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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Sex board in Active and Ann Summers

181 replies

AutumnLeavesFallingIntoPlace · 22/02/2023 17:37

Hi @MNHQ

As the previous thread about the sex board being in Active is almost full after a lot of discussion, I think a few of us were hoping you could address the main concerns arising:

  • firstly and most importantly, it seems that no one wants it in Active. Posters on the sex board and off are widely agreeing across all threads that it was better not showing in Active for many reasons. It's making everyone's experience worse.
  • secondly, we'd like to know to what extent Ann Summers and other advertisers have dictated the change in the sex board's visibility and the change in users being required to register three months prior to being able to post on the sex board to seven days. The 'reigniting intimacy' promotional piece seems to suggest this is a deliberate choice to bring the forum 'inline with [Ann Summers'] Pleasure Positivity Project'. Given the response to previous threads on Ann Summers in 2021 and 2022, they are not popular with many site users and their maternity/postpartum promotion might be considered to be unhelpful and unsupportive of new mothers and very much not in the spirit of MN.
  • the sex board hosts a sexchat thread which invites users to contact each other via DM for explicit conversation and then move to other platforms to continue. There are no safety warnings or age verification on the sex board and this puts users at risk of predators exploiting MN's trustworthy reputation, particularly given the change in registration requirements
  • finally, a lot of us wonder why MN have done such a u turn on the sex board, having argued initially that it would attract trolls. How and why did this change?
OP posts:
WombsofWimbledon · 22/02/2023 21:18

Rhondaa · 22/02/2023 19:17

Yes I bet there are plenty who don't want to voice support for the sex board less they are accused of being pervs, depraved or seedy.

I'd like to know what is wrong with discussing sex and sex toys on a dedicated board? How on earth can these very normal things be disgusting according to some mumsnetters. Such snooty comments too about Ann Summers scratchy knickers on previous threads, not everyone wears thermal belly warmers. Not everyday anyway.

Yes fine keep it off active but let's stop with the sermons.

I've a solution mnhq, block the critics from viewing it! Solve all the problems.

Most people just want it not in your face (so to say..) in Active? Seems pretty reasonable.

AutumnLeavesFallingIntoPlace · 22/02/2023 21:18

Okunevo · 22/02/2023 21:17

No update on why the three month minimum registration is now just 7 days?

Would really like an answer to this!

OP posts:
Okunevo · 22/02/2023 21:17

No update on why the three month minimum registration is now just 7 days?

AutumnLeavesFallingIntoPlace · 22/02/2023 21:15

Thanks @LilyMumsnet and could you clarify why there is no safety info on the sex chat thread? Given that its purpose is to facilitate explicit conversations between users that may move off site, how do you protect any underage users from accessing this thread? Will you put any warnings on it?

OP posts:
BIWI · 22/02/2023 21:14

Rogue1001MNer · 22/02/2023 20:30

Shame it needs yet another thread.

A comment on this has been deleted (so they're obvs watching), but no comment from mnhq

I reported my own post @Rogue1001MNer Blush.

LilyMumsnet · 22/02/2023 21:11

Hi all

We're happy to clarify our position here. The decision to put topics in and out of Active is always made by MNHQ and it is not influenced by anyone else. We wanted to try Sex in active and we are keeping a close eye on the results. Ultimately, we want MNers to be able to find discussions that interest them and that they may find helpful.

As with any new change, we like to give things time to settle before we make any decisions. We’re continuing to keep an eye on the situation and are listening to all feedback. In the meantime, we are advising MNers to hide the topic if they don’t want to see it. If you are having any issues hiding the topic, please let us know and we'll do our best to help.

We generally only intervene on private messages when a MNer reports it to us. The report function is there to ensure we can take action if someone is found to be breaking our guidelines - which apply to PMs in the same way they do on the boards. As ever, if you have any concerns about a poster, please report them to us. We're always happy to take a look.

Rogue1001MNer · 22/02/2023 21:05

I found @CousinKrispy's excellent post on the last thread so compelling.

AutumnLeavesFallingIntoPlace · 22/02/2023 20:56

I see @LilyMumsnet is responding to threads in Site Stuff this evening, and I do appreciate there may be no update on moving Sex Board posts out of Active and that perhaps the question about advertisers dictating the change will take longer to answer. I do feel that the safeguarding question around the sex chat thread does warrant a quicker response though - please do let us know why there is nothing there to protect vulnerable and/or underage users from being exploited on that thread?

OP posts:
twoandcooplease · 22/02/2023 20:49

Getir · 22/02/2023 20:18

I think MNHQ have hidden this thread and all the others on the same subject.

I hope not, it warrants a response at least, hopefully with changes. Not hiding ....

noodlezoodle · 22/02/2023 20:47

MeganTheeScallion · 22/02/2023 20:11

@Getir a penis straw in a glass of gin

Surely it would be a penis straw in a penis beaker?

