Will everyone please STOP the extremely tone deaf 'Christmas Fridge' threads

[TempNameForObviousReasons]

I see these multiple threads every single year and they drive me bonkers. The four days leading up to Christmas Day my feed is inundated with all the stuffed fridges, it's a complete and utter disgrace. Not just a few posters but sometimes literally hundreds of you all joining in with these enormous overflowing fridges, it's barbaric and in incredibly poor taste. I have already seen THREE seperate fridge threads today alone, it's scandalous... please people just think about what you are doing by jumping on this bandwagon. Now I take this a bit personally and here is why.... There are people in this world who are starving and many families, mine included, are having to rely on food banks this year just to keep our children fed. As in dippy eggs and soldiers on Xmas eve. Many of us are in a dire state with finances and the pressures of Xmas. The fridge threads are incredibly upsetting and triggering. By all means have a nice christmas dinner with all the trimmings but why post it and rub it in the faces of those less fortunate? They will be very lucky to scrape together a very basic dinner for the family this year?

I so look forward to seeing everybody's gluttonous greed in full swing, fridges stuffed full of obscene amounts of food and alcohol that will most likely go to waste. (And waistlines. The greed of Christmas it's all totally out of control and I despair)
All the cheese boards, cheesecakes, cheeselets, and on and on and on.
Honestly I wish MNHQ would BAN the threads, they cause many people anguish and distress.
It is one day so please keep some perspective or even better, pop a selection pack or some small treats in a collection trolley to help all the fantastic homeless charities and food banks ensure more people can enjoy a sweet treat on christmas day.

(Thanks to my local foodbank and those who kindly donated, at least me and my children have a lovely box of celebrations that I will bring out on Christmas Day for us) 🙂

I can’t believe you’ve posted that you’ll be eating chocolate. What if someone reads it who can’t eat chocolate and gets hugely offended?

And there's someone out there who doesn't have a roof over their head or access to a food bank who'd take off your hand for access to those things. Very inconsiderate of you to post about them when someone who doesn't have them might see and be made to feel inadequate.

Look I get it, I've been skint and I've fallen into the trap of getting angry at people for showing off the stuff they have that I don't have, I've even fallen into it recently and shouted at someone for bragging about their disposable income while simultaneously calling themselves poor.

But the reality is there's always going to be people who have more than you, and they're not actually doing anything wrong in posting about those things, nor should they feel guilty for doing so. It's our responsibility to protect our own peace, not anyone else's. If something is hurtful or upsetting to you, it's better to not look at it rather than try and dictate what others can and can't do. If they're not breaking the talk guidelines it is what it is.

I agree with you OP. I am fortunate enough to not have to rely on food banks but I would never post a picture of my fridge on here or anywhere else...I dont see the point!
FWIW my DD asked me today are we going for a walk on the beach Christmas morning, I said we were, she said thats her favourite part of Christmas. So dont worry, eggs & soldiers is fine, healthy and filling. The kids wont remember that or care, they'll remember the little traditions you do with them, many of which can be free so hang in there and have a lovely Christmas 🎄

Those threads you linked are very clear on what they are…but also between them there’s about 3 actual photos! Nothing to get worked up over at all!!

I think OP has led people to it, it's in Active now

So you think your view trumps all and what you want goes? Quite frankly you need to get a grip.

She is trying to censor people’s enjoyment, and berating people for having a bit of harmless fun, when she has deliberately fished about in the “Christmas” section and read threads which have “Christmas Fridge” in the title. It’s ridiculous.

My 85 year old mum has dementia. She asked my dad last week after my last visit “who was that girl who was here yesterday?”. Her cat is her life and keeps her going. Life is complicated.

Literally thought the exact same thing.

It's unfortunate that you are in that position, but what makes you think these people aren't donating to food banks.

People are allowed to feel joy. There's horrendous things going on everywhere in the world. People should be allowed to feel joy at what brings them joy. If it is triggering for you, I would suggest not clicking on the link.

