Is it time to start paying for MN membership?

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

In the wake of everything that happened last night, I have been trying to think of ways to keep the goady fuckers and MRAs from repeatedly rejoining MN after being banned, just so that they can cause trouble and upset, particularly on boards like Relationships and Feminism.

If we were paying even a fairly nominal amount - say a tenner - per year for our MN membership, I don't think that is an amount that would put off people who wanted to join the site for the right reasons, but it would mean that joining, being a goady fucker, getting banned and then rejoining to cause more trouble, multiple times would get very expensive very quickly - and this might put off the trolls and goady fuckers.

Or are there other ways that we can think of that MNHQ can keep the goady fuckers off the site? Could they change the rules to say that joining just to goad people on sensitive boards is a banning offence?

No, I wouldn't want a fee to use mumsnet. I agree with tee, report. I don't join in the goady threads. I do wonder if there was less engagement then the goaders wouldn't get the feedback they want.

Mumsnet is a great resource, I have found it massively supportive and it has kept me sane through trying times. If I'd had to pay I wouldn't have joined.

pinkberryguy Welcome - you may want to come back in a weeks time when this has all blown over!

I may be being stupid, but what is an MRA?
I guess Goady means someone who likes to annoy or goad people, but i can't think what MRA means....

If people are no longer anonymous then they do tend to behave much better. However, they also tend to engage less and be far more cautious in their responses. This really would take the soul out of mumsnet.

As a previous poster said, you need to report and not engage. AF was banned for breaking the rules, no one should be above the rules.

If the goady people keep popping up then keep reporting. MNHQ will keep a record of which is reported and while their individual posts may stay within the rules, if they build up a significant number of reports I am certain that would be flagged to MNHQ who would investigate further.

Breaking rules does and should have consequences. The reason for the rule breaking does not matter.

Thanks LEM, but after looking around i get the feeling someone very popular got banned through no fault of their own last night and it has upset a lot of regulars who have now changed their names to reflect their annoyance........ or something like that.

I would pay to post.

Certainly.

£10 a year wouldn't be an astonishing amount. It would put people off though if they were just here to troll.

I know it puts me off using the for sale section. That isn't quite the same but still...

you are right yes - there is a bigger picture but that is about the gist of it. MRA are mens rights activists, it has been those doing the goading, this time. We are most definately NOT anti-men on this site, but these idiots feel threatened so try to goad and cause trouble. The whole idea of a MRA makes me smirk anyway

I have to say as well that I spend quite a bit of time on MN at the moment as on maternity and this description of it being overrun with trolls and goading isn't my experience at all. It's just fine.

I understand that people find it an issue on Feminism and Relationships, where I don't tend to go, but to introduce a site-wide fee or solution in order to solve a problem on a couple of forums would piss off a lot of people who are quite happy with things as they are.

Perhaps the people on those forums need more encouragement to report, not respond, and perhaps more active moderation.

But clearly there has been a lot of complaining about goading which MN are trying to deal with, then when they warned a poster about that thread of things adults don't do for being goady, posters were up in arms about that too. Tough gig.

Which topic are the MRA in LEM? I really have missed all of this.

maybe a mumsnet staff member could check out Gamesfaqs.com.
they have a massive forum system and operate a Board level and "Karma" system.

basically, new members can't post more than a handful of messages, but as their karma builds they can post more and access more features of the boards. Karma is gained by having an active message on the boards, being modded looses Karma. it works pretty well.

www.gamefaqs.com/features/help/entry.html?cat=18

I don't think mn becoming a pay site is a good idea, there a a fair few members who are totally on the breadline or who would not want mn coming up on their bank statements due to relationship problems. More reporting and less engaging with perceived trolls would be good.

For those wondering, MRA is short for 'Mens Rights Activist'.

Some of those who are called this are just posting to wind up feminists, but the term is also used to negatively label anyone who feels that maybe, sometimes, just perhaps men might have a legitimate grievance.

For instance, you might have someone who suggests that family courts are too biased towards awarding custody towards women. Whether it happens or not, it's a legitimate thing to debate and question, but they are likely to be dismissed as just another MRA and have their sense of injury or perspective minimalised and ignored.

But then you might have someone who regularly posts on threads about battered wives suggesting that the wife was asking for it or trying to ameliorate the husbands actions. Obviously unacceptable trolling and should be banned.

I think it's a good idea.

£10 would be low enough that most people could afford it but high enough that people wouldn't join during school/holidays or after a high profile (Penis beaker) type thread just to shit stir.

No to a fee.

Some interesting ideas on here - a bit more creative.

A tenner because one person got banned? No way

Like I said, I don't like the idea of a fee, but the suggestion is NOT because one poster was suspended (for a week), but because of what led to her suspension: an attempt to discourage goaders and shitstirrers and trolls who post for the fun of watching the fall-out.

There will always be strong resistance to charging for mn and moderating for that matter. A lot of posters seem to have this weird idea that mn is "ours" and we should get to stamp our feet and get our own way. Hq have shown time and again that won't wash yet the behaviour continues.

I do think verification via PayPal or a card is a good idea actually. No actual cost involved but a process that puts a name and address on trolls may make them a little more cautious without blocking people who are financially in need. However I wonder how much it would cost hq to administrate?

Obviously the simple solution is to abide by the rules but that proves difficult for lots of people sadly.

"Less reacting, more reporting"

Hear hear!

But, from the (completely predictable) post-incident multiple threads, I think there's a long way to go before the concept catches on.

thanks LEM and Neo for the explanation.
i shall keep my little eyes peeled for them

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It's alright saying 'report, report, report, report' but that means waiting hours and sometimes, overnight, for MNHQ to 'take a look'.

That is not ok when posters have made a name for themselves by keeping within the rules, but being sarcastic, unhelpful and goady on boards such as Relationships. The damage has been done by the time MNHQ get round to looking at a thread. So it's no wonder that occasionally regulars hit back.

Something needs to be done, regulars need to know that goady posters will be dealt with swiftly and decisively.

The poster who caused AF to be banned, has only been here 2 months (apparently) and has had 11 deletions. That seems rather high.

There needs to be a system for monitoring 'new' registrations.

i have no idea who these goady fuckers are? i never ever see them.

i would suggest if they annoy you to TAKE A BREAK

its not compulsory

Like 5mad said, Bad Mothers Club was a fairly busy site until a £12 a year fee was introduced and it has dwindled down to almost nothing in 4 or 5 years. Even reintroducing non fee paying posting hasn't reinvigorated the site and it is such a shame because it was a smaller version of Mumsnet where straight talking and swearing were positively encouraged.

Loads of BMCers are now on Mumsnet and facebook instead because it moves faster.

noddy one person got banned
FOR A WEEK |

OMG!!!!