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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Calling all night owls!

113 replies

RebeccaMumsnet · 23/02/2016 13:24

Hi all,

We'd like to recruit some more of you into the Nightwatch, to help out alongside our current night time volunteers.

The Nightwatch are a group of MNetters, many from overseas, who have the power to hide posts or threads of a spammy nature, or posts that overtly break our Talk guidelines.

They can't see or respond to reports, and aren't asked to make judgment calls on stuff like personal attacks, bunfights, troll-hunting and so on; they're simply equipped to deal with the sort of beyond-the-pale posts or images that you - and they! - would normally report to us.

Night watchers don't have to identify themselves, and are under no obligation to be around full-time - it's more a question of popping on the boards as you would do in the course of a normal day's Mumsnetting. We will be drawing up a rota and asking what works for you and what doesn't; if you thought you were likely to be around one night a week, that'd be about perfect.

If you're interested, please post below and we'll mail you with further information. We are looking for a handful of people, and will be looking at the global timezones to help cover as much time as possible, so please don't take it personally if you're not selected: it doesn't mean we love you any less Grin

OP posts:
Nightwatcher · 24/02/2016 02:58

you definitely need to provide some training even if online & brief

current Nightwatcher here

We do get exactly that - online, brief guidelines on what how to deal with difficult mental health posts.

gooseberryroolz · 24/02/2016 02:30

the people who write 'special snowflake' in their posts might snowflake out and delete/hide things that they shouldn't be, really.

Grin What do you mean leg? That people who say 'special snowflake' are wrong for the job? That's encouraging, I've never ever said it Grin

Will volunteers be trained & up to speed on libel law & art 10 & what constitutes assault etc?

But that's not the role, is it? The NW role is just to hide the 'no question about it, it's over the line' stuff for MNHQ to review later and leave the other stuff.

(And journalists are taught media law in about 10 minutes flat, which includes libel law and everything else.) It'll be fine. There are already NightWatchers doing it without a problem, just not enough of them Smile

leghoul · 24/02/2016 02:27

overcomplicates
will work for biscuits

leghoul · 24/02/2016 02:24

what about suicidal posters, etc?
you definitely need to provide some training even if online & brief

leghoul · 24/02/2016 02:23

Do I get a badge or a walkie talkie?
I think MN is quite enormous now though and so many different personalities, that the people who write 'special snowflake' in their posts might snowflake out and delete/hide things that they shouldn't be, really. Will volunteers be trained & up to speed on libel law & art 10 & what constitutes assault etc?

gooseberryroolz · 24/02/2016 02:20

I'm up for it. I'm in the UK but work a different timezone part of the time which I can never reset myself from. (And I MN when I'm working anyway Blush )

xalyssx · 24/02/2016 01:18

I am happy to do this

WhoaCadburys · 24/02/2016 01:17

And haven't I seen campaigns on here against unpaid student internships?

WhoaCadburys · 24/02/2016 01:16

Agree. Totally not on. Have been complaining about how you treat posters with mental health issues for years (having received a suicide nite from someone on here) and now this after the thread the other night?

Could barely see the board for Cadburys adverts the other day (hence the name) and you want to put something so important in the hands of volunteers? Don't wait for an accident to happen.

SnuffleGruntSnorter · 24/02/2016 01:14

I am also surprised that such a big company is asking for volunteers to run its out of hours services.

I think it would be wonderful if MNHQ said 'you know what, I bet we could give a few people - maybe women who would otherwise find juggling work and childcare impossible - a really great job here. Let's pay them a fair wage for the responsibility of looking after the site at night.

catsofa · 23/02/2016 23:59

Yes these should be paid roles, totally unethical to get volunteers for this.

ellenjames · 23/02/2016 23:30

That's tight!! You should have paid staff!!!

AnneEyhtMeyer · 23/02/2016 22:46

I cannot understand why someone would volunteer to work for nothing for a large company. Would you work for McDonalds for zero pay?

It is embarrassing that a company like Mumsnet expects people to work for nothing.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 23/02/2016 22:40

We definitely need volunteers who will RTFT

That's me out then as I obviously didn't. Sparkling clearly is your woman.

AnnieOnAMapleLeaf · 23/02/2016 22:25

I'll volunteer for this! I am on MN far too often and, with the time difference, am usually creeping the boards until around 4:00am.

Sparklingbrook · 23/02/2016 21:24

We definitely need volunteers who will RTFT.

I don't understand why it's not a proper paid role like it is in the daytime though. Confused Especially as UK nighttime is the popular time for trolls.

Hunchbackofnotre · 23/02/2016 21:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MissBeaHaving · 23/02/2016 21:16

I'm always around through the night so happy to help if needed.

LilacSpunkMonkey · 23/02/2016 20:26

There could be no impartiality with using posters, no matter how much people say they don't notice names/it's all just words on a screen.

And any volunteers should need to have their own posting history gone through with a fine tooth comb.

JOEYDOESNTSHAREFOOD · 23/02/2016 20:21

Its been said repeatedly that MNHQ need to take some real ownership over what happens at night and staff it properly with PAID staff.

Seriouslyffs · 23/02/2016 20:10

Not on MN
You should have a paid rota of moderators.

hollinhurst84 · 23/02/2016 20:03

Interested Smile

Millionsmom · 23/02/2016 18:57

And I'd have a legit excuse to ignore my DH and the housework to be on Mumsnet so early Grin

Millionsmom · 23/02/2016 18:55

I'm interested. My day starts at 2 am UK time, so being around through the nights not a problem.

WaitrosePigeon · 23/02/2016 18:48

Ps, Monday and Wednesday I'm usually around as I house sit until about 3am. So I can do those days..