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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:
Xrays · 22/02/2023 19:36

AutumnLeavesFallingIntoPlace · 22/02/2023 19:33

I can see some people might feel it's safer on Mumsnet, a familiar and trusted site with a good reputation. But they're making no attempt to protect users from people who might join specifically to play on that - and who only need to have been here seven days.

(Not to mention all the married men on there looking for 'any available female' - that's a direct quote! - presumably those whose wives didn't get to Ann Summers quick enough after giving birth amirite)

“Any available female”. 😳 How grim. 🤢

It really brings down the tone of the site. There’s just no need. So many other places for those kind of chats.

AutumnLeavesFallingIntoPlace · 22/02/2023 19:33

MrsS0werberry · 22/02/2023 19:28

I'm also interested in MNHQ's response to this excellent OP.

Sex chat thread is grim and storing up trouble. Surely the Internet is full of better alternatives if that's what you're looking for in a website?!

I can see some people might feel it's safer on Mumsnet, a familiar and trusted site with a good reputation. But they're making no attempt to protect users from people who might join specifically to play on that - and who only need to have been here seven days.

(Not to mention all the married men on there looking for 'any available female' - that's a direct quote! - presumably those whose wives didn't get to Ann Summers quick enough after giving birth amirite)

OP posts:
MokaEfti · 22/02/2023 19:29

I didn't know there was a sex chat thread on there, and if that's the case it is worrying for safeguarding reasons.

MrsS0werberry · 22/02/2023 19:28

I'm also interested in MNHQ's response to this excellent OP.

Sex chat thread is grim and storing up trouble. Surely the Internet is full of better alternatives if that's what you're looking for in a website?!

RogersOrganismicProcess · 22/02/2023 19:26

Also awaiting the response. I am particularly concerned about the safeguarding element of the sex chat thread. It seems like a tragedy/scandal waiting to happen.

AutumnLeavesFallingIntoPlace · 22/02/2023 19:24

What's wrong with discussing sex on the sex board, @Janiie ? Well, one thing I'm worried about is that there is no safety information and no attempt at age verification on the sexchat thread. Safeguarding children is all of our business and a thread that encourages explicit messaging offsite does need to carry warnings at the very least to protect underage and vulnerable users.

OP posts:
Clymene · 22/02/2023 19:21

Thank you for a really excellent summary of the issues.

Augend23 · 22/02/2023 19:19

Well summarised OP, looking forward to MNHQs response.

Rhondaa · 22/02/2023 19:17

CheezePleeze · 22/02/2023 18:28

Perhaps MNHQ should do a poll because I keep reading people saying that no-one wants it in active, but some of us really don't mind either way.

I'm thinking perhaps because we're less vocal about it and obviously the voting in AIBU doesn't have an option for 'I don't mind', maybe the overall view is a bit skewed.

Obviously it might not be but that's my tuppence worth anyway Smile

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.

Mermaidparades · 22/02/2023 19:11

Thank you, OP.

kittensinthekitchen · 22/02/2023 18:58

Good luck, I've been waiting on a response to a query about something for over a week.

Xrays · 22/02/2023 18:54

Waiting for a response. 👍

Amarchhare · 22/02/2023 18:53

Pregnant woman here who really doesn’t need a vibrator to reconnect with herself after the birth 🤢 or want to pack sexy lingerie in my hospital bag. Really not appreciated.

DaisyDucks · 22/02/2023 18:41

At this rate MN will turn into Only Fans in a few months.

FictionalCharacter · 22/02/2023 18:39

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 22/02/2023 17:53

Very good summary above.
Just to add that this has made the site feel tawdry and rather seedy to me. Really disappointed by this move.

I agree. Nothing wrong with having a sex topic, but not with all the thread titles showing in Active and promotions / ads for vibrators all over the place.

starlingsintheslipstream · 22/02/2023 18:31

Thanks OP. Hoping for an update from MNHQ soon.

Okunevo · 22/02/2023 18:29

Good post. I hope@mnhq is able to give an update soon

BlusteryLake · 22/02/2023 18:28

Thanks for pulling all this together OP, that's an excellent summary of the discussions so far. Let's hope there is an end to the radio silence from HQ soon.

CheezePleeze · 22/02/2023 18:28

Perhaps MNHQ should do a poll because I keep reading people saying that no-one wants it in active, but some of us really don't mind either way.

I'm thinking perhaps because we're less vocal about it and obviously the voting in AIBU doesn't have an option for 'I don't mind', maybe the overall view is a bit skewed.

Obviously it might not be but that's my tuppence worth anyway Smile

InsertSomethingMotivationalHere · 22/02/2023 18:27

Well summarised OP - very much looking forward to a response.

BentleyRhythmAce · 22/02/2023 18:25

Thank you @AutumnLeavesFallingIntoPlace . @LilyMumsnet @HopeMumsnet it would be good to have your input please. This isn't going away so you might as well take your users seriously.

BaroldFromEastenders · 22/02/2023 18:16

Good post.

Surplus2requirements · 22/02/2023 17:57

Another supporting the OP

YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 22/02/2023 17:54

Great post @AutumnLeavesFallingIntoPlace

Looking forward to hearing the response.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 22/02/2023 17:53

Very good summary above.
Just to add that this has made the site feel tawdry and rather seedy to me. Really disappointed by this move.