OK.
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I will begin:
A group of long-time MNetters decided that Things Had Changed on Mumsnet, and that the calibre of posts/posters wasn't as good as it had been, and that more recent posters were insufficiently clever/intellectual. So they started their own, breakaway forum.
It was to be kept secret.
Once they had set it up, they decided that they needed to invite other MNetters to join them. So they all volunteered names of their MN friends who might join.
But then, the decision was made that not everyone should be allowed to join. And so they started to 'vote' as to who was or wasn't allowed to join.
When those who were in charge decided that they didn't like the cut of the jib of someone who had been nominated, their 'application' was rejected. The criteria for rejection were many and varied - but also fairly subjective, i.e. whether or not those in charge 'knew' said applicant.
All this was happening at the time of the Christmas MN meet up. Lots of people went along, not knowing that Moldies already existed. Or that they had been turned down. People who thought that other MNetters they were drinking with were their friends, suddenly discovered that they had been rejected. Without ever knowing why.
Justine inadvertently gave the game away, by blogging about the existence of Moldies on a MNHQ blog. She also detailed just how affected she had been by the whole thing. The Moldies, in their complete and total certainty that they were doing something right, actually invited Justine to join them. They also couldn't see that there was anything wrong in them trying to recruit other MNetters to join their breakaway group.
It's very easy for the likes of scottishmummy to dismiss the whole thing as 'words on a screen', but it was hugely upsetting for lots of people. To know that you had been judged and rejected by your 'friends' is not a nice thing to happen.