to want to know some of the unspoken rules of MN?

[Gurke]

Just that really! I only joined a few months ago and have already learnt a lot of useful (and some less useful) stuff. On the whole I've been impressed by the tone of helpful solidarity and good-natured humour that prevails. But every now and then I'm wondering what I'm missing: why do some threads get hardly any replies, but others with pretty much the same question get loads? Why, as I read somewhere here, are displays of affection such as xx or virtual hugs a big no-no? Why does posters' whininess seem to be more accepted than neediness or petulance? (Huge generalisation, maybe unjustified) I'm a bit surprised about myself that I care, but I guess during the marathon of night feeds MN has become a rather good companion whose dynamics and rules I'd like to know better.

I'm not trying to be controversial, by the way, just genuinely curious.

Don't google bluewaffle. Seriously, don't.

Dont mention Chavs
Dont mention Chavsda
Dont mention MN Royaltee
Dont mention Katie Hopkins aka Xenia
Dont mention SAHM vs WOHM
Dont mention Daily Mail

As a newish mumsnetter, please accept a complimentary supply of:

Full Stops - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Commas - , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Colons - : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

Semicolons - ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

Apostrophes - ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '

And

Some

Paragraphs.

don't give advice on weaning, unless you are pro-BLW

do reply to posts asking for linkscto older threads

Why thank you Compos for that bag of punctuation marks. May they go forth and multiply. But there is no sarcasm emoticon?

To the fellow newbie amazingmum: I think finding those threads is an initiation quest. I'll give you a hand with two I've seen so far: the pombear one is here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1056940-to-think-this-couple-are-bonkers/AllOnOnePage And this one is about Jesus in the cabbage van: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/a1442108-Only-with-Ocado Just scroll through the Classics and you'll find more.

The bluewaffle thing I could have done without this morning, cheers for that.

Anyway, I venture forth laden with copious insights into the wondrous workings of MN, thank you all.

No it wasn't aimed at you OP it is just that you get some hugely over-long threads, all in one gigantic paragraph.

The worst ones are also written in txt spk and are devoid of any punctuation, capital letters or anything that might resemble a sentence.

No, Compos, I'm genuinely grateful. Punctuation rocks!

Be yourself and don't be indoctrinated by what other people think MN should be like. There's room for all sorts

thanks gurke

I still don't known how to do links.

I've read some corkers and would love to give you some joining presents!

dragon butter

Go on. You know you want to. G'wan g'wan g'wan g'wan g'wan.

everlong

Why have you picked up my post, and not al the others telling people what they should and shouldn't do?

Obviously it was tongue in cheek

..and I wasn't talking about you, BTW. Had not read the whole thread

OP, read the whole thread, in case you inadvertently offend someone

Don't hold grudges. I have posters that irritate the crap out of me on some threads and make me want to hug them on others. Don't be a cow on a thread just because someone pissed you off two weeks ago.

Also apologise if you are wrong or being an arse. We are all wrong sometimes and arses occasionally. So when you are just own up.

Unless you are dealing with a twat or a troll in which case do as you like.

Learn the staple replies:
LTB

And tell offs:
Fuck off to the far side of fuck and then fuck off some more.
Did you mean to be so rude?

What is it with the dragon butter on MN? (Yes, even this one...) Orange I see your butter and raise you a meat hand

Oops, another fundamental lesson: conversation moves on while you forget to refresh your browser.

Lweji Leave the bastard? (I'm guessing it's not 'looking to buy'...)

Everlong - hello - I replied to your pm.

gurke meat hand is brilliant! [thumbs up emoticon]

I just don't get dragon butter. What's the big deal? anyone care to explain, please?

Loving the meat hand. :o makes mental note for halloween

Nothing to do with dragon butter, though. yes, I googled it ages ago

everlong

I meant yesterday's post

I'm glad we're good

The Dragon Butter thing started because there was a MNer who's name (on MN, obvs not in RL) was DragonButter (thinking of like, a fierce butterfly or something) who loved their name until someone came along and went "do you have any idea what that means? Look it up" and then everyone googled. And then everyone puked. So DragonButter changed their name to nevergoogledragonbutter and then appears to have buggered off. And from then on in, dragon butter became one of those things you don't google. Like space docking. Or blue waffle. Or terry wogan's cock.