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MNHQ

Mumsnet Christmas Appeal - suggestions please

401 replies

JustineMumsnet · 21/10/2013 15:03

Following on from a couple of threads discussing the Christmas appeal over the weekend, I thought we should post our thoughts on things.

First we're really sorry if not being nominated for this year's appeal has made anyone feel bad or left out. Obviously it's the opposite of why we do it but the truth is there will always be deserving people who, for whatever reason - frequent namechanges or pure and simple oversight - will be overlooked.

Over the years the Xmas appeal really has brought a lot of joy both to the givers and receivers of gifts - this is a typical post/mail from a giver:

"It is a wonderful thing this Santa business. It totally dispels the idea that Mumsnet is no more than words on a screen and shatters the notion of the pit of vipers. Since being matched with you, not a day has passed when I haven't thought of you and your family. Your posts shine with warmth, humour and love for your family. You are a remarkable woman. For me, it has been more than sending a little something: you have made me really think about what Christmas should be.
So I thank you too, and will raise a glass to you and yours on Christmas Day. Much love to you all"

As Christmas becomes every more about consumption we think the appeal for many is a reminder of what it is really all about. It certainly is for us at MNHQ and consequently we are very happy to put a lot of MNHQ resource into the operation; SandyMumsnet pretty much devotes a month of time to it.

Clearly it doesn't operate optimally for everyone, but net net, it really is a good thing I believe. That said we'd value suggestions about how you think we could do it better. We took over the operation of the appeal only because it was becoming too big a job for any individual - but it was conceived by Mumsnetters for Mumsnetters and exists pretty much in the same form as that original idea.

Do let us know your thoughts and suggestions here.

OP posts:
kotinka · 21/10/2013 16:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

snowballinafryingpan · 21/10/2013 16:54

I donated last year and loved doing it, mn has helped me through bereavement and rmc and as others have said it's a way of giving something back.

I have never been nominated and really don't understand the angst tbh. It is very sad that something with such good intentions is being dragged through the coals in this way.

Fenton · 21/10/2013 16:54

Yes, yes of course I have them on HoneyDragon, can't you see them?

roguepixie · 21/10/2013 16:55

Agree with BOF and PacificDogwood. Don't change a thing.

dreamingbohemian · 21/10/2013 16:55

I do think Appeal is not quite the right word anymore. Semantics, sure, but changing it avoids any hurt feelings, so why not?

I agree that it would be lovely to see a proper charity appeal each year, to Women's Aid or food banks or something along those lines.

BaronessBomburst · 21/10/2013 16:56
HereComesHoneyBooBooDragon · 21/10/2013 16:57

What about the Chistmas A Tangerine Peel?

LeGavrOrf · 21/10/2013 16:58

What BOF said with knobs on.

Call it the mumsnet annual Christmas kindness or whatever, but leave it as it is. And what usual said about keeping it anonymous to prevent this kind of unpleasantness next year.

Fenton · 21/10/2013 16:59

Better than Christmas chemic A l Peel.

Mogz · 21/10/2013 16:59

If anything has to change then just change the name to Secret Santa, the rest of it is perfect and in keeping with the real spirit of Christmas. And perhaps in the emails you send to nominees ask that they do not start 'I've been nominated threads' then on Jan 1st start an official thank you thread. Really nothing about how to works needs to change though. The magic of it is the surprise the nominees feel when they find out, if you could smoky sign up for getting a pressie it would take away any meaning.

ScarerStratton · 21/10/2013 17:05

I like it just the way it is.

Please don't change anything, not even the name. And I certainly don't think self-nomination is a good idea at all. It's laying the Appeal wide open to abuse.

If there is a majority view that the Appeal should stay as it is, please listen to the majority, not the small, viciously vocal minority, that seems to have set itself a target of turning MN into a dull shadow of itself.

Mumsnet, the Appeal, and all that goes with it, perfect just the way it is.

LeGavrOrf · 21/10/2013 17:06

Well said Sarah.

viperslast · 21/10/2013 17:06

What bof said.

