Page 4 | Laugh reaction

Itsjustsodepressing · 2025-04-28T15:12:06+00:00

I know when MN introduced the reaction button which included the Laugh emoji a lot of posters weren't happy about it. And there have been various comments by posters about its misuse. It is just being used so commonly now to mock and deride serious comments that are in no way funny. That can no way be interpreted as light hearted. It would appear to be being used to try and drive posters off threads. And the impression I get is that it's actually often certain posters ganging up together to try and silence people who don't agree with them. I think MN having guidelines for posters to stick to civilised responses to other posters is being undermined because they have given those who are minded to be unpleasant to other posters the perfect tool to be nasty to them without having to verbalise anything and risk getting their post removed. I'm failing to see any benefit in providing the laugh emoji reaction when it's principal use now is to upset and drive away genuine posters. I don't think it was a good idea in the first place and I would like to see MN remove this reaction option.

ilovesooty · 30/04/2025 19:36

NameChangedOfc · 30/04/2025 19:31

Excuse my ignorance but how do you report a reaction? I didn't know you could do this...

I reported my own post, referencing the poster who'd done it. As I said, I got a swift reply confirming that the poster would be dealt with.

NameChangedOfc · 30/04/2025 19:31

Excuse my ignorance but how do you report a reaction? I didn't know you could do this...

Somethingthecatdraggedin7 · 30/04/2025 19:00

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 30/04/2025 18:52

What if you raised it on the thread? That would be a consequence.

Hey X poster, I'm curious what it was you found funny. I'd love to know.

Show quote history

Yes I did ponder about that. But when I tried doing the thing where you quote somebody’s name and they are notified the name didn’t seem to work. I wonder if because they haven’t actually posted on the thread this function doesn’t work in which case the cowardly one wouldn’t know they had been mentioned.

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 30/04/2025 18:52

Somethingthecatdraggedin7 · 30/04/2025 18:08

It happened to me today.
The person who did it is either too thick or too cowardly to make a proper argument disagreeing with what I have posted so they click on a laughing emoji instead.
It’s pathetic behaviour.
People doing this on fb can be identified and blocked. I spot the inappropriate use of laugh emojis when reading my local fb group and block them. I have found it weeds out the perennial idiots and bullies most usefully.
Here on MN there is no blocking and apparently no consequences for this puerile conduct.

Edited

Show quote history

What if you raised it on the thread? That would be a consequence.

Hey X poster, I'm curious what it was you found funny. I'd love to know.

Original poster

Itsjustsodepressing · 30/04/2025 18:42

Somethingthecatdraggedin7 · 30/04/2025 18:08

It happened to me today.
The person who did it is either too thick or too cowardly to make a proper argument disagreeing with what I have posted so they click on a laughing emoji instead.
It’s pathetic behaviour.
People doing this on fb can be identified and blocked. I spot the inappropriate use of laugh emojis when reading my local fb group and block them. I have found it weeds out the perennial idiots and bullies most usefully.
Here on MN there is no blocking and apparently no consequences for this puerile conduct.

Edited

Show quote history

I agree with this.

On the occasions I have reported the inappropriate use of the laugh emoji I usually get the response that MN are " looking into it" or similar.

But no follow up to say any action has been taken.

The feeling is that you are wasting your time reporting because there is usually nothing from MN to indicate that the report had been acted on or even taken seriously.

OP posts:

Somethingthecatdraggedin7 · 30/04/2025 18:08

Itsjustsodepressing · 30/04/2025 16:53

Yes but that was visible and gave other posters the opportunity to question or answer it.

The hidden emoji is a very personal attack when used in the negative way it is being used.

It's just so interesting that you and other posters are actually quite happy with the negative use of the laugh emoji.

I think that goes to show MN have got it wrong.

If they really didn't want it used in a negative way they have misjudged how basically downright unpleasant a significant number of posters are .

Show quote history

It happened to me today.
The person who did it is either too thick or too cowardly to make a proper argument disagreeing with what I have posted so they click on a laughing emoji instead.
It’s pathetic behaviour.
People doing this on fb can be identified and blocked. I spot the inappropriate use of laugh emojis when reading my local fb group and block them. I have found it weeds out the perennial idiots and bullies most usefully.
Here on MN there is no blocking and apparently no consequences for this puerile conduct.

SirChenjins · 30/04/2025 17:46

TooBigForMyBoots · 30/04/2025 16:41

Again, you are pointing the finger of blame at the people on the receiving end of this nasty behaviour. Not at the people who are deliberately misusing the emoji.

