Please please lovely byootiful mnhq, please will you get rid of AIBU?

[bibbitybobbityhat]

Not because it brings out the dirty bad sad side of MN.

Not because there are lots of fights.

Not because people use it as an excuse to be foul ("well, this is AIBU - what did you expect sucker?")

Just because it makes us look like a bunch of ignorant cnuts.

Every type of subject under the sun gets posted in AIBU. People have not really grasped the concept/thinking behind it.

So when you get titles like AIBU to ask what is your favourite colour/biscuit/film and other similar general nonsense questions ad infinitum

then

it just makes Mumsnet look like a VERY dumbed-down site indeed.

Thanks.

WOW, that is the best response I have ever seen from MNHQ when asked to get rid of AIBU. Do we really have grounds to hope that it will be dumped? I have repeatedly said it does nothing to enhance the site and indeed can date the decline of MN to the moment when it was first introduced.

People told me to hide AIBU and all would be well. I did, and it wasn't. I regard the presence of AIBU in MN as the equivalent of a fruit machine in a quiet country pub: it attracts a different crowd.

Could there be a way of moving threads that really don't belong there, some posters just post there to get a big reply where there is a specific board that would suit their question a lot better... current examples - the thing about jammies watching wimbledon - tellie addicts? to open a bottle of moet in case it goes off - food and drink? to write a snotty reply back to HT - numerous education related boards? how many times it rains before you take washing off the line - good housekeeping? V annoying...

Another vote for getting rid.

I used to like it a few years ago - but I rarely post there now. Obviously I do/will if something catches my eye, but it is just idiotic half the time.

An example...I have just replied to a thread entitled ' AIBU to become a Vegetarian? ' I mean... what does that even MEAN? Surely the only answer is ' yes, if you want to'... or ' no, if you don't want to ... '

Perhaps Mumsnet could just create a page which when you hit Am I being unreasonable says yes, you really are, fuck off

Lord, I agree. I've been slightly dubious about the recent thread pulling extravaganza, but a thread title that makes no sense should GO.
'AIBU that blah blah blah'...
It doesn't look good.

Oh yes yes to the shorter shelf life, brilliant compromise.

I'd love to see it go. It encourages people who love "bunfights" - ie bullying - and abusive behaviour. And people who deliberately distort what other posters say.

WMMC, that would be the best button EVER.

Agree with you bibbity and DG as ever on this subject.

I've had it hidden for ages but occasionally have a look in last 15 mins to see what's happening. Jesus it's like a grotesque bacchanalian frothing hate fest over there sometimes (see last failed flounce), that or just bilge.

And just hiding it doesn't seem to work any more. The dross and anger is seeping under the doorway infecting everything else.

I going to stick with camping, and you can't hide site stuff, but apart from that AIBU has killed mn for me [melodramatic].

For example. AIBU to tell the rain to bugger off?

Stupid.

Recipes is still safe

And I think the chicken people are probably alright.

The tack room is very comfy.

See Hocuspontas, I don't want to appear mean and make it look like I am picking on you, because I'm really not, but your post of 20:24 is a prime example of why it isn't sufficient to simply hide the AIBU topic. Bibbity did not ask if she was being unreasonable, and you knew she wasn't asking that, yet you still felt you could write YABU in your post. The use of YABU and YANBU really dumbs down any discussion imo.

I used to enjoy it.
But I've noticed that its rules seem to have seeped into the rest of the boards like one of those noxious silent farts. The abuse opinions that could have been explained away by the disclaimer on AIBU are frequently being bandied about on boards that need to be more sensitive.

To be honest I do think that until you are on the recieving end of a good mn kicking then you have no idea of how crap it makes you feel. I was years ago and it actually made me cry for days. I was in a mess anyway post MC but I typed something without thinking it through properly and got a kicking. With hindsite I would have worded it much much better.

So those lovely new mnetters will get it one day and will not be so quick to dish it out.

I think it has had it's day too, but only cos it's attracting so many trolls... shame.

I personally don't like to see so many people enjoying the spectacle of someone getting a good kicking.

In that way, I think MN is encouraging something very sinister. But, hey, I'm always open to abuse when I object to someone's nose being bloodied. Again. And again. And again.

Maybe it needs a 'experienced Mumsnetters only' tag (ie it's like running blindfolded across a field of rakes only do it if you don't mind getting whacked over a protracted period) to stop newbies wandering across it.

I've never been quite clear on what the difference between AIBU and WWYD is (I know what they stand for but actually they are a bit interchangeable these days).

Agree with wimpybar. People don't discuss, they just seem to tell you to FO if they don't like what you have to say which is really pretty unintelligent and childish. But if it were deleted I'm sure the same sort of people would start hounding other posts so maybe best we keep them all locked up in AIBU where they can bitch to their hearts content.

I always have to check my Blood Pressure after being on there and have had to hide threads because they have wound me up so much.

Perhaps it is a public service really. Those vicious ones could be talking to real people like that. Better it is contained to one place.

I know that's tongue in cheek, Ronshar, but I think it makes such behaviour appear acceptable.

Haven't read thread yet, but I found that hiding AIBU has improved my Mumsnetting experience a lot. Occasionally miss out on an interesting bun fight but that's a chance I'm willing to take.

I know. But I do worry when I see the behaviour sometimes. Seriously do posters talk to people i RL like that? I wouldn't tolerate being spoken to like that at all.

It is gang mentallity at its worst. At its best it is light hearted banter. But that allways get turned back to nasty.