Please can we kill the thread that gets at old people?

[scoobysnax]

Please can we kill the thread that gets at old people - it would not be acceptable to have a go at other sectors of society eg black people and I find it offensive. Sorry if you think this is a sense of humour failure on my part - I don't want to stop anyone's fun for the sake of it - I just don't think this thread is an appropriate one for mumsnet.

[snowdonim]

I agree, Scoobysnax, let's kill it now. I've been quite upset at some of the things said on it.

[roam]

here here

[grumpygal]

dont see why that thread should be censored when the rabbit one and various other ones with sexual overtones are allowed.

[Northerner]

If ya don't like it don't read it.

[grumpygal]

exactly - and thats what the site gals normally say too

[Festivefly]

The sexual overtones is me ,sorry its been a while

[GladTidings]

lol FF!

[justiner]

Hi all,
In general mumsnet policy is to censor as little as possible, all the more so when people have eloquently argued the case against on the boards for all to see. We absolutely would not tolerate racist or personal attacks but if we intervened every time people posted in bad taste it would become a little difficult to know where to stop, particulary when it comes to attempts at humour.
We think that the way the boards more often than not self-police, as it were, is one of the things that make them work so well. We hope you agree...
Best wishes to all (not forgetting peace and love?)
Justine, Carrie and Rachel.

[normerryxmas]

A good example of commonsensorship! hear hear

[scoobysnax]

Non-censorship is a fair policy in my mind - but I think it is inconsistent to disallow rascism if you allow ageism. For instance, in the thread which I objected to, if it had been said that black people smell of wee, would that be allowed by mumsnet or would it be rascist?
I appreciate that it is a difficult job to decide what is and what is not acceptable, but shouldn't there at least be some consistency?

I do think that in general you run this board exceptionally well and I appreciate it is not always easy - but I would like to hear what you think of this opinion.

[Bekki]

Totally agree. I'm not sure which thread you are referring to Scooby but there is one floating about which is targeted at young people with some very nasty comments about young mums.
There are certain groups in society which some people like to target and ridicule and I find it incredibly offensive.

[wilburclaus]

The old people thread just makes me terribly sad. I'm pretty sure I will wake up tomorrow and find myself in my bath chair, put out to pasture.

[jinglesaur]

Bekki I'm really sorry if I've said something offensive - it was actually meant as a joke on myself for being so old - it was certainly not meant as a serious attack on young mothers. I think anyone who knows me or who has even read my posts on here would know I am not like that - but that's the last time I joke on mumsnet.

[RoscoeReindeer]

I thought it was a joke too, Jinglesaur. In fact, I'm not sure how it could have been taken seriously at all.

[RoscoeReindeer]

I thought it was a joke too, Jinglesaur. In fact, I'm not sure how it could have been taken seriously at all.

[wiltshire]

I think that Mumsnet boards should allow everyone to say their comments and not be censored. After all this is a virtual noticeboard. I am so fed up with being told how to behave/think/speak. If you start to read something and find it offensive, don't read on. Same as I do when I get many of the porn emails spammed at me. But everyone should be allowed to have their say, no matter what it's about.

[justiner]

We do think there is a subtle difference between racism and ageism - everyone gets old, only some people are black, white, asian whatever and we also think that comments obviously meant in jest (funny or not) are a little different from downright abuse - but it's a fair point, Scoobysnax. It's a very difficult one but our basic stance is that self-policing generally works well, plus on a more pragmatic level we aren't watching all the time so if you leave moderation entirely to us it just wouldn't work. Also without wanting to sound patronising, we do think people's minds can be opened by a bit of debate - at least that is what many members have reported over the years - and that can't be a bad thing. Still as we always say, it's your site as much as ours and if a lot of you thought we should do it differently we'd definitely have a think about other options.
Best,
Justine, Carrie and Rachel.