MNHQ so what is allowed.

[ChristmasFuckers]

Whatand how can we discuss the donations??

gifts*

Littlest light - please stop with the speculation about how much she got. It's really very ugly.

Oh and regularly* not regular.

If a swift and official 'off you fuck' from MNHQ is not applied when people ask for money (advertently or otherwise), then the site will soon be seen as a soft touch by scamsters everywhere.

I am not implying for the a second that last night's example was a scam, but it certainly shows how quick folks were to start wiring money. Dangerous for the integrity of the site, IMO.

I don't want to be a member of a site where people know that if they tell a tale of boo-fucking-hoo then well-meaning posters will throw hard cash at them.

Mj...you will get deleted. Referring to an actual poster...

The whole begging for money thing is tacky and dirty.

Yes - can we please remember to do as Ian Hislop does on HIGNFY and add 'allegedly' to the end of every possibly questionable sentence?

It's not royalty it's being careful - I wouldn't offer money to a "stranger" but I might to a mutually supportive positive I've been "chatting" with for years!

We're all adults here, so ultimately responsible for our own decisions, but I would welcome MNHQ intervention in these threads, even just a standard "remember the Internet is anonymous, do you really know who you are donating money to?"
Several posters tried that last night, but were shouted down. I can't help but think that MNHQ might not have had that response.
If another poster still wants to send money, then that's up to them.

I think a distinction between venting and begging is quite clear. Most people when venting wouldn't respond with passing on bank details/pp address.

I've a really novel idea - if you don't like being part of the site as is - find a site you do want to be part of.

Some posters want a rule - others don't - but the ones who don't aren't asking for a change.

My mum nearly ran over Ian Hislop. Random claim to fame

Why were the recent posts deleted?

I think SantasBigSack makes another point which shows why these threads full of offers of cash are not a great idea: it leads to resentment. Some people aren't well known, ask for help and feel treated with scepticism; others might be well known and on the bones of their arse, but would chew their own arm off before they asked for or accepted cash gifts on mumsnet. Either way, it is going to lead to grumblings about the squeaky wheel getting the most grease.

Of course people can give whatever they choose at their own risk, but I still think, on balance, that threads which spark a flurry of personal pledges are probably a bad thing for the site.

lol,all the histrionics about leaving a sob story site
no one compels anyone to stay
and no one is compelled to give to every sob story and blagger
nor are you compelled not to give

but some of you have v bizarre expectants of mnhq and how it should reflect every one of your individual nuances and preferences.....or else...or else you will jollly well leave

right you are

There is venting.......and there is (craftily) taking the piss....

If you don't like what you perceive as begging posts don't give money. Report them.
Simple.
No rule required.

Yes, that's right. Report and don't give

Thank god hardly any posters have the brass neck to do it!

Yes but Dragon (is that Soupdragon btw?) without a rule, what's the point in reporting posts?

MNHQ have already said there's no way for them to know whether a poster's genuine or not. Unless someone breaks a rule - eg troll-hunting or trolling - then they can't just pull a thread because they don't fancy the way it's going without effectively calling the poster a liar or casting doubt on their integrity.

A rule would let everyone know where they stood and would NOT prevent altruistic gestures by MNers via PM or any other means.

What it would prevent is exactly this kind of hysteria and self-fuelling nonsense. if you want to help someone financially: great - make it a private gesture between friends via PM. Why the need for it to be publicly aired with all the back-slapping and baggage that goes with that?

As for everyone saying "why change the site, why the need for a new rule"

The reason is because the site changes and the members change. We've already had new rules about No Troll-hunting which has - I think - improved things and made the site more pleasant.

Reacting to a new/increasing problem is not the end of the world as we know it. I don't think when MN set up the site they thought "hey, we'd better have a rule to cope with people soliciting for cash on the boards".

eh?! [hunted look]

Who the hell was that directed at MJ?!

Mj.... Was that directed at the poster who made step parent comment?