I feel some of the recent Xmas threads are pisstakes...

[ssd]

I know a thread about a thread is a no no. so I'm not defining which threads I mean...but seriously, whats going on? Some of the threads are wind ups for sure, someone out there is having a laugh...

I suspect the vast majority of people going to foodbanks, the Sally Army or the YMCA are genuine.

I work at a charity car boot sale where 100% of the goods are donated and 100% of the money raised goes to a very worthy charity. We have stuff stolen every single time. There are real scumbags about who target charitable people. That's why I think it would be best if there was a consensus NOT to ever give anything other than advise and sympathy on Mumsnet.

Then people who need support would feel comfortable posting.

Advice not advise

Another one who had to put food/petrol/essentials on CC thanks to 3 consecutive redundancies, then never managed to pay it down thanks to disability. And later on homelessness added to the amount.

If you think that it's bad on here,pop over to the huns.Now there realy are some questionable Christmas threads there.

I don't think anyone is doubting there are lots of families who are desperately short of cash for very genuine reasons.

I also think that MN is the perfect place to come and have a moan about difficult situations and to ask for practical advice and sympathy. There are so many helpful and kind people on here.

... However I don't think it is ever a good idea to give money or goods to complete strangers online.

Math Yes they are, but there are a significant number (enough to call the non referral policy into question) that are not. They know this because the SA and the YMCA compare numbers, and also it's quite a small town so you notice people iykwim.

maras2 - huns ?

ha maras2, if I popped over to the huns dh would divorce me