Sorry from Beta...

[SorryBeta]

Robert and I would like to apologise to anyone we've offended with one of the posters we created for the OAA.

The reason we've waited until now to apologise is that the strength and nature of the reaction to the poster, specifically on mumsnet, shocked us. At first we were not sure what to do.

It had not been our intention to cause such offence, nor to attract such abuse.

Our intention was to provoke discussion. We believed that both the poster and the content of the Britainthinks website reflected this. We accept we got this wrong.

It has been suggested that we are about to commence legal proceedings against mumsnet. This is categorically not the case.

We have asked that they operate within their own editorial guidelines which they now are doing.

We are profoundly sorry. We hope our apology is accepted.

Garry and Robert.

Thank you for your pity Shreiking. I really do enjoy your smug one dimensional posts. People react in different ways to having their position criticised and threatened. I took the fight route, you claim you would take the flight. Your sadness is another person's happiness.

I'm so glad to see an apology and that nobody is going to contact solicitors. Brilliant result

edam that Dave chap's responses were rather funny - does he think none of those arguments have been heard before?

You have to admit - it got him riled?

Okay the casual misogyny of the advertisement was offensive on many levels and for many reasons that had been adequately explored.

Then we got drunk and giggly and started writing limericks and haikus

Some of which were bawdy. And really not very bawdy at all considering how late in the evening it was

None of the poems were part of the debate - because the debate was over. Won. Finis.

It was all to amuse us. Puerile.

And who'd have thought he'd be so sensitive about a few todger jokes

Shutup - yeah, Dave was very amusing, poor sod. I guess students haven't heard it all before though, he's akin to an MN newbie who hasn't realised working v. SAHM or breast v bottle or when to wean have all been done endlessly before...

So let's have a look at the last 24hrs turn of events shall we?

• This time yesterday afternoon, Garry was asking for personal contact details of particular MNers, we knew MN had received a lawyer's letter and no apology from Beta was forthcoming
• By 7pm we had started a discussion about group libel action
• By 10pm Beta had apologised and stated they planned no legal action, HHHHHMMMMMM

Fishy.