I didn't use Mumsnet when my daughter was little – I wasn't in tune with internet world back then – but I would have loved it, and I heard so many wonderful things about it that I joined recently on the strength of having grandchildren. Now I know what you all know – Mumsnet is great!
And Mumsnet is currently being threatened by a small group of unprincipled activists who think their political point is more important than the best resource for mums ever. They are trying to scare advertisers off using Mumsnet. They think Mumsnet will be scared off by a shortage of funds. Well, direct action activism may be a legitimate tool when it's used by the people against corporate power – but a small group of activists using it against a group of mums? No. Whatever you all think of their political point, don't let them bully Mumsnet. There are a hundred and one ways mums could get together and fend off such an attack. Here are three of the top of my head...
- SHORT TERM Set up a crowdfunder to give Mumsnet a buffer pool of money to cover running costs until it all dies down.
- LONG TERM Set up a voluntary monthly draw – people can put in a pound, or a fiver or whatever, and one name's drawn at the end of each month and wins ten percent of the take – how many mums are there on Mumsnet? That'd be a pretty good prize, and plenty in the kitty to tide Mumsnet over.
- If the above requires an expensive licence or something, just set up a facility for voluntary donations called 'Save Mumsnet' or something.
The only rule I'd suggest is that any money given must be flexible and voluntary. At any one time, there will be mums who are desperate for advice and support and horribly empty of pocket.
Any such scheme can be shared by a million-and-one mums around Facebook, Twitter etc which will....
- Increase donations
- Remind advertisers that Mumsnet is a fantastic resource for them, and that they need Mumsnet every bit as much as mums do.
- Tell this handful of bully-boy activists that mums do not stand by and watch their resources threatened.
Many popular resources survive this way – the Morning Star is a good example, raising money month by month from readers who love the paper. If you are popular, people will fund you. Then, when everyone finds it was just a storm in a teacup, and the advertisers can't resist Mumsnet anyway, everyone can vote on what to spend the money raised on!
[As I said, I'm a newcomer to Mumsnet so I have no idea whether I've put this in the right place. If I haven't, please could someone who does know their way around copy it to the best place? Cheers.]