Before the private laugh emoji, Mnetters quoted the the post and added a or 😂😂😂. Similarly, reposts with ^^ this. The private function stops threads from being cluttered up.🤷‍♀️

Yes - and other posters could call out their dickish behaviour or report them for MN to delete them, often (thankfully) before the OP saw them.

LindorDoubleChoc · 30/04/2025 17:45

OMG does anyone fancy a pint?

Original poster

Itsjustsodepressing · 30/04/2025 16:53

TooBigForMyBoots · 30/04/2025 16:41

Again, you are pointing the finger of blame at the people on the receiving end of this nasty behaviour. Not at the people who are deliberately misusing the emoji.

Before the private laugh emoji, Mnetters quoted the the post and added a or 😂😂😂. Similarly, reposts with ^^ this. The private function stops threads from being cluttered up.🤷‍♀️

Yes but that was visible and gave other posters the opportunity to question or answer it.

The hidden emoji is a very personal attack when used in the negative way it is being used.

It's just so interesting that you and other posters are actually quite happy with the negative use of the laugh emoji.

I think that goes to show MN have got it wrong.

If they really didn't want it used in a negative way they have misjudged how basically downright unpleasant a significant number of posters are .

OP posts:

LittleGreenDragons · 30/04/2025 16:52

TooBigForMyBoots · 30/04/2025 16:41

Again, you are pointing the finger of blame at the people on the receiving end of this nasty behaviour. Not at the people who are deliberately misusing the emoji.

Before the private laugh emoji, Mnetters quoted the the post and added a or 😂😂😂. Similarly, reposts with ^^ this. The private function stops threads from being cluttered up.🤷‍♀️

And that is how it should be used. But for some posters it is not how they are using it.

The ones who are telling OP she's being over sensitive are probably the ones saying "it's only bantz" in real life. People know it's not funny, it is mean behaviour and as such it deserves to be called out. MNHQ agree with that stance.

TooBigForMyBoots · 30/04/2025 16:41

Again, you are pointing the finger of blame at the people on the receiving end of this nasty behaviour. Not at the people who are deliberately misusing the emoji.

Before the private laugh emoji, Mnetters quoted the the post and added a or 😂😂😂. Similarly, reposts with ^^ this. The private function stops threads from being cluttered up.🤷‍♀️

Original poster

Itsjustsodepressing · 30/04/2025 16:31

@gildurthegreen

Are you going to explain what's so funny or is it really not worth verbalising?

OP posts:

Original poster

Itsjustsodepressing · 30/04/2025 16:21

TooBigForMyBoots · 30/04/2025 15:33

I post a laughing emoji if the post has made me laugh.🤷‍♀️.

Mumsnet is not a "safe space". It is not somewhere to post if you are sensitive to criticism or feedback. It is not an echo chamber. It is not your personal blog. If you are upset by people's reactions, mark all your notifications as Read without clicking on them.

I'm sorry youre having a difficult time but it's ridiculous to ask Mnet to remove a function just because you don't like the way it's used @Itsjustsodepressing.

I'm very aware MN isn't a safe space.
You only have to read some of the threads to know that.

Personally I'd rather go back to just the Thanks option we used to have. Because, as other people have said, this is supposed to be a forum for discussion and view points, not just sticking an emoji on a post and moving on.

What I can't get away from is the vindictiveness of the way some posters are using it .

Perhaps you don't realise it's not just me being " thin skinned". There have been other threads voicing the same concerns and a lot of other posters who are unhappy with the way a section of MN are chosing to use the Laugh emoji in a negative and unpleasant way.

Again, you are pointing the finger of blame at the people on the receiving end of this nasty behaviour. Not at the people who are deliberately misusing the emoji.

MNs stance appears to be that this emoji is not supposed to be used in a negative way but according to your logic it's those who object to the misuse that have to change their behaviour.
.

OP posts:

ThejoyofNC · 30/04/2025 15:43

I was given a temporary ban for what was deemed a malicious laugh reaction, but IMO wasn't. Since then I've had it done to me countless times and it's annoying.

TooBigForMyBoots · 30/04/2025 15:33

I post a laughing emoji if the post has made me laugh.🤷‍♀️.

Mumsnet is not a "safe space". It is not somewhere to post if you are sensitive to criticism or feedback. It is not an echo chamber. It is not your personal blog. If you are upset by people's reactions, mark all your notifications as Read without clicking on them.

