to think that a perfectly harmless and hilarious thread shouldn't be deleted

[SeeMyLanyardAndWeepBitch]

Just because the poster is new and on (what we suspect might be) a bit of a wind up? I mean what actual rules are broken and what harm done?

PLEASE DON'T DELETE THIS THREAD FOR BEING A TAT. I am referencing a previous deleted thread, but my point is less about that thread and more about the prevailing culture on here these days concerning what is considered off limits.

The thread I have in mind wasn't offensive, just daft. A spoof. No person with a protected characteristic (or humble but doughty shop worker) was offended, harmed or triggered in the making of said thread.

Are spoofs and very obvious tongue in cheek wind ups no longer to be tolerated on MN?

This place has changed. It used to be fun. We could all take a joke once. What has happened?

YANBU: This place has changed. Way too serious now.

YABU: I am a sanctimonious Guardian reading arse who sees no humour in anything.

Hard to say as I didn't read the deleted thread! I do find that MN seems to delete any thread I'm remotely interested in. And the message "we've taken this down while we look into things" comment is annoying as they never return the thread after they've "looked into it"! I'd prefer a better explanation too as to why threads are deleted, rather than the lazy general breaking MN guidelines excuse.

Threads are rarely deleted for being a spoof. They are deleted because they are offensive, turn into a bun fight, goady or a PBP.
What did the deletion message say?

Obvious spoof threads - that are clearly a joke by MNetters are usually allowed to stand

IME troll threads, by PBPs or new posters, are zapped - this place is troll central without encouraging make-believe

(and of course most aren't actually funny)

'Message from MNHQ: Hi all, and thanks for the reports. It looks like the OP joined, started this one and then left the site. We've taken the thread down now.'

It was so daft as to be unbelievable, but it was funny.

(and of course most aren't actually funny)

but some of the responses can be priceless. Classics is full of threads where the thread itself was downright weird and probably not true but the responses were comedy gold.

That just doesn't happen any more. It doesn't get the chance.

I agree. I’m also really fed up of threads being deleted due to privacy concerns or causing upset in real life. Funnily enough it’s always the ones where the OP is very unreasonable. As far as I’m concerned, if they post on a public forum and it causes upset, hell mend them.

Op I couldn't agree more. I didn't see this thread but sometimes people want to be silly and hilarious and light hearted and I think at those times moderators need to keep that in mind and ask the "this Can't be real, hairy hands" posters a warning themselves.

If you don't want a harmless laugh bugger off to another thread. And mumsnet should remember the joy of laughter...

Shining path I'm talking about light hearted fun not threads where people get nasty.... And stick the boot in

YANBU it's getting tedious. It says in the deletion message that the OP of the thread left the site so Where's the problem? Why does the thread have to be deleted?

Shining path I'm talking about light hearted fun not threads where people get nasty.... And stick the boot in

So sorry, didn’t realise this thread was only for what you wanted to talk about.

Op I agree I think mumsnet needs to look at this more closely.
I had a thread once I was asking a genuine question on one aspect of something my in laws did to me. It was a snap shot in what's been generally awful behavior (which collective mumsnet has massively helped with) aside from the usual utterly boring.. This Csnt be real trope and are you going to listen to us gang the thread spiralled into a hilarious comedy, people mocking up "scenes" of what has happened and it made me laugh so much... It was absolutely hilarious.

Unfortunately I don't think it made it into classics but I wish it had.
I was upset, it cheered me up, isn't this what mn is about.

When I first joined mymsnet I remember reading this threads , with the witty , often hilarious responses. They made their way into classics, and are still funny now . I can't actually remember the last time a new thread made me laugh like those ones.

Shining, I wanted to be crystal clear that I don't agree with you. I don't like threads which get nasty.

I am talking about light hearted fun threads which made us laugh, and I think op is too.

Yes, I think it might be the case. I know that "MN isn't what it used to be" is as a common comment (and always has been) but there really does seem to be a lot of miserable angry posters about. Whilst these have always existed the type feels like it's edged into a majority.

I think once "light hearted" had to be put into the subject marked the decline. Now even with light hearted there is a post right at the start who has a humour bypass angry about different opinion to theirs. I warrant something like "which way do you hang your loo roll?" could end up a violent bun fight 😆.

There was a really jokey thread in Christmas, are you giving your staff a tip.. Very clearly taking the mic out of people who employ staff.. From the past.. Unfortunately the fun suckers who were unable to detect the irony got their teeth into it and sucked it dry.

Brian's yoni, King Alfred's cakes etc.
Some Mil ones...

One of my favourite threads ever was like this the Balonz one, I agree it's the witty replies that make them.

I think troll thread deletion should be based on Kondo principles. Does it bring joy? If so, keep it, if not, into the trash it goes.

Honestly, I do agree that there are far too many deletions!

@JanuaryBluehoo

Shining, I wanted to be crystal clear that I don't agree with you. I don't like threads which get nasty.

I am talking about light hearted fun threads which made us laugh, and I think op is too.

Why are you singling out Shining? Is it your thread but you’ve had a name change fail?

Can mumsnet mods be linked to this thread and feed this back?

I know there are many trolls on MN but to me, trolling means to do harm, to genuinely offend/incite/insult, or to deliberately get sympathy by telling awful lies, to suck people in emotionally and support what they think is an OP in genuine crisis.

If a thread is sufficiently outlandish so as to make you think WTF? This can't be real?' but it does NO actual harm, then what does it matter whether it's a troll or a spoof or a genuine poster just being a bit weird?

Do we need to be infantalised and micromanaged over everything we read, instead of being allowed to take a thread with a pinch of salt as we see fit?

Brier not at all but it's very different, light hearted fun thread... Where no offence or harm is caused, arguing for that being allowed to stand... Muddying the waters talking about genuine aibu threads or people with genuine issues which unfortunately can bring out the posters with nothing better to do than be utterly nasty?

If this thread, which it might not be, is an appeal to the mod to keep fun threads, surely it's important to keep the clear distinction?

If someone wants to argue that in general threads get deleted I would start a separate thread to keep the issues clear.

Seems a shame I missed the thread. But I have known MN leave obvious spoof threads up just for the laffs.

@Thatsplentyjack

YANBU it's getting tedious. It says in the deletion message that the OP of the thread left the site so Where's the problem? Why does the thread have to be deleted?

Exactly!