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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:
JoolsToo · 11/05/2006 21:30

tsk tsk - all this anecdotal evidence!

it just won't do!

WinkGrin

morningpaper · 11/05/2006 21:30

Ruty I liked the way she described the man as coming homr from the "bank or building society" - hmm isn't she thinking of the early 1900s?!?

It sounds very Mary Poppins

ruty · 11/05/2006 21:37

I know MP. Maybe it is a subliminal projection of herself as Mary Poppins.

ANNCLOUGH · 11/05/2006 21:38

Dear Members of Mumsnet,

We have already sent an official statement regards the Mumsnet/Gina Ford dispute, to those who have requested it. At no time has Gina Ford or her lawyers threatened legal action against Mumsnet or its members, regards debate about her methods. Gina is well aware of how many of the members of Mumsnet feel about her methods. Her reason for seeking legal advice, is over a much more serious issue. However, at this moment in time her main objective is to ensure that the general public are aware that she is not personally associated in any official way with Mumsnet.com.

The following link www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1375&threadid=163105&stamp=060410110944
is an example of the colourful way some Mumsnet members chose to express themselves.

Gina respects that mother's have different views on how they should bring up their children. But she wishes to make sure that she is in no way connected to these type of threads.

Because the Gina Ford name is mentioned on a regular basis on your site, and messages posted reaches the google search engines, it would be easy for the general public to assume that this is the type of discussion that Gina herself endorses on a parenting website.

She believes in freedom of speech and has no desire to restrict how members of Mumsnet express themselves. But she wishes it to be made known that she personally is not involved with a website that hosts dozens of threads like the above.

Finally, I can assure you that this will be my one and only post on Mumsnet.

Ann Clough
Contentedbaby.com

GamelanCarrier · 11/05/2006 21:39

yes quite so expat, I was using "we" to refer to the affluent West, to my shame
which reminds me, GF says something very snippy about Third World parenting techniques in her book, would you like to hear it?

expatinscotland · 11/05/2006 21:41

I'd like to hear it, Gamelan, b/c I'm one of those who believes those in developing nations often have the right idea, something that got lost here when we became more isolated from our extended families. I grew up in an extended family setting, one my parents and sister (and her kids) still live in.

HunKeRMunKeR · 11/05/2006 21:42

Oh no.

I started that thread.

expatinscotland · 11/05/2006 21:42

Fair enough, Ann.

Headquarters, are you there? BAN ALL MENTION OF HER FULL STOP PLEASE.

Let's just get on w/it.

SoupDragon · 11/05/2006 21:43

Why on earth would anyone think Ms Ford is personally connected to any type of thread?? ANd I would credit the general public with more sense and intelligence than to believe that Ms Ford endorses or is connected to Mumsnet or any other parenting site bar her own.

HOw very very odd.

tamum · 11/05/2006 21:43

"it would be easy for the general public to assume that this is the type of discussion that Gina herself endorses on a parenting website"

Oh god, that's priceless. Read the thread linked to and then that comment. I have to add, only if the general public are very, very stupid :o

snafu · 11/05/2006 21:43

So, let me get this straight.

GF is threatening MN with legal action because of a thread which has absolutely no mention of her?

How fucking self-important can you get?

arfy · 11/05/2006 21:43

Erm. Is this for real Shock

Words might actually fail me this time.

JoolsToo · 11/05/2006 21:44
Shock
SoupDragon · 11/05/2006 21:44

snafu, don't swaer on this thread please. TheGeneral public might get confused.

arfy · 11/05/2006 21:45

I have never been so insulted in all my life...

expatinscotland · 11/05/2006 21:45

Yes, this is for real.

Truth really is stranger than fiction.

tamum · 11/05/2006 21:45

Just in case the general public would like a link to the thread that is in no way endorsed by GF, here you go \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1375&threadid=163105&stamp=060410110944\lots of swearing}.

GamelanCarrier · 11/05/2006 21:46

aha now I see, she doesn't like it when we swear Grin
too too priceless.
"over the last few years it has`become extremely fashionable for expeerts to cite Third World practises as the ideal way to bring up children. Feeding babies on demand and sleeping with them is supposed to result in a closer bond between baby and parents. However, having lived and worked in several Third World countries and seen these practises first hand, I believe the authors of such books overromanticise the reality and do lirrle to help parents who are trying to raise confident children who can cope in the Western world."

I think that is a very telling quote actually.

arfy · 11/05/2006 21:46

I feel like I've entered some sort of parallel universe

this is completely and utterly astonishing. And there's no way that it'll keep out of the papers now.

snafu · 11/05/2006 21:46

True, soupy, The General Public are rather dumb, aren't they? Remind me again how many copies CLBB has sold? Grin

arfy · 11/05/2006 21:47

"parents who are trying to raise confident children who can cope in the Western world"

cope until they hear someone swearing that is...

snafu · 11/05/2006 21:48

I am sitting here open-(potty)mouthed. I cannot believe this is really what all this hoo-ha has been about. Is she on a self-destruct mission or what?

GamelanCarrier · 11/05/2006 21:49

argh
that lady said feck

I must say I have just laughed so much I woke up dd2.... I opened that thread thinking - FINALLY we are going to find out what her problem is and I read Sally Strawberry going feckfeckfeck like Father Jack

madmarchhare · 11/05/2006 21:49

Pmsl, this has to be the funniest thing Ive ever seen on here.

expatinscotland · 11/05/2006 21:49

So, in the Western World, we all live in 4 bedroom detached houses so we don't have to sleep w/our kids.

PMSL!

I've had more than my share of 'character building', Gina, can you spot me a few kid to help a po' sista bring up two kids to cope in the Western World?