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Original poster

For all who want GF banned from MN - so does she!!

857 replies

mummygow · 11/05/2006 18:41

As you are all prob aware I follow the Gf routine and am also on her website and this was posted for us to see.

Dear Members,

In response to your emails regarding the statement in The Times Newspaper on 9th May 2006. We would like to confirm that neither Gina or her lawyers have put pressure on Mumsnet regarding the criticism that her methods receive on their forums. Gina was forced to seek legal
advice regarding other very serious issues with Mumsnet, and we will in the near future make a public statement as to her reasons for this. It would appear that some Mumsnet members are demanding a ban of the
Gina Ford name on the site. Gina herself would welcome this, as her forthcoming statement will confirm, she has for very valid reasons, no wish to be associated with the Mumsnet site.

OP posts:
controlfreaky2 · 12/05/2006 21:56

wow! just caught up with this.... what absolute madness (gf and he cronies that is!)

pupuce · 12/05/2006 22:01

GROW UP MUMSNETTERS Angry

controlfreaky2 · 12/05/2006 22:04

you'll have to explain that one for me pupuce.. what's grown up about her sidekick posting that MAD / STUPID / ILLOGICAL / PARANOID / nonsense on OUR mn?? call me childish but....

pupuce · 12/05/2006 22:13

I have been on Mumsnet for 6 years.... it's always been quite abusive towards GF's methods (and her person at times too)... there are mumsnetters who don't bother posting about GF and have actually MET HER and find her completely fine and reasonable... it's the tone of the debate which is childish.... and it has always been!

Comments like :
Just to say that it prob would be in the best interest of everyone if GF was banned from MN
Let's ban all mention of her then and get on w/being the best parenting site in Britain.
she is a naaatter

In what way is that helpful? For those who want to use her stuff or have successfully used her methods ... to be constantly made to feel small by the rest is not very grown up !

pupuce · 12/05/2006 22:15

Anyway I'm off to bed... can't be bothered... can't quite believe I read the thread which I knew would be like this.... Sad

ruty · 12/05/2006 22:22

i think the tone of all of this was rather light hearted actually.

controlfreaky2 · 12/05/2006 22:22

mmmmm

morningpaper · 12/05/2006 22:25

Pupuce I think you are being very unfair to say that people on this thread are being "childish" when we received a very personal formal notice from a well-known celebrity 'guru' saying that her "main objective" is to inform the public that she is not associated with us because we swear. The whole situation is totally bizarre. What do you think would have been an appropriate response?!

arfy · 12/05/2006 22:26

Well unfortunately the GF methods are very polarising, such a presciptive approach to parenting is BOUND to be.

And whilst I agree that some of this can appear childish, I think that the involvement of lawyers plus Ann Clough's post on this thread were always going to make things worse frankly. The legal aspect is what I object to - I don't really give my opinions on the GF method as I just don't feel the need to, and I don't have particularly strong feelings about her either - I take whatever bits of whatever books/methods work for me, as do many people.

FWIW I think some of the posts on this thread are perfectly well reasoned, valid, coherent and articulate, some less so (i.e. I don't think they're all childish). However, if you treat people like children - assume they're not capable of working out when someone is officially linked to a website, think that they're being serious on a thread about your favourite swearword, police their online chat - they'll behave like children AND be offended at accusations of childishness.

Whatever parenting style you follow, someone will probably try to make you feel small. That could equally apply to someone whose baby doesn't 'sleep through' and feels terrible because they don't want to do controlled crting.

I'm aware that there's history here and ridiculous comments have been made etc. But it's not all Mumsnet, and we should still be able to discuss all these without fear of censure.

Sorry for the pompous post!

arfy · 12/05/2006 22:27

all these issues and obv I was talking about controlled crying...Blush

morningpaper · 12/05/2006 22:28

hear hear

bossykate · 12/05/2006 22:29

well controlfreaky if you search on pupuce's name with gina ford or routines or something like it in the search string you will see that pupuce has been posting helpful things about gf and many other subjects for years as she says. and btw, i have been on mn for 5 yrs and finding pupuce's posts v helpful during that time.

hope that answers your hmmm....

GamelanCarrier · 12/05/2006 22:30

well said arfy
there was avery interesting discussion about GF's views on leaving babies to cry for long periods and her advice about topping up with formula and insisiting a reluctant mother give her baby formula and some really intersting stuff about human pelvises and the third trimester.
none of which was childish AT ALL imo
bloody serious stuff all that

controlfreaky2 · 12/05/2006 22:30

not pompous arfy (or childish). quite agree re threatening legal action in these circs as per AC message is MADNESS (and CHILDISH).

bossykate · 12/05/2006 22:31

pupuce, bloss - step away! i'm only sorry i got sucked into this. step away - it's not worth it! Smile

GamelanCarrier · 12/05/2006 22:31

whatever the history bossykate I think shouting at ALL mumsnetters to GROW UP is not a helpful or useful response and is actually pretty damn insulting

snafu · 12/05/2006 22:32

Well said, arfy. Although, tbh, I'm inclined to think that a 'childish' response is actually far more than all this deserves. I don't really see why any of us should be wasting reasoned argument on something so patently ridiculous. But that's just me.

bossykate · 12/05/2006 22:33

gosh, yes hc, you're so right, because the rest of the comments on this subject have been so mature, haven't they... wow, thank goodness you are here to set us all right.

bossykate · 12/05/2006 22:34

parp parp parp parpety parp
and goodnight

snafu · 12/05/2006 22:35

Don't be so bloody patronising, bk. Jeez.

morningpaper · 12/05/2006 22:35

Hmmm sarcasm ... is that raising the tone?

GamelanCarrier · 12/05/2006 22:36

I wasn't talking about mature bossykate
I was talking about insulting, as in being shouted at to GROW UP
but sometimes in the face of a ridiculous and laughable situation I think light hearted humour is the only option

GamelanCarrier · 12/05/2006 22:37

good night bossykate
make sure you don't make any eye contact woth anyone before morning Grin

controlfreaky2 · 12/05/2006 22:42

mn is not some multi million turnover business... gf is more than just a person, "she' is a brand. gf organisation is using its money / power to threaten / bully who.... a collection of individuals who post on parenting website.... and that's ok is it? i dont think so and think "she" / the gf brand deserve to be ridiculed because that's what you do to bullies...
i never used / cared about gf when my ds's were little and cldnt give a [insert any complained of swear word to taste] about her "theories" as i think people can make up their own minds on these matters. ITS THE BULLYING AND SANCTIMONIOUS ATTITUDE OF GF / ANNE CLOUGH / HER DISCIPLES I CANT BEAR. i'll stop now for a lie down....

controlfreaky2 · 12/05/2006 23:06

didnt really want to stop.....