Private conversations held on MN

[Ohwhatacircusitis]

I thought MN was a public forum where essentially any one with a registered account could start a thread. And the thread was open to anyone with a registered account to join in the discussion .

Why then are " private threads " allowed? Where essentially certain MN users have a private conversation with each other which is being conducted on a public forum? I'm thinking here of the New Fred thread in 30 days, although I have seen other examples in the past.

Surely this isn't what MN is supposed to be about?
Why can't these posters use the private messaging facility or conduct their conversation elsewhere.

Total cliquism vibes.

If arsenal is around, some of us met and chatted on your thread years ago and are now friendly in RL.

@TheShellBeach I'd quite like an initiation ceremony. But with The Mumsnet Scarf at the end.

Well actually it's not just your thread. I'm afraid you've got the brunt of my critisism but I have seen other examples :I can't remember it's name but there was a similar long running recurring thread which I found equally triggering.

I think I am upset because I thought of MN as a place of equality. That because of its anonymity every one is equal. That it is inclusive.

But now I find it's not equal: that it has it's subdivisions of mutual friendship groups and support groups that are not open to everyone.

That as in real life there are outsiders and belongers.

I'm really disappointed.

It has knocked my confidence in being able to participate in any threads.

Maybe a Hogwarts style sorting hat to tell you what threads you can post on.

Nobody is stopping you posting on any thread you like. Why on earth are you spoiling for a fight? It’s annoying and I’m not going to respond further.

edited - stop being so adversary and daft and blinking join in a thread you fancy. What a victim complex you have!

All right.

Your initiation into the Cat Thread is to post ten pictures of cats who don't belong to you.

There you go. Sorted.

@murasaki but still Leslie Phillips doing the voice of the hat.
Woo Thread!
Line Eyes!
Parking Thread.

I do not understand, if you can read it and post on it, it cannot be private.

I see weird threads, one called bot watch? I read a bit and couldn’t work out what it was for.

there was a similar long running recurring thread which I found equally triggering.

Triggering? Really? I don't think you understand that particular word 🙊

But now I find it's not equal: that it has it's subdivisions of mutual friendship groups and support groups that are not open to everyone.

That as in real life there are outsiders and belongers.

Well of course MN is like real life!
Why wouldn't it be?
What else do you expect from a social media Internet forum?

@TheShellBeach I've got a cat.

There are places where I wouldn't post, but that's things like Black mumsnetters, South Asian mumsnetters and similar life experience groups , as these request that ,and it would be inappropriate for me to do so as said in their initial messages. Some spaces need to be safe. The rest, just crack on, read the thread first, and decide if you want to post or not.

OMG yes.
That series of threads is all about MLMs.
I just have no real interest in them, so I scroll on by.

Yes, this is a good point.

Beautiful 😍

Perhaps this isn't the place for you then @Ohwhatacircusitis

Maybe you should rather consider doing a blog. So everything can involve you all the time.

I understand the word .

Perhaps you don't understand extreme social anxiety.

Awwwwah! Look at the little foots.

I've got two!

Triggering seems a really odd word to use about something so small.

Even if the threads were truly private, what would that trigger for you?

And

Yes I do. Not understanding threads doesn't fall under "triggering "

This is making me feel quite nostalgic anyway, we don’t often get accusations of cliquiness here these days as so huge. I was never really part of one, I just float around, but it’s pleasingly

@TheShellBeach she's on food strike. Off to The Litter Tray do discuss.

Gorgeous! Join us!