Damaging off-topic comments

[mranchovy]

The occasional annoying, irrelevant, off-topic or unhelpful comment is an inevitable feature of internet discussions. However, an increasing number of posts that are actively damaging to the interests of people coming to Mumsnet for help and advice are detracting from the excellent information given in many cases by skilled, qualified and experienced experts in their field.

I ask that Mumsnet should use the discretion witheld in its terms to remove all material posted from the accounts of individuals who repeatedly make such posts, and take steps to prevent any more potentially harmful posts by such individuals.

I am writing this with some regret, partly because I feel some empathy for the individuals who make such posts and wish I could offer them some help that would enable them to participate in online discussion in a more constructive way, and partly because I have an emotional attachment to the concept of free speech. However, in any society that is not an anarchy, freedom must be limited where its exercise impinges on the rights of others. In this case it appears that the interests of many people, over a considerable amount of time have been and are continuing to be harmed by certain individuals exercising the freedom to post on Mumsnet and I assert that this freedom should be removed from those individuals. If you disagree, I would be interested to know why.

[Malkuth]

Same as Marjoriew.

[Pantofino]

Though I am thinking OP and other posters are one and the same.

[Pantofino]

yawn!

[GoldFrakkincenseAndMyrrh]

I think it might be about one poster but it's symptomatic of MN in general. It's a site characterised by polarised opinions.

There are many public misconceptions, perpetrated by members of the public who do so because they know no better. A minority view may be correct but shouted down. What typically happens in that case is someone comes along with 20 links and the correct information is provided because there's a right or a wrong answer. It happens all the time - au pairs don't have employment rights or you shouldn't make formula with hot water are classic cases where misconceptions can be downright dangerous and in those cases incorrect advice is usually challenged.

But there are greyer situations where the opinions are highly personalised. In those cases here are often posters who are known by regulars as being axe-grinders but who unecessarily scare people who don't know how to sort the wheat from the chaff. But their experience may be genuine and valid and important to them and potentially relevant for someone weighing up whether to involve CAMHS or not.

[Pantofino]

But this a chat forum on the internet! Designed so that parents can share experiences. It is NOT a lawyer/GP/SEx therapist/councellor/PG test.

[Tortington]

if someone has had a shitty experience with ...say CAHMS to use your example, then they should be able to post their experience without being labled an axegrinder

this is much different from those people who give advice wrongly and purport to be knowledgeable in a subject area they are clearly not.

[mranchovy]

@Pantofino

I care because I have recommended people to come to Mumsnet in the past because it can be a good place to share experiences and I feel that that is becoming no longer the case.

I care because I think that the many excellent contribtions of Mumsnet users are detratcted from by the actions of a few (OK, mainly one) individuals.

I care because many helpful people spend time dealing with inappropriate posts instead of helping others.

Etc.

No I do not feel superior to anyone else. I do feel that I am less vulnerable than many other people however - I have never (had a partner that has) suffered a miscarriage, have not been involved with social services, and although I have a child with SEN I feel that things are currently going as well as they can for them - these are all situations where vulnerable people have been confused and misinformed on Mumsnet, so yes I do want to protect them from something nasty.

And this is the only name I have used on Mumsnet for 18 months.

[mranchovy]

if someone has had a shitty experience with ...say CAHMS to use your example, then they should be able to post their experience without being labled an axegrinder

Absolutely. He has never (to my knowledge) posted his experience, just sweeping generalisations.

this is much different from those people who give advice wrongly and purport to be knowledgeable in a subject area they are clearly not.

And that is another thing that he does.

[Tortington]

i feel manchovy would be a better user name, it came to me in a flash of inspiration

[mranchovy]

ROFL at manchovy, sounds rude.

Etymology of Mr Anchovy

[BitOfFun]

If you've got a beef with a particular poster, fgs have the balls to take it up with them- starting a whole thread to basically slag somebody off on the sly is a rather weaselly way of approaching the issue.

