can the MN philosophy include a reminder that it is a PUBLIC forum?

[hatwoman]

On the one hand it could seem like stating the bleeding obvious. Unfortuntely though I don't think it is that obvious to some people. mn sometimes feels like a private conversation, and I think people sometimes post without asking themselves whether they would say what they are saying directly to certain people. personally I think a reminder - in the philosophy - would be a useful thing. it works two ways - a reminder to protect your own privacy, but also a reminder that you are responsible for what you write, a reminder to ask yourself if you would stand by it to all and sundry (because that's who's reading it) - a reminder to think twice about what exactly you write.

i think that is a noble sentiment, but in the heat of an argument or highly charged debate, no amount of reminders will actually make a difference. certainly not to all posters

I agree. People should think more before they post.

I am very upset by today. almost upset enough to leave

What in particular has prompted you to post this, Hatwoman?

I've always treated online posts as a bit like chatting in a pub. I'd think less of someone who used it outside, but don't realistically expect masonic secrecy.

Don't leave, hatwoman. We need the sane people to stay.

Hatwoman, you have to remember that MN contains the same cross section of society as in RL. People will say the same things in discussions with their friends and families. I have heard the same upsetting things today from people close to me that I have been angry with on MN.
In general people should think before they speak/post.

Hatwoman

I have just been popping in over the weekend to catch up with Pantly Liner gossip and I don't know what has been going on

I'm very sorry you have been upset

look - I said almost. whilst the "please stays" are lovely, they're really not necessary. I'm not going anywhere. it's the whole Portugal thing. had me in tears this morning. It's a genuine thread to garner opinion on whether it's a good idea.

i see what you mean

but however many reminders, there will always be posters who post stuff that is not neccesarily sensitive or well thought out

and if they do , it might be because , yes, they would say it in RL too

No harm in adding it - but as lulu says, I doubt it would stop people posting stupid stuff. I think one of the problems with some of the people on the Portugal threads is that they really don't realise, or believe, that what they're saying it particularly off-colour - they think they're just showing concern. It's a matter of perspective (and taste).

also, it might well be a public forum, but that therefore means that anything in the public domain is up for discussion...it is a double edged sword, but i think one of the best things about mumsnet is that it is not moderated, but actually moderates itself, from the inside, IFYSWIM....you have to accept a certain amount of negativity aswell as the positives...

don;t think anything will stop insensitive comments, as it can often be very subjective

As in RL, all you can do is let someone know if they are saying something you find offensive or insensitive and ask them to stop it. Make your feelings known,- as you are doing here.

There is a 'development ' thread , although no dvelopmenst in the statement tonight some things were mentioned that some posters wanted a better understanding of, questions answered with fact , no speculation and we're told to STOP IT !

Some people wnat a better understanding of what is going on , they are not speculating they just want their questions answered, nothing nasty in it , nothing offesnive , nothing that the family wont know already .

I really dont see what is wrong with that tyep of posting. I think this whole thing has gone too far and making thread after thread about this issue is making the matter worse.

If you google Madeleine McCann mumsnet isn't in the first 10 pages.

This probably isn't the place to start yet another strand in this argument, but.. I just don't understand why some people (a lot of those on the 'developments' thread) seem to feel that this story is so personal to them, or that they are somehow 'entitled' to the most recent information. It's a news story - a very frightening one, of course, but really not the business of anyone but the girl's family and the authorities involved. It really does seem that some people are absolutely wallowing in it. Why? What possible purpose does it serve? It's not your family. You're not helping. Why not butt out?

I don't participate in the threads you refer to but i don't think any of us have a right to censor/control what others say.

Furthermore,I think people on MN flatter themselves if they assume that what they post is of any weight or bearing.

You could say the same thing about any thread ' In the news' section.

My last post in response to Rowan.

The other issue is that if people actually feel they are going to be held accountable for what they say, they change their username which means you get people using this facility to be IMHO very mean (pointing no fingers).

And they assume this means they can't be identified.

I haven't read any of the threads mentioned - quite honestly it was a no brainer what they'd say so I just didn't bother.

Yes, Underpants (if I may call you that), but most news stories have some direct bearing on our day-to-day lives - interest rate rises, public spending, health, who's going to take over from Blair, local elections, French presidency, blah blah - all of these things are our business in quite a direct sense. But what has happened in Portugal is an isolated event that really has no bearing on the lives of most people on MN.

I agree, moondog, I'm sure the furthest thing from their mind at the moment is what is being said here on mnet.