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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To want your input over whether to cancel mumsnet premium over this?

84 replies

agonyauntie2020 · 26/05/2020 02:21

Note, this is not about whether or not you agree with paying for mumsnet premium, there are plenty of threads on that (just search on premium). I have loved and benefited from mumsnet (mostly humour) for years, and was happy to pay when told they needed help.

I noted as part of the debate on premium posters talking about MNHQ having 100 employees and a huge monthly wages budget (despite very few updates ever being made to the site) and questions about what those employees were all doing. I didn't think much of it. I don't know what goes into maintaining a site like this and I posted that I trusted MNHQ to make their own business decisions/no-one could have predicted COVID-19 and subscribed.

Watching my words carefully now, because this is not intended to be a thread about a thread (TAAT) and therefore subject to deletion by MNHQ.

Recently, I got very invested in two threads. Please, no-one post speculation about which ones or MNHQ will delete this thread. I gave a lot in terms of emotional support on one of them. I then found out from posts that were swiftly deleted by MNHQ that they weren't genuine, and that MNHQ had known that for a good while. I can't say more, because spelling out the details has been given as a reason by MNHQ for their insta-deletions of posts and threads on this.

I read a theory that some of the highly addicting threads with frequent updates are actually started and maintained by MNHQ employees as part of their job to keep traffic up on the site/appeal to advertisers etc.

I have not been able to get this out of my head. If I'd read this a few months ago I would have thought "paranoid, much?" and laughed, but now I keep wondering...

YABU = Don't be stupid. MNHQ employees don't manufacture threads and then swiftly delete posts that draw attention to trolls/non-genuine OPs for that reason? Don't listen to the cynical posts. Don't cancel premium for this reason.

YANBU = Yes they might be doing this. Deleting TAATs is a good excuse for them to use, along with troll-hunting. They care about ads and they don't care if you give your time and emotional energy to fake posters. Cancel premium. It's not the site you thought it was (sob).

OP posts:
notthemum · 26/05/2020 09:01

Bugger agony auntie. I wouldn't have ever considered this. But I've just spent a bit of time encouraging a pp and offering them support. I immediately got a response from them. When I tried to check it it said they were a fake and thread had been removed. Now you have me wondering 🤔

Nightbirdcackle · 26/05/2020 09:08

@agonyauntie2020 without wishing to stir up a debate on which thread you refer to ... I know which thread you mean as I saw you post about it previously. There is no evidence that thread was fake, just speculation that it was.

onesmalldog · 26/05/2020 09:08

I don't care.

Purpletigers · 26/05/2020 09:15

I think the best, most funny , most eloquent posters have been recruited by mumsnet .

bruffin · 26/05/2020 09:15

I just think some people are really gullible

Original poster
agonyauntie2020 · 26/05/2020 10:35

Speaking only in generalities so this post is not deleted, Nightbirdcackle ~ unless you happen to be online and read/absorb before a post is swiftly deleted by MNHQ you would not know if a PP had provided evidence an OP was a fake, would you? You only have what you read on a thread to go on. You don't know what was deleted.

Please don't post anymore about specific threads, I don't want this to be deleted. I realize you don't agree and think a previous thread, unspecified, was real, but I'd ask you to keep an open mind since evidence that it was not real swiftly vanished.

Michael from MNHQ, thanks for the response.

OP posts:
Nightbirdcackle · 26/05/2020 10:42

@agonyauntie2020 OK, hard to respond without going into specifics and turning it into a TAAT but I did see the thread you were on. I didn't respond at the time, as it was deleted quickly along with the alleged evidence. I just do not believe what was posted was actual evidence at all.

If my post now has to be deleted to avoid the thread becoming a TAAT, so be it.

Qwerty543 · 26/05/2020 11:01

YANBU OP. I have become more and more cynical about threads on here. I also would never use MN for advice anymore as there are too many rude posters who are here just to kick people while their down or just to be a dick. There is no need for it and it ruins the site. MNHQ are happy to let posters continue to post in this manner. I feel this is a mistake. I've seen the stats on visitors to the site over the last year and it's in huge decline.

Carefully planted threads that continue on and on creates a lot of traffic. That's why MNHQ were happy to let long threads stand despite knowing what was going on behind the scenes. Action was forced when too many picked up upon this. I believe that's why a lot of threads are left to stand.

I would never pay for 'premium', which is a con anyway. Fewer ads and the vague promise of potential new features in the future? No thanks.

Qwerty543 · 26/05/2020 11:02

They're down, not their!

ClassicCola · 26/05/2020 11:25

Maybe you shouldn't believe all you read on other sites? Or come over here from other sites to try and discredit MN?

MN has always been full of troll threads.

bruffin · 26/05/2020 11:53

Of course there has always been trolls, ive been on here over 10 years and found MN through a troll, so not sure what you you think people are coming from other sites to discredit MN. People are going to other sites because they are frustrated of MN attitude to fake threads

CrazyTimesAreOccurring · 26/05/2020 13:24

So many threads taking down while MN "looks behind the scenes". Has anyone ever known a thread to be reinstated?

