run 'em out of town

[Tortington]

does anyone else think we are a visious lot?

the tone on mumsnet can be disturbing
is that sensitivity thresholds have been lowered or smirky nasty inbetween the line kinda comment more privalent?

any one else any views?

I think the problem is what many online communities face - it's very hard to see the person behind the comment. You can't hear tone or inflection, you can't see gestures. It's very easy to read confrontation into a message when it isn't there and for the conversation to escalate from there on in, especially when you have a broad spectrum of opinion and background. Part of the trick is that message boards need a whole new set of communication skills to be learnt!

On the whole though, I'm happier to see the confrontation and work through that than to lose the diverse range of topics that we have here. There's too many sterile websites that try so hard to be sensitive that they become practically useless.

I think it's just something we need to be constantly aware of - how we are presenting ourselves to the world by the way we type. Sometimes we'll need to practise more sensitivity. Sometimes we'll just need to grow a thicker skin or practise our very useful parenting skill of selective deafness

Of course, I'm not saying I'm any good at the above despite being involved in many internet communities over the years!

Well, I think we've been a bit harsh on the journalists recently. If Mumsnet keeps reacting so negatively to their requests they'll stop paying to ask us.

There have been a couple of very sensitive threads recently where feelings understandably ran very high but I'd like to think those people agreed with each other on other threads - I@ know I've done that before.

I think there have been a couple of sense of humour transplants on some threads too.

Generally speaking though, I think we're fine and completely normal for a diverse bunch of people whose main thing in common is simply being parents.

I've not posted before today but I've been 'lurking' for a while...

There does seem to have been a rise in the number of argumentative/confrontational posts recently. Things like this usually come from Trolls but I've noticed a few 'regulars' have been pushing the envelope a bit too. I think the point Soupdragon made about the emotive threads is true.

i feel completely got at!
am not sculking in a corner or anything but i really do, i have been posting a while and thought i understood "mumsnet dynamics" as it were and recently i think the tone has got nastier.

i do agree about the journalists paying to advertize and understand it but when they want someone tailored to fit a story they have already planned and are not interested in true journalism - its annoying.

and peoples tastes and humour are different is it not this along with character which made this a good site. i remember not being offended at the flirting thread i couldnt see why someone would possibly be ofended - however people were i accept that.

no humour transplant needed here i assure you

I'm not getting at you Custardo, honest

I might be disagreeing with you elsewhere, but I'm not trying to get at you. The SOH transplant applies to a number of threads really.

Try my new twinklin' bru down @ Breeze's place

I've now been reminded of at least one thing where I've clearly lost my SOH but have decided to ignore it.

Eeep! If I'm in anyway responsible for making you feel got at I'm really sorry... [panics and goes to check her posts]

no georgina your post was very nicely written thankyou for even replying!

Soupd - when you find yours can you see if mine is hanging out with it?

DH thinks I pushed my SOH out with DS2s placenta.

SD - I know I snapped at a journalist today; it was something I feel quite strongly about but I admit I'm also (a)35 weeks pregnant (b)about to be 40 (tomorrow) so I'm quite sure I'm getting things out of proportion.

Actually, journalists get far, far ruder responses. I should know. I am one.

Custy I agree, I generally keep my postings limited to threads relevant to dd and me (preschool, quiting smoking, Race for Life (ducks here)) but keep reading most others and agree with your sentiment.

I'll probably bug someone for saying it but I think more than twice now before posting anything at all - and some of you will still think I never shut up..

I just thought we'd all been so harsh on the non-member request type thingys recently that no one would want to pay mumsnet to ask questions any more.

And happy birthday for tomorrow!

happy birthday for tomorrow, welcome to the 5th decade club!

Soupy - shit, the SOH goes with the second? I already pushed out my brain with the first... maybe ds should stay an only child.

Well, DH seems to think so

Hmm, well I get annoyed with posters such as Zsa Zsa (sorry!), don't know if it is SOH failure on my part or not. Some trolls done in jest for a short while can be funny, but over time they are just plain annoying and they more than anything make me want to leave Mumsnet.
Emotive threads are different, people are expressing their opinions and though things can get heated, you know that generally people are being genuine and not arsing about. It is good to have a debate every now and then, and I don't think posters are deliberately nasty, just that it seems that way because everyone is anonymous and you can't speak face-to-face. People could be nicer, but that's humanity for you.

Custy, if you ever leave then I will have to!

The troll there was deliberate btw!

Message withdrawn

Message withdrawn

what the hells a btw?

Message withdrawn