Has Mumsnet dumbed down over the past couple of years IYO? Or, if you're new, what's your impression?

[WideWebWitch]

Well? Just wondering what people think about this. Even if you're new, what's your view? (I don't want to be accused of oldster cliqueiness, I'm interested to hear what new people think too)

I don't think text speak is trivial

I think it is indicative of a general dumbing down.

strawb....but you like tents and thus can never be ignored!

I think that the thread can get 'samey' that is just the nature of the beast.

It sort of happens in RL as well doesn't it? As you kids get older you think, when you look at a mum with a newborn . 'oh for goodness sake, stop fretting over cutting his nails' or whatever

Definitely agree with CCCarmenere that the average posters have "read the odd newspaper, voted, thought about their childrens education and are generally interested in human beings."
That is what makes it such an interesting site, especially to an old codger like me who is way past the baby/toddler stage.
I do think there is far less tolerance (in a human rather than pc way) now though, and an almost herd instinct tendency to jump on people for the slightest thing.
As to text speak - fine if you're texting, but not here where there's no need.

I've never come across a post with textspeak, although cod's way of speaking is always highly entertaining....

I don't even mind the arguments, different if it's bullying, but what's wrong with 'a heated debate'???

and i do think it has got noticeably a lot lot bigger in the last recent not so long period..I now think i only know old people because my brain just isn't big enough to accommmodate more

I have come across a few Text postings, often very long with no paragraphs to break it up.

I couldn't read them, which was sad as the poster was asking for help.

absolutely mb. If I see a thread title with 'how long between crawling and walking' I immediately pass it by thinking 'who the F cares??' BUT 5 years ago I'd have opened that with interest!!!!

I agree, CD.

I think society in general has been dumbed down over the year.

I work in a higher learning setting, and the academics have all noticed the difference, especially the older ones.

There's a climate of PCness, oversensitivity, easily offensiveness that leads to people having some very, very unrealistic expectations.

Textspeak I find indicative of a general climate of illiteracy, tbh.

god yes

if I read old threads of mine from 2001 we were all much more earnest and helpful

but its much funnier now

IMO

quite

A lot of grads can't spell or construct a letter. Amazing.

Personally I think the one of the indicators of a dumbed down parenting forum is the number of tickers and avators.

someone posted today with a combination of textspeak, anxiety and no spaces and I tried to respond to the anxiety but couldn't because of the other two..I just can't understand/read it

Quite simply, I get bored on here much quicker than I used too so I think it has dumbed down for me.

oh yes Enid

When I started I was polite and helpful and concilatory. Now I just snarl when someone rattles my cage. Not sure why I bother other than I still have a laugh sometimes.

Agree with turquoise..... There's less thought now, it's jump first then think later. I used to post quite personal stuff to do with ds1- I don't really anymore because emotionally I can't handle a row about it.

I'd actually quite like to do an Aloha because a lot of the time reading mumsnet just depresses me these days, but there are too many people I've grown to like a lot over the years.

agree with Enid there is a funny sort of academic politeness to old threads, makes me think of that bakewell woman in the early seventies

like for example, the thread above this one is 'what are you doing this weekend?' Well, I cannot imagine contributing to that, but I guess if it's mners who all know each other through years of posting, they'd be interested in that.

Who the hell would be interested in what I'm doing this weekend?

what on earth is a ticket or avator?

Are you running an airline?

I second Jimjam in her last para

agree

tickers + avatars = dumb ass

its just a short hop from tickers to cheesy music on the homepage

Too right, CD. I get them in there all the time. 'I can't use a photocopier. I need someone to do it for me.'

The PhDs all fall out laughing, 'Hmmm, a humanities student. I suggest you learn to use the photocopier.'

Or the ones who cannot believe they failed an exam, essay, etc.

They've been told all their lives how brilliant they are.

They just so happened to step into the real world and haven't realised: there are ALWAYS those who are cleverer, more talented, faster to pick up a skill, lucky, etc.

That's life.

No one seems to want to teach children that nowardays.

And society is not only dumber but also poorer for it.

so you won't be helping the new mum concerned about her baby's green poo then?