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

[hunkermunker]

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?!)

ooh that was me, dropping me H's :)

www

I can't find that post about individual posters either ..must be there though!

It is here somewhere, you didn't imagine it! Worry not fair witch and go enjoy your harpy!

It could have been on a deleted thread.

By JustineMumsnet on Thursday, 25 May, 2006 6:12:29 PM
"It is our view, though we cannot say for sure, that though Ms Ford’s lawyers have previously threatened legal action against one Mumsnet member at least to our knowledge, the intention is to take proceedings against Mumsnet rather than individual posters. Please do contact us if you have reason to believe otherwise and we will happily give as much advice and assistance as we can. "

www,morningpaper etc - I did actually point out that it's not for me to tell you not to post. I was just asking people to consider carefully whether it was wise to do so. As I said before, if you honestly think that what you have to say is terribly important and should be said, who am I to object?

I did think however, that some posts on this thread were going nowhere and were actually going to make matters worse - particularly when people started to tread (once again) down the path of 'she's unqualified, she's misleading people into thinking she's qualified, and she's a >.' Which may or may not be true, and is certainly the opinion of many, but is not necessarily the best thing for Mumsnet to have posted on here right now.

I was asking for a little more reflection before posting on here. I was not asking anyone to censor themselves.

Boy, if I'm feeling battered and bruised after just this little bit of the thread, and I really can't begin to imagine how it would feel to have the whole battery of MN turned on you...

I'm going to stay off this thread now because it's making me very unhappy...

Ladies just to let you know that I spent a considerable amount of time discussing this subject today at a press junket at the Chelsea flower show. Lots of folk very interested....

Bloss, I agree that people shouldn't post anything libellous or defamatory and I agree that doing so will make matters worse. Absolutely.

But if you're feeling 'battered' by this thread (Why? Sorry if I've missed them but I haven't seen any horrible personal comments about you) just imagine how 'battered' people were feeling about the possibility of ending up in court having to defend a libel action. OK, so it appears that the threat against individuals has gone away but the threat against mumsnet certainly hasn't. And I am being extremely careful about what I say here but I can see why people think it's a matter worth discussing: the whole debacle has worried a lot of people, me included. If Justine wants me to shut up and stop posting I will, of course but I don't think I'm saying anything libellous or that will make matters worse. (prepared to be corrected if I'm wrong)

No personal attacks, you're quite right. But a thoroughly nasty taste in the mouth and I feel very depressed by the hysteria and anger and venom on both sides. The whole thing brings little credit to anyone I think.

But if this leaves me feeling awful, imagine if I had had years of personal abuse. I don't how politicians do it, actually!

Oh, and when I said 'make matters worse', I wasn't limiting myself to the idea that saying more libellous things leaves MN open to more claims. I was trying to say that if we allow this debate to be driven by emotion, we will only increase the heat in the reaction from the other side. I don't think she could possibly be acting with a cool head - it's too unwise. If we genuinely want to prevent the action, then letting the emotional thermostat drop a little would help, I believe. Obviously you and others think that emotions are irrelevant. I respect your view although I don't share it.

Hang on - didn't I say I wasn't going to look at this thread? Aaaaaagh! I can't help it. It's ruining my weekend too.

OK, Bloss, point taken about the emotional heat, I do see what you mean. Anyway, I have to go to work today :( and I therefore will have to leave this thread alone!

www you are VERY right about the upset to Mumsnetters who have fallen foul of GF's wrath.

Equally bloss, I think you're right that being careful about the nature of posts right now is sensible. GF can't be thinking clearly but because of that we should be even more careful. For the sake of MN and of the posters who are under potential threat as a result of all this trouble.

tbh I don't really think posting can make things worse or that much difference, if it did, I'd hope Mumsnet Towers would tell us so and we'd stop.

I'm a little uncomfortable about being asked to take responsibility for Gina Ford's feelings and have the uneasy feeling that we could go on for years like this, self-censoring or being told to pipe down every time this issue is discussed because of her potential reaction and "making things worse" (the holding Mumsnet hostage situation) but if Justine et al told us they'd rather we didn't post on this atm, I'd be quite happy to comply, not for Gina Ford's benefit, but for theirs. It's not my house under threat, after all.