Daily Mail using us, is this fair?

[slaze]

I, like a lot of mumsnetters pour our hearts out here on mumsnet sharing our internal thoughts and some of the most desperate times of our lives. Many having to sift through every post trying not to reveal any identifiable details (risking their anonymity) because of fearing that our posts will be stolen from the relative safety of the mumsnet platform and shared around the world of the Daily Mail. I fear this greatly. If we wanted our lives/opinions shared with a newspaper surely we would contact them directly.

Aside from extremely lazy journalism how can they publish (as fact/news) something that is hardly from a credible source (we've all seen fake posts from time to time). It isn't helping their reputation and people doubting the truth and facts they read in National newspapers.

How do you feel about this?

Also Mumsnet what is your opinion on this?

It’s a public forum used by millions of people across the world. It’s not a place of relative safety. Why would you think that?

Anyone can read it, anyone can copy from it.

And MN love it when they do. All those extra visitors are considered a good thing.

Its the internet. Its not a day round your mums.

the relative safety of the mumsnet platform
Other than not using your real name, what do you think makes MN relatively safe?
This has been discussed many times over the years, MN know it happens, the posts are public and people need to be aware of it.

I agree OP. It’s sad that the mumsnet community is used by the press for click bait.

It's a public forum, what you post can be used by anyone.

As a side note I do love how people act like the DM are the only ones who do this. Loads of places pilfer stuff from MN the DM are hardly alone in that respect.

Mumsnet love it. Publicity increases members. Increased members increases advertising revenue.

Remember we are the product.

Why mention the DM, do you think it makes you look intelligent . You do know all the newspapers use MN not just the DM.
Its not like you are posting on a private network where you have to be invited to read the posts.

@AnneLovesGilbert has summed it up perfectly.

Why are you only singling out the DM? Other media outlets are also free to browse and copy.

Not sure where you get the concept of "relative safety" from?

Ooops.
Cross-posted with everyone else.
There was only one post when I started typing!

the relative safety of the mumsnet platform

Bless.

If you wouldn't say it in a crowded pub, in a bus queue or to a complete stranger you shouldn't be posting it.

There's no “between these four walls” “between you and me” concept online. Anyone could be reading. Once you've shared with the world online, it's out there.

If you don’t like what the DM do, you’re really not going to like Mumsnet Madness on Reddit.

It's a public forum it's fair game for lazy journos, just be careful what you share with the world.

@PastMyBestBeforeDate

the relative safety of the mumsnet platform Other than not using your real name, what do you think makes MN relatively safe? This has been discussed many times over the years, MN know it happens, the posts are public and people need to be aware of it.

I know my DP isn't a regular reader of Mumsnet but is of the Daily Mail. Probably the case in many people's lives. I think most posters are female and feel freer to talk here than a publication their partners read daily.

Mumsnet offers fantastic support to some very vulnerable people. It's these personal accounts that provide the most help and can change lives. Domestic violence for example. Why do these posters deserve the extra fear of their identity being discovered when they are asking for help, which can be so hard to do. Partners/abusers are less likely to see these posts on Mumsnet than a national newspaper.

It’s a public forum innit, nothing anyone can do about it.

I really feel posters need protecting. I don't know if writing at the end of the first post a statement saying you don't give permission for it to be shared anywhere would help?

OP you are very naive and slightly deluded!

But slaze this is a false sense of safety that you have. While fewer people might see your post on the day you put it up than read a daily newspaper, once it's up it's there forever, searchable from Google.
Your perception is wrong and unless MN changes its whole operating model nothing will change. As covid said, we are the product.

I don't know if writing at the end of the first post a statement saying you don't give permission for it to be shared anywhere would help?

Thats almost certainly giving them permission .

I agree with you OP but ultimately I think all you can do is vote with your feet and find another forum. There are alternatives with less traffic but less outside scrutiny too.

@slaze

I really feel posters need protecting. I don't know if writing at the end of the first post a statement saying you don't give permission for it to be shared anywhere would help?

Why would it help? Once you post something it’s no longer yours.

When someone does say something like that you can guarantee it’s incredibly boring and unworthy of further coverage and tends to look very self aggrandising and attention seeking.

There is a board on MN that is not searchable in search engines, so post on that

But meant to say, although it doesnt appear in search engines and the post disappear after 30 days , it is accessible to everyone

@slaze

I really feel posters need protecting. I don't know if writing at the end of the first post a statement saying you don't give permission for it to be shared anywhere would help?

That would give you no legal protection at all for something you are choosing to put in the public domain.

Kicking myself; if I knew my thread was that interesting I would have just bloody sold them my story.

Now what have I achieved? A bruised ego and a place in the fail.

I think you just have to accept the risks of posting on a public forum tbh. All you can do is avoid too much personal detail and name change on a regular basis.

Is it right that threads are lifted and reported in the press? No. Is it lazy journalism? Absolutely. But it’s unrealistic and naive to pretend this is in any way a “safe space”. For that you’d want a private, members only FB group or similar.