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MNers without children

This board is primarily for MNers without children - others are welcome to post but please be respectful

How to deal with the anti-childfree on the childfree boards

45 replies

ItsNotRocketSalad · 07/07/2023 12:11

This has come up in other threads and some posters decided we should post cute animal pictures when the non/anti-childfree post stupid or inflammatory comments. IMO that's not very helpful as it derails the thread just as effectively as the invaders.

So in site stuff I asked MNHQ if we should bother reporting posts like "why are you on a PARENTING FORUM" and "childless people are so angry and bitter" - just two examples of the many irritating comments we've already had multiple times on our board.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/site_stuff/4841580-threads-showing-on-active

Mumsnet replied: It's definitely worth reporting those sorts of posts. If it looks like someone is being deliberately inflammatory, we'd see that as reason to take it down, particularly if they're continuing having been asked politely to desist, or doing this sort of thing repeatedly. We can also post on those threads ourselves, if that helps, to point out that Mumsnet is a forum for everyone. Do just drop us a line where you see this sort of thing and we can take it from there.

We'd much rather tackle that sort of posting at source than take a board out of active, particularly such a new board, as it means fewer people will happen across it and it may simply fizzle out, which would be a real shame.


So when they turn up, those who want to can post cute animals and others can ask them politely to stop and then report any further posts. If a thread is being particularly derailed, we can ask MNHQ to post a reminder on it.

Threads showing on active | Mumsnet

Hi all! There have been quite a few suggestions in diacussions on childfree topic that it might be better if threads don't show in active. Most of u...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/site_stuff/4841580-threads-showing-on-active

OP posts:
ItsNotRocketSalad · 08/07/2023 11:44

Yeah. I was enjoying the thread and then it was taken over by pet pictures and then died.

OP posts:
Keykat · 08/07/2023 11:50

Please, no pet pics - cute and all as they are. It turns mawkish, takes over, and it makes me feel that child free must mean we are all cat ladies or something as compensation for our status. Sorry if that offends, but that is my view.

Report, report report, and a timely reminder from HQ will always be welcome in extreme cases.

EmpressaurusOfCats · 08/07/2023 11:59

Reporting is definitely preferable.

When we were using recipes as a response to hostile posters on the Feminism & Women’s Rights board, it got to the stage where they were reporting us for it because talking about soups, cakes etc was an act of aggression. Or some such bollocks.

Catsmere · 08/07/2023 12:41

Keykat · 08/07/2023 11:50

Please, no pet pics - cute and all as they are. It turns mawkish, takes over, and it makes me feel that child free must mean we are all cat ladies or something as compensation for our status. Sorry if that offends, but that is my view.

Report, report report, and a timely reminder from HQ will always be welcome in extreme cases.

Fair points!

Wanttomove3000 · 08/07/2023 13:09

I also hate the pet pictures, I came here for a discussion and find it really childish. It’s not the animal lovers forum. Why should we have to derail our own thread to chase of rude people? Report and ignore.

Wanttomove3000 · 08/07/2023 13:10

I also hate being stereotyped as a “crazy cat lady”, I’m allergic to all animals!

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 08/07/2023 13:13

Wanttomove3000 · 08/07/2023 13:10

I also hate being stereotyped as a “crazy cat lady”, I’m allergic to all animals!

I like cats, but if I want to see page after page of cute kitty pics I'll head over to Cheezburger. Not scroll through a discussion thread to find a comment. Those pics are just as derailing in their way as the goady posts.

fitzwilliamdarcy · 08/07/2023 13:20

Noted, I’ll stop doing it.

JingsMahBucket · 08/07/2023 14:21

Handsnotwands · 08/07/2023 09:15

Tbf remember the furore when people who don’t like sex saw the sex topic. The dog house is full of people who hate dogs. Black mnetters is infested with “I’m not racist but” type posts

I think it’s just par for the course around here 🤷🏼‍♀️

Yeah, I was going to say, welcome to the plight of Black Mumsnet users. People always want to deliberately invade your space to check what you’re doing and be in your business. It blows.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 08/07/2023 15:46

The adults have to keep an eye on us - just to make sure we aren't inviting in unsavoury company.

ItsNotRocketSalad · 08/07/2023 18:47

JingsMahBucket · 08/07/2023 14:21

Yeah, I was going to say, welcome to the plight of Black Mumsnet users. People always want to deliberately invade your space to check what you’re doing and be in your business. It blows.

Black Mumsnetters have it so much worse and I'm really sorry. Some of the posts on there are so infuriating and I have reported in the past.

That also reminds me that I often read Black Mumsnetter posts I see in Active. But Active shows the board each thread is in pretty prominently, and not once have I missed that I'm on a board that doesn't need my input. I don't buy that so many people are stumbling onto our topics and posting in wide-eyed innocence.

OP posts:
Monty27 · 09/07/2023 03:11

Florissante · 08/07/2023 08:57

No. That function does not exist.

There used to be one. Prove me wrong.
The site isn't moderated much anymore. It's a victim of it's own success I'm afraid.
You get weirdos all over the place.
It should be 💯 inclusive and moderated properly.

ItsNotRocketSalad · 09/07/2023 17:02

If there was ever a 'block poster' function, it was a long long time ago. There have been many posters I'd have loved to block over the last 15 years, but it's never been an option.

OP posts:
Catsmere · 09/07/2023 23:12

That would make a hell of a lot of work for moderators on a site this big. Even Ovarit, for example, which is much newer and tiny by comparison, has more than its moderators can keep up with.

Monty27 · 10/07/2023 02:54

It was hide posts. @mumsnet is this right? And if so, could we have it back please 👍🏻

Florissante · 10/07/2023 09:58

Monty27 · 09/07/2023 03:11

There used to be one. Prove me wrong.
The site isn't moderated much anymore. It's a victim of it's own success I'm afraid.
You get weirdos all over the place.
It should be 💯 inclusive and moderated properly.

0 for 2.

MN is moderated.

Clarice99 · 10/07/2023 19:32

The goading, spite, malicious comments used to happen all of the time on the neurodiverse board. MNHQ finally listened and removed the ND board from active.

Perhaps if there's a ton of reports, this will be removed from active too (?). I don't like the pet picture response. It appears childish and doesn't address the issue that some posters just don't respect boundaries.

CleverLilViper · 30/07/2023 19:42

I think the best way to deal with these kinds of posts is to remember that they're only trying to goad us into giving them a reaction-so don't. Report and ignore.

Once they're not getting the attention they crave-they'll get bored and bother other people elsewhere.

Ryvitas · 31/07/2023 05:41

Childfree people are always called 'selfish' or other names. Yet you ask parents or expectant mothers why they chose to have a child and they don't have a logical explanation, just 'I wanted to', or 'urges'.

JenniferBooth · 15/09/2023 23:42

I posted a thread and its just been moved to the Chat board.

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