[Pantofino]

But this IS a chat forum, not therapy. It is good because it is self moderated. People like that! You will get a range of opinions because that is what you would get in real life.

[QueenGigantaurofMnet]

so it is a particular poster that you have been prompted by?

theni i think youneed to address your concerns to them and/or HQ.

[mranchovy]

I didn't start this thread to slag anybody off, I started this thread to raise the argument that Mumsnet should use the discretion witheld in its terms to remove all material posted from the accounts of individuals who repeatedly make [posts that are actively damaging to the interests of people coming to Mumsnet for help and advice], and take steps to prevent any more potentially harmful posts by such individuals.

[scurryfunge]

That is a bloody long sentence,manchovy.

[ChippingIn]

No one died and made you God. Email MNHQ if you have problem with the way they run their site - everyone else here is happy with a relatively unmoderated site.

[QueenGigantaurofMnet]

If the poster is trolling then they will/do.

if a poster is merely posting things you don't happen to agree with then unfortunately they have no option but to let those posts stand. it is not a members area where you need to prove professional qualification before you post. thankfully

[mranchovy]

Yea, that's the problem with cut and paste!

Misspelled too: withheld.

Perhaps its time for a bit of a recap/restatement of my argument anyway:

I believe:

Some posts should be removed from Mumsnet (for instance racist abuse).

Posters who consistently make posts that should be removed should be prevented from making future posts.

Posters who consistently make posts that should be removed should have all their posts removed.

Posts in response to people asking for help or advice that do not offer help or genuine advice (and by that I mean advice that is given with the sole purpose of informing the OP or others in a similar situation) should be removed from Mumsnet. This is particularly the case where sensitive topics are involved - a miscarriage is a different situation from a dispute over a telephone bill.

Agree or disagree?

[mranchovy]

@ChippingIn

No one died and made you God.

I neither assert nor want any authority or responsibility for what happens on Mumsnet. It is Mumsnet that have that responsibility, and I want them to use it.

everyone else here is happy with a relatively unmoderated site.

I am also happy with a relatively unmoderated site, I just think a little more moderation is needed in certain cases.

With respect, I raised this here partly to garner others opinions rather than make an assumption about what everybody is happy with.

[catinthehat2]

This is pompous mealy mouthed crap isn't it?

Underneath all the dreadful sub-legal terminology, all you are saying is :

"Miss, Miss, someone's said something I disagree with. Expel them from the school immediately"

Take it up with the site owners if you have a specific problem with a specific poster.

Accept that apart from that you are powerless and irrelevant.

And do try not to push that embarassing line about your "emotional" attachment to free speech EXCEPT (it seems where you disagree wuth the content of that speech. Unless you really really want to be laughed at.

[QueenGigantaurofMnet]

but where do you draw the line as to what is a sensetive subject?

miscarriage? infertility? rape? abuse? infidelity? disability?

i think that most of Mn would fall under the "senstive" unbrella at one stage or another.

as has been said, in most cases a particulrarly unhlepfull post will be either ignored or challenged. a newcomer would see that the "advice" given is not to be taken purely by the repsonses from the majority of other posters.

[catinthehat2]

"Agree or disagree?"

You are coming across as a bit of an idiot TBH. Or possibly a traffic warden manque.

"Posters who consistently make posts that should be removed should be prevented from making future posts."

"Posters who consistently make posts that should be removed should have all their posts removed."

AHHHHH! Got it!
YOu want to be a MODERATOR! This is a pitch so you get to keep everyone in line.

[KatieMiddleton]

I know who you mean. And WestVirgina's posts are strange because they don't seem to interact with the thread. They're just a series of attacks on social services. It's almost as if they're automated instead of being a real person.

However the odd troll does not detract from the good MN does. And there is no need for extra censorship. The "see something off - report it" process works fine. Just report the posts and highlight the ridiculous on the threads.

[Tortington]

anyone who likes john cleese is a deffo loon

you just sealed your own fate there manchovy

[Tortington]

urban dictionary definition psml @ hirsute