To wonder why people give these in threads

[sepa]

I have seen this being used In many threads but I don't understand why you would give someone a biscuit? I'm probably being a dumbass though

I know I have been on Mumsnet too long, as I always seem to come on these threads to "explain the biscuit."

This is the story. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin. . .

Once upon a time, a big bear called Gordon Brown came on Mumsnet to do a webchat. What poor Gordon didn't know, being a serious politician and all, was that everyone who comes to MN Towers to do a webchat gets offered tea and biscuits, they always politely and Britishly enthuse about the biscuits and they are always asked what their favourite biscuit is. It's sort of a tradition.

Now, when Gordon Brown was asked what his favourite biscuit was on his MN webchat, that he did not answer. (The thing is, GB has very poor eyesight and I think it is unlikely he was responding too spontaneously to questions asked on the day; it was clear that most of his replies were C&P prepared replies to questions already asked or questions that had been anticipated by his staff.)

MN posters then made a MASSIVE thing about him not answering this question. I mean massive. It went on and on. And on. This had the following effects, in order:

1. Mumsnet members were made to look like a bunch of biscuit-obsessed complete fucking airheads in all the national press (with some justification given the thread I have to acknowledge).
2. Gordon Brown was made to look stuffy and boring. What, the prime minister is a serious Politician?! Who knew?
3. Mumsnet tried to make a joke of it by introducing a Biscuit emoticon when someone has "no comment to make." Because Gordon Brown did not comment on what biscuit he likes. Get it? Ah ha ha ha. (He did eventually contact MNHQ to say he liked chocolate biscuits IIRC.)
4. Biscuit is now used in a PA fashion to mean "I consider you to be an atrocious cunt but am too classy to type this."

Well thank you Balloon you have solved it!