I'm sorry youre having a difficult time but it's ridiculous to ask Mnet to remove a function just because you don't like the way it's used @Itsjustsodepressing.

CarpetKnees · 30/04/2025 15:33

Itsjustsodepressing · 30/04/2025 15:04

So people are using the laugh emoji to mock and deride people. Which was not it's intended use.

But you think this is acceptable and you think the people who are actually upset or offended by this misuse should be the ones to leave MN. Not the actual posters who are misusing the emoji.

So you are validating the point I've made earlier that this emoji is actually being used to bully people and effectively drive them off MN.

Show quote history

If someone sending an emoji is enough to drive you off MN completely, then I would suggest you are not in a good enough place mentally to be starting threads on the internet, criticising people.

MN is an incredibly supportive place for so many for so much of the time, BUT anyone posting on an internet forum of any kind has to be able to understand that other people will hold different opinions, and that other people have different senses of humour, and that other people interpret things differently.
There will also be some idiots who set out to upset people.

I mean, personally, I use the laughing emoji if people have made a joke / said something where I appreciate the wit of what they have written, but if someone sent one on one of my posts and I deemed it to be sarcastic, I'd roll my eyes and move on with my day.

IfYouPutASausageInItItsNotAViennetta · 30/04/2025 15:19

Itsjustsodepressing · 30/04/2025 13:38

@Voltefarce

Are you going to tell me what was so hilarious about my opening post ?

I can't speak for that poster, but some people on here find it hilarious to deliberately do exactly 9what you've expressed unhappiness about.

For example, every single time somebody starts a thread complaining about people who quote the OP in full in their replies, the first person to respond (if not more as well) will deliberately do just that - because it's 'the funniest and most original thing ever... apparently.

Funnytaste · 30/04/2025 15:07

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Funnytaste · 30/04/2025 15:06

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster

Itsjustsodepressing · 30/04/2025 15:04

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

So people are using the laugh emoji to mock and deride people. Which was not it's intended use.

But you think this is acceptable and you think the people who are actually upset or offended by this misuse should be the ones to leave MN. Not the actual posters who are misusing the emoji.

So you are validating the point I've made earlier that this emoji is actually being used to bully people and effectively drive them off MN.

OP posts:

SunsetCocktails · 30/04/2025 15:04

SeventeenClovesOfGarlic · 30/04/2025 13:47

Lots of people probably have notifications switched off in their talk settings. I do, and wouldn't see someone has tagged me unless I go back to a thread and look at the replies and usernames tagged.
I have all notifications turned off for everything, so remain peacefully unaware of react emojis left.

Same here. Means I can peacefully scroll MN, read a few interesting threads, maybe leave a comment then go and do something else with my day. Personally I don’t really see the point in having the emojis as I do think, for some people, they can be very negative.

Original poster

Itsjustsodepressing · 30/04/2025 14:57

LoafofSellotape · 30/04/2025 14:47

I think this too.

Show quote history

Well you are assuming everyone should be the same as you and you are here criticising people who aren't like you.

You have no idea what is going on in people's lives.

Do you really not realise that some people have very little , or no validation , in real life? And to come on MN and try and make a helpful or supportive or valid point and then to be mocked for doing so then this is yet another reason to feel worthless.

OP posts:

ilovesooty · 30/04/2025 14:51

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 28/04/2025 17:51

If it bothers you, you could reply to them on the thread and ask them what was funny.

I did when that happened to me. I got another laughing response
I reported my own post to MNHQ referencing the misuse of the emoji and got a detailed reply saying that behaviour like that was not in the spirit of the site and the poster would be dealt with.

Original poster

Itsjustsodepressing · 30/04/2025 14:50

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I suppose it's all relative: if you have been a long term poster on MN then it will be very recent. I've only been on a couple of years so to me it's been a wee while.

OP posts:

Zonder · 30/04/2025 14:48

SeventeenClovesOfGarlic · 30/04/2025 13:38

I think there's been a thread about this before and MN said it's better for people to actually type a reply rather than a a disagree react button.

I stopped using the laugh one now, since you never know what's going to be perceived as an attack, on even mundane posts, depending on how a thread develops.

Edited

Show quote history

In that case why have any reaction buttons? If all we can do is agree or say thanks or laugh or send love then it's not a surprise people look for another way to express dissension. We may as well say no reactions, just type a response
It's less confrontational to add a no emoji than to keep arguing.