I have an idea to radically change Christmas for all mumsnetters. NO blithering appeal.

[Northernlurker]

I've been here since 2007. In that time I've seen mnay happy appeal posts and a lot of unhappy ones. Last year we had the ungrateful issue with people not thanking and we had the organisational issue and we had the stressed donors with no time to shop and we had people getting stuff way after Christmas. The year before there were definately suggestions of people joinging mnet to profit from the appeal. Now this year in AUGUST we've had the who is or isn't popular enough to be allowed to do it - the threads concerning that have hit a new low tbh.

So how about NO appeal. Just keep your eyes open and if you're on a thread with somebody having a hard time give them your e-mail or get thm to CAT you and then you can send them something one to one. Or give a mum friend you know in RL a gift to cher thenm/help them out. No organisation, no fuss, no ego - just friends on and off line showing each other love at Christmas.

Totally agree. I keep well out of it.

Hear hear. Sounds like a great plan.

bit of a shame though

could we not persevere, accept that there is going to be the odd blip because people are imperfect and life is messy, but still have the overwhelming positives?

It makes a real difference to some recipients. And some donors really really want the opportunity too.

Good idea. Either that or the organisers namechange. It's not fair that only the "royalty" can do it.

Instead of the appeal let's just all give to Pakistan instead.

I was thinking along similar lines. Perhaps a year off for the appeal is the way to go? It's all a bit tense and hurt feeling for lots of people.

enough with this royalty shit

it's not true and it doesn't help

I know it makes a big difference - but it's not doing the whole board any good at all at the moment. I'm just saying there are other ways to give - and in the current context there are better ways.

Yes I agree.
(Though, after a couple experiences, not just with the Christmas appeals, I now have a policy of NEVER giving money etc to MNers. Even one I'd met and knew fairly well has treated me quite badly wrt some cash. I suspect she's had other things out of other people too. Some people have no decency and you can't easily tell.)

I agree i'm really pissed off at the bullying lately.
I'm not taking part even if it does go ahead.

I agree with Greensleeves.

MN royalty just doesn't exist, imo. Yes there are posters who are recognised and posters who aren't, but to realistically say that there is an arrogant bunch of MNers with 'royalty' status is just not true, in my experience.

Tbh I have never been involved with the christmas appeal, but think it comes from a good place. But, to be honest, for it to run fairly I think that there does need to be some involvement from MN towers in the running of it.

Cherry is a long standing poster.

It's not their fault anyway, it's the cheerleaders that make people look arrogant, the ones that make different rules for different people.I'm sure Bof wouldn't mind sharing the appeal with anyone, and don't see why they can't do it all together

I think MN royalty does exist and always has. That is not to say it is a bad thing or that those who give more of themselves and post more should not be accorded more "status", they should.

I also think that if there are people for whom the appeal provides something good, both in terms of giving and recieving, then it should go ahead, even if there are others for whom it leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

If you call people royalty, they'll step up to the mark and behave like royalty.

They don't though. They are all nice. It's just the hangers on where if a royal gets into a ruck people pile in saying how nice they are etc. Really unnecessary

The royalty business is such utter nonsense.

Look - if bof and shiney started a thread titled "does anyone object to us doing the xmas appeal?" you can bloody well bet there would have been objections and bun fights galore.

spikeycow Mon 23-Aug-10 14:46:01
They don't though. They are all nice. It's just the hangers on where if a royal gets into a ruck people pile in saying how nice they are etc. Really unnecessary

So are you part of the clique then spikeycow?

See how easy it is to be seen as cliquey?

The way this thread is going is reason enough not to go ahead with the christmas appeal.

Giving to Pakistan is a fab idea IMHO

Agree with northernlurker btw.

Have been here since Spring this year only.

Can someone explain what this appeal is all about and how it works please?

Oh...clique you