Webchats - do we choose or are we chosen?

[BecauseImWorthIt]

I know that during the election various politicians were falling all over themselves to sweettalk debate serious issues with Mumsnet. OK, sort of fair enough. They gave us the chance to air our concerns, ask important questions and generally patronise politicians make it clear that MNetters are pretty intelligent and switched on.

And I also know that you try hard to get people to come and talk to us that we would like to talk to.

But I assume that you are also being approached by all manner of people who want to talk to us because they want to promote their latest oeuvre.

Today's chat with Hugh Fearlessly-Eatsitall was a real case in point. He was clearly only here because he was promoting his new book. He had come from a round of publicity events. And, to add insult to injury (IMVHO) MN had to go to him, rather than him coming to MNHQ.

It was obvious during the chat. He was not really interested in debate or interaction, just in promoting his book.

And it was dull, dull, dull as a consequence.

I thought the politicians - and more especially their wives - were craven, though.

Did we have their wives? Sorry, I can't remember . That said, I know Sarah Brown is a great supporter of MN - actually I believe/suspect she is a poster - and she does a lot of stuff in her own right. Did SamCam or Miriam come on here?

Anyone else agree or is it just me?

Or should I have posted this in AIBU to ensure more people saw it?

Sorry for not getting back before now BecauseImWorthIt - just spotted this thread. In answer to your question, it's a combination of things. We have a hot-list of people who mumsnetters have asked - and sometimes pleaded for, who we approach and try to get to join us (believe me, we've been on to Jilly Cooper's publisher for the last 3 years and we will not give in!). At the same time we're contacted by lots of PR agencies and publishers about people who are available for interview. The fact is busy slebs are more likely to come on when they are promoting a new book/tv series etc cos that's when they have time set aside for interviews/webchats. We have guidelines which request that they don't spend the whole time plugging their latest venture , but invariably this is going to come into the webchat. We think it generally works well and the response to webchats is usually positive. This said, we're always up for suggestions on how these may work better so do send in suggestions and also please do use this board to let us know who you'd like to see join us - and we'll try our hardest to get 'em.