MUMSNET a serious and I think important suggestion

[ImGideonsMumAndIHateHimToo]

After a week of allsorts and watching a DV escapee being torn apart for her benefits elsewhere, I would like a safe support zone which is the posting opposite of AIBU where people can ask questions when really vulnerable and scared and not get ripped apart.

I recognise a lot of points amde by people are valid but there is AIBU and politics for that, that system isn;t working though.

I think it could be invaluable as ATM MN has lost teh support aspect it had when I joined 320 yaers ago.

Thanks.

I think its a great idea - somewhere thats safe for those who live in ivory towers.

Tell me about it AH (am sancti / peachy btw)

Just think it's about time some of the original MN ethos- which was about support as well as chat and wnaky bskets / quinoa- was restored, in a way that wouldn;t affect what the rest of the site has evolved into.

Hiya peachy - cariboo here!

I don't think it should be called Safe Zone. This is the Internet and it would be naive to assume that anywhere is 'safe'. Anybody can post on any thread, we would like them to respect the netiquette, but cannot make them do so.

Calling a topic "safe zone" could be very misleading to a poster in distress.

a brilliant idea.

'off the beaten track' not accessible enough nd more about chatting.

'support without judgement' or something like that.

the best bits of mumsnet sometimes get lost in the bunfight.

Hi cariboo. I can;t keep track of anyone LOL.

Stewie- sounds fun. Hope one day we will be able to get cover so I can do stuff like that; the amount of ASD, political and other conferences I;ve had to turn dow, shame.

Am glad Feminism lot picked up the lady who was raped btw. Good on them.

Yes PC you may be right; it can certainly come with a disclaimer AIBU stylee and the tick box should help- anyone who breaches it could theoretically be rapidly deleted.

Support Zone?

I shall bump this when I can (although Dh may want PC for work later- damn him ) but would appreciate if others could too, ta

TBH most parts of MN are already 'Support Zone'. I thnk it's more of a flame-free, take-the-piss-free zone that we need. But not a saccharin 'luv ya, hun' area where nobody ever disagrees or criticises. Realistic, non-judgemental acceptance and support. A bit like how MN was years ago: bitchy forthright language, but non-bitchy attitudes.

I'm not sure how the SN opt-in works. Is it more heavily moderated, so that a poster who breaks the understanding has their opt-in revoked? That would work, I think.

OK. You could call it 'Everyone else sit on their hands'.

I agree also.

I agree

I would also like to just comment that in general, relationships is a rather lovely section of the site, but at present there seems to be a lot of people jumping to the assumption that new posters are trolls (straight off) or laying into posters unnecessarily IMO.

Could you shove in a disclaimer/instruction about this?

Off the beaten track is so far off the beaten track that it's lost in the wilderness of ongoing 'community' threads which have no need to disappear after 30 days imo.

A coupl of things i have just thought of.

Can we opt in to Off The Beaten Track?

Can we have a mandatory joined on date that follows you on every name change? (will stop some of the shouts of troll) just month and year.

can there be a topic for ongoing 'community' threads like the shiney ones and the zappatas if they are still going? (then i can hide them all in one fell swoop )

Good idea

I agree with the community thread place idea - I think this was previously mooted as a "quiche" topic. I still think it's a good idea.

Good idea..have seen too many posters with genuine enquiries and problems ripped to bits just lately