Mumsnet Christmas Appeal/Secret Santa - your thoughts please?

I don't think another/moving the new giving week is a good idea as a replacement. I don't think it would raise very much money, in all honesty.

I would much prefer to see a Giving Week or similar.

I really think the 'appeal' has lost it's way now, I feel very uncomfortable about the whole thing - and I know I don't have to join in and send a gift,

It must be a huge amount of work for Mumsnet Towers.

I want to do it, I find it feels more personal donating an actual thing.

Could you do a MN Xmas giving appeal also?

I did the Secret Santa last year, but wasn't clear who/what I was donating for after all the Tizz Wizz. That's academic, in that someone's Christmas will have been a little brighter for a little gift, but I'm not sure if I will do it again as I was left with mixed feelings about it all.

I also think you put a lot of work, time and effort into helping with organising it, and took a lot of flack. If it's going to run, I think it should run with the attitude "It is what it is" to coin a terrible phrase.

I loved it and at a very bleak time in my life I felt lifted. Mumsnet at it's best.

I was reading through this feeling fairly ambivalent about the whole thing, and then saw a message from the MNetter I nominated last year. She utterly, utterly deserved something nice and I'm so pleased it had the desired outcome.

So I vote yes. No one should need a thank you, or a clap on the back for being so generous, it's just about making someone smile.

I'd be all up for a Secret Santa but can imagine it all kicking off with people not receiving a present when they had sent one.

I think it would be huge shame for the Christmas Thing or Giving Week to to stop.

Like other posters, I was horrified at the misery and nit-picking provoked by both.

I equate it to sport, which is something I have little interest in, and rarely get any pleasure from.

But I wouldn't turn up at a golf course, tennis court or football match and start berating the players and the audience about how silly it is to kick a big ball, thwack a ball that bounces or belt a tiny ball miles away.

If playing with/watching other people play with balls gives people so much pleasure they should be free to pursue that

Anyone who doesn't like Ch.T or GW is FREE TO SWERVE IT!

Peace and love

I think it's the word "appeal" that confuses people. I had seen it mentioned on the site last year but didn't have the time/headspace to donate. I assumed from the word appeal that there was some kind of criteria/hardship being experienced by the recipients.

IMO it's either a Secret Santa or an Appeal - but not both IYSWIM? I love the idea of both/either but I think a Secret Santa would be fun, especially if everyone understood the rules (whatever MNHQ decide the rules are!). I just think it wasn't very clear last year what the criteria were.

If you haven't been on mumsnet for a long time, or only come on here infrequently (like me) and don't know the history then it can be confusing and I can see why some people were unhappy when they discovered that it wasn't run how they thought/assumed it was. IIRC the word appeal had misled quite a few people.

It's a lovely idea though!

Last year tainted it for me. I remember it all kicking off after one person who wasn't nominated said how much it upset her. Cue lots of posts from upset posters on both sides of the fence.

That's when I also found out that people could nominate themselves.

I like the idea of running a secret Santa and just giving at the same time - perhaps one Just Giving campaign for the Womens Refuge

Maybe. It was a generous gift pats tum
but the criteria are a little odd

Perhaps people are entertained by your crossness lord.

( I did email MNHQ and suggest it was a typo)

i got something and was rather confused by it.
I am not nice or supportive, on the whole, and generally just get cross on mn.

Too open to abuse. Donations to Women's Aid instead.

My understanding of it was the same as yours Maryz.

Petula it's Women's Aid who do the JL gift list.

As unpopular as it'll make me, I say scrap it. Too many hard feelings from too many posters and obviously a heck of a lot of work for MNHQ that I think could be better devoted to something that would help people in need.

I had absolutely no idea either, Sparkling. I've been part of it for the last two years, but I'm .... a bit surprised ..............

I don't get it either Fru.

"I don't understand nominating yourself. Should that be allowed?"
"I wasn't aware that it was even possible to nominate yourself."

do people actually do that? I'm

I wasn't aware that it was even possible to nominate yourself.