AnnaNimmity · 26/05/2020 13:46

I know someone who comes on here under so many different names and tells blatant lies and makes up different lives for each of their names. She's asked for advice about her (made up) situations, that many people have invested time and energy in.

I suspect there are lots like her. Personally, I think why lie on here? if you are asking for or giving advice then lies don't help and I don't lie on here ever.

But people do, and I think the advice is not to get too invested. Protect yourself.

In relation to the funny threads? I suspect many are made up or at least embellished.

LovingitlikeTHIS · 26/05/2020 15:05

Oh, so many 'funny' threads are made up. The 'my friend/me spent a great night of hot sex then had to have a poo in the morning but the toilet didn't flush so she/me fished it out and put it in a bag but accidently left it on the side'

And the 'smear test, forgot i'd sprayed my vulva with glitter or been in a glittery lush bath and GP commented' or 'had a quick wipe with a tissue from my bag and a stamp got attached to my pubes so GP asked if I was first class' nonsense.

Original poster
agonyauntie2020 · 26/05/2020 19:13

ClassicCola "Maybe you shouldn't believe all you read on other sites? Or come over here from other sites to try and discredit MN? "

Do you mean me, ClassicCola? Not sure where you are getting that from? I'm not coming over here from other sites (I've been here for donkey's years: penis beaker, cutted up pears, easter bonnet etc). Mentioned this upthread too.

I am asking AIBU to believe this and stop being a premium subscriber. I've had really helpful advice that even if an OP is not genuine, responses may help some, plus, so far 451 votes with nearly 80% saying YANBU.

I am absolutely not from another site trying to discredit MN. I was actually hoping people would tell me YABU.

OP posts:
DahliaDay · 26/05/2020 19:29

I don’t blame you for not paying

And I do remember the days when Carrie and Justine posted on threads and created their own too

It’s just too big now. We used to pay £5 a month ( I think it was) back then. Early 2000’s, for a CAT messaging service

ClassicCola · 26/05/2020 20:15

@agonyauntie2020

ClassicCola "Maybe you shouldn't believe all you read on other sites? Or come over here from other sites to try and discredit MN? "

Do you mean me, ClassicCola? Not sure where you are getting that from? I'm not coming over here from other sites (I've been here for donkey's years: penis beaker, cutted up pears, easter bonnet etc). Mentioned this upthread too.

I am asking AIBU to believe this and stop being a premium subscriber. I've had really helpful advice that even if an OP is not genuine, responses may help some, plus, so far 451 votes with nearly 80% saying YANBU.

I am absolutely not from another site trying to discredit MN. I was actually hoping people would tell me YABU.

YABU
TehBewilderness · 27/05/2020 00:12

TerrapinStation
You are right that I should not assume it is common knowledge just because it has been widely discussed and addressed on the security breach threads.
Now here is Michael saying that never happens, so nev er miiind.

BIWI · 27/05/2020 11:16

@Qwerty543

YANBU OP. I have become more and more cynical about threads on here. I also would never use MN for advice anymore as there are too many rude posters who are here just to kick people while their down or just to be a dick. There is no need for it and it ruins the site. MNHQ are happy to let posters continue to post in this manner. I feel this is a mistake. I've seen the stats on visitors to the site over the last year and it's in huge decline.

Carefully planted threads that continue on and on creates a lot of traffic. That's why MNHQ were happy to let long threads stand despite knowing what was going on behind the scenes. Action was forced when too many picked up upon this. I believe that's why a lot of threads are left to stand.

I would never pay for 'premium', which is a con anyway. Fewer ads and the vague promise of potential new features in the future? No thanks.

I wonder, if this is how you feel, why you bother to stay on Mumsnet? I'm sorry if that seems rude, but I just can't understand people who slag something off but then keep using it.
BIWI · 27/05/2020 11:20

@TehBewilderness

TerrapinStation You are right that I should not assume it is common knowledge just because it has been widely discussed and addressed on the security breach threads. Now here is Michael saying that never happens, so nev er miiind.
I think, by 'discussed' you mean 'speculated'?
MintyMabel · 27/05/2020 12:23

This would certainly explain the moderation is so shockingly bad. Obvious troll posts left to stand no matter what the subject matter, whilst others which could go either way are zapped immediately.

And yet we’re supposed to trust the moderation and not suggest a thread might be a troll thread, just report it to be dealt with.

MintyMabel · 27/05/2020 12:25

I wonder, if this is how you feel, why you bother to stay on Mumsnet? I'm sorry if that seems rude, but I just can't understand people who slag something off but then keep using it.

Is it not possible to dislike part of something but enjoy other aspects of it? Are you always so quick to dismiss something in its entirety just because there is part of it you don’t like?

Aretheystillasleepbob · 27/05/2020 12:32

If MNHQ were found to be doing that then their integrity would be called into question and the whole site could go depending on the fallout. Like Ratner and his 'crap' products.
Would they risk that? When there are many, many legitimate ways of marketing and drawing attention and traffic?

Aretheystillasleepbob · 27/05/2020 12:34

I'm not saying that some threads aren;t made up/exaggerated - of course they are. I just don't think that it's MNHQ doing it...

MarshaBradyo · 27/05/2020 12:35

I have wondered this. But I have no idea if they do or not.