Racism and Classism at MDC - Page 13

[kama'aina mama]

Originally Posted by arthead

YES! that's what would be nice to see here, simply being able to tell someone "hey, that's sort of offensive to me b'c..."

Do you not feel that you can do that right now? Because you can.... I mean, people do it frequently. I think a big part of the reason this thread is still going is that while we are each empowered to tell any other poster, either in a thread or by PM that they are using some isms and should take a look at it... some people are frustrated that there is not a stronger stance from the admin on these issues. I guess what I'm wondering is, well if the admin is not currently inclined to address this to our satisfaction what are we willing to do on our own about this? Can we form a tribe, create a mission statement and just try to make headway at a grass roots level? Can we perhaps create a resource thread so that in the future you might be able to simply PM someone or post "Hey... you might not know this but X that you posted is offensive to some people. For more info on why click this link and read post number 14."

[Arduinna]

no actually what this thread has shown is that it's ok to point out isms if they agree with the acceptable party line that is defined here.

[AnaNicole]

Whoa....

Boy, leave for a few hours and I can no longer keep up! Not even sure where to wade into this discussion now, be it the pace or the hurt feelings...not even sure.

Back to lurk mode for now, then.

[TiredX2]

Joining AnaNicole

:

[arthead]

Originally Posted by kama'aina mama

Do you not feel that you can do that right now? Because you can.... I mean, people do it frequently. I think a big part of the reason this thread is still going is that while we are each empowered to tell any other poster, either in a thread or by PM that they are using some isms and should take a look at it... some people are frustrated that there is not a stronger stance from the admin on these issues. I guess what I'm wondering is, well if the admin is not currently inclined to address this to our satisfaction what are we willing to do on our own about this? Can we form a tribe, create a mission statement and just try to make headway at a grass roots level? Can we perhaps create a resource thread so that in the future you might be able to simply PM someone or post "Hey... you might not know this but X that you posted is offensive to some people. For more info on why click this link and read post number 14."

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Kama... nah, I'm not into law-making, especially for an open forum such as MDC. I totally feel like I could tell someone if I'm offended by something. What I was saying with that quoted statement, is that I hope that doesn't get taken away by moderating too much.

The thing I like most about this board is the freedom which seems welcomed by most. It bothers me to see someone else bothered by this freedom & I'd hate to see it censored to please a few, at the cost of truth, when it could all just be some misunderstanding of "feelings".

Again, I really believe that we MUST bring the same tools into this forum as we bring into life in general. Be strong within our own beliefs, but definitely listen to others. If what they have to say doesn't jive with how you have grown yourself to feel, then chuck it! No Big Deal, right? BUT, if we do away with saying what each of us feels altogether, we lose the great opportunity to grow at all (if we so choose after hearing someone else's opinion). Ya know?

I'm NOT interested in creating new laws simply to protect the human ego. & I'm NOT wanting to keep such an open forum that people feel they can just come in, fling some sh!t at a particular race or class or gender & then be able to "HAHA" on their way out either. We're all adults here, with bigger issues at hand than our delicate egos, right? I think we can come in & say to each other just what you've said if we really think it'd do everyone some good. "Hey, that word/idea is pretty offensive b'c of this reason...any way you could revise?" is an excellent way of communicating as adults, is what I was saying. Then, of course if someone wants to be immature enough to throw it back at you in a demeaning way, you CAN choose to ignore what they type. OR If they have a valid reason to want to continue to use the word or idea... that's life & maybe they have a valid point as well. & isms exist whether we choose to acknowledge those beliefs or not.

SO, what I like about all of this is the fact that we get sort of a sneak view of someone's TRUEST thoughts about certain topics.

We're not all just one giant group of good friends with the same belief systems here, we're an online community of women & men from around the globe! Isn't that awesome?? SO, we're BOUND to disagree on many many topics. BUT what's cool about being able to post our most personal views here, is that we can see others' perspectives & work it out or not work it out & still have our face-to-face friends. & possibly bring our daily friends some enlightenment if we learn it thru MDC... KWIM?

In the end, I think it's sooo special that we can all be so different & still want to share our fears & desires & lives with each other. I'd just hate to see all of that disappear b'c a few people don't yet see how precious that really is, yk?

'nuf said by me... Hopefully this forum stays open b'c it really is one of the most unique & loving places I've found online.

