To wonder why MN has turned into such a bitch fest recently.

[Lucy88]

I have been coming on MN on and off for about 2 years and have always found it to be very useful for reading others advice and asking others for advice, reading reviews and getting holiday advice. There will always be times when people will disagree or not like other peoples advice, but I have been truly shocked recently at some of the posts I have read.

I am quite an outspoken person (in real life), but do try to adhere to the mantra of 'Don't put anything online that you would not be prepared to say to anyones face' but OMG even I have been surprised at the amount of bitchy, nasty responses some people have received on here recently.

I know that it is difficult when communicating just through the written word, as there is no body language or intonation to always give the correct message, but some posters really do think it is ok to be really nasty and make personal comments. Name calling seems to be the 'in thing' at the moment and I have to admit, that I just don't get it - not from grown women.

The majority of people who make these types of comments, probably wouldn't dare to say these things to people's faces, but think it is perfectly ok to do it online.

Can we at least have a week where we think about what we post and if we can't post anything constructive and polite, then perhaps don't post at all.

Wrt the campaign again, the initial market research survey could ask non-members:

• have you looked at MN?

• why didn't you join?

• how do you perceive MN?

-what would make you more inclined to sign up?

etc

Anyway then they could use the results of the survey to do a PR campaign, and raise the profile mahoosively at a stroke.

If I charged them professionally they would go bankrupt.

However I do want it to be a site that I can use and recommend to friends who are preggers or TTC.

Thanks for the flowers, Flash . I'm just back after being thrown off line (problem at MN, I think).

So you want MN to change to suit you?

Don't even consider discounting your fees, flash

usual Could be just a wish for improvement. Someone could want something to be better just because they want it to be better.

But what you think is better , I might think is worse

What Herecomesthecavalry is suggesting is this:

"A campaign to try and promote respect for other views is just one thing that could be done."

Would that make it a worse site for you?

That's true. But we could try to come to some agreement about how we should best conduct ourselves in that discussion.

lat post for you usual

Something like 'principles and guidelines' (what is conducive to resolving a question and what is not).

I just want to chat on here , not take part in a bloody brain storming exercise.

I think you are taking this forum malarkey far to seriously .

And what is conducive to constructive debate, and what is not.

Although that might be what you're saying. V slightly different. Some things won't ever be resolved but are interesting to discuss.

Maybe that is the difference. But still, there are areas for chat and areas for more serious discussion. Members should be allowed to discuss if they want.

Well fuck me with a rubber duck. I come on here to type stuff and read stuff. Not take exams and put posts up to the vote before they're allowed to be presented to the masses.

Yes, that's closer to it - constructive, rather than destructive.

Cother - type and read away

Actually the Troll-hunting guidelines are out of date on the definition of "troll".

Well yes , anyone who posts just to cause upset is a troll in my book and theres been plenty of them on here just lately.

Wikipedia on the definition of internet troll.

I know what a troll is ,thanks

Now, to sort out the biscuit rota....

It would be interesting for MN to take a sounding of member's views. Maybe compile some cautionary notes.

They could use a power point presentation

Nobody should be recommending mumsnet to women who are "preggers"

That's what other parenting sites are for.