dear mn hq why is a government department posting on mn

Oh, and

*IF YOU'RE GOING TO PREACH NEO LIBERALISM TRY AND AT LEAST READ HAYEK FIRST.

No, Peachy dear, I'm forthcoming.

It's just that some seem to favour my ds.

And YY MNP

hrh depends which one youa re

if for example you are one of the dead two I mind quite a lot

PS if they want to do teh usual thing of coming on for webchats about childacre etc bring it on. And quite a few other bits too.

THAT side of it I notice has deminished... send us your info but please do not expect yer acktewal interaction.

If they're really posting on here to gauge public opinion, maybe the nice civil servants could pass my opinions on to the policy makers.

STOP TRYING TO DESTROY THE NHS AND PRIVATISING EVERYTHING YOU DIDN'T MANAGE TO LAST TIME

STOP TARGETING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES

IF WE NEED TO CUT SPENDING, STOP PISSING AWAY MONEY ON VOTE GRABBERS LIKE WEEKLY BIN COLLECTIONS AND IDEOLOGICAL BOLLOCKS LIKE FREE SCHOOLS IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS ALREADY SUFFICIENT PROVISION

Do you mind if I'm King?

I like horses and dogs.

And yes YaMa

This is where I come when Government policy scares me witless. A refuge. Thus I have blovked politics and InTheNews for the same reasons, ages ago.

Thank you MNHQ, thhat is the answer I hoped you would give.

I trust they ignored your requst then?

The thing I really have a problem with is that I absolutely despise this terrible govt that has no real mandate and yet is having a real and negative impact on people's lives. So why are they imposing themselves, uninvite, on a website I enjoy spending time on? If someone wants to read DoE blurb then they can do so at if DoE website. This isn't a free party political broadcast and image building site. It's absolutely wrong that they should take it upon themselves to have a 'presence' here.

I don't mind the ones where they start a thread saying 'can we have your feedback?'

That is IMO fine.

But official Government Here and

I'm sure the dept of health can advise you on steps to take to eradicate that headache Peachy

They don;t bloody abse it on what I have to say DF. They should though.

Meh.

There was a (now deleted) thread last week that looked like it was trying to gather opinion about private health insurance as a replacement for the NHS, or potentially form opinion on same.

I'm expecting to see more and more attempts at using MN in more manipulatlve ways as departments become more adept at using non-traditional media. They'll be joining the commercial spam, but selling policies instead of products.

I think MNHQ could have at least informed us that this was going to happen

Don't the government now base all their family/social policies around what mumsnetters say? 'We' seem to be asked to contribute to a lot of stupid surveys or questionnairs. I hate this so called collaborative government stuff. They will do what they want and are merely looking for opinion to back up what they already have planned.

Perhaps Hecaye

But why should they get that for free in that way when a business owner posts their information and gets deleted?

Why should they be able to sell teh stuff they like (eg the 'listening') and let the threads on changes to welfare go unanswered?

Crucially, did MNHQ agree to it? For some reason that matters to me. I am not sure why but it does. State sponsored board over independent talkboard I guess.

And YY to teh crap government likes to feed the media with anyway.

Also, if they put stuff on ehre have they ticked their box that says 'public dissemination'? because this reaches what, 1% of people at a generous push? What about all the people without access to PC whose taxes are being spent on looking good and pro-active to a niche MC eduated market?

My head hurts.

If they are who they say they are??

Anyway, as others have said, they'll be reading it anyway. I'd rather they were open about it - they may be able to be of some use and if not will see what the general public really think about things. I can't see why anyone is bothered about it.

peachy I imagine if you are genuinely posting as the DfE there are quite clear limits as to what you can post... I don't think engaging in debate on highly emotive topics would be allowed. Far too provocative and too easily picked up by the papers. Quite unethical too I think. As far as I can see those posts are only offering advice on helpline numbers and not really offering an opinion.

I am sure that the Government department involved are exactly who they say they are and are only trying to help fulfil the remit of Mumsnet - making parents' lives easier

Ah yes Alouisee - because people on the Internet are always who they say they are and always tell the truth. Like the arseholes who drip feed inaccurate "facts" to the likes of the DM. After all if it's a Govt department then it MUST be true eh?