What exactly is "the Sussex Squad"?

[Prydddan]

I don't know whether this is too controversial a topic for such a thread to be allowed to stand. But I post in good faith on a topic I believe has a lot of social and political relevance.

Does the "Sussex Squad" actually exist? If so, how do you join? If not, do people ever identify as belonging to it?

If it exists, was it hijacked by SarahData and Bouzy or was it their creation? And, if so, to what extent?

Thanks in advance.

Well if you don't take much notice of names, you are not going to notice any patterns. Our views are in different ballparks.

Do you consider yourself a member of the Sussex Squad? I've seen you regularly supporting the pro-Sussex position here (good for you).

If not, why not?

SS thought ending talking point numero uno: all criticism of H&M = racism. Even aimed at those of us who are not white.

Personally, I thank Harry for alerting me to the work of Survivors International.

According to a poster upthread , it’s because it’s better weather < listens to wind and rain battering window>

🎼 It's me Bouzy come home, I'm so cold, let me in at your window

@JaneJeffer 😂

It’s interesting, I can understand the protection impulse seeing someone racially abused as I am not going to argue than Meghan did not receive racist abuse, but how does that then square with supporting Harry. Is his past ignored, is racial ignorance ignored if it’s Asian or Jewish. Is his silence regarding African Parks equal complicity. If this was Williams charity would people judge him differently because of bias. I am neutral to Meghan and certainly more sympathy than dislike, but that doesn’t mean Harry gets a free pass especially as some white saviour informing me (I’m not white) of what constitutes racism and what’s unconscious bias, who does he really think he is. Harry is simply the “I’ve got a black friend” in his case by marriage so I can’t be a racist. It’s similar to the republican argument of Harry and Meghan when the pair are royalists, I simply do not understand.

I think it should be pointed out that in recent threads about conspiracies surrounding the Princess of Wales, the most frequent posters had names I had never seen before, or since. People may have name changed of course but from the absolutely batshit things that were being claimed I tend to believe it was some bad faith actors coming to the board for the sole purpose of spreading lies.

I don't think it is fair to link those posters with others who have simply defended Harry and Meghan over the years. They are not the same.

I don’t think any amount of backpedaling would be enough to make up for some of the utterly disgusting things that have been deliberately spread in a co-ordinated way. Disgusting behaviour for grown adults.

I hope the security services are involved and every single member of the so called Sussex Squad is prosecuted for being part of a very dark attempt to destabilise the RF and hunt down in real life anyone who disagreed with them.

I don’t think it is for anyone to say that threads are not started in good faith.

I think it is a bit of a liberty to shout about dog whistles and pile ons. If you give it out then be prepared to receive.

I find it disappointing to once again, as a person of colour, to hear shouts of insidious anti black racism on these threads (and elsewhere) when people are criticising behaviour not skin.

Although I don’t know what kind of racism or unconscious bias is showing when that is said because there seems to be a sweeping generalisation inferred that everyone posting is white. We are not.

The main problem here is Harry anyway.

Do I think that those who support Meghan and Harry should automatically be linked with the Sussex Squad? No. I don’t.

But as genuine (for want of a better word) supporters, they did not seem to denounce the more extreme posts from a swarm of unheard of posters either. Admittedly there is safety in numbers and the boost to the ranks may have seemed welcome, but they were poisonous.

I would have not wished for that association and it was saddening to see it blithely accepted.

As for me? It is a beautiful day. And I have a goldfish to walk and air to knit.

Seeing as how we are all explaining why we won’t be here any more.

Hit by Storm Kathleen this morning, so no gardening for me! My driveway looks terrible, but in my defence I have booked people to resurface it. I have no pets since Herbert Wagner (the axolotl) passed on.
So, I'm afraid, in between certain tedious domestic chores and reading my book, I may well be posting on here!

think it should be pointed out that in recent threads about conspiracies surrounding the Princess of Wales, the most frequent posters had names I had never seen before, or since.

I thought this too, in fact I was convinced it was bots, and when I reported I was told by MN it was 'long term posters', so it is possible the bulk of the 'new names' were posters changing name for different threads, making it appear there was a huge influx of new posters.

Storm Kathleen has hit too here so the walk may be short.

But if I don’t take Flounce out for his daily constitutional, he is going to go into a fizzy rage.

