To think that Mumsnet should be made

[feellikeanun]

Private and only members can see what's going on?

I'm sure that, in the past, MNHQ have said they don't want to because if someone needs help and support they may well want it right now and not want to wait for a registration process just to see if help is there

No lots of people search for advice.
You can make a private facebook group if you want private.

I don't think you can have it both ways. Either you're willing to post to an anonymous forum and accept the risk that someone will recognise you from what you've written or take it and write about it, talk about it, make a film about it, etc. -- Or you don't.

Though it's anonymous, this is a public forum. Anyone can read it. If that bothers anyone, they shouldn't be posting here, or they should at least take care to disguise themselves so that they can't be "outed".

@feellikeanun

Yes I understand they can still join but I do think there should be some sort of rules when you join. Or even the option to delete your thread.

There are rules. The "Talk Guidelines"

And still you haven’t given a valid reason why it should be private.

There are plenty of valid reasons why it shouldn’t be though.

What would it achieve?

I feel so sorry for people who come on here to ask genuine questions and then it ends up in a newspaper. Maybe something to say they can't print threads. Bloody hell famous people stop them.
Just think that makes it more outing for these people and could stop people posting who have serious problems but don't have anyone to turn to.

Journos would just register. I think it's hazard of a forum.

But I get your point

But OP it’s a public forum.

When you post something about someone you don’t want them to read, you should post on the basis they may already be reading it.

The reality is that there’s no such thing as private internet. Even if the press didn’t publish threads, there is still no guarantee that the person you’re posting about won’t.

And tbh if people aren’t looking at threads on MN they probably aren’t looking at them in the tabloids, so if you’re recognised you would probably be recognised anyway.

And we need to step away from this notion that someone posting here has “no-one to turn to.”

For the most part people get advice from here re who to turn to e.g. in terms of leaving, but it’s still a public forum, full of complete strangers, none of who you know or know anything about.

People shouldn’t be accepting rl support from random strangers on the internet - only advice.

@feellikeanun

I feel so sorry for people who come on here to ask genuine questions and then it ends up in a newspaper. Maybe something to say they can't print threads. Bloody hell famous people stop them. Just think that makes it more outing for these people and could stop people posting who have serious problems but don't have anyone to turn to.

But it would be impossible to police. We could all tick a box to say ‘No, we will absolutely not share threads with the tabloids’... but what happens when someone does? Anyone can copy and paste a link.

@feellikeanun

I feel so sorry for people who come on here to ask genuine questions and then it ends up in a newspaper. Maybe something to say they can't print threads. Bloody hell famous people stop them. Just think that makes it more outing for these people and could stop people posting who have serious problems but don't have anyone to turn to.

Famous people have lawyers. Expensive lawyers.

Famous people stop them because they are identified. Nobody should be posting on any public forum under their real name!