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2 replies

STIDW · 13/03/2011 15:49

Resolution started a thread suggesting we introduced ourselves which appears to have disappeared.

I think it's a good idea knowing posters backgrounds so there are no misunderstandings, I've been mistaken for a lawyer, feminazi (whatever that is), a man etc etc. Actually I'm a Jill-of-all-trades having qualified and worked in technology, then occupational therapy and more recently I've been self employed. I'm divorced and have two young adult children living with me.

Some years ago when I first came to the internet looking for information about family law I was appalled at the unreliability of information, advice and guidance which often encouraged posters to engage in malicious, destructive and unproductive strategies with disastrous results. In those days there weren't many lawyers around to correct the inaccuracies and it took a great deal of research and listening to others to piece together the information and make sense of it.

Perhaps the mods removed Resolution's post because he said he was a lawyer and a poster perceived that as touting for business. I think that is very short sighted because lawyers who have not only studied the law for years, completed on the job training, undergo further training year in year out but also have experience of court work day in day out are in the best position to challenge misconceptions. The lawyers here are private citizens who contribute in their own time. They are supportive and in the spirit of MN assist posters in their parenting by helping them make informed decisions. I think their contributions should be welcomed.

HelenMumsnet · 14/03/2011 12:34

Hello.

We just wanted to clarify a few things here.

Mumsnet is all about peer-to-peer support - as in sharing the tips, advice and information you've gleaned as a parent (or even as a non-parent) with others who find themselves in more or less the same position as you.

It's NOT about expert advice. We don't have experts on Mumsnet - except quite specifically, by our invitation, in a webchat or a Q&A.

There may be Mumsnetters who have expertise in something in particular and, of course, they are welcome to share that expertise with other Mumsnetters in their posts - but that is quite different to a Mumsnetter setting themselves up as an expert in a particular Topic in order to give out advice that is, by virtue of their experise, meant to be superior to other people's advice.

As Lulumama said earlier on this thread, this is the internet and no one (including us at MNHQ) has any way of checking that anyone who claims to be an expert on something actually does have that expertise, and is using that expertise to give responsible, accurate and reliable advice.

Added to that, there are some people who seek to use their self-styled position as "expert" on a certain Topic to promote or advertise their business/services, either by constantly namechecking it or by posting links to their website/blog or by using the name of their business/company as their Talk nickname.

This would break our Talk Guidelines and, we know from our mailbox, annoy the dickens out of many of you - not to mention those decent eggs who've actually paid to advertise on MN properly.

Hope that makes things a little clearer.

HelenMumsnet · 14/03/2011 12:57

@Maryz

Helen, you are glad when people challenge nutters, but sometimes in legal and medical for example, the "experts" have to state their expertise to minimise the effect of the nutters.

Babybarrister, after 15 years aren't you more of a "middleagedbarrister" Grin.

We have ABSOLUTELY no problem with people stating their expertise, whether for "nutter control" or not.

What we do have a problem with is people "setting up shop" in a particular Topic in order to dispense advice.

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