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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

<<whispers>> Was there ever any clarification about whether the issue with GF was swearing on here?

588 replies

hunkermunker · 22/05/2006 15:46

MN Towers, if you'd prefer it if this was deleted, please do so.

But I'm nosy. And I want to know. Please?

(I didn't swear in this, though I was tempted to...childish or what?!)

OP posts:
Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 24/05/2006 22:56

I'm sure you have www. I've just emailed you......

VeniVidiVickiQV · 24/05/2006 22:57

This really sucks. On all counts. For everyone.

JoolsToo · 24/05/2006 22:58

sorry its just pathetic .....

VeniVidiVickiQV · 24/05/2006 23:12

Jools, can i email you for that link? Smile

JoolsToo · 24/05/2006 23:14

of course Smile

WideWebWitch · 25/05/2006 01:03

I have a stressful life atm. I've just moved house and my children have moved school and nursery. My dh needs to find a new job so I am supporting us all atm. My new job is stressful, my skin has broken out in hives. I am working long hours and rarely getting time for lunch. I have 2 lovely children and I don't see enough of them as I don't get home until late. I am knackered.

Tonight I had a lovely evening with my husband, who cooked me a fab meal, we talked and watched some stuff and then I came here to find that GF has again confirmed that she may be taking legal action against mumsnet and, therefore, there is the potential for legal action against me. And I am here now because I can't sleep because of it. I can't afford a libel lawyer, I don't want to fight about anything, I haven't got the time or energy or money to go to court.

So, GF and AnnClough, if you're reading (and I think you are), I want you to know that there are real people typing these posts and they are deeply affected by threats like this. And actually, Gina, if you care about mothers and how they feel (which you say you do), you will consider the effect of your threats on them. Because most of us have enough to worry about as it is.

WideWebWitch · 25/05/2006 01:05

And Justine and Carrie and Rachel are mothers too, some of them with very new babies.

tigermoth · 25/05/2006 08:13

www, so very, very true - there are real people out there who could really do without this stress.

Gina Ford if you read this, please think again. Surely you know how terribly hard it is to be a good mother to your children if you are suffering from stress? You know how hard being a parent can be at the best of times.

Is more stress and heartache what you wish on mumsnet mothers? Is that what you really want to be rememberd by, and not the fact that you write books in support of motherhood?

FioFio · 25/05/2006 08:20

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted

katierocket · 25/05/2006 08:28

I'm gobsmacked at this, it's just beyond belief.

I feel very sorry for Justine, Carrie et al to have this hanging over them. How sad and pathetic that it has come to this.

Mascaraohara · 25/05/2006 08:29

Really feel for you WWW (& MNHQ), can imagine that it's a very worrying for you!

I'm a bit sceptical about the whole thing still atm and I'm still hoping it'll all blow over tbh, I don't think it's too late.

I do think it would be best if we stopped discussing it on MN, not her techniques but certainly the libel case.

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 25/05/2006 10:07

oh www I don't know what to say, because this does of course have the potential to have very serious consequences for you and your family. I hope you did get some sleep in the end. xxxx

Callisto · 25/05/2006 10:19

Just want to add my support to MN towers. WWW I'll be there with you in court as I too insulted the great GF.

Greensleeves · 25/05/2006 10:23

How do we know which individidual posters are implicated? Surely lots and lots of people have made comments?

Caligula · 25/05/2006 10:25

Of course if she does go ahead, she will stop being known as a childcare guru and become "that woman who sued a load of mothers." Great PR machine she's got. Not.

Whether she wins or loses, this will undoubtedly damage her reputation far more than any wild remarks made by posters on Mumsnet. But that's no comfort to the people she's threatening. Sad

Anchovy · 25/05/2006 10:27

I am a lawyer, albeit not a libel specialist by any stretch of the imagination. I would be buggeringly surprised if any lawyer would recommend bringing a libel action in circumstances like this. Any law suit is notoriously difficult to bring and there does not seem to be a clear cut case here. To succeed a libel has to lower the reputation of the libelled person among "right thinking people". There are also a number of defences such as "fair comment" -(for example it would be an entirely fair comment to say that you do not think controlled crying works - I'm sure Penelope Leach says the same and it is a moot point). Making an apology is also a very relevant. The rest is all a bit of handbags and playground name calling and unless I am missing something hardly seems enough to bring a libel action. I think a lot of people think there are some interesting test cases waiting to happen re libel and the internet (they may already have happened: the internet was just a twinkle in Al Gore's eye when I studied libel) but this doesn't feel like it.

I know you all think that lawyers do nothing other than sit on their fat backsides and trade in other people's misery but that is far from the case. I repeat, very few lawyers will ever recommend a libel action unless it is extremely clear cut: the claimant always has an awful lot to lose and you also have to consider whether you will actually recover any damages if they ever were awarded.

Of course, writing stroppy letters that put the wind up people is our bread and butter work Grin.

foundintranslation · 25/05/2006 10:28

I don't usually go on GF threads, but I'm horrified and worried at this.
Thinking of you WWW and MNHQ.

Greensleeves · 25/05/2006 10:29

Is she threatening to sue individual posters, though? Or MN as an organisation?

CarolinaMoose · 25/05/2006 10:32

doesn't the whole (alleged) Ginababe thing put a bit of a spanner in the works of her case anyway? Would she really want that to come out in court (assuming it was her of course)?

Anchovy · 25/05/2006 10:33

I repeat, I honestly would not bother getting horrified and worried.

I would also be very surprised if MNHQ did not have some sort of insurance covering themselves for this.

Bugsy2 · 25/05/2006 10:34

Anchovy, that is reassuring to hear. Lets hope it is just no more than stroppy letter writing & hollow threats.

Marina · 25/05/2006 10:36

MNHQ and individual posters, greensleeves. Very sorry for anyone directly implicated in this, but for everyone who uses this site too. We all stand to lose if MN is seriously damaged by this.
Justine, Carrie, Rachel, Tech, JJ and Abby - you must mobilise us all if there is anything we can do to help you and the individuals threatened. You have to be aware that although people may not post at all, or only in the most circumspect manner, there is a mass of support for you at the moment.

foundintranslation · 25/05/2006 10:37

Hear hear Marina.
Thanks for your view on this, Anchovy - let's hope you're right.

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 25/05/2006 10:38

Potentially individual posters Greensleeves, and mumsnet is owned by individuals so they would be personally liable I guess. If she sues, and of course we all hope she won't, then it will be individuals up in court (or settling before court as is often advised int hese cases).

There was a message about it from Justine a while ago but I can't find it.

Marina · 25/05/2006 10:40

I hope you are right too Anchovy, I really do