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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

For being bitterly disappointed at the language and attitudes of people on MN lately?

418 replies

CS1753 · 14/05/2007 14:02

I started using MN for support when I was going through hard times, hopefully supporting people when they were going through their hard times, learn new things, catch up with news etc. Lately however every thread I go on seems to be one big fight session. People are either being purposefully nasty or having a go at anyone who disagrees with their opinion - foul language included in the bundle. Is this really what this site is turning in to? Surely everyone is entitled to an opinion and surely if you don't agree and can't be mature about you should follow my mother's advice 'if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all'.

OP posts:
whomovedmychocolate · 14/05/2007 21:11

sorry I'm late....was foolishly caring for my DC.

Could the bitterly disappointed please download some browser plug ins to prevent them seeing such offensiveness. Or possibly go off to glumsnet instead?

Seriously, agree we have to be sensitive where it's necessary but mumsnet has been a bit sweary for as long as I've been here......and yes it is big and it is clever!

(Mumsnet obviously, swearing obviously isn't clever, but it is fun!)

Bubble99 · 14/05/2007 21:12

I, personally, love to see a 'feck' in a thread title.

Califrau · 14/05/2007 21:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AitchTwoOh · 14/05/2007 21:15

tsk. call yourselves mothers? i am .

Rhubarb · 14/05/2007 21:17

Very nice Califrau!

It's not swearing per se, but the context. I'm sure you will agree that there is a difference between saying "I've had a fucking shit day" and telling a poster to "fuck off" for starting a 'boring' thread.

I think that is what is generally meant when swearing is referred to.

TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 14/05/2007 21:26

Xenia posted that swearing indicated a small vocabulary. I think it indicates a large sense of humour (at least as far as MN is concerned).

As Rhubard posted, I also dislike posters who breeze onto well-covered subjects and say 'yawn' 'ffs'. Parenting advice evolves. ie. When MN started, weaning at 4 months would have been supported by HVs. If new threads on old subjects were thwarted and everyone had to read the MN pensioners back catalogue, we'd be somewhat out of date.

I would stop short of the sentiment 'if you can't say something nice' though - particularly during a good debate, but that doesn't mean I endorse the style of 'say something vitriolic and personal'.

whomovedmychocolate · 14/05/2007 21:26

I saw this yesterday Califrau but I'm afraid it's not as much fun as LittleLapin (it was you wasn't it) and her L'occitane anti oik spray.

whomovedmychocolate · 14/05/2007 21:27

I have a fecking MASSIVE vocabulary actually, I can swear in many languages!

TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 14/05/2007 21:29

Califrau - I saw the Troll Spray last night and was so impressed that I copied the picture for future use. It will be accompanied by this text 'Psssssssst'

AitchTwoOh · 14/05/2007 21:30

agree with the duchess. pisses me off a bit when people come on to BLW threads and say 'why not use a farking spoon?' but in the scheme of things you just suck it up and move along, don't you?

Rhubarb · 14/05/2007 21:31

Me too actually chocolatelyone.

I find it quite amusing to slip in the odd French swear word into everyday conversations. No-one has yet asked me what they mean.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 14/05/2007 21:36

ffs

parp
4

Califrau · 14/05/2007 21:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrMariella · 14/05/2007 22:00

What is a parp?

MrMariella · 14/05/2007 22:02

And very nicely manicured nails on the troll spray, Cali!!

MrsDiorKeanuReeves · 14/05/2007 22:03

Are you serious MrM?

If yes, it is what MNers do when they know they are going to get annoyed by a thread. It is parping yourself, not the poster. It was originaly a klaxon to remind yourself to move away from the thread instread of getting drawn in...

Or so I think

2shoeswhoismshadowsnumber1fan · 14/05/2007 22:06

do uou use it if a thread is REALLY winding you up?

luciemule · 14/05/2007 22:19

It's really no different than any other public group - think about mums and baby groups, school, the work place. There's always going to be bitchiness (especially with a large group of (mainly)women) in any situation but look closely at the way the language/direct comments are used, they're not generally being offensive and a lot of the time it's the language that person would normally use with their friends.
Not saying I think people should be offensive but look at how many people have been helped by logging on to MN.Just ignore the bits you don't like.
I don't like hearing the f-word (not the cooking programme) constantly when I switch on the tv but it's there and I just ignore it or switch over!

MrMariella · 14/05/2007 22:21

oh, thanks Di, I didn't know.I'm a newbie!

It sounds like something to do with farting....

okay..PARP!!

Califrau · 14/05/2007 22:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 14/05/2007 22:22

newbie??? havent you been here nearly a year now?

MrsDiorKeanuReeves · 14/05/2007 22:22

'Di'

I know I seem as graceful as a pricess, but honestly Pann, my name only has 4 letters

Califrau · 14/05/2007 22:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AitchTwoOh · 14/05/2007 22:25

pmsl at Di. you're queen of our hearts, dior.

Boco · 14/05/2007 22:27

Just looking at that troll spray actually made me sneeze. Maybe i have deep trolling tendencies i didn't know were there - or i'm incredibly impressionable!