokes should be deleted or left in the name of free speech? Let us know your thoughts.
Thanks
MNHQ

that was to expatinscotland btw

Disgusting "opinions" have been put forward but that is not new, he is an emotive person to discuss, like many others have been in the past.

IMHO one thread with a "MN does not support or uphold views given here" and no deletion - TBH I quite like to know who is given to such tasteless posting, helps me build a rounder picture of the MNer or MN ers in question.

The fact that someone has died doesn't change the past, doesn't change the right of others to have a view and doesn't turn everybody else in to nice people who don't want to moan! Let the comments stand - it's part of the story, he was a divisive figure and there's no need to pretend otherwise just because he's died.

I wonder what the need and desire is to want this forum to be completely unmoderated as that implies people want to be able to say anything at all and that wouldn't necessarily be a positive post.

As I asked before, is anyone on MN likely to get personally upset by them?

Everyone is entitled to free speech. If you do not like what people are saying the leave the topic or do not read what is being said. He was a celebrity and his life was in the spotlight. He chose to live life in the public eye therefore comments are and should be open to all.
Just because he is famous does not mean that he is exempt from scorn, ridicule or hatred.
As long as the threads are combined I don't care what happens really.

'I do believe in free speech and expression but giving people the space to express meaningless offensive tripe is not necessary.'

Again the way you define as offensive others see differently.

I don't really have an opinion on MJ either way but what I do think is that people need to show some basic respect for the dead.

It would be interesting to see how some would react if it was their brother/sister/parent/child who had died and others were putting such vile comments about them. Just because he was a media figure does not give people the right to be so disgusting.

FBG, for me it's the fact that as GuessWhatIAmANameChanger (ironically ) says, you get a full picture of what people are like. Also, who decides what stays and goes - the moderator - so their opinion trumps everyone else's! This board is quite self moderating which means majority rules - a democracy rather than a dictatorship.

Yes definitely as there should be a sense of taste and decorum and thoughtfulness and consideration on the site.

Actually I was upset about one joke I read about child abuse. It just isn't frunny in any shape or form.

NB, that's why I was asking about personally upset. If we thought his children or siblings were likely to see the comments, that would be different.

Exactly, Stealth. It's self-moderating. That's why it's different from other boards.

FBG - that did occur to me, that the thing most likely to be upsetting is the casual discussion of abuse rather than being personally insulted on his behalf iyswim.

No direct censorship.

One thread only.

Guess I'd better read the threads in question. I hadn't bothered because I don't really care about MJ, BUT this is far from the first time this topic has come up.

Fio - really??

if you really didn't know until 12.45 I bet you're the last person in the country to find out Have you been asleep until now?

And the usual argument to say don't read it if it offends you, you don't know what it is until you read it.

I don't think that argument can ever be applied to a general thread, only to ones where the content is made absolutely clear in the title or OP.

Am I right in thinking you can't libel the dead?

expat ~ yes,I have my own view on what is offensive.
As I said before,people can express opinions freely but why allow bad taste and low standards of behaviour on a site for advice and support for parents.There is no come back for these posters ~ they can say anything they like including libellous comments.