Mumsnet behaviour-is it a police state?

[talktalk]

Hello, I've been lurking on Mumsnet for some time now but finally decided to post having been horrified at the reception that some people have received.

I always assumed that, within reason, mumsnet would be a place for parents/carers to come and, mostly anonymously, discuss their concerns. Over the last few weeks I have seen some ghastly behaviour from mns against innocent posts.
Are some of you out there assuming the mantle of "mumsnet police" and if so should you not announce that fact?

Why are people so aggressive? I've researched some of the more aggressive posters and it seems that there is a pattern to their behaviour.
If you disagree with a post or challenge its viewpoint perhaps you should just make it known and move on-berating people for their view or concern seems wrong to me.

There are lovely people on mumsnet and its such a shame that there are others who seem to get too busy and bully people into submission when they don't agree with them

Oops - niceglasses! sorreeeee!

Lol! You havent met LGJ then......

actually lockets.. when we first met we were both gobby! lol

I am a gobby biatch in rl
wont shut up for no-one lol

Amen to that, UCM!

Expat, you twunt!

I bet you are even more gobby in RL.....

FWIW, I'm the same in RL as on here. Someone's asks opinions, I'll tell 'em. Stay outta the kicthen if you can't take the heat.

To thine own self be true, VVV! :)

I'm just thrilled to be getting my hair cut and coloured tomorrow. It's looking a state b/c my hairdresser went on holiday and left me 6 weeks w/no cut.

It's bad. Just bad.

Ang on, So I must 'feck off' to another thread because I was concerned about people crying over mumsnet - correct?

Well well well Fattiemumma, looks like I had a point then.

I am the biggest gobshite you will ever meet. A couple of well known MNetters will confirm that.

I don't understand why you posted that at all. I was just trying to reassure people who have had a hard time on here from people that, after all

'you are on your computer, not sitting in a pub with 20 other people whom you cannot get away from'

i think we are lockets!

UCM - I didn't see the feck off comment as being directed at you at all. I thought that it was a completely separate point to her comment about your post.

I'm a wuss both on here and in RL

Total wuss on a sort of Father Dougal scale here.

And Amen to that Expat

er about the hair! How have you coped? You cant possibly leave your home until its sorted

I have just re-read that post FM and I am sure that you didn't mean me - sorry

i've had to wear scarves over my head. NEVER again. it's like a hedge. bad. just bad.

pmsl expat - i have some hedge trimmers if you are desperate.....?

i think i shall steer clear of all threads that arent about peg bags from now on as i seem to cause offence where ever i go.
shall just worry myself to death in my own little world from now on.

Now, Now... Fattie, pegbags are bl**dy boring you know you won't be able to resist...

Oh no don't Fattiemumma, I was not reading the post properly and I will suitably slap myself on the arse this morning

Being serious for a moment, I just found this in the mumsnet troll policy:

"Unfortunately it’s not always immediately obvious whether a poster is in fact a troll. We all tend to be a bit suspicious of new folks posting things of a sensitive or inflammatory nature but we would rather mumsnet erred on the side of giving folks the benefit of the doubt and risked being made to look a bit foolish than pounce on someone who turns out to be genuinely in need of help. We hope you agree."

Erring on the side of caution seems good advice to follow, particularly as a few people have been upset recently when others became suspicious about them.

tai tai. i think everyone understands your POV. and some people even agree.

i think whilst one is trying to be an all round magnanimous person one would understand why certain posters arouse suspicion.

if there is a new poster - you can tell this by searcdhing their handle. who says " hi i'm new, wondering can you help me my little boy gets off on pictures of ladies"

yes this is a great site- if i had a problem like that i would rahter post in the internet ( sorry rhubarb) than see a professional. becuase - well you all dont know me and i can remain faceless.

however i wouldnt. i wouldnt becuase the WWW is like a wide open door which says " come in and look" and i wouldnt want anyone walking upon a post of mine about small children and using that to justify what most peadophiles do - the children asked for it. that children are sexual beings etc etc.

i have tried to keep out of it. and i do see both POV, it was not the huge leap of faith some are accusing, to call that poster a troll.

and if not a troll, exceedingly naive and down right stupid to post that on the WWW for all to read.

"using that to justify what most peadophiles do - the children asked for it. that children are sexual beings etc etc".

Absolutely bang on IMO custy. That is what worries me about this sort of discussion too. It's sad that we can't be frank about things like this on MN, but we can't because it's not safe. End of.

indeed greensleves