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Original poster

Times article about Mumsnet's evil streak

377 replies

NorkyButNice · 14/02/2010 07:54

I wonder which former devotee wrote this?

No such thing as bad publicity? Or does it make us look like a bunch of beeeatches?

OP posts:
StewieGriffinsMom · 14/02/2010 08:02

This reply has been deleted

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brimfull · 14/02/2010 08:03

I agree with her about the increased bitchiness , but I think there is enough good stuff to keep me here.

Earthstar · 14/02/2010 08:15

She should host her own invitation only website

SixtyFootDoll · 14/02/2010 08:18

sour grapes anyone?

BelleDameSansMerci · 14/02/2010 08:26

Ah but this thread will now be watched carefully for evidence of our bitchiness...

TBH I think the examples given are poor and don't actually reflect in a bad light. It's the written word thing - surely someone who writes for a living should understand that one's frame of mind when reading something dictates the way it comes across? I don't think the au pair comment was bitchy at all - more good advice.

Hey ho.

belgo · 14/02/2010 08:28

I do agree with her, I dislike the much of the swearing on mumsnet (some of it is funny when used appropriately but mostly it's just swearing for lack of anything interesting to say), and sometimes the bitchniness just goes too far.

FrankieValli · 14/02/2010 08:29

shes invited to the party so not hard to work out!

belgo · 14/02/2010 08:29

how many people invited to the party?

FrankieValli · 14/02/2010 08:31

no idea

SexistDinner · 14/02/2010 08:36

Mumsnet have invited their 50 most favouritist posters to attend the party. They are all called Heather.

VitaminChocolate · 14/02/2010 08:40

I used to go on one of the fluffy forums when I first ventured into the parenting world online (pregnant, abroad and google was my lifeline. so bumped into one there).

I actually think the covert bitchiness that went on there was worse. A lot of communication went on off the board and then people alluded to it on the forum. At least here it is open and not behind anyone's back.

giraffesCantCeilidhDance · 14/02/2010 08:41

Haha she failed to mention microbe was a troll. Wasn't there a post like this on chat the other day? (could be wrong but wonder if linked?)

foxinsocks · 14/02/2010 09:05

I thought athene's advice on that thread was spot on.

No matter how fluffy women/families think the au pair/nanny relationship might be, they are well reminded that there is a legal contractual employer/employee relationship underneath it all (certainly with nannies) and with au pairs, a responsibility to take care of them in a foreign country.

I'm surprised by the article tbh.

It reeks of bitterness and boredom.

Isabel dearest, a little bit of friendly advice, if you're feeling like that about mumsnet, have a break. It's when you start feeling that way that you should have one tbh

Anyway, sorry to hear about the miscarriages

LibrasBiscuitsOfFortune · 14/02/2010 09:13

"My advice, when picking a forum to hang out in, pick one that suits you. Don?t try to change one to suit you,? responded Quattrocento."

this seems a very sensible piece of advice.

If that's all she has to say about mumsnet after 3 years here then she is a very lazy journalist.

As I am sure she is reading this *waves hello to Isabel.

llareggub · 14/02/2010 09:14

A nasty, pointless little article.

I do agree about the use of language, sometimes, but to single out Quattrocento and Athene as examples of bitchy posters is frankly shocking. I would not categorise either poster as nasty or bitchy, just the opposite, in fact.

StewieGriffinsMom · 14/02/2010 09:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

foxinsocks · 14/02/2010 09:17

nah she's a good journalist. I imagine the Times have linked up with mumsnet for the election so we'll get a spate of these over the next few months.

I re read my post and didn't mean to sound condescending - everyone needs a break from here every now and then. It can get too much you know!

fwiw, I've never been criticised on here for working long hours and then asking for help with the dcs!

Hassled · 14/02/2010 09:19

She's right in as far as yes, if you are the sort of person who's offended by gratuitous swearing, then there is a lot of gratuitous swearing on MN. And yes, there is some relentless bitching and nastiness to be found, although the examples she gave seemed quite reasonable to me.

But in amongst that is all the great stuff, which she acknowledges - the support with the miscarriages, the practical advice. And you have to take the bad with the good - she's being very unrealistic if she thinks she will find a forum that only ever gives her what she wants.

Habbibu · 14/02/2010 09:33

God, if Quattro's comment could be construed as bitchy, then it's a wonder the poor soul copes out in the world at all. MN has its down moments, for sure, but the examples she cited are really odd.

eggontoast · 14/02/2010 09:34

I think people are more likely to offer opinions that offend on here than in RL, because it is faceless.

Sometimes, the poster wants to hear the things no one would dare say to their face.

You cannot judge all 850,000 (did not know it was that many!) at once.

Some on here are some times a little bit too balshy for my liking, but I just accept we are all different and always treat others with respect whilst I voice my opinion.

Habbibu · 14/02/2010 09:40

But also, if you want things to be better, then you post, and you disagree with things you feel aren't right. What you don't do is run off crying to the papers "oh, MN was so helpful but now they're all mean". Jeez.

MamaG · 14/02/2010 09:46

um...is there really 10th birthday MN party where HQ have invited 50 posters?

JollyPirate · 14/02/2010 09:47

"Ferncottage" is quoted - oh yes - wasn't she the poster who threatended to write an anti MN article when she didn't like the replies to a post regarding why her child's school was shut.

Could Ferncottage and the journalist be one and the same?

Just wondering..........

frakkinaround · 14/02/2010 09:48

And if Athene hadn't given that advice, and I bet she wasn't the only one, the poster would have been back on here whinging that her au pair was suing her for unfair dismissal (has happened....).

JollyPirate · 14/02/2010 09:51

MamaG - there's a compo for it in the threads. Write a Haiku (or some such thing) the 50 best ones I think..........