Are YOU the OP’s sister??

[WomanStanleyWoman2]

Or MIL/neighbour/colleague/second cousin twice removed etc.

Basically, I’m wondering what goes through people’s mind when they ask this on a thread - usually when someone has “gone against the grain” and says the OP’s sister isn’t a total bitch even though she’s excluded one of OP’s daughters from her wedding and made the other chief bridesmaid (or whatever).

Surely no one really thinks that, out of the millions of registered MN users, one of the first people to find the thread just happens to be the person at the centre of it? And having found said thread, rather than phoning her sister and saying “What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing slagging me off to all and sundry on Mumsnet?!”, her first thought is to pretend to be someone else who supports her point of view?

Assuming no one actually genuinely believes that any dissenting voice has to be involved in the situation in real life, why do people trot this out? Surely they can’t possibly think it’s in any way amusing? What’s the thinking behind it?

(Disclaimer: Someone actually did accuse me, and one other poster, of being involved in a scenario in real life and got quite intense about it, saying it was an actual very real possibility, despite neither of us having said anything particularly controversial. So maybe I’m biased…)

I always thought those sorts of comments were tongue in cheek rather than a sincere allegation.

Because a lot of these threads are just bollocks.

It’s just a sarcastic way of saying that thd OPs sister is being so unreasonable that surely nobody but her would have that view point 🤷

Well yes, me too - but it’s been done to death. Surely no one thinks it’s an even vaguely original thing to say?

It’s a PA way of calling out someone taking a ridiculous stance on a thread.

They're trying to be funny

Surely no one thinks it’s an even vaguely original thing to say?*

there’s very little originality anywhere in life.

people post the same issues, get the same responses. The world keeps turning.

God, yes. MN in a nutshell.

I remember a thread a few years ago where the OP was having a massive row with her siblings - I think there were three sisters involved. One of the sisters found the thread and came on to defend herself and if I remember correctly she told the the third one who then also appeared on the thread. It was quite entertaining tbh.

Not as bad as are you me OP?

Tis a worry you think they are being sincere.

I said very clearly that I can’t believe anyone would say it seriously. But then again, I can’t believe anyone would say “Tis” and think they’re amusing either.

I've seen a few threads on here and thought "people might think that's me".

Not much I can do if they do. Nobody has asked me about it.

On topic, I always took "are you the MIL" or whatever to be a way of disagreeing with what the poster was saying. Not a genuine question.

It's a sarcastic joke that you seem to have taken literally.

Well, it's also not original to say, "LTB" or "Yes, that's financial or emotional abuse." Nor is "more red flags than at a parade" or whatever. But it's an easy way to say something. Depending on context, either that someone is being sooooo completely unreasonable as to be crazy OR, I've also often seen people using it as a way to assure OP they aren't alone, that what is happening to them has happened to other people too.

Really struggling to see why this is such an issue for anyone.

My actual sister is a long term Mumsnet user, as am I. When I posted a thread recently where I was having to defend my viewpoint repeatedly, unbeknownst to me my sister popped on to say "I am OP's sister, and she is telling the truth". I immediately got accused of sockpuppeting.

So yes, she was the OP's sister. And we did speak about it offline.

I presume it is usually a joke. Although relatives often do seem to find threads, usually to back up the OP though. Make of that what you will. 😉

With this and the previous jibes about posters not being original enough - you're pretty snarky OP. Not surprised you've been called out on threads.

“Called out”?

I can see why people would think it was sock puppetry, as it’s an unusual situation. However, actively stating you are related to the OP is a very different situation to someone sarcastically asking if you are just because your comments go against the norm.

It cracks me up when a celebrity or VIP type person is being discussed and someone comes on to say “I wonder if celebrity x is a mumsnetter and might come across this thread” or words to that effect. Some people seem to genuinely believe everyone in the U.K. is on mumsnet!

I've often wondered if when someone posts a thread, even with a name change, if the person they're referring to recognises the scenario and gets on the phone / goes marching round to the op to have a go about it.
Especially those threads featuring mum in law's.

I hate "going against the grain" posters. They often aren't and I don't know why they need to announce it if they are

Yes, exactly.

I always think it's quite bullying actually. As though no-one can cope with reading a different opinion so they have to undermine it.
If I ruled MN, I'd ban posters who posted it. I'd also ban anyone who posted 'if it was man it would be different'. They add nothing to a thread.