People are spending far more time sabotaging McCann threads than the McCann enthusiasts are spending on tittle tattle. Pot and kettle.

[Spidermama]

These are developments. They're leading news bulletins the world over because so many people are following the story.

You don't have to, but don't spent so much time and energy ruining it for those who do please. Just look at other threads instead.

I used to be a nork clasper when the threads were devoid of real developments, but today I've had to move because I find the nork clasping camp (keepbumping and friends) is the loonier of the two now.

You haven't been around then, bobs.

What some consider an opinion a court considers libel.

Keep that in mind.

What you 'say' here is written down.

For the record the 'McCann enthusiasts' label is, I thought obviously, ironic.

I complained bitterly when the mawkish rubber necking threads filled these boards with idle speculation based on nothing whatsover ... But these are new developments and they are leading all bulletins.

Foxinsocks why spend so much time on threads about the McCanns if you object so much? You know far more about the contents of the threads than I do.

I've actually not had time to read any, but at this point in time I defend the right of anyone to discuss, and be interested in, the developments without this hysterical censure.

Spidermama, I do understand your point, but there were posts on there that were just sickening in the way they were guessing at all these scenarios, complete with rotting bodies. Vile, just vile.

Expat the McCanns are going to be very busy if they intend to sue every site, paper and magazine which has speculated about them negatively.

I would have thought there would be some self-censorship - I haven't discussed my views with anyone, even dh.

They have a team of lawyers to do that for them, Spider.

They're already suing one paper.

This site has a high public profile.

Tamum I haven't actually read the threads but I can imagine and I agree some people come across as very unhealthy in their views. Those are distasteful in the extreme.

oh so you haven't read any but felt you needed to defend them. How censorious!

I only read the one today that kept popping up (think someone may have bumped it away).

If you think all people are doing on there is discussing latest developments, then you are wrong.

People were coming up with all sorts of sick theories based on not one iota of fact. Some really horrid stuff. And yes, imo, that's revelling in someone else's misery. It went way past just plain old discussion.

Look, I'm not telling people what they can or can't post but some of those posts were just plain awful and I wish WISH some people would just THINK before they posted (or fark off and join the SUn or Mirror website where they can endlessly speculate to their heart's content).

Couldn't read some of that stuff.

My elder daughter is barely a month younger than Madeleine McCann and she is the light of our lives, along with her wee sister.

They're suing a Portugese paper which claimed they were about to be declared suspects.

Just because GF got legal, it doesn't mean we should behave as if every subject may do so and should be crept around just in case. That would ruin the nature of this site.

But I think that individual posters can be pulled up when it comes to matters of taste without censoring everyone.

Please go back and read those posts, Spider, before commenting. Because some of them were crossing the line. They weren't discussing, they were very, very accusatory.

Fox I may have had time to read them had it not been for the hysterical bumping of people who claimed to want to smother them.

I remember from before though how tasteless and frankly dysfunctional some of the interest is, but there's also a good deal of normal, healthy curiosity as to what happened.

MN is often quoted in the guardian, and there is at least one quote from here on this precise subject.

I seem to remember from when Madeleine disappeared that someone on here said that a close friend of Kate McCann is a MNer.

MN is very high profile.

But if you get sued personally, don't say you weren't warned. The link I posted here shows you could be liable for damages - in that case £10,000.

Why can they 'speculate endlessly' on the Sun or Mirror website but not on here? Says who? the Godfather of MN or something? Give me a break.

Does anyone need permission from certain posters on here on what can be discussed and what can't?

I don't think so.

Some posters may cross the line, some may be rude, some be accusing. Most are not.

It's downright rude and childish to barge in posting ridiculous comemnts and timing how long the discussion ahs been going for, yawning and saying fark off and all that.

Gets right up my nose it does.

Report individual post by all means. Don't tell people what can and can not be discussed.

Because the Sun or the Mirror is about the level (gutter - lower) than much of the speculation that was going on, and it would be a shame for MN to be closed down because of it?

you go ahead northener.

I'm not trying to censor you.

But the thought that anyone could support the sort of speculation that was going on earlier makes me sick.

totally agree, i have not posted on any mccann threads but think it is unrealistic to expect that nobody will want to discuss it. I can't bear the childish attitude of those who are trying to stop others debating something that is front page news today. If you don't like it, don't read the bloody threads.
As for 'helping' mumsnet by not allowing libellous comment, what a load of rubbish. Report specific posts if you like but to imply that all comment on this case should be stopped in case they sue is ridiculous. Mumsnet are quite capable of monitoring their own threads if the members report unsuitable or offensive posts.

Mumsnet isn't going to close down because of it, they know what's libellous and they'll delete those posts.

If SWMNBN couldn't close down mumsnet, I doubt if a mad bunch of fantasies could, tbh

Debate or discussion would not be an issue.

The vile speculation on that thread was neither of those things.

so report those threads turqoise, don't sabbotage them like a bunch of kids because a few ignorant people have posted. Lots of people want to discuss it because it is a big news story

People we being called weirdies and loons for discussing a news story.

FFS.

I don't give a monkeys about who discusses what on here. I am not interested in plenty of the threads or topics but I'm not so up my own arse to think that only the things I want to talk about merit discussion. I also don't think that I, or anybody else, has the right to tell people what they can and can't talk about

Here here toomanyshoes.

This site is has lots of wonderful posters, but a few of them start to believe their own hype and think they own the place.

And what about the Portugese police force? I don't recall reading a post that actually accused the McCanns directly. Several stated categorically that the Portugese police were corrupt and out to frame them however.

If anyone has grounds to sue for libel, it's them!