Has Mumsnet dumbed down over the past couple of years IYO? Or, if you're new, what's your impression?

Agree with turquoise..... There's less thought now, it's jump first then think later. I used to post quite personal stuff to do with ds1- I don't really anymore because emotionally I can't handle a row about it.

I'd actually quite like to do an Aloha because a lot of the time reading mumsnet just depresses me these days, but there are too many people I've grown to like a lot over the years.

oh yes Enid

When I started I was polite and helpful and concilatory. Now I just snarl when someone rattles my cage. Not sure why I bother other than I still have a laugh sometimes.

Quite simply, I get bored on here much quicker than I used too so I think it has dumbed down for me.

someone posted today with a combination of textspeak, anxiety and no spaces and I tried to respond to the anxiety but couldn't because of the other two..I just can't understand/read it

Personally I think the one of the indicators of a dumbed down parenting forum is the number of tickers and avators.

quite

A lot of grads can't spell or construct a letter. Amazing.

but its much funnier now

IMO

god yes

if I read old threads of mine from 2001 we were all much more earnest and helpful

I agree, CD.

I think society in general has been dumbed down over the year.

I work in a higher learning setting, and the academics have all noticed the difference, especially the older ones.

There's a climate of PCness, oversensitivity, easily offensiveness that leads to people having some very, very unrealistic expectations.

Textspeak I find indicative of a general climate of illiteracy, tbh.

absolutely mb. If I see a thread title with 'how long between crawling and walking' I immediately pass it by thinking 'who the F cares??' BUT 5 years ago I'd have opened that with interest!!!!

I have come across a few Text postings, often very long with no paragraphs to break it up.

I couldn't read them, which was sad as the poster was asking for help.

and i do think it has got noticeably a lot lot bigger in the last recent not so long period..I now think i only know old people because my brain just isn't big enough to accommmodate more

I've never come across a post with textspeak, although cod's way of speaking is always highly entertaining....

I don't even mind the arguments, different if it's bullying, but what's wrong with 'a heated debate'???

Definitely agree with CCCarmenere that the average posters have "read the odd newspaper, voted, thought about their childrens education and are generally interested in human beings."
That is what makes it such an interesting site, especially to an old codger like me who is way past the baby/toddler stage.
I do think there is far less tolerance (in a human rather than pc way) now though, and an almost herd instinct tendency to jump on people for the slightest thing.
As to text speak - fine if you're texting, but not here where there's no need.

strawb....but you like tents and thus can never be ignored!

I think that the thread can get 'samey' that is just the nature of the beast.

It sort of happens in RL as well doesn't it? As you kids get older you think, when you look at a mum with a newborn . 'oh for goodness sake, stop fretting over cutting his nails' or whatever

I don't think text speak is trivial

I think it is indicative of a general dumbing down.

I agree with fio

Not intolerant of txtspk or Big Brother, GDG.

I choose to avoid those threads but I would never berate anyone for starting them.

And, hey, remember... I'm the one who can discuss the Macca-Mills saga until his toupee comes home...

Well said FioFio.

Waitrose, Strawb. It would be known as Waitrose or possibly ocado.

And I use both. So I'm 'in.'

BTW. I read your post as 'lidl slapper.'

What's the problem anyway? Some people want in depth debate on the state of the world and some people want to talk about clothes and what they are having for dinner.

People come here for different reasons and all of those should be respected.

I find this is a very snobby thread tbh and it's interesting that some 'intelligent' posters who post about tolerance and understanding of those who do other people harm (because they obviously lead a very hard life and we should be rehabilitating them dah de dah) are so intolerant of something as trivial as 'text speak' or a thread discussing a TV programme they don't personally like.

Sheesh.