In defence of WWW

[flashingnose]

I am a long time lurker and occasional poster but I have to stick my head above the parapet and say that I am truly gutted that wickedwaterwitch has been hounded off of MN. I've been a member for 2.5 years and time and again, I have seen her help numerous posters (myself included) and generally post in a generous, thoughtful and funny way.

Many posters have said "oh, we always have phases like this, it'll calm down again" but tbh, I wonder whether it will. The aggression with which many people are posting at the moment quite literally takes my breath away - for example, it used to be that swearing at someone on a thread was a last resort; now, it's normal and quite often, it's the first thing people contribute.

For me, I think Enid's right - it's time for a break. I really hope www returns - if she leaves for good like aloha, MN will be a poorer place.

I agree i've been here since nov 04 and i've never seen it so bitchy and down right nasty - althou I do wonder if some of the stuff is down to things being misinterpreted the wrong way et.

I feel it's a terrible shame the SN folks can't post where they wish to or for that fact say what they wish to without fear of upsetitng a load of people.

this place is a lot worse (can't think of a better word) for loosing people like ahola, and WWW.

all the 'oldtimers' who were here when I started out on here seem to be going and it's such a shame as they made me feel real welocme and such. and now i'm a SAHM MN is a real help in getting me thru the day - not to mention when DH goes away.

these girls have to come back if only to put some balance to things, and also they're an invaluable wealth of knowledge (I found anyways)

There'll be no-one to sling mud at parenting guru's for us now

WWW is a fine and upstanding floozy who patently belongs here making me laugh and nod sagely

So when you've had your break and sneak back to see what people have been saying about you behind your back (yeah right, like you're not clicking on it right now ) .. know this

I like you waterwitch .. you're a funny and intelligent lady

enjoy your break

Gosh, I never knew she had left scratching head

WWW always seemed very decent and so I am wondering how it came to this?

Mumsnet is not getting any worse. Remember Lavender and the trouble she used to stir? Baba - what happened to her? The Muslim furore that resulted in Aloha leaving? The Narniagate scandal? Dadslib? There have been many a row on here, some Mumsnetters decided to leave then and others stayed. There have been other incidences of Mumsnetters getting off with each other too (opposite sex AND same sex) and we've seen a fair number of trolls coming on to cause trouble.

But what I like about it is the support that surely outweighs the negatives and it is this that keeps me on here. Once the supportive nature goes then so do I. Let me remind you: Strawberry (behind the washing machine!); Misdee's Peter; YorkieGirl; Custy's bridge; my job interview; Amanda1's miscarriage and many many more incidences where Mumsnetters have clubbed together and helped one another out - that is TOTAL STRANGERS helping out other TOTAL STRANGERS. I don't know where else you would see that amount of kindness.

Don't let the negatives outweigh the positives. This is a great site and we need to do our best to keep it that way.

Hey Rhubarb - good post - BUT I have been asking all over for news of how your new job is going ! Please tell me !!

Sorry! Going well really, still enjoying it and getting down to some real work now! Like with all jobs I now feel qualified enough to criticise and bitch about co-workers behind their backs!

Thanks for asking mate!

Excellent - glad to hear that !

Sorry everyone - will shut up now !!! Except to say - WWW COME BACK !

quite right rhubarb

we'll meeeeeet agaaaaaaaain
don't know where, don't know wheeeeeeeeeeen

I agree with both Rhubarb and Moondog. MN is still great and www shouldn't be so easily scared off. FGS she(you) are better than that, a couple of highly excited mums mouthing off about the freedom to be obscene!!

Harpsi, that beautiful rendition brought a tear to my eye.......

Dame HarpsiVLynn

I haven't been able to post for a while, and I always stay off the contentious threads anyway (partly 'cos I don't have time, but mostly it's part of my bid to be the dullest poster on MN ever), but I did lurk on that 9yr old thread for a while, got shocked, then had to get back to my work before DH noticed I was on MN. I've seen barneys before but that was nasty, and I left well before the end. Don't blame WWW at all, but hope she comes back after she's had time to lick her wounds (but batters may well be right).

Anyway, I like the idea of a polite board, for those days when I'm feeling fragile.

ah shit, DH has noticed what I'm doing...

As another 'old-timer' I'm at WWW leaving, though I didn't see the furore. Rhubarb's right, there are loads of positive things about MN but I do think when it goes pear-shaped these days it is much more vitriolic than it used to be.

Followed the 9yr old thread - but kept my head well below the parapet - usually come on here for a breather from arguments.

I do like watching other people's discussions developing however and I like having my own opinions/preconceptions challenged in this way. WWW is a polite and rational poster. What a shame.

i posted quite a lot in the early part of the 9yo thread.

I do hope that my own reposnse to that thread is not what has promted this reaction from WWW.
im afraid i answer the post without even noticing who sayas what, i respond to the comment not the poster. it means i always give my honest opinion without worrying about being in a Cliue but i dont always remember who it is i have been 'speaking' with.

anyway, if it has anythig to do with something i have said then please accept my apologies WWW i meant no offence to you at all and would certainly not like to think i was involved in anyway of your decsion to leave MN

what happened? and does she know she won that mini break? if she's been hounded off horribly then im glad she won it - otherwise im jealous as hell

Oh no I hope she's not gone for good. She's one of the things that makes Mumsnet worth logging into.

very sad to see this

Tigermoth has a point.

There's a slightly unnerving dichotomy atm with some posters being happy to lay into complete strangers at the drop of a hat and others who seem to spend most of their time stroking each others' egos.

Very strange.

the way i read it the person who was rude was calista fio.