to think that the average debating ability of Mumsnetters has dropped considerably over the past year?

[colditz]

I was browsing through some old threads earlier, and the general standard of debate has dropped. People here used to be able to follow a thread and give a pertinent response, backed up with careful research. Lately the response is likely to be completely unrelated to the original point, and passive-aggressive to boot.

No I think she meant Xenia, Lenin. Who has slightly less sense than Liz Jones.

sm- you were capitalised a year ago... -example thread - which is a little odd.

I think asking if there is any research to support an argument is ok, but it's the triumphalist "Aha! So you are not prepared to spend an hour on Google assembling references, therefore your argument is clearly piffling" that is a bit irritating.
Also, in this case, the poster wanted me to talk about my own research, which is something that I'd like to write about one day, and def not give details about on mn!

Ah scottishmummy, you are spoiling us now with your heid the baw

heid the baw...

isnt special group an oxymoron?why do people need to herd and congregate cant one just post in a general milieu

Yes, I channel my inner Xenia on those WOHM V SAHM threads. Especially the one not so long back where a woman was going on saying she was justified in being a SAHM to teenagers because it enabled her to bake 17th century recipes and gather walnuts in the wood.

Same as I always go on P&T parking bay threads to say 'i use those spaces and my dd is a teenager raharrgh' kind of things. 'Tis a habit.

Lenin - I wish Liz Jones did post on here. It would be carnage.

JeremyVile tis good to see you matey

Did you allude to it tantalisingly though nighbynight? And then coyly decline to give details. That would be irritating...

Would someone explain what these special groups are? Do you mean there are people who all hang out together in the christmas tree decoration area, or are there subgroups who are in the chat bit?

How do you know the groups are there unless you are in them?

I am clueless about all of it.

sahm/working mum threads are so easy.i love admitting

aye its all about the money numnuts.stick that in your piper and smoke it
have no desire to knit my tampons,forgo consuner durables,or live off someone else wages

Bald!
(you helped me loads on a thread about ds/ potty training/ preschool a few months ago, dont know if you knew it was me or not, I had a couple of different names when I came back - anyway cheers lovely! x)

Why do people need to herd and congregate? So many theories. A general acceptance that they do though. Obviously not proven...

FM, lol, no I try not to do that...as far as I remember I said an opinion, and was instantly attacked with Wheres your research?, and it sort of went downhill.

That brings to mind another underhand internet debating trick though, which is trying to suck personal information out of people bit by bit, so that you can criticise it, and draw ludicrous conclusions about the other person.
I try to spot that and resist it before giving owt away.

So here you are Colditz, wondered where you were. We are missing you on the WW thread you started. When are you coming back???

I personally find Mumsnet a bit of a Russian doll at the moment. I fear that interesting things are happening but are happening within strange places ie. wankers, shiney's thread etc. And I often can't be bothered to wade through all the minutae to get to it.

I usually end up on a thread that links to the Daily Mail and then end up stuck on their site for ages being appalled but strangely drawn.

milly, the groups probably look totally boring to people on the outside!
Like for example, people bonding madly over taking their driving test in February, or something like that.

Knit your own tampons? At last! I've been wondering for ages what those french knitting things were actually for.

Thing is when you've been here a while you tend to not click on the threads that have been done to death, getting thrice over for me now.

There are niches, I'm on one. Love checking in mostly daily.

Shiny isn't Cod, is she? I don't go on her ongoing threads as I thought one had to be battling the bulge to join and I'm not. ducks!!

'yes I probably do speak for myself. I've read some threads from bfore I had 2 children (had one non verbal toddler) and I think to myself "My, who is that eloquent young snippet?!" and LO! It's me.

Has that happened to us all, I wonder? Have our brains and patience been caught up in a sea of why questions and demands for drinks?

Wel it has me

amnd I'mfar snappier than I used to be, or even am in nature IYKWIM- tiredness and all that.

Do see what you mean colditz, all the fighting and yelling troll.... whats the point?

Course there's groups;many of us have been here since we were young whipper snappers, course we have made a MN mate or two along the way,and indeed the reverse.