Potential Systemic Safeguarding failures in NSPCC / Childline illustrated by appointment & ending of relationship with Munroe Bergdorf Thread 2

[R0wantrees]

link to previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3605120-Munroe-Childline-s-first-LGBT-campaigner

NSPCC statement by CEO Peter Wanless
www.nspcc.org.uk/what-we-do/news-opinion/munroe-bergdorf

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3609218-Hi-from-Safe-Schools-Alliance-UK

I do wonder if the erosion of boundaries to do with age is related to social media usage.

Back in my gaming days, it was common for communities to be a mix of adults and kids. Some of them were as young as thirteen. At the time 13 was the minimum age and it was accepted as just fine without question. What was happening in these communities was something else though. It was often very adult conversation which was completely inappropriate. Only a few people deliberately excluded these kids from Skype groups (and therefore private chats that stem from it) or made a point of pulling up others on their behaviour.

If you've grown up in this world, and think it normal, why would you consider talking to a minor on the Internet as a problem? There were some real fucking creeps and I know of incidents of 20 something year olds talking privately with young teenagers and there suddenly being unsubstantiated rumours of a sexual nature. The community moderates didn't care - they often weren't paid and certainly weren't trained or vetted beyond being mates with the right group. And the international nature of the community was a barrier to any kind of legal oversight.

Safeguarding in this sense didn't exist for you, such was gaming. Why would you think it applied to you in the adult professional world? You'd always handled it just fine and older people had' looked after you'.

This is a generation where age boundaries and the wild west of the internet met. They are now adults. There's a naivety and an 'I'm alright jack' element here.

The dynamic of it was always particularly bad for girls. It's a normality that has crept in without anyone even realising and has a long history.

Rowing back on that is therefore seen as anti-progressive. It was a blind spot that those who didn't understand technology (and still don't - most MPs are from this generation above).

DH and I were always 'early adopters' in a sense and the oldest in these communities. I'm now 40 and DH 36. It's a significant cut off (DH is the upper age for a millennial whilst I'm technically gen x). We have a lot of close friends who are about 50 and are utterly baffled by gaming full stop, never mind gaming communities.

Development of new means if communication has always brought social unrest and conflict because it rewires power and there is a rush to fill that void.

The NSPCC missed the problem over a decade ago. They didn't have the expertise or foresight to see what was happening or where it would go. They are playing a catch up game. They didn't educate the generation coming through. And that will have a knock on effect.

Melanie is fundamentally wrong in what she has done. She's put herself at risk. I hope the NSPCC have a massive think about this. Its a failure of training, recruitment, long term planning and previous campaigns

Yes, the Munroe thing seems to have been a blessing in disguise.

This is a tiny acknowledgement of where they've gone wrong

I'd like an official statement detailing what those failures were and a detailed plan of what their plan to address those failures is.

Not just a tweet like that hidden in a thread and not even stickied.

They need to publicly acknowledge this. Loudly. Not brush it under the table.

Because doing so, helps promote its own principles by stressing why they are important and need to be upheld, not just to its own employees but to the public at large. This could be used as an opportunity to educate if they do it correctly, rather than purely a damage limitation exercise in self preservation.

I note that the NSPCC is not just any old charity but one with a royal charter attached to it, which gives it even more need to publicly be seen to behave in the right manner.

Don't think Melanie Murphy is on NSPCC staff - she's someone who was in a role similar to the "ambassador" role. Apparently she is a "youtuber" and "influencer".

www.melaniemurphy.ie/about/

Your posts are really valuable Red thank you.

Apparently she is a "youtuber" and "influencer".

Which makes sense, such people have no sense of bundaries or ethics around what they do.
Blogs and latterly youtubers have taken on such an important media role in recent years, but they haven't adopted anything approaching the basic ethics journalists and the media have done. Things like taking money for reviews are considered a good way to run your business, not an ethical breach.

She said she's written content with them.

But there is this comment from someone on her timeline

i’m a counsellor for Childline and also bisexual and am at a loss for words atm. i cannot stress enough how valuable having someone like Munroe working with NSPCC would have been for so many kids, i’m SO angry for the kids being failed and let down by this

If this is true, even counsellors are not being given the right safeguarding training.

They need thorough investigation ASAP. They’ve lost control of the most basic aspects of their mission.

Holy fuck.

Systemic failures - coming from both deliberate infiltration and the deliberate seeking of like-minds, and then the appeal of a situation to those who 'unwittingly' (for want of a better word) seek to normalise their unhealthy behaviours/ mind sets and are drawn to permissive/ encouraging environments and then the two collude.

Sightly off-topic but just clicked on that Krysty's twitter and this caught my eye.."Don't let anybody else's opinions or views control your actions. Do whatever makes you happy." as supposedly said by a young girl speaking about mental health. Now its one of those sound bites where you kind of you see where she is coming from, say if someone was a victim of bullying, but as a 'rule' to follow, its pretty terrible.. but actually I think that this simplistic sound bite type stuff is what is sticking.. it is lacking the nuance, the spectrum, the complexity - it combats doubts and lack of self esteem with blind and simplistic self-justification and of course is easily followed by "if it makes your happy its your right" and "who is anyone else to tell you No" and "acceptance without exception"

its like that thread that linked to research on the brains of extremists that found that extremists's brains switched off areas used in critical thinking when they talked about their extreme views and instead used areas associated with belief. I think there is a huge danger that kids (and adults) are being taught (and have for a long time) to use 'positive thinking' = irrational optimism to combat doubts rather than develop thinking skills and robust sense of self that can think critically and take and reflect upon criticism, be truly resilient etc and its getting worse.

and so that "it'll all be OK, sweep it under the carpet, magical thinking mentality is part of what allows this neo-liberal, irrational anti-safeguarding culture to flourish.. We use to have "just say NO" and wise sayings (pleas insert here), but now we have "just believe kids, just believe" and "anything is possible when you try hard enough" and all that other (obvious) bullshit. The cultishness of all of this (verging on mass delusion?) is worrying and its been going on for decades, slowly ramping up.

