Now that MNHQ has given us a support emoji reaction can we have a laugh out loud one as well?

So what?! We are all adults here aren’t we? And honestly you don’t strike me as a particularly sensitive to others poster @Viviennemary 😁

I’ll clarify.

It was being used against parents with children with special needs eg ‘my child has sn and is really suffering with school/friends/health because…’ then a laughing reaction was given, sometimes to every single post by a particular mumsnetter on one thread. It was spoken about on one thread I saw, the poster was very distressed about it obviously. I think it was right to remove it.

Multiple people said they were given the laughter emoji in a mocking way after they had revealed something sensitive. I read one thread involving sn where someone said a specific poster had posted this emoji on every comment she had made, and was asking why.

I’m sure there are people posting on mumsnet who think this is okay. I’m also sure people might think ‘I want this emoji therefore we should have that emoji.’ Mumsnet have chosen to remove it.

you said a laughing reaction was given, sometimes to every single post by a particular mumsnetter on one thread

a particular shitty mumsnetter, not more.

are you going to add them one at a time?

No it wasn’t ’one’ shitty poster, it was more.

FWR definitely needs a bore-off emoji

So one shitty poster was repeatedly abusing the emoji on one thread and because of that all the other posters have to prevented from using it?

Maybe remove it from some family, health,and bereavement threads, but put it back everywhere else? I've made thousands of posts and never saw it used sarcastically, and was always rather pleased if I managed to make anyone laugh.

It was being used against parents with children with special needs eg ‘my child has sn and is really suffering with school/friends/health because…’ then a laughing reaction was given, sometimes to every single post by a particular mumsnetter on one thread. It was spoken about on one thread I saw, the poster was very distressed about it obviously. I think it was right to remove it.

But @AprilinPortugal is also right - And yet people are allowed to continue to verbally abuse posters and that's hurtful too! The continued rudeness spoiling some threads is going to make some people leave, and attract people who just want to be a shit online and they don’t care who to or about what. They don’t want to discuss, they want to vent their anger.

People will always find a way to repurpose an emoji to fit their needs. If there isn't a way to disagree with people then the closest emoji, which is now the support one, will be used instead. A thumbs down might be a polite but unambiguous way to say that I don't agree with your perspective? Better than a sarcastic "support" which implies that you think the poster is unhinged.

I can’t do reactions on the app other than “thanks”. That big launch of the new app and there’s still so much we can’t do!

I didn't think it would be long before someone made it all about Trans. 🙄

I think we need a eye roll reaction.

If you've written a serious response and you get a laugh emoji then yes you can assume it's bullying. For example if you've written a post detailing the sexual abuse you received from men and it's because of that that seeing transwomen in single sex female spaces triggers you and someone laughs at you would you ever think that's supportive?

If people do it publicly ie write you are stupid for being triggered then 90% of people would publicly support the person with trauma. The laugh emoji was the only way to do it secretly.

It did make me laugh. 😂

Lol. That's quite high-effort twattery.

I really don't understand why they didn't just replace the existing laugh emoji with a smile emoji when the accusations of sarcastic bullying were made.

Try bullying someone with a 😊. It's just not possible.

I've felt like using the flowers to express sorry-for-your-loss-(of-critical-thinking) to certain posters recently

But I've restrained myself

I've had a ❤ reaction from someone with the username Iamusingthisreactionsarcastically. So taking the laugh reaction away doesn't stop people being twats.

And yet people are allowed to continue to verbally abuse posters and that's hurtful too!

Surely being publicly ridiculed is more upsetting than a private reaction which you interpret as sarcastic?

in some cases it seemed to be more vicious than a sarcastic interpretation

so having talked about your miscarriage and a few posters privately posting a laughing emoji

mumsnet looked into it and the complaints of the laughing emoji specifically being used in that sort of manner must have had basis

What I found annoying about the removal of the laugh emoji was that that it was the only way (even if you were using it incorrectly) that you could express anything other than a positive reaction to a post. That would be fine if every poster came on here with sterling ethics and irreproachable intentions. But they don't, and the new emoji just compounds this. I don't see why we shouldn't be allowed emojis for the opposite reactions to the ones currently on offer - I frequently post "agree", but there are just as many times I disagree, for example, and there would be nothing inherently abusive about using a disagree emoji to express this. Likewise "no thanks", "don't support" or "hate". It would indeed be nice if everyone was nice. But they're not.

@DysmalRadius You can see reactions on your own posts. I’ve just given you a 👍🏼

I find the lack of laugh emoji annoying because if you do want to acknowledge a witty post you have to quote it which not only pointlessly adds to the length of the thread, but also if the post is not near the end you lose your place.

If someone wants to ridicule a post they will quote it and add an appropriate comment. Surely being publicly ridiculed is more upsetting than a private reaction which you interpret as sarcastic?

How can you see how/when other people are using it? I can only see my own reactions, which I thought was deliberate.

I normally either use the clapping hands or heart emoji to express my humour appreciation now. There are far too many witty women in these parts to comment every time

fair…but you feel you are still able to express your appreciation, as do I 😀

I think they should bring it back just for FWR. I'm sure we can be trusted with it and are certainly the most in need!

@RufustheFactuaIReindeer I expect both speed and clutter are factors. I normally either use the clapping hands or heart emoji to express my humour appreciation now. There are far too many witty women in these parts to comment every time 😍

As on the emoji threads i really don’t understand why its such a hassle onky having public 😀

you find a post funny, post 😀 no one is stopping you, they are just stopping the private ones 🤷🏻

I post the ♥️ if i want to post my ‘love’ of the joke

is it just because its not fast anymore, few more buttons to press? Or is it that people are worried about cluttering up the thread?

No thanks. It was used to mock people.