Evening folks. So I've given all this a bit of thought and here's what I think:
F4J is not a credible organisation. The media doesn't take them seriously. They have 500-odd twitter followers and 1000-odd Facebook followers. In short they have little influence and no traction.
By contrast Mumsnet is widely acknowledged as influential. Ministers (and Prime ministers) like to visit us. Brands like to partner with us. Newspapers like to write about us.
F4J's only way to get noticed is to come up with stunts. A fight with Mumsnet fits the bill - but only if we comply. Many of you have commented that F4J are trolling and as we know, the first rule of trolls is DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS. I know it's tempting but by taking them on, you are totally feeding the trolls.
Quite frankly we have much much more entertaining and really more important things to do than with our time than to given oxygen to this particular group of individuals. Furthermore, why give the media (a few of whom would adore a MN are harridan-bullies type angle) anything to sidetrack them?
We are launching our We Believe You Campaign on Monday. We have each other to enjoy. People we do not need to do this!
On the question of your data:
I've been doing this (obviously) since we started (12 years), and I can say categorically that the only info we've ever passed on about a Mumsnetter was on one occasion when it was is clear she and her child were in danger. Other Mumsnetters had contacted the police about her abusive domestic situation and the police contacted us for contact details and I was happy to comply.
Do we routinely pass data on? No. Would we pass data on simply because a lawyer asked us to? No. Both Gina Ford's and Garry Lace's lawyers badgered us (with threats if we didn't) to pass users' details on and we didn't comply. Various companies who have been miffed about things written about them have made similar requests. We have never complied (and we would fight well on your behalf using all the channels open to us).
It's slightly worrying that, given our history and our privacy policy that some could think otherwise. If you really think that badly of us, it begs the question: why on earth are you here?
We are also committed to libel reform. The current laws are print laws for a digital age. We are viewed as a traditional print publisher when we are not one - we are hosting other people's thoughts and opinions, not commissioning, editing and publishing them. I want people to be able to raise concerns and speak the truth here and I hate the fact that we sometimes have to delete stuff because they are not our words and we don't know the truth. And I hate the fact that individuals and organisations know this and play on it by sending us threatening legal letters. The reason those legal letters work is that we simply could not fight every case and nor should we have to. It's not our case it's the authors!
Please don't have a go at us for this stupid and outdated law. We are paid up members of the libel reform campaign. If you are fed up with this situation then join up and help get those laws changed libelreform.org/
You are simply being naive if you think we or any website is going to ignore legal proceedings.
And as an aside, since this has become something of a baring of the soul, I think one or two on t'other thread have been bang out of order towards MNHQ and Helen and Olivia in particular tonight. I understand that feelings are running high but if you really think that poorly of us - and some have been extraordinarily aggressive - then why the heck are you here? Honestly why? I assume you value being here? Why are you being so rude to the people who are simply doing their best to follow our guidelines, explain what they are doing, and to facilitate your conversations?
Our moderators are not whimsical, or controlling or power hungry. They are dedicated and hard working and, quite frankly, really nice people. They are simply are trying their best to keep the conversation going according to our guidelines.
Mumsnet is not exclusively for like minded people. We believe being open to differing views is important for our long term health and vibrancy. Over the years a lot of folks have struggled with that idea and would rather we did things differently - that we banned difficult conversations and contrary people . But that would lead to something very different and stagnant and soulless imho. (Obviously am not talking about trolls and fascists here). Some of those people have moved on and some accept things as they are - namely that we are an open space to publically exchange thoughts and ideas to make parents' lives easier. That's what we're are trying to do. Nothing more, nothing less.
So the answer to the question on this thread - what would we do If F4J invaded again? (and let's be frank, there were only 2 or 3 involved in the "invasion") is that we would take the situation on it's merits. If they were here to engage in an honest and non-aggressive way we would let them carry on. If they came and spouted misogynistic crap, we would ban them. If it transpired that they came only to wind folks up and/or to promote one particular orthodoxy only and not engage in genuine debate we would also, once established, ask them to leave. We would at the same time, delete posts towards them that breached our guidelines.
I'm not gonna lie here - I know it's not what some of you would have us do. But we are what we are.