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Original poster

MUMSNET and MADELEINE - does this one issue show the best of the worst of MN?

78 replies

BrendaAndEddie · 03/05/2009 13:51

DIscuss.

OP posts:
BitOfFun · 05/05/2009 10:43

< snigger > You walked into that one, daftpunk

Robespierre · 05/05/2009 10:44

We shouldn't make guesses at anyone's identity.

Original poster
BrendaAndEddie · 05/05/2009 10:45

I STARTED It on sunday!!! why not speak to the person who resurrected it today after all the bad feeling of last night?

OP posts:
Idranktheeasterspirits · 05/05/2009 10:54

BrendaAndEddie isn't a troll, which is what at least one person seems to be implying.

And she is right in that she is not the person responsible for bringing this thread into the limelight today.

inscotland · 05/05/2009 10:58

It was me and for that I apologise. I didn't realise things had gotten bad last night. I hope this thread is deleted as I genuinely didn't want to kick things off if they were as bad last night. Sorry again.

Picante · 05/05/2009 11:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Robespierre · 05/05/2009 11:01

It wasn't wrong to bump it this morning -- you had a legit query relating to the thread. But why start a thread without even giving a single opinion of one's own? And then forget about it?

daftpunk · 05/05/2009 11:02

you're ok inscotland, you didn't start the thread.

Idranktheeasterspirits · 05/05/2009 11:06

What does it matter if you think a posters style is familiar?

robespierre - plenty of people start a thread making a statement and then saying "discuss".
Personally i avoid those threads as i hate being told what to do.
I don't think forgetting about it is sinister either, i have started a thread before, not got much if any of a response and forgotten about it.
Threads move so fast on mumsnet that it is inevitable.

bigchris · 05/05/2009 11:08

fgs don't turn this into an us and them thread, EVERYONE is welcome on mumsnet and can start what threads they like, until HQ deems otherwise and removes said threads
don't turn this into a witchhunt, we welcome old members on this site and new fgs

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 05/05/2009 11:28

Morning all,
This thread is really about Mumsnet, not Madeleine McCann, so we think it's a valid discussion. Let's try to keep it clean shall we ?

Can we remind you by the way that we don't encourage outing of people on MN. We allow unlimited nickname changes precisely to give people anonymity for whatever reason they need, so if you suspect you know who a poster may be please keep it to yourself.

Of course if you have any concerns about a that a poster may be deliberately misleading folk or otherwise trolling, please report them to us and we'll take a look. We'd much rather you did that than speculate on the board about it.

Many cheers,
MNHQ

DeadlyNightShade · 05/05/2009 11:31

Good call Justine.

Seems fairly harmless to me.

Voltaire · 05/05/2009 11:35

Nothing captures the schism within Mumsnet zeitgeist like a Madeleine McCannn thread. Except possibly a Bugaboo thread.

BitOfFun · 05/05/2009 11:39

This one has evolved into a Madeleine&Moldies thread...surely the stuff of nightmares for Justine?

Robespierre · 05/05/2009 11:46

BoF

Voltaire · 05/05/2009 12:14

All we need now is for someone to come along and try and sell their Bugaboo.

PieceNharmoknee · 05/05/2009 12:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

SoupDragon · 05/05/2009 12:20

Ah, but which part is the "best" and which the "worst"?

dongles · 05/05/2009 12:39

The MM debate definitely brings out the worst in MN imo.

I saw an interview with Gerry McCann ages ago in which he said how sorry they felt for people who had nothing better to do with their time than post hurtful comments on internet forums.

I can't understand the lack of compassion in some people.

blinks · 05/05/2009 12:48

this is becoming pointless. and boring.

it's made me think though... it would be good if there could be a 'missing children' section on mumsnet where people could post info or links to trace missing young people and children. if you think about how many mnetters and lurkers there are and how much publicity the site gets, it would be good to use that positively rather than just for spikey 'debates'.

any thoughts? justine?

surely as mothers we should support those tracing lost children any way we can.

MintyyAeroEgg · 05/05/2009 13:36

PMSL @ Voltaire!

I agree with everything you said Lemontart. Wholeheartedly.

I read what you said, Laurie, about "just speculating". But, I think, that's what most of the Mnetters who dislike the MMcC threads find objectionable. That speculation about a rl tragedy is gruesome and unnecessary and in very poor taste in the broadest sense of the word. And there's no denying that if it had been put to the vote the majority would have voted for the thread to be pulled.

MorrisZapp · 05/05/2009 13:51

I wasn't on here when the Madeleine story kicked off two years ago, but assume it was a total bunfight - the way it was on every other forum I was on at the time.

MN is just reflection of wider society on this one - ie totally polarised, and very open to influence from the media.

On the last forum I was a member of, they had to eventually ban the McCanns as a subject of debate, as it was simply impossible to maintain civilised threads about them, no matter how polite and restrained everybody promised they'd be at the outset. I bet this has been replicated on many other forums too.

I'd be happy to see the story die. I have seen some utterly dispiriting stuff posted about them that makes me ashamed to be an internet forum user at all. I just don't see where further debate could take us - nobody is ever going to change their minds on this, are they?

blinks · 06/05/2009 00:24

UPDATE! i've been in touch with MNHQ and they're interested in your opinions about incorporating a section or topic in Mumsnet that appeals and informs on the subject of missing children.

i feel it would also be a good opportunity to highlight child protection and safety issues for parents.

i've started a thread and if all the people who feel strongly enough about the McCann story would offer feedback and hopefully their support, MN may well take it on board and set something up.

it's INTERNATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN'S DAY on May 25th 2009 and Mumsnet could bring alot of attention to many of UK's missing children and young people.

Please go to the thread seeing as there is such strong opinion about the MM thread, i've been in touch with MNHQ and they're interested in your opinions about incorporating a section or topic in Mumsnet that appeals and informs on the subject of missing children. i feel it would also be a good opportunity to highlight child protection and safety issues for parents. i've started a thread and if all the people who feel strongly enough about the McCann story would offer feedback and hopefully their support, MN may well take it on board and set something up. it's INTERNATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN'S DAY on May 25th 2009 and Mumsnet could bring alot of attention to many of UK's missing children and young people. Please go to the thread [[http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/site_stuff/750805-YOUR-OPINIONS-NEEDED?msgid=15336932 here and let MNHQ know what you reckon.

fank oo

blinks · 06/05/2009 00:25

SHIT, it's here

chatta · 06/05/2009 17:28

bad idea