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1) Theappealisgoingahead (sorry to repeat but I know people miss stuff)
and
2) My colliwobbles were not all because of the EC situation. I already had a few concerns and the happenings last night just brought them to a head and made me take stock.
This thread is in danger of turning into another EC debate, that was not my intention.
EthanChristopher was apparently the nutty mammy pretending to be EC.seems pretty odd
ethanchristopher on Wed 01-Oct-08 19:28:56 right okay i give up.
i started this account on mumsnet for my dd for whom this story is real
sometimes she posts for advice e.t.c. other times i post as a troll. it got you all going anyway.
my daughter didnt know i was doing this and some posts are hers and the advice you've been giving her is great e.t.c.
shes really upset now as at first it was her posting today and then she showed me.. ive taken over for a while
sorry if its upset any of you but fwiw some of it was her and for those who have spoken to her over email shes greatful and will continue to especially those who wanted to meet up
i for one would be extremely disappointed if it didn't go ahead.
we received in the origional appeal and i really want to give this year.
i'd prefer to give and risk the minute chance that the person wasn't genuine than not give at all.
no one knows that EC was trolling in order to get money or gifts, for all we know they were just some sad deranged person with too much time on their hands creating a fantasy life for themselves. she never received anything did she? and she was hardly likely to be nominated as she kept claiming to be quite well off thanks to her parents so was hardly a poster in need.
very wise to put it on hold StG. Take some time to think and see what you come up with. I am sure it will be the right decision, and i know that the people you will be speaking to off MN will be Wise also
stg, very wise to put it on hold, i'm sure many others who may have been considering offering a donation will also be reconsidering after all that happened yesterday, just a shame the christmas appeal got pulled into it.
By carriemumsnet on Thu 02-Oct-08 10:28:00 (from MNHQ) Hi all
First off, apologies that we weren't able to make a statement on this last night, but we needed to do a bit of digging and investigating (not to mention that it was all kicking off way past some MNHQers' bedtimes blush.)
So, just to clarify, EC was not connected to CvQ, or indeed to any other Mumsnetter. EC was misleading people on the boards and because of that has now been banned.
Absolutely the right thing to do StG. It is sad that this has to happen at all but I think you must do what you need to right now.
Is there an official announcement from MNHQ about the outcome? I made it to about 10.45pm before retiring. I'm not too bothered about specifics, just worried about other significant parties whose names became embroiled in the whole thing. Was there a definitive answer to whether the troll was a short term louse or a regular who namechanged?
Well this had ven me cause to be truely angry with MNHQ for the first time.
There doesn't need to be any security issue's or concerns. they just investigate this poster and any IP's that she has posted from. they then come on here and let us know their findings.
I was helped in the first ever Christmas appeal, without my knowledge and i cannot tell you how fantastic it was. not for the material objects that it sent but that people had the genereosity to send anything and that someone thought i would be worthy of recieving those gifts. it really was overwhelming...nd i am not a huggy kissy lovey dovey kinda person at all.
for this parasite to be able to ruin it for anyone else due the paranoia and hysteria she has caused is just devestating.
But given the lack of any real factual information i agree that you have no choice STG
Understand completely StG, and I think you're right in doing so.
BecauseImWorthIt, the troll who kicked all this off had hundreds of posts though in the short time she was registered so I don't know if your idea would 'prove' anything IYSWIM.
Agree though that there needs to be some way of ensuring trolls don't get involved.
lou - that sounds like a good idea, but there are thousands of mumsnetters.
And I imagine that not only would most of them want to take part in this in some way, the trolls deffo would, and it would be an enormous amount of work for StG.
Is there any way MNHQ could support? Perhaps (thinking off the top of my head) they could knock together some kind of limited release form, applicable only to this years Christmas Appeal, and send it out to all registered emails that qualify (i.e. registered before 01/09/08) and then posters could return the release if they want to be involved, in which case MNHQ could send the email address to StG.
My thinking is that this way, MNHQ are validating the email address, rather than someone being able to divert things.
One thought - I know you've set a restriction re the date by which people needed to be registered on MN in order to be 'allowed' to take part. Could we also not have some kind of system showing how many posts they have made and how long posters have been around - even if you name change, this part of your posting would remain the same?
Then it would be easy to see how new people are, when they suddenly appear with their 'stories'.
Can't you just scale it down this year - do a shoebox scheme or something with unisex gifts/chocolates or similar? I know in previous years people have received tons of stuff, but surely a little gift would be just as fun, less risky and easier to organize. If someone needs more they can always ask in Free for Postage.
I am sure it is the right thing to do but I feel very strongly that some (insert word of choice) people shouldn't spoil it for the majority of decent Mners who just want to give a little smile to someone at Christmas. I'm still in for donating once you sort everything.
StG take a while to think, I'm sure nobody would expcet you to carry on with the added security issues etc, honestly, I'd find that really daunting as well.
I'm sure someone else would be happy to take it on if you felt you couldn't.
What time did that all get bazookered last night then? I switched off around 10.
I think this is the best and most sensible thing you can do under these circumstances, StG. Have been following tonight vacillating between bemused and aghast.
If you do decided to continue send me a message on FB as I don't have the stickies (chose not to have them as they confuse me ) and I'd like to try and donate this year (said that the last 3yrs and never did )
This morning I officially launched the MN Christmas Appeal 2008.
In view of recent events, I am now officially putting it on hold.
I have some concerns which I want to think through and possibly discuss with a few people. Those discussions will happen off the board.
And before anyone thinks to shouts 'clique' I am going to keep those discussions off the board because of things like tact and diplomacy, not because I am getting together with a bunch of my mates or trying to keep secrets.
I am sure most people can appreciate that there is a certain level of responsibility involved in running the appeal and right now I want to make sure I am truly happy to carry on, before it is too late.
TIA for your patience and understanding [hopeful emoticon]
that you need to. 
