to REALLY hope this man's partner joins Mumnset

[MmeLindt]

Why I hate Mumsnet

First, I would like to congratulate the blogger on the forthcoming happy event. I wish him and his partner all the best for the birth of their first child.

If his partner decides to join MN, she will learn:

The Vernacular
that we use abbreviations as a time-saving tool, so that we have more time for discussing banalities. These are not only common to Mumsnet (MN) but to almost all fora.

"My DH is working away tuesday til friday. DH rang PIL and asked them if they could come and mind DCs (x3)". Another example: "AIBU to be annoyed that PIL agreed to mind my DC and then went back on it??"

• the first poster states that her husband (DarlingHusband = DH) is working away and that he asked Parents-In-Laws (PILS) if they could come and mind the three children (DarlingChildren = DC). She then asks if she is being unreasonable (AIBU = Am I being unreasonable) to be annoyed that my parents in laws agreed to mind my children then went back on it?

hth (Hope this Helps)

The Banality
If she looks a little further, she will certainly find posts about dishwashers, and pearl barley, but also intellectual discussions about feminism, foreign affairs, literature (and we are NOT talking chick lit here). Even the most highbrow of poster wants to slum it on AIBU sometimes though.

I would hope that blogger's partner never has problems with their children - since his response to a woman enquiring about her child's (DC) incontinence problems is to suggest that she spends less time on MN.

The Stupid Suggestions For Campaigns
she might wonder about the anti-JL MN campaign since most posters have never heard of it. Just because one poster has an idea, it does not mean that the whole board takes up the cry. There are always discussions about the merits of any campaigns, particularly the official ones.

Lack of Reply
If the blogger's DP (that is DarlingPartner, by the way) does post on MN she will hopefully be relieved that MN does not allow their posters to be spammed by companies. There have been a few instances where posters have complained about a product, and the company has posted a message apologising and requesting that the poster contact them. I have never seen these offers being deleted or discouraged by MNHQ (that is Mumsnet Headquarters)

The blogger's DP of course would never have to do this, as she has her DH available to ensure that she does not misunderstand the instructions of the product.

Lack of Moderation
The blogger's DP will hopefully enjoy the lack of moderation - or rather the advantages offered by self-moderation. There may be times when a poster gives out of date advice, but this is normally noticed by the other posters. And if not, anyone who relies on the advice of strangers on an internet forum in order to make decisions such as those posed by the nuchal fold test, they should not be in charge of a puppy, much less a child. Most posters will link to websites such as NHS24, or other sites that are checked for accuracy rather than spouting inaccurate advice.

I am very glad that he is not calling for the site to be closed down. His DP may well be in need of it in the not so distant future, when she starts a thread entitled,

"AIBU to think my DP is an idiot?"

Let's not forget Oven Pride

Did he not notice the acronyms link at the top. Can be daunting to new people - but a little looking and even the thickest of people can get the hang of the acronyms.

MN bashing is the new "in" sport I think!

The company he works for have taken the time to TM "Brand Pain". That says it all for me LOL

Plus he has a real interest to blog this - he earns his living from convincing consumers a brand is a good brand, when it may not be. His company takes money to 'create' brand image.

This is my personal opinion based on a very quick read of his blog, overview of the site and is in no way 'fact'. It may be out of date Uninformed consumer generated contet that has not been moderated...

Graeme, welcome (even if temporarily) to Mumsnet.

I'd just like to make a few points about the "incorrect medical advice" possibility.

Mumsnet do have disclaimers saying that the forums are "not a substitute for medical advice" etc etc, and most reasonable people will take this on board. But aside from that legal disclaimer, most people who make incorrect statements regarding this kind of thing will get challenged, usually complete with links that have the effect of encouraging readers to review research themselves.

This method of receiving information has actually changed the way I process medical advice. From being on this forum and others throughout my pregnancies and various minor illnesses, I have learned that you should always look at evidence based research and do a risk benefit analysis of treatment with your doctor, that you can put your foot down about birth choices if you know the risks and have read the research, and reading posts by other Mumsnetters challenging those people who spout inaccuracies has taught me to do this, and to "think that way". This has served me very well indeed in "real life".

I am now helping my mother decide whether she wants to go ahead with an operation that could be life changing to her but holds various risks, and am encouraging her to look at the actual statistics and evidence on the procedure rather than listen to a few people who the operation has gone wrong for, and to look at the "bigger picture". I learned these skills through Mumsnet and internet forums.

It might be something to do with age as well but 10 years ago before I went on internet forums I had a slight tendency to believe anything that sounded a bit evalgelic and "woo" if it was sold hard enough. Now, I look at the evidence and the bigger picture which can only ever be a good thing.

If Mumsnet was heavily moderated in this regard, it would simply present facts with none of the debate and research and reveal, and it would be just another information source to potentially confuse. I like that it taught me skills to get the facts myself.

DEAR GRAEME - we'd really appreciate the links to the incorrect advice - I'd say we have a duty to save these 28k people from the dangers lurking in MN :(

Correct me if I'm wrong please, but it seems to me that an attack (and that is what it is) on MN, is because collectively, Graeme believes we have more power, consumer wise, than any brand promotion company?

As he owns his own brand promotion company, I'd say that there must have been some significant effect on brands he has promoted for MN to be targeted.

I would have thought a better way of addressing what appears to be a problem for him, would be as another poster suggested...join the site and work from within as a fellow parent and give his opinion (not sales speech) as we all do.

If you can't beat them Graeme...join them!!

ah but you do read the Daily Mail

Ouch - the reversed-out text on that blog really knocks your eyes out.

Here is a link to a good blog post about light text/dark background readability problems ... have a look, big G.

I've just read Our Graeme's wee rant again, and his subsequent contribution, and, to be honest, I think we're giving him too much air time. To summarise:

OG: "Boo hoo, you people won't do what I tell you to and are actually laughing at me."

MN: "Well noticed, jog on, eh?"

Now, where were we? Ah yes, Oven Pride. Now that is bloody good stuff...

Graeme's a big old scaredy and won't come back.

Come on little Gray Gray...

This is your chance! Here;'s your audience right here. Sell us stuff, baby.

pain my brand, graeme love, pain it gooood.

Never mind her, you can just brand me, Gray Gray baby. Get your sizzling iron good and hot in that corporate imaging fire.

I still haven't read the initial article that started this, although I've read this whole thread and the link to his other blog post about the DM columnist.

So I'm just relying on what you all say to form my opinion. Kinda like I do with important medical decisions

Should I go back and read it? Or is it really not worth the aggro and eyestrain?

Yes. Oh, yes.

Haven't read it??? Haven't read little Gray Gray's pearly itsy words of wisdom and delight?

Shame.

Shaaaameless generic bump

it's just a big ol' load of 24 carat mansplaining, dm. i do hope his wife starts using the site, i think she would get a lot out of it.

I'm quite tempted to email them and leave this link...along with the "acronyms" link.... :o

@ Gray Gray

So when do we start with the haikus?

also laughing at the 28thou endangered mners... it's an emergency, Gray Gray, get linking!

Go on, you start.

ok what is it? 5, 7, 5 plus a nature reference?

Hail hammers the glass
Like the impotent rantings
Of little Gray Gray.

And there is hail here, so it's really from the heart.

Oh, and I have read his MN-hatred blog post now. I therefore feel qualified to set myself up as the Makar for this thread.