I have had a hard time personally butting up against people's irrational optimism and refusal to acknowledge the (objectively verifiable) seriousness of a RL situation and really its the worst kind of feeling, and quite scary.. mass denial/gaslighting - some knowing, some unwitting, many polarised views, few able to see the middle ground reality, as per general politics now The world had gone nuts... if it wasn't already.

What we are seeing is the tip of the iceberg. its just all so pervasive

(Probably could have cut this down but am so bloody tired)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3610447-Pink-Brain-Blue-Brain-Some-research-on-radicalisation-and-brains

This is the radical brain thread, platter just mentioned.

Echo chambers and social media are intrinsically linked.

The senior person in PR who has links to Ann Summers and NSPCC

This person?
twitter.com/kyrstypops?lang=en
"Celebrity & Talent Management, Former PR Manager. Fashion aficionado

Had a very odd twitter history combining promo for childline and sex toys simultaneously.

Another great post, thanks Plattercake so many smart women on here. It’s humbling.

Your last paragraph reminds me of this Ted Talk:

www.ted.com/talks/margaret_heffernan_the_dangers_of_willful_blindness?language=en

Sweet jesus rubberman seems completely unable to control himself from putting deliberately tagged work related masturbation online.

He also has no clue that the internet NEVER FORGETS, even if you do try and delete delete delete your X tube a/c

FFS! What’s it got to do with his work and why even mention it UNLESS it’s part of his FETISH?!

Deliberate positioning of his kink and his employment together.

A very brilliant post plattercakes.

Why does he have to say 'work trip' and 'at work', etc?

Is it the added transgression of being in a place where the people have no idea?

When NSPCC refused to engage with MN members last year they issued this statement, whilst wholely inadequate & incorrect in part, it has relevence in what it does say:

"MN statement, "However, in view of the questions asked in this thread, we asked the NSPCC for a statement:

The NSPCC doesn’t consider there to be specific child protection concerns in relation to trans-inclusive policies. Any space and activity involving children should have strong safeguarding policies in place, with a proper risk assessment to minimise the risks to all children involved. And every adult working with children should undergo rigorous safety checks and vetting procedures to ensure that young people are safe in their care.

Trans young people are at particular risk of physical, sexual and emotional abuse from peers. This can heighten the risk of abuse by adults as children turn online for support and access to networks of those sharing similar views and feelings. There should be high-quality, statutory relationships and sex education, alongside strong school safeguarding policies, to ensure that all children are kept safe in schools."

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3353658-AIBU-to-be-shocked-that-the-NSPCC-cancelled-their-Facebook-Live-session-with-Mumsnetters-because-they-didnt-like-the-questions-That-they-cant-explain-why-they-arent-putting-children-in-danger

thread with Safeguarding questions which NSPCC refused to engage with:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_facebook_live/a3343961-Facebook-Live-about-talking-to-kids-about-staying-safe-from-abuse-with-NSPCC

Another of his charming titles is:

WANKING IN RUBBER IN MY GARDEN
Having a cheeky wank in my full suit in the garden at night time, in...

It's either getting off on the thrill of being seen; or a male power play to do what he wants, where and when he wants.

Trans young people are at particular risk of physical, sexual and emotional abuse from peers. This can heighten the risk of abuse by adults as children turn online for support and access to networks of those sharing similar views and feelings.

Bloody hell.

What fucking idiots they are. Actually hiring a transperson who actively encourages "children (to) turn online for support and access to networks of those sharing similar views and feelings."*

Dear God.

People pointing out our own guidance to us are bullies.

Thank you so much for the link to the brain thread Red :) I am 41 and totally get you with the age thing and being in between quite different attitudes.

Yes DuMondeB from the intro (can't watch it right now) I think I can get that what Heffernan might be saying. Most people do not want to know. It undermines their world view and (perhaps most importantly) spoils their day.. These who are dong alright or who feel in control of their lives tend to be the worst - they believe they have earned it, can prevent trouble, anyone could 'just' get help etc, victim blamey types. Of and "it'll never happen", we all know that one. Maybe self-deluders recognise other self-deluders.. and they all want to prop each other up lest their own house of cards be blown down. Scary.

(And I am . I feel the same about you and others and chicken. I want to write a thank you thread every day. I wish we all knew each other in RL)

I often feel quite down but am inspired by whichever FWrer (so, so sorry for forgetting) said "We each bring our brick, and wait for others to lay their brick upon it, and so the house is built". What a fantastic and safe house FWR will have. No room for perverts and abusers or lazy thinkers so no wonder they don't want us to build it.

Agree platters

The women here are the best. With the bricks

The Family Law barrister, Sarah Phillimore, has written to the NSPCC to request an investigation into this employee's conduct.

Says she'll contact the Charity Commission by 4pm today if the NSPCC ignores her. She's talking about legal action if need be.

twitter.com/SVPhillimore/status/1139186612506714112

Trans young people are at particular risk of physical, sexual and emotional abuse from peers. This can heighten the risk of abuse by adults as children turn online for support and access to networks of those sharing similar views and feelings.

@datun do read the brain thread and the physical effects on the brain caused by extreme echo chambers. It pretty much says the same thing too and it's absolutely the opposite to what should be being done.

Yay Plattercake. MN feminists rock.