In case anyone's interested this is what I sent to nobody. I don't imagine the last line will mean anything at all to her, but I had to end on something. Most of all though I wanted her to realise what she's doing.
Dear nobody,
I am a regular user of Mumsnet and have found it to be a wonderful resource. It is a fantastic way of accessing the advice and support of other parents. It covers everything: miscarriages, pregnancy and child-birth; depression, healthy diets and drug-smoking teenagers; what to wear to an interview, how to sort out your family tax credits and the best way to deal with mothers-in-law. In short if you need advice on family matters or just want to share a problem, Mumsnet can provide. It is not only a source of advice and support it is a great source of amusement - threads on the wonderfully funny things children say, the silly excuses they give not to go to bed and the most embarassing moments of a hundred odd people are examples of the things on mumsnet that make me laugh. It is thirdly a fantastic forum for debate in which people from a wide variety of backgrounds participate -everything from war in the Middle East and racism in the UK to child-care provision.
It has all the ingredients of a network of friends - people from Mumsnet send each other gifts, hand on things the kids have outgrown, even put each other up for a night.
I was deeply saddened - and shocked - by the letter from your lawyers to Mumsnet, seeking its closure. I cannot reconcile the idea of someone as passionate as you about helping babies, children and families to be contented with the idea of someone who wishes to take away from parents a resource like Mumsnet. Some of the comments that have led you to take this course of action were deeply unpleasant, others were just plain silly. None of them will do anything like as much damage to your reputation as your seeking to shut down Mumsnet.
Your approach to parenting is unique and, in some respects, controversial. It has and always will attract fierce debate. I cannot believe that given the choice between seeing that debate take place in a context that includes certain comments that most rational people will simply disregard and stiffling that debate whilst simultaneously stiffling a whole range of other debates and a resource like Mumsnet you have chosen the action you have. I find it especially suprising given that Mumsnet is a small operation with small resources. I am personally saddened too that this whole issue has meant that two mothers have had far less time with their newborn babies than they wanted.
I ask you whether you have really understood what Mumsnet is and what you wish to take away. I ask you to please reconsider.
Yours