Some people are alone at Christmas, should people not be allowed to talk about being with their family at Christmas.

People have lost parents, grandparents, children and are experiencing grief at Christmas. Should people not be allowed to mention them either?

I am sorry you are going through a tough time, truly. But projecting on to others is not going to help.

I hope you have the best Christmas possible, with the people you love, doing whatever it is that brings you joy and I hope your circumstances improve.

Do you want people to not post about private schools or holidays or houses too? There will always be threads about things others can’t afford. Just avoid them. People aren’t trying to personally offend you. There are many many things that people post about on mumsnet that I could never afford. I don’t take personal offence to it though

Does she?

Or is she on the bones of her arse, and understandably venting at the unfairness of life, in which some people can spend £500 on a Christmas Eve seafood feast or whatever, and other people are making their kids eggs on toast for supper?

I get that it’s nobody’s place to say what someone can or can’t post on socials. I also get that the OP doesn’t have to look. But I think there’s a lot of spectacular point-missing going on, so supercilious fuckers can enjoy punching down.

Very festive.

It's not really greed. It's healthy and part of life to have days where you enjoy food for more than just fuelling up. And many if these posters will have big families who will be eating from their fridge for days.

MN hosts all sorts, and everyone is allowed to share what's important to them. I've definitely had days personally here where due to infertility and miscarriages I've felt annoyed at posters, but that's my issue and not theirs.

Comparison is the thief of joy. Enjoy your Christmas and yummy celebrations ❤️

Thank you for understanding my point.
I bite my tongue every year but now that things are really tough for me I just had to snap.
People are so greedy and don't consider those less fortunate.
Also how can I avoid the threads, they are right there when I log onto Mumsnet!

I don’t think they were before.

If you voluntarily go to the Christmas topic you only have yourself to blame.

Sorry you are having to rely on food banks OP that must be very hard. There are many topics that can be upsetting, you sound intelligent enough to know it not good to go looking for pain. Use the hide button.avoid active conversations where you might happen upon an undesirable thread. Don’t allow other to make you feel miserable.

Hope you're OK.

I disagree but also you sound a bit unhinged and on the edge.

Xmas isn't the be all and end all.

Calm down and be grateful for what you do have instead of looking at threads of people who have more than you do.

If you need it, seek help.

YABU really, because you don’t have to open the threads. They are really fucking vulgar though.
Actually it’s funny that MN in general objects to the ‘present pile’ pictures but is fine with the ‘massively overstuffed fridge’ pictures. They’re both just bragging.

How to upset yourself at Christmas.... open threads that will clearly upset you

Take some responsibility for your own actions, don't try and police others

Most people have full to bursting fridges at Christmas, to be fair, although quite what the attraction of looking at other people’s food is, I’ve never really grasped 😆

By exercising some self control and not clicking on them. It’s extremely straightforward.

Don't like them, don't read them - it's that simple.

I don't have enough money to have a huge Christmas fridge etc but I still enjoy looking through the threads, in the same way that I like looking at expensive houses on Rightmove and new kitchens and other things I can't afford this side of the rapture. I'm not tormented by it. It gives me ideas, makes me thankful for what I do have. It is something I hope I will be able to experience later in life.

I’m so sorry that you’re struggling. We have felt the increasing expense of Christmas and have cut back.

I don't think its tone deaf, I think people can post what they like but I do think its obscene personally. I have been much more thoughtful lately and although I am am a capitalist at heart, I cant stop thinking about people who have nothing and I dont think it matters whether its their fault or not. Life just shouldn't be so shit for some people and not others, especially children.

Hide them. I lost my mum at Christmas so some threads i find upsetting. I dont ask them to be removed. Its my issue and other people should not lose out on a interesting thread because of me. I just hide from my list.

I did NOT go onto the Christmas topic.
All three have been in active as soon as I log onto Mumsnet. And I am sure there will be many more over the next 4 days.