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Original poster

Laugh reaction

187 replies

Itsjustsodepressing · 28/04/2025 16:12

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.

OP posts:
IfYouPutASausageInItItsNotAViennetta · 28/04/2025 18:55

I really like having the laugh emoji when used properly, responding to somebody who has obviously and deliberately made a joke or amusing comment and letting them know that you appreciated their wit.

However, I agree with OP that it has become a bit of a 'this is why we can't have nice things' situation, with bullies using it to deliberately belittle other posters - and clearly laughter AT them rather than WITH them.

I had it on a recent thread, where a very 'assertive' OP responded to my every (clearly not joking) response with a laugh emoji - presumably because she wasn't able to use her words and discuss things like an adult would, and that was her way of insulting and hoping to upset me.

No skin off my nose if showering me (and probably lots of other posters whose opinions didn't gel with hers) with silly childish gestures throughout made her feel good; it's just really pathetic - I'm happy to wash my hands of her.

JaneJeffer · 28/04/2025 18:40

Flytrap01 · 28/04/2025 18:35

a light heated joke, i can understand your points but anyone can use any of the emojis and for any purpose

Show quote history

And therein lies the problem

Flytrap01 · 28/04/2025 18:35

Itsjustsodepressing · 28/04/2025 17:16

Thanks for your reply MN

Perhaps you could ask @Flytrap01 what was so hilarious about my post?

I've obviously missed a glittering career as a stand up comedian.

a light heated joke, i can understand your points but anyone can use any of the emojis and for any purpose

JaneJeffer · 28/04/2025 18:28

It should be made public or gotten rid of altogether

SirChenjins · 28/04/2025 18:05

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 28/04/2025 17:51

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

The OP already has. Funnily enough, the person who used it did so in precisely the way that the OP is (rightly) complaining about - and then didn’t have the decency to explain why she chose to hide her laughter/mockery.

I agree with you OP, it’s used inappropriately and in those cases it’s a form of bullying. MN has received many complaints about it on previous threads and I presume from their earlier post that they are having to delete them. I don’t think they’ll do anything about them though - so it’s up to the poster on the receiving end to report them. Not nice when you’re posting on a sensitive topic or you’re upset.

Thelasttea · 28/04/2025 18:04

Itsjustsodepressing · 28/04/2025 18:04

@Thelasttea
Forgive but I didn't realise it was your job to police how much time people could spend looking at MN

You and your hyperbole 😂

Original poster
Itsjustsodepressing · 28/04/2025 18:04

@Thelasttea
Forgive but I didn't realise it was your job to police how much time people could spend looking at MN

OP posts:
Thelasttea · 28/04/2025 18:04

I’ll leave you to stew

Thelasttea · 28/04/2025 18:02

Itsjustsodepressing · 28/04/2025 18:02

@Thelasttea
And now you are inferring I'm a liar.

You are very good at the subtle insults I'll give you that.

Come again?

good grief

there’s a thin skinned

and then there’s….

Original poster
Itsjustsodepressing · 28/04/2025 18:02

@Thelasttea
And now you are inferring I'm a liar.

You are very good at the subtle insults I'll give you that.

OP posts:
Thelasttea · 28/04/2025 18:01

Itsjustsodepressing · 28/04/2025 18:00

@Thelasttea

I take it you are indirectly saying to me " get a life"?

Well not in so many words

maybe just ease off mumsnetting

Thelasttea · 28/04/2025 18:00

Sounds to me
like you posted a comment
someone laughed at it
you took offence and started this thread
in a huff

GustyBaloo · 28/04/2025 18:00

GustyBaloo · 28/04/2025 17:55

Nobody can see anybody else's reaction, other than OP. I find it impossible to believe that this is a "ganging up" situation.

Unless they are all friends offline and choose to "gang up". I also find that hard to believe.
The current situation works well, anonymously liking, laughing or thanking (unless OP).
I don't know what more you could do.

Original poster
Itsjustsodepressing · 28/04/2025 18:00

@Thelasttea

I take it you are indirectly saying to me " get a life"?

OP posts:
AnSolas · 28/04/2025 17:58

GustyBaloo · 28/04/2025 17:55

Nobody can see anybody else's reaction, other than OP. I find it impossible to believe that this is a "ganging up" situation.

The OP was replying to a suggestion to make the icons public

So 1 🤣3 👏 type likes would appear under the post

Thelasttea · 28/04/2025 17:58

Itsjustsodepressing · 28/04/2025 17:57

@Thelasttea

I haven't named the thread deliberately because I know there are guidelines about posting threads about threads and I don't want to break any rules around that.

So we will just have to take your word for it

Original poster
Itsjustsodepressing · 28/04/2025 17:57

@Thelasttea

I haven't named the thread deliberately because I know there are guidelines about posting threads about threads and I don't want to break any rules around that.

OP posts:
Thelasttea · 28/04/2025 17:57

I think this is someone who spends far too much time on mumsnet and it’s become quite central to their life

GustyBaloo · 28/04/2025 17:55

Nobody can see anybody else's reaction, other than OP. I find it impossible to believe that this is a "ganging up" situation.

Original poster
Itsjustsodepressing · 28/04/2025 17:54

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 28/04/2025 17:51

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

Yes I have done this.

In fact I have indirectly done that on this thread.

But they don't usually reply.

OP posts:
AnSolas · 28/04/2025 17:53

DUsername · 28/04/2025 17:42

Why aren't the emojis public? As in, we can all see the reactions on other people's posts. It might police itself a bit then?

I'd certainly be interested to know whether the people that use the laughing emoji to mock also post a proper reply - or are they too cowardly for that? Making their reaction public could help stop them misusing it

Then just an easy dump of an emoji into the message box
Eg
🤳👀🙄🤪😬🎻🤷‍♀️

Thelasttea · 28/04/2025 17:53

Itsjustsodepressing · 28/04/2025 17:28

Really?

I posted on a thread today in Relationships where I expressed sadness at at a situation the OP was in because of the way her H was behaving.

And somebody put a laugh reaction on it.

Apart their mockery of me they were also mocking the OP because they obviously had no sympathy with her.

If it's thin skinned to actually feel disgust and upset that somebody thinks
a) it's appropriate to laugh at a woman in a difficult situation. And
b) to laugh at someone who expresses sympathy with her
then I'm proud to be thin skinned.

Its so cowardly , on what is supposed to be a discussion forum, to go round deliberately to try and cause distress to others by using an emoji when you havent got the guts to put your reaction into words.
.

Show quote history

It would be interesting to read the thread you refer to

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 28/04/2025 17:51

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

Original poster
Itsjustsodepressing · 28/04/2025 17:50

@DUsername
I'm in two minds about this.

I see your logic .

BUT
given the way some posters " gang up " on threads it wouldn't surprise me if when they saw that others had laughed at a post it would encourage them to post a laugh reaction themselves and make things worse.

In my experience quite often the people who laugh inappropriately don't generally post a proper reply themselves although very occasionally they do.

OP posts:
DUsername · 28/04/2025 17:42

Why aren't the emojis public? As in, we can all see the reactions on other people's posts. It might police itself a bit then?

I'd certainly be interested to know whether the people that use the laughing emoji to mock also post a proper reply - or are they too cowardly for that? Making their reaction public could help stop them misusing it

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