[mahdokht]

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...10#post1439110

Here it is mommas. For those of us who are so inclined let's get over there and get to work. For those who don't want to participate then feel free to keep fighting isms by pointing them out individually on the board. Every effort at education helps. BTW I think you ladies rock!

[*Erin*]

whoa. i can't keep up. my dd is being a clingon, and im nak, but here's a little of what i'm thinking..

Originally Posted by kama'aina mama

I guess what I'm wondering is, well if the admin is not currently inclined to address this to our satisfaction what are we willing to do on our own about this? Can we form a tribe, create a mission statement and just try to make headway at a grass roots level? Can we perhaps create a resource thread so that in the future you might be able to simply PM someone or post "Hey... you might not know this but X that you posted is offensive to some people. For more info on why click this link and read post number 14."

i think that's the perfect way to go about it. a gentle point in the direction of the sticky thread pertaining to whatever the hurtful remark is about. and i think it should be a grassroots tribal thing, considering the way the admins have handled other issues (namely the gay bashing couched as opinion thing...)

i think the folks signing on to do this, to "police" (for lack of a better term) should be (and prob are) aware that if it's done publicly, asking someone to check out an ism education thread, that it could blow up into a frustrating head-banging debate. i think perhaps it should be a case by case, go with your gut kinda thing, whether to handle it in pm form or in public.

sheena, i know where you're coming from, mama. thank you again for starting this thread, and for staying on it like you have, in spite of your teething monsterbaby loves to you.

[muse]

I think this thread has taken this unfortunate turn because there has been no statement from the mods of MdC on this matter. Sheena's OP is under Questions and Suggestions and I would expect the admin to get more involved in this one. There will be some of us here who believe strongly in fighting isms, others who don't believe they exist, and in between a whole range of interests and motives and beliefs. I don't see how we can come to a resolution without MdC making an official announcement on proper procedures, but that's not going to stop me speaking up as an individual when I spot something offensive.

Sheena, thanks for starting this, again, and sorry you are feeling so burnt out on it. Ain't it always the way, that the messenger is always the one getting shot at?

[Rhonwyn]

Thanks Erin!

Originally Posted by *Erin*

yes rhonwyn, you're right. light skinned people are also on the recieving end of prejudice. like the irish. i agree. i'm sure you had no idea that the term "gypsy" (i saw this term used on another thread, and meant to go post a link there too, but i cannot remember where it was..) is considered offensive by the people it refers to. i used that term once on another board, and a wise woman pointed it out to me. here's a good link-- http://home.interlog.com/~leerom/rcc...s/FS5jour.html

brusselsprout, yep, there's not anywhere where white privilege is nonexistant, or not an issue. when the most powerful people, the ones who control the resources such as money, energy, television, newspaper, magazines, and politics, are mostly white (men for that matter, too) then it spans across national and world borders.

I get so confused sometimes as to what is offensive and what isn't. One of our favorite bands is the 'Gipsy Kings' but maybe it is like NWA, okay for them to label themselves but not for outsiders. It is like the black/African American thing. I get mixed reactions some prefer black others prefer AA. My daughter (6) thinks we are all nuts. Whites are pinks or peaches, Mama! and Blacks are brown! She usually says light or dark skinned. I am pretty proud of her, when her friend asked for a skin tone pencil, she replied which one?

[Cynthia Mosher]

We're just giving you the space to discuss the issue fully and see how you all feel, what you expect, and what you propose. So far I see nothing fully agreed upon. There is dissent and disagreement. And this entire issue is something that I would take to Peggy O'Mara for discussion to see what she feels about implementing any sort of Action Plan. But I certainly can't do that at this stage.

As far as assigning members to policing the boards or putting the task upon moderators to handle such issues directly I don't have any intentions of implementing such things as part of an Action Plan.

[candiland]

No, I don't see a messenger getting shot at. I see a messenger with a wonderful heart and an even more wonderful idea....... but who, on the one hand, claims she does not want to overmoderate, but on the other hand, wants to nitpick a few things and it annoyed a couple of people. It really wasn't a big deal. It is a highly emotional issue, and sometimes certain things are blown out of proportion because of that. It's to be expected.

At the beginning of the thread, the mods had some interesting input and then were attacked for it. No wonder they want to stay out of it for now.

I love Mahdokot's new thread. Maybe a nice, clean start over there concerning education would be the right thing to do?...........