I think it would be a good idea to start a Mumsnet voluntary help line

loopylou

don't take it personally. Obviously you are well intentioned - and very few of us think out posts through before we hit the button

People really arn't being mean to you - just reacting to the idea.Don't be huffy

loopy - sherrie didnt say you were ridiculous she thought the idea of a MN helpline was ridiculous

Subtle difference!

And neither was she bitchy by stealth - she just came right out and said her piece

I agree with Ronaldinhio - it is a nice idea but would be impossibly difficult to organise and manage. MNHQ have enough trouble keeping us lot from rioting

Mumsnet has just jumped the shark.

I'm sure it was well intentioned but it is a ridiculous idea

For those of our community that want to volunteer and counsel there are many appropriate channels and programmes to do so through

This is just a website with some collective experience to draw from.
If you have a real problem there are people on the boards almost 24hrs per day to seek a soun ding board or be directed in the right area

How would mn organise what you suggest?
Man it?
Get insurance for it?
Finance it?

Especially when there are truly excellent organisations of better qualified, trained and resourced people already at the end of a phone

I don't think this thread has been stealthy or bitchy but I do think this wasn't at all thought through

I'd like a randomly generated advice button on some topics. Just a click here for a one liner. Like the Daily Mail random headline generator.

Style and beauty, beautifully shaded button in changing seasonal tones with 'wtf are you wearing that for' and 'you look wonderful daaarling'.

And a big throbbing purple button on the Friday night topic (which I'm still waiting for btw) that screeches 'try some lube' and 'not that orifice, the other one'.

And a big, offensive, luridly green one on AIBU that hisses 'man up fgs' and 'yabvfu' at random.

Might email Justine later.

I also wouldn't feel remotely qualified to help anyone without some kind of trainning.

My suspicion is that,like politicians, those who would be the first to say they could do it would be the very last people who should be asked

being a member for a year and having posted would bear no relation to suitability for telephone crisis counselling. It's a kind idea, but not workable, am sure MN HQ would not want to bear responsbility for recruiting suitable volunteers.

I wssn't being bitchy.or stealthy

actually the biggest problem is that there are posters on here , who have been here over a year, who I would not trust with my remote control.

Seriously.Have you read some of the posts on here? How can everyone on an open website possibly be suitable to give any kind of advice simply by virtue of having hung around a year

caller : my DH just said he would like to go out with his friend tonight.
MN counsellor : bin him, kick him out, wanker

Caller: my DD is being a handful at the moment
MN counsellor: smack her or she won't respect you.

on the site you get a range of views and those views are challenged and discussed. You often get a concensus.
With a caller you get one view. Bad idea.
But well intentioned.

I think it would detract from MN, because surely MN is somewhere where they can already get advice, no need for a seperate medium surely?

stop making me lol

no its ridiculous

oh yes on that basis i can help wiht breast feeding

not

ehhh... why do you need to do a certain number of posts to be able to help someone...??

Wbat sort of queries would the helpline answer..I cant think of a query that couldnt be answered on the net . maybe I am missing the point

hello hello
is that the s and B samaritans?

yes

right i have the following:
Jaunty scarf
jeggings
wedge shoes
biker boots
interstingknitwear
a hammer
a pussycat bow blouse

what can i wear?