I have had a terrible year, money and mental resources are at an all time low and I am a fabulous person Wink. I didn't get nominated for many reasons including, I name change, I don't post on here about all my problems, I don't post on here all the time, I can come over as snipy, I don't tend to gravitate to a set of posters/areas on the boards and so on.

I don't think I have a right to be nominated or a right to ruin it for others if they get nominated. I get a lovely glowy feeling that people are getting this privilege and being shown this kindness/appreciation. Many moons ago I did get nominated and it still gives me a teary eye now.

The appeal is great. Some mners are less so. I don't think we should cater for the lowest common denominator here.

Minnieisthedevilmouse · 21/10/2013 17:08

Hmm unsure to post coz of protocol but aw this makes me sad.

I have been nominated. I've never been before. I've been here for 3 yrs. I've never nominated either. Barely registered it. So, you would either have had to notice I've name changed several times, pieced together various threads, or taken one thread to heart in some way to nominate me. Any of those is touching and I'm grateful. It's the thought!

Don't change it. I did think you were raising money at first so maybe a name change? Dunno if secret Santa copyrighted? Santa swop?

Fundamentally it works. I've not been mentioned before. Likely I won't again. But this year, well I'm touched. Thank you very much to whomever thought of me. Or one of my names.

This isn't a clique thing. It isn't scratch my back ill scratch yours. It isn't pity the poor. It's just a nice thing. And like all gifts/thoughts they shouldn't be expected as that's missing the point completely.

Please. Leave as is. There's so many of us. Let it grow unaided. Always works best that way.

LeGavrOrf · 21/10/2013 17:09

This isn't a clique thing. It isn't scratch my back ill scratch yours. It isn't pity the poor. It's just a nice thing. And like all gifts/thoughts they shouldn't be expected as that's missing the point completely.

Please. Leave as is. There's so many of us. Let it grow unaided. Always works best that way.

Great post.

Fenton · 21/10/2013 17:10

Yup to Scarer and vipers.

SnakeyMcBadass · 21/10/2013 17:11

Leave it as it is. Tbh, I can't get my head around grown women pouting over not getting sent a present by an anonymous person via the internet. When it happens, it's lovely, but it's not compulsory ffs. You get as involved as you want with internet forums, it's not, like, real. Everyone but me is totes a bloke in a basement who lives with their mum. Fact.

MyOtherNNisaPorsche · 21/10/2013 17:11

As this is the first year I have known about or been involved in the Appeal (by being nominated), I don't really feel I have the right to comment. I just came on to say that I'm very sorry for starting a thank you thread and consequently kicking all this off Sad.

I hope that the appeal stays around. I've said it all before but being nominated has already meant so much to me and I hope that I will be able to pass on that same joy by nominating and donating next year.

If I were to add anything, I think a facility to pass on thanks to your nominator anonymously (perhaps a message that could be passed on through PM by MNHQ?) would be a lovely addition as I really wanted to let my nominator (whoever that was) know how much the fact that they thought of me and nominated me, meant.

PacificDogwood · 21/10/2013 17:13

Aw, Minnie - your post warmed the cockles of my heart x.

I totally agree with vipers: don't reduce it to the lowest common denominator. I love the idea of a small seasonal random act of kindness.

MyOtherNNisaPorsche · 21/10/2013 17:14

Oh, and thank you also to MNHQ and SandyMumsnet for making all this possible. I'm sure I speak for most people here by saying we really appreciate it Flowers.

FrightRider · 21/10/2013 17:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LeGavrOrf · 21/10/2013 17:14

You started that thread wit the best of intentions though. You couldn't have predicted that there would have been so much ill feeling, not your fault at all.

FrightRider · 21/10/2013 17:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BaronessBomburst · 21/10/2013 17:19

Was the thread deleted?

BoreOfWhabylon · 21/10/2013 17:23

Please don't change name to Secret Santa - a SS is different: everyone who joins donates a gift AND receives one.

The only thing I think is that nominators should make it clear whether they are nominating someone who is in straitened circs or not (and MNHQ let donator know), as this may well make a difference to the type of gift that would be most appropriate.

Other than that, leave it alone. It's a lovely lovely heartwarmy thing!