<sorry>

I am absolutely incredulous that these threads have been going on for more than a week with no substantive response. It shows such contempt for members of the community.

Surplus2requirements · 22/02/2023 20:43

CharlotteOwlFace · 22/02/2023 20:37

@MeganTheeScallion yes, that's who he puts me in mind of. That irritating Harry Enfield character. Grin

OK, I've no desire to undermine the intention of unity in this thread anymore than going over the same disagreements already is so ill dip out 🤐

CharlotteOwlFace · 22/02/2023 20:37

@MeganTheeScallion yes, that's who he puts me in mind of. That irritating Harry Enfield character. Grin

Surplus2requirements · 22/02/2023 20:36

MrsTerryPratchett · 22/02/2023 20:32

Yes I bet there are plenty who don't want to voice support for the sex board less they are accused of being pervs, depraved or seedy.

There's a name change function. They can all come on calling themselves User2382762837698273469783264 and comment in a positive way.

However, everyone appears to want the same things, to go back to the old rules. Pervs and Prudes United will never be defeated.

That's the best chuckle I've had in a while 😆

MrsTerryPratchett · 22/02/2023 20:32

Yes I bet there are plenty who don't want to voice support for the sex board less they are accused of being pervs, depraved or seedy.

There's a name change function. They can all come on calling themselves User2382762837698273469783264 and comment in a positive way.

However, everyone appears to want the same things, to go back to the old rules. Pervs and Prudes United will never be defeated.

TeaandHobnobs · 22/02/2023 20:32

Thank you @AutumnLeavesFallingIntoPlace - fully support you on this

Rogue1001MNer · 22/02/2023 20:30

Shame it needs yet another thread.

A comment on this has been deleted (so they're obvs watching), but no comment from mnhq

Surplus2requirements · 22/02/2023 20:27

MeganTheeScallion · 22/02/2023 20:18

@Surplus2requirements oh stop trying to organise women and direct the conversation all the bloody time. It's incredibly boring. It reminds me of that Harry Enfield character, "Only me! You don't want to that!"

We'll talk about what we want to talk about, in the ways we want to talk about it. Might chime with your preferences, might not. Time will tell.

Disclaimer: millions of other opinions on this are available.

I'm not trying to organise anyone. I just think another thread full of differing views will have far less impact on HQ than one that gets behind the OP. Even if for having different reasons for doing so.

It makes sense in my head but it's just one opinion

00100001 · 22/02/2023 20:20

Rhondaa · 22/02/2023 19:17

Yes I bet there are plenty who don't want to voice support for the sex board less they are accused of being pervs, depraved or seedy.

I'd like to know what is wrong with discussing sex and sex toys on a dedicated board? How on earth can these very normal things be disgusting according to some mumsnetters. Such snooty comments too about Ann Summers scratchy knickers on previous threads, not everyone wears thermal belly warmers. Not everyday anyway.

Yes fine keep it off active but let's stop with the sermons.

I've a solution mnhq, block the critics from viewing it! Solve all the problems.

There's nothing wrong with the board exist.

It's about being notified of the content without being asked.

If someone added you to a sexting WhatsApp group and you hadn't been asked, saw loads of chat about fisting, tit wanks and anal... I doubt you'd think it so fine. And when you'd removed yourself, you were readded and again when you checked your WhatsApp, you had a message saying something like "I came so hard when he put his cock in my arse"

You'd be fine with that?

You think we should have unsolicited sex I our daily browsing?

You'd be fine if your work place started doing this, or if you went to watch a TV show at 5pm there was a vibrator advert in the as break?

MeganTheeScallion · 22/02/2023 20:18

@Surplus2requirements oh stop trying to organise women and direct the conversation all the bloody time. It's incredibly boring. It reminds me of that Harry Enfield character, "Only me! You don't want to that!"

We'll talk about what we want to talk about, in the ways we want to talk about it. Might chime with your preferences, might not. Time will tell.

Disclaimer: millions of other opinions on this are available.

Getir · 22/02/2023 20:18

I think MNHQ have hidden this thread and all the others on the same subject.

AutumnLeavesFallingIntoPlace · 22/02/2023 20:18

LittleBearPad · 22/02/2023 20:16

Well done OP.

Looked in vain for the announcement that MNHQ had commented on this thread.

I'm sure they'll be along in a while to say they're reading the threads and passing on the feedback...

OP posts:
LittleBearPad · 22/02/2023 20:16

Well done OP.

Looked in vain for the announcement that MNHQ had commented on this thread.

Surplus2requirements · 22/02/2023 20:14

CharlotteOwlFace · 22/02/2023 20:13

@Surplus2requirements thank you for your male perspective. Shut up women.

It was a polite suggestion

CharlotteOwlFace · 22/02/2023 20:13

@Surplus2requirements thank you for your male perspective. Shut up women.

PearsOfWisdom · 22/02/2023 20:13

Here waiting for MNHQ response

< tumbleweed>