To think MN is getting nastier?

[MaggieJoyBlunt]

So far this week we've had giving birth referred to as 'calving' (in the context of women having children while young). Someone loved that one so much they immediately commented on what a great expression it was and repeated it.

We've had someone propose that Prince Phillip should be 'humanely destroyed'. swiftly followed up by a similar suggestion about taking him out to a barn or a shed or some such and shooting him.

We've had a thread about the death of a convicted murdered where several posters queued up to tell us they were, smiling or "laughing gleefully" or simply to post "lol" as a one word comment. (Okay she was a vicious killer and will not be much missed, but really?)

Add to all of that the Budget threads where in the midst of people worrying and calculating the cut to their household budget, other people came to gloat and make helpful observations such as "If you can't afford DC, don't have them."

MN didn't used to be nasty. Vigorous, challenging etc; But not nasty.

What's going on around here?

I think Fergie was banned after some toe sucking incident.

Can I be Princess Anne?

There have been a few posts on this thread which refer to sychophants sucking up to the MN royalty and not only do I not know who the Royalty are, I can't say I've noticed a pattern of people who follow others around being sycophantic!

I spent far too much time on MN and have been here since 2006 (addict and not much interest in other internet sites) and these days I barely see a name I recognise.

For example, I am not sure I've ever noticed the OP posting before today. She might have done, she might not, but to me her name is entirely anonymous. There must be 50 posters on this thread who are new to me.

Pagwatch, Biwi, Maryz, Usual, Fru, Exit, Nicki Fury, Garlick, Worra, Me, Fanjo (and others I'm sure, sorry I've only skimmed the thread) keep the same name, post a lot and have been here a long time. Does this make us Royalty?

No, it's not just long-standing posters. It is - or was - about a group of members who were like the 'alpha girls' at school, collectively choosing who to be friends with and collectively picking on people they'd decided not to like. You know how those girls used to try and get everyone else to take sides in the playground? That. If you made the mistake of criticising one of the 'chosen', half the site would be on you like a ton of bricks.

The last time I was aware of MN royalty, I really liked some of them but not the others. It simply wasn't worth taking issue with them, though, especially if you were going to have to leave your keyboard for any length of time. I really miss a few of said royals. No-one's been as funny since they went!

Um, not read the whole thread, but it was me who suggested taking Prince Philip out to the barn etc. Obviously it was tongue in cheek, I mean he's a racist, bigoted old git but I don't really advocate killing him.

I am slightly shocked to be held up as an example of how things are Going To The Dogs. And slightly shocked about how po faced some people are, and I am a fully paid up member of the PC brigade, (otherwise known as the nice people).

I change name, Mintyy. I'm overdue - and Limited chose my next name for me

I am, however, very Royal. I just keep it quiet ...

... or not

See, I don't remember that pre-moldies either. Again, there were the long-serving posters who had been around since the year dot (people like Enid and Beetroot and Countess Dracula, that's the type of era I'm thinking) and they liked to chat to each other on threads. Why wouldn't they? They'd all been here posting to each other for 5 years before I even joined. Didn't have a problem with that and still don't.

Perhaps I am less sensitive to this stuff . I was one of the ones who found moldies fascinating and scandalous rather than upsetting .

Yes SunnyB, I posted fairly recently about my dd being diagnosed with dyspraxia. One poster was shockingly rude and dismissive. If only people thought before they posted "would i say that to someone's face if they were upset"

It is - or was - about a group of members who were like the 'alpha girls' at school, collectively choosing who to be friends with and collectively picking on people they'd decided not to like.

This still happens. I only joined MN a little while back when my interest was piqued on FB after some friends of mine linked to the occasional thread. They are afaik, ex MNetters and left because they got fed up of seeing groups of MNetters on FB rallying together to attack whichever poster they'd decided to push out next.

It's very sad, childish and pathetic.

I don't post often and plan on namechanging frequently to avoid being a known poster, mainly due to the fact that it appears to me one week you can post about baking cakes or whatever and all is good, you'll have a laugh, it'll be fun and entertaining, the next week another poster could post the very same thing and WW3 will errupt, depending on that posters standing with the "in girls" or the first few posts on the thread.

It's a shame really because in other ways the site is great.

In the few weeks I've been reading I've seen some funny threads, some really supportive, heart warming threads and sadly a lot of passive aggressive, snide comments purely because one poster disagrees with another. I read the RSPCA thread mentioned a few pages back, that turned into a proper pile on. I felt for the OP.

MN definitely does have a dark side, whether that side is getting darker, I couldn't say, I haven't been here long enough.

There have been posters over the years who have had their fan girls. I don't think there are now though.

I recognise hardly anyone these days and I admit I feel odd if I'm on a thread and don't know any of the names.

Because MN is so trolled now, I'm very wary of posting on a thread if I don't recognise the OPS name. Sad but true.

I change name regularly too.

There it is again ItWillWash - the "in girls" - so who are they? You seem to know more about the site than me and, as I keep droning on, I've been here fecking years .

The FB group thing has changed MN a lot.

Although the rallying calls were on MSN back in the day.

Yes, namechanging does seem to be a good idea - at least you won't be given the toxic label Royalty.

Yes, but all that doesn't answer my question.

Can I be Princess Anne?

And another thing, I've never been invited onto a Facebook group either!!

If you've worn your hair up in the same style every day for the last 40 years, then you can indeed be Princess Anne, Cat.

I'm going to be one of the corgis I think.

Yay!

Gallops around MN, whinnying and shouting 'naff orf'

I'll be Kate

Tall, leggy, good hair but ultimately a vacuous waste of space

I'll be honest Mintyy, I don't pay enough attention to remember their names until I see them post again and it triggers my memory. To be honest I struggle with remembering my own children's names sometimes, never mind strangers on the net

If I did remember them I wouldn't out them, one it would be a spiteful thing to do and I've no intentions of joining in with the nastiness and two, they'd start on me too [coward]

I don't know who is meant by Royalty either. There are a few I recognise - Mintyy mentioned some - and some I have learnt to respect. There are some very clever women on here - and I value their input.

I am a fairly regular name changer by the way - so couldn't be Royalty.

I want to be Princess Margaret, mostly getting pissed and shagging around on a Caribbean island

Have you ever tried using a male name to see how you differently you are treated?

Go on then, I'll be Prince Phillip

I mostly ignore the male posters.