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.

Shiney's thread/clique whatever very funny - I went on it for a while because was dieting, the diet never really got off the ground and I used to go on the thread saying 'ooh just eaten a bag of wotsist and a fruit and nut'. So wasn't in the keeping.

It was a really friendly thread and was nice to have an area on MN which felt like a mother ship, however started spending a lot less time on MN and the thread used to be about 800 posts further on and I could never ever keep up.

I like Shiney, Lizzylou, Trillian, BOF and others, will pop back in and see if they are all 7 stone and whippet thin after their dieting success

actual debate going on here

Oh Quattro that woman made my day, glad it's not just me who remembers that post for all its madness. I think her kids were at university actually, come to think of it. Walnut collecting and 17th century bakewell tarts, i haven't laughed so much since John and Edward.

I mean, presumably she has a husband doing a (probably) demanding job, whilst she spends her time at home doing Jane Austen heroine activities. Either he (a) really does want an old fashioned wife in which case good luck to the pair of nutters them, or (b) he is deep down resentful and has no interest in her life or respect for how she spends her time.

Thank God I earn my own keep, that's all I have to say.

Proof that mumsnet is dumbing down here

bibbitty-now you made me feel bad.i would love a makeover,just for fun but now feel dumb for saying so. im not dumb!!just ugly

colditz-yes agree with op.

Shiney's thread is less of a clique (which by its nature excludes) than a loose coalition where anyone is welcome.

"starting posts with "haven't read the whole thread but.."

"Jumping in with random, unrelated streams of conciousness"

oops, that'd be me. But in my defence, I don't actually believe anyone reads my posts.

I did know that Cod was back. so thats good. I didn't knw that she was currently Shiney, but then I can't keep up, hadn't been on any of her threads recently.
I feel the same way as JeremyVile. I can't seem to get into Mn right now. It must be me. that feels sad. I hope that changes. but I can't see it. I think its got too big. it needs to be smaller. no advertising in the Dm might help !!

I think by definition any 'name' that hangs around for more than a week is not Cod.

Oblomov - the fish is not Shiney.

Shiney is shiney.

I think that was supposed to be a joke .

not sure MN has got too big...?

always seems to be the same people on here..

but i've got half the topics hidden.....maybe all the new people are on those....

oh sorry, not shiney then. I was gonna say, that would make it non -cod-like, if we knew who she was all the time= boring.

Oblomov -same here.i dont need to come on now.i sometimes find it hard to get into again.

i think it has evolved.

i remember circa 2003/4 when there was an influx and all the originals were saying exactly the same things

it;s getting too big

dumbing down

cliques

it bastardises debate.

people come and go. sometimes its relevant to your life and sometimes it isn't

I haven't found it partic relevant over the last few weeks, but had a cracking laugh yesterday.

I think MN has gained a HUGE sense of humour over the last year. the dry wit is astounding.