Louise Mensch MP talks Twitter, trolls and motherhood

[ElenMumsnetBloggers]

This week, Mumsnet Bloggers Network is one year old. To celebrate, we're hosting a week of blogging activities - which kicks off today with MP Louise Mensch's guest blog. She explains why she ran for MP, how she juggles parenting with politics and why Conservative HQ was alarmed by her tweets. Read it here and leave comments on this thread - about blogging, about Louise's new venture Menshn, or about what she's said.

[nethunsreject]

Really? Louise Mensch? She's brave!

[weenwee]

She not put off by internet trolls? Funny, I actually consider her one...

[strangerwithmyface]

I think there's a lot of misogyny on the internet - men hiding behind the anonymity of the web - but I agree with Louise that it's a great leveller. TV and radio may still be very masculine domains but woman can create gender neutral or female-friendly spaces online. Every new site we set up (in the right spirit) is another corner of the web we've colonised.

[Wordsmith]

That's not a blog, it's a plug!

[MmeLindor.]

Mumsnet. I love you. I love the bloggers network and have great admiration for the women who run it.

But this was a bad idea.

Her post is not about her life juggling a career and family. It was a bare faced advert for her controversial new venture.

There are thousands of women who could have written a better post.

Will be good publicity though.

[anytimefrances]

I Agree with much of what Louise says, particularly about bringing new fresh life to politics and particularly about making it a more level playing field. Also others 'ganging up' and giving one a bad time which I can't stand at all. I disagree with some of her opinions and passions but that's what make for lively debate on the net.

[pinkpyjamas]

Elen, how long does the review procedure usually take re adding a blog to the MN Network, please?

I applied in the first week of June but have not had a response yet.

[fireice]

I agree with the troll comment. Why do you think we want to know anything more about this woman than we already do.
And I dont know what her website is meant to be for, looks a lot like twitter.

[JoanneMallon]

I don't understand why you're celebrating the blog network with a post by someone saying that they've stopped blogging.

[JustineMumsnet]

@JoanneMallon

I don't understand why you're celebrating the blog network with a post by someone saying that they've stopped blogging.

Well we've got a guest blog from Louise because she's interesting - much written about, much in the news what with Hackgate, Levenson, internet trolls, her use of social media. So we thought it was an interesting person to do a guest blog for us and clearly she's given her new network a bit of a plug, but I think in similar circs w'ed all do the same, don't you ?

[SheIsTheCatsMother]

"celebration" and "Louise Mensch" are mutually exclusive, surely?

[ElenMumsnetBloggers]

Hi Pinkpyjamas,

What's your blog called? We'll have a look for your application now....

[pinkpyjamas]

Thanks, Elen.
I've sent you a PM

[Viviennemary]

I saw her on Question Time once not long ago. And didn't agree with very much she said. Can't think why she of all people has been chosen to be promoted by Mumsnet.

[ilovemydogandMrObama]

She's fabulous! Agree with almost nothing politically, you gotta hand it to her during the episode when Rupert Murdoch was attacked, she was the only MP who got up as the rest were in a state of shock.

[JoanneMallon]

I get that she's interesting, but the world is full of interesting people. Some of them aren't even plugging anything. It still seems odd to mark a celebration of your blogging network by showcasing someone who doesn't blog, and in fact makes a point of saying that she used to, but stopped. It's hardly bigging up the blogging massive, is it?

I gave up blogging once.


Worst week of my life.



PS My book is available from all good Amazons for £7.99. Social network not included.

PPS I leave you with some thoughts from my favourite tweeter, Drunk George Osborne AKA @OsborneDrunk:

"I've founded a new media start-up company called Osbrn. It's not named after me! Osbrn let's you discuss stuff with other people. In many ways it's a lot like the rest of the Internet, and we all know how popular that is."

[MmeLindor.]

If we are plugging our blogs, am I allowed to mention mine (name on profile) and that I started a pre-teen blog called Jump Mag for girls.

[fireice]

She is interesting, but its not in a good way is it.

[UnChartered]

there are lots of us who have an idea as to why Ms Mensch went into politics...i doubt she's mentioned those in her blog and it sure ain't what the locals want in an MP either

[Xenia]

I looked at the Menschn thing and you can only write 180 characters. That is no good and particularly not for those of us who like to write huge chunks of text.

What Ms M can write about is (a) why she took her second husband's name despite its not being the name of her children and having established good will and reputation in her first name in 2012 and presumably a feminist - it was an appalling example

(b) what it is like to be married to a much older man who lives on a diffeernt continent - I bet he doesn't spend too many hours reading stories to and ferrying his step children around so I cannot see how it can be an acceptable marriage in feminist terms. (Someone will now correct me by saying he babysits 3 nights a week and spends hours with them I suppose....)

[Losingitall]

I'd rather suck Boris Johnson's balls

[pinkpyjamas]

Xenia, I think the 180 characters is so that the site is like a sort of Twitter Plus (you get 140 on Twitter).

[Xenia]

Yes, that is what puts me off. I do tweet but follow no one and only tweet about my work area - no "Xenia emerges from her bath with photograph".

However if I have anything to say I always have loads to say about it and being limited to a few lines is no good at all.

[Crumblemum]

I don't think there's much I agree with Louise M on politically, but I think she's by far one of the most interesting politicians around. Her http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14342674 statement after being questioned about taking drugs was a brilliant example of politicians being honest and talking to voters, not over analysing what the media will think.

Going is the era of politicians who try to command and control the media (god-willing) and three cheers for those who try to do something differently. I liked reading her blog (although not as much as above statement) and would like to see MN bloggers having more guests. I'm not a blogger, but have read some interesting blogs over on the network. Trouble is I always forget to go there, so something that grabs my eye is a good thing (and hopefully a good thing for other bloggers).

[Crumblemum]

Here is the link I hope http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14342674