And I won’t be able to see him for bubbles 🫧 🫧 🫧 🫧 🫧 🫧 🫧

I think it is a bit of a liberty to shout about dog whistles and pile ons. If you give it out then be prepared to receive.

I never really get the 'pile on' thing. Is there a limit to the number of people who can reply to a post they find objectionable?

But as genuine (for want of a better word) supporters, they did not seem to denounce the more extreme posts from a swarm of unheard of posters either. Admittedly there is safety in numbers and the boost to the ranks may have seemed welcome, but they were poisonous.

I agree with that too.

Certain posters who claimed to be very opposed to 'bullying' didn't seem too bothered about the most lurid speculation about people who were not their favourites.

It's not a "pile on" and it's not "bullying" if you disagree with someone.
This thread is enlightening, I didn't really know about the Sussex Squad, so thanks for that.
A few weeks ago there were so many vile threads about Kate and William, and some completely unsubstantiated and nasty rumours, I did wonder.
It became impossible to challenge those claiming about an innocent child's supposed paternity or the unexpected death of someone's relative. Just awful.

The thing I disliked about the Sussex Squad was the way in which it promoted division. They assumed everyone must be on a team and that those teams were antagonistic.

It completely overlooked that Brits in particular have been chuntering on about the RF for decades, and that criticism of a particular action/event/whatever wasn't a sign of hate or picking a side; it was just the reaction to the latest. And it really, really doesn't mean you're allying yourself with loons/racists/paedophiles/dodgy Kazakhs/ fake sheiks/phone hackers etc.

Well said @skullbabe .

Pile ons are common. I made a comment recently on something I found triggering and was immediately challenged and ridiculed not just by the person who posted the comment but others too. No attempt to understand but they then used their own lived experiences to intimidate and minimise my questioning of the original comment. All on a forum which is supposed to be supportive to women.
It's also telling that the horrible experiences of Meghan and her family are largely ignored. While much of the rumour is regurgitated again and again the truth is often missing.
I would expect some other posters feel what's the point in posting? Whatever squad there is elsewhere there is none on here to the best of my knowledge. I have stated before I couldn't give a flying fig about the royal family but I hate to witness women being continually nasty about another woman they don't know.

I never really get the 'pile on' thing. Is there a limit to the number of people who can reply to a post they find objectionable?

Me neither. It usually got yelled if several people objected to a snide term or needle or phrase.

Followed shortly thereafter by ‘but I never meant it like that’. Except that was what was written and being readers not blessed with psychic abilities, we took it at face value.

And to add insult to injury, we then got accused by some posters of things that were not in our posts at all. (But we must have meant what they thought becausebecausebecause…)

I would hope sincerely that they were nothing to do with the Sussex Squad. But, for me, if you don’t pipe up when awful things are being alleged or worse, repeat them in a wide eyed style? You are just as bad.

You're right, @unbelieveable22 - the nastiness about Kate was off the scale. I was disappointed more people weren't supportive, even before we knew she had cancer. That whole Mother's Day image triggered so many threads, many of them spouting horrible rumours as "facts".

I made a comment recently on something I found triggering and was immediately challenged and ridiculed not just by the person who posted the comment but others too.

Was this when someone joked that if Harry had been up to anything with Diddy he would be receiving another aviation award when Meghan finds out, because she'll hoof him up the arse so high he'll need a parachute? And you accused them (a DV survivor incidentally) of minimising / condoning / making fun of violence?

The horrible experiences of Kate were also ignored and some terrible theories as to her absence were touted as fact/confirmed by my friend who is a journalist/security service person/cleaner/friend of the family etc., etc.

All on a forum which is supposed to be supportive to women.

I too hate to witness women being continually nasty about another woman they don't know.

Whether or not I care a flying fig about the royal family or those no longer here , I wouldn’t stand mutely by without challenging nasty assertions.

And I have not.

Absolutely, @Hughs

The style on MN is generally robust; posters get flamed across the boards for having an opinion which doesn’t fit the accepted narrative or even for phrasing something awkwardly. It’s ludicrous to say that any prolific and highly opinionated poster (stalwart? 🙄), who could dish out the snark as well if not better than anyone else, was being piled on and bullied just because others disagreed. It’s a discussion forum. If it’s upsetting, take a break because genuinely, you’re taking it too seriously.

That’s just completely irrational and any anyone who thinks it’s ok to post along those lines needs a complete swerve.

I am enjoying the thread and the useful info/links.

Keep on keeping on 😊