MNHQ so what is allowed.

[ChristmasFuckers]

Whatand how can we discuss the donations??

I think this is where the PM thing falls apart tbh. we dont know what happened offboard, so things are exaggerated (or underestimated) because we assume and not even MNHQ can step in if/when things get out of hand.

odd thing was that one of the mnetters reminded the op that she was told off by her re her personal situation. (on a different thread) Op said to her that shes very happy and financialy secure...

That's him. Idris Elba. PHWOAR. It was the swooshing coat and the hands dug deep into his pockets that made me goo all woo.

I quite like Angel1976's idea as well, at least that would be clear. You can't stop people PMing each other but if MNHQ had a clear stance it would discourage open begging (when it happens, I'm not sure about last night) and might make some posters stop and think before rushing in to donate.

I know one of his sort of relatives. She nearly faints every time she meets him.
I would full on faint and hope that he would resuscitate me :o

I think people should remember that the thread last night was not a poster saying 'help me'. She vented about her situation and some posters immediately offered help. The OP accepted that help - as desperate people do. She was then pilloried by some posters who damn well should know better and concealed their nastiness under 'concern' as well as receiving very sound advice from other posters. Some delightful people then set up spoof threads mocking her situation and implying she planned the whole thing. It was utterly vile and it remains very distressing for the OP I'm sure. Those of you on this thread may not be aware that she was asked how long she had been on mumsnet, what was she going to do with the hundreds/thousands raised - the amount varied according to the fevered imagination concerned. You may not be aware that comparisons were drawn with 'trolls' such as The Wilted Rose.
There have been numerous threads this year where people have donated money for various reasons. Whatever is given you give at own risk and you should never offer more than you can afford to lose - in literal and emotional terms. It would be lovely if people who disagreed with this approach kind of minded their own business instead of assuming they had some sort of superior judgement to other posters.

That's who it is...Tom Hardy! Thanks GetOrf, I was trying to remember his name. And Oh Yes, I would

We also watched Inception last night.

Talking of scams - I know of a poster (was well known apparently) who offered up her wedding dress for free to another poster, took her address etc, disappeared from MN never to be seen again, why go to all that trouble? Seems odd.

Online support should remain online - words only.

Northern - those 'delightful' people you speak of are no better than the actual con artists.

Northern was there more than 1 spoof thread?

being a long standing poster. (cant think today ;)

It's not a one way street remember.

I think people get a lot out of posting "I can send £10" and then basking in the glow of "mumsnet at its best" and "xxx you're so lovely". If that, and the warm feeling of having done a nice thing is worth £10 to them, who's to say it's wrong?

As long as everyone remembers that most people in need will never post about their dire financial straits, that the person getting the £10 may well have no need of it, that you could well be pissing away your £10, well

I agree that these things tend to snowball on the wave of warm fuzzies. Maybe it'd be better if people did the giving via pm rather than public posts, but we're all grownups (and I suspect that quite a few of the offers never do find their way into the poster's bank account in the cold light of day..)

This whole issue seems to be getting rehashed more than is strictly necessary surely?

Online support can be amazing. The HQ Secret Santa has made me cry like a baby at the overwhelming generosity of MNers. And 2 MNers sent me a little bit of money to pay for the kittens first vet bill when they were a scrap of nothing but fur and milky chops. They know who they are

So I'm on the fence about this, actually

I think there were at least three spoofs or linked threads that I saw. Leaving aside the 'what just happened to x thread' threads

the spoof threads werent nice. not at all. BUT I hold MNHQ to blame for the flurry of "what happened there?"/pisstake threads.

I wonder if the OP has applied for the crisis loan today?

I think though that ONE bad situation (as last nights seems to have turned into) should not take away from the fact that MNers do help each other in RL terms, and have done for many years, and financial help is sometimes appropriate. There was a very thoughtful campaign a couple of years ago for someone to have essential private medical treatment, it was organised by a friend and many people contributed. I have also been on the recieving end of many kind and lovely PMs (which is a lovely flipside to the strange ones) and a lovely MNer sent me a card and some perfume a couple of months ago when I was in a lot of pain and worried about being ill. That touched me hugely. The kindness of strangers is not all bad.

I do not think Rich tea. there was no point...

It's also not a sure fire way for trolls (or anyone) to get cash. MN is a fickle place and you're as likely to get brickbats as donations - tends to depend on the tone of the first few replies (as on many subjects).

I only saw the 1 Northern.
It must be hard for posters who have been here for years and have seen people taken in (emotionally & financially) by posters on the take and not try and warn others. But as other posters have rightly said if an adult chooses to send a stranger some cash based on some words on a screen then that is entirely their choice.
I didn't post on the original thread because something felt "off" to me but maybe I'm just cynical.
I think if MNHQ had left the original thread up then this would all have blown over alot quicker.

Organised by a friend of the MNer who had the treatment, to clarify.