To not ‘pay my way’?

[LeLavandou]

By not paying for Mumsnet Premium and using an ad blocker. Is that ‘not paying my way’ as Justine Roberts suggested on the MN premium thread in Site Stuff?
Does this make me a freeloader, if I still use MN and just block the ads? Given I only use the talk boards where content is produced by users, where does this stand in the MN freeloader stakes?

I remember when adverts were considered invasive and company's felt bad about using them on their websites but now I'm a freeloader because I don't want to be advertised stuff I don't need (I'm of the thought that oi something needs to be advertised to me for me to buy it then 99 out of 100 times it's because I don't need it)

I understand that Internet marketing has shifted in such a way that adverts are the easiest way to make money right now but that still doesn't mean I should be forced to be bombarded by ads in my daily life, plus honestly I don't think it's good for children to see so many adverts everywhere telling you you'll be happy if you buy this one, oh and this one, and change your hair, oh and your clothes, you gotta eat and drink this too and go ask your parents to buy you all of these toys and snacks.

Nah, I'm perfectly happy seeing the odd ad on my phone but constantly use aa ad blocker on my pc and any site that asks me to take it off I just don't visit.

I don't find that the ads are a nuisance. But then I never pay much attention to any of them either.

I use adblockers because increasingly the ads being presented to me are flashing and I can't be doing with it; flash flash flash at the edge of where you're reading, WTF?

@Mummyoflittledragon. I am not inciting people not to pay at all, I’m interested in their opinion. I have my view, I wondered what the general consensus was.

You have no idea of my financial situation or whether I’m able bodied or not.

I have not insulted anyone who has a different opinion on this thread.

Lastly, cut out the snark. It’s a chat forum and I realise we are all different hence why I am asking

The problem is that the premium service MN are offering is extraordinarily bad value for money. They’ve got the pricing all wrong.

Trying to guilt people into not using adblockers is poor form. They aren’t illegal as far as I understand it.

If they come over too heavy handed on this, posters will just migrate elsewhere. The only notable thing about MN are the people who post here.

I've said before, we are not paying for the service because we are the commodity.

Bloody ridiculous, I haven't seen anyone say they use mn for anything but the forums. I'm NOT interested in blogs, or reviews. I'm interested in the life of other people, sure there are trolls and planted posts, but even counting those, its entertaining.

They pay guest bloggers SachaStark?! I had no idea. That could go, for a start.

The problem that MN have is there are a lot of us who can and wouldn't mind making a financial contribution, but have security concerns because any mechanism used would so obviously be a target. They're missing a trick not having a way to donate without it being linked to a person's posts on the site.

What ads ? I use MN on my phone only and rarely see an ad. I only use the forums. I rarely click on the top few threads that are promoted items Whilst I do spend inordinate amounts of what should be fee earning time reading shite on here (which often makes me laugh out loud) I wouldn't be bothered if I never came on here again so I'd never pay for it. Perhaps I should go look on the computer. A whole new world might open up for me

The only notable thing about MN are the people who post here

This is very true. I don't look at the non-talk parts of MN at all - and I imagine I'm not alone in that.

I paid for premium so people would still be able to come here to chat, vent, amuse and get Life changing support and advice.

I’m not prepared to pay whilst the moderation is so subjective and inconsistent.

Notwithstanding that, the original post was so tone deaf in the circumstances that they lost any respect I had.

MN is nothing more than a vehicle, if it goes there will be other places.

@Toilenstripes, thank you. I agree the range of collective wisdom on here is staggeringly vast.

I wont pay I walk close to the line on my opinions I dont always vent them online but should I do so and get banned from a service I PAY FOR I would be apocalyptic instead of just meh and I'm too old for apocalyptic

I'll consider paying when I know that MN won't ban me for calling a male rapist/child abuser "she".

I like coming on here, but not enough to pay. From what has been said about the premium offer, doesn't give enough to members to warrant the price. It looks to me like MNHQ just cobbled a package together based on how much money the needed to raise not what would benefit those paying for the service.

I am supporting other organisations during lockdown by continuing to pay for services that are currently suspended (eg sports clubs), but MN just isn't a priority for me.

If MN is struggling financially it's becuse it got too fulĺ if it's itself. Really, how big can the cost base of an internet forum be? Also, how can such a long established "successful" business have got into such difficulties so quickly? I'm afraid it smacks of owners who've taken out too much in the good times and not planned for the bad ones.

I don't use an ad blocker though. Have never felt the need.

I'd happily pay if it was a system I knew and trusted. I donate to Wikipedia because I use it. But I do this via paypal. I know and mostly trust paypal. Or, I'd happily give the amount as a donation in a safe way. It's the system that I'm uneasy about.

Also, I like the ads!

Are they still using volunteers as moderators?

They really should get rid of the non-forum stuff altogether.

I also don’t get the ‘freeloader’ point. Presumably companies have ads on websites so people will click through and buy something. I have never done that on any website, ever, nor will I. So was I ‘freeloader’ before I even installed adblocker? For not being an impulsive buyer?

The sort of publicity/ads I might be swayed by are the ones that grow organically out of chatting to other people about a product I am interested in. So I wouldn’t click through a flashing ad about a kitchen supplier, for instance, but I would read an unbiased thread (unbiased because disagreement and opinion permitted) about various companies who supply and fit kitchens. Maybe that’s the angle MN should have gone for if they didn’t want to annoy users to the point of an ad blocker then snottily deem them ‘freeloaders’ and ‘shoplifters’.
It’s closer to the original ethos of parents chatting about Stuff, some of which Stuff was available to buy.

Agree, EmpressJewel. I am still paying my National Trust membership even though I won’t be using it this year at all. I want their work to continue and the facilities to still be there when I can use them. The facility to chat on the internet isn’t going to disappear if MN disappears.

I think it’s a bit disingenuous to say Justine said people should pay their way or implied people were freeloaders, because the wording was very clear that if you can, are able to and want to pay for a premium version, here it is.

That being said I’d never pay because of the points PPs have outlined.
Cost is too high
Security is none existent
Content is provided by users
High use of volunteers especially on night watch when most of the trouble is.
The lack of clarity/rules when it comes to deleting posts / banning users. I’ve seen rather inane posts be deleted because of breach of guidelines, but clear trolling and bullying go unchecked and happy banning of people in the feminist boards (which I no longer frequent as I don’t agree with the majority of posts, but some users have been banned for very little, while very obvious and prolific trollers don’t get the same punishment)

You’re not doing anything illegal or immoral, so crack on.
I don’t use an ad blocker because they don’t bother me but I won’t be paying because money is a bit tight and I don’t think the premium service is worth stretching myself financially. If I wasn’t able to post here, then I’d move on elsewhere.

It’s not disingenuous at all. By using a ad-blocker, ‘you’re not really paying your way’.
Very clear, not implied.
Freeloader was not used, however.

I’m surprised people volunteer to be mods, although I agree about the lack of clarity around deleting posts/threads, some of which seem innocuous.

Mumsnet AIBU for wanting you all to pay a monthly fee for this site [which costs more than doing a monthly donation to help save fluffy kittens and puppies] which; without you lot will curl up and die and then calling anyone who uses an Adblocker a freeloader?

Most of MN posters Yes, yes you bloody well ABU!!!

Mumsnet Well I don't think we are so I'll just ignore all the suggestions for getting rid of guest bloggers because most of you don't read them and other ideas. Bunch of freeloaders....

Most of MN posters FFS!