in having learned the following on MN.

[Hmmface]

Over the past few months with the election and wotnot I have seen the following on MN and it aint pretty.

I have learned that

...even if you work there will be some smug cow telling you that you should work longer/harder rather than claim tax credits.

... anyone having more than one child and living on benefits is beneath contempt (despite the people in question pointing out that they had their children before redundancy etc)

...caring for a disabled child should not need DLA - after all you are just caring for your child innit.

...that the Labour Govt made it too easy for people to live off the rest of us what pay taxes.

..that in good times you should save save save so you don't need to claim what you are entitled to. (Conveniently ignoring the fact that many work for a minimum wage).

All the above and more has been seen recently on MN - it's not pretty and paints a really nasty picture of MN.

I have to say I have seen the other side of the coin too - people who have gone out of their way to support others and I know the opinions above are a minority. However, they are becoming a sizeable minority and it's horrible. Please think about the effect of what you are saying before posting - some people live in an ivory tower and conveniently forget they are just one redundancy away from joining those they condemn.

i learned that george clooney is gay

WHAT Kristina - George can't be gay - surely not!!!!!

George Clooney is gay? For real?

I've learnt about pags flowery cunt too. And realitys bonkers SIL. And that one can find cubes of poo and half-man half-penguin people in the strangest places. And if someone tells you not to google dragon butter you should listen to them.

i know, i was gutted about george

apparently everyone on mumsnet knew except me. oh and you two

I googled dragonbutter

Now I'm wondering whether I should dispose of this computer, in case it gets raided and I get arrested

Dunno about the OP though. Never seen anyone advocating not claiming tax credits or suggesting that caring for a disabled child should't get DLA.

I'll admit to arguing that the Labour Government encouraged benefit dependency

Never argued that people should save - although in principle I don't disagree with that as a proposition

Don't think overall tone of MN is nasty - generally woolly liberal, I think

I didn't know either but am not particularly gutted.

I've learnt fucking loads from mumsnet.

It's only in AIMU that people are like this. Most other threads are OK.

Generally just "have a chat" threads. Not particularly abrasive or agressive

Re: "ermm no blush - sorry thought you were a regular name changer" - doesn't that get terribly complicated?

Posting styles aren't that distinctive - how do you cope if people keep changing names? Isn't it like being in a permanently masked ball? It's hard enough enough anyway on the internet, without losing touch with the only fixed attribute someone has, ie their name...

Just wondered how people deal with that.

I really disagree that the tone overall here is nasty.

You should try some doorstep campaigning if you really want to know how vehemently some of the country feel about some of these issues...makes MN look very fluffy indeed.

Mumsnet is a much nicer place then you think.

Although there are people who do not like life scroungers out there and there are scroungers out there saying other wise is stupid

oh there are some very distinctive posting styles (I'm always recognised when I name change) - I just wasn't paying attention last night and so jumped in with both feet and dug myself a big hole

No probs. :)

Yet to spot the 'distinctive styles' - any tips??