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Original poster

Do you feel the same as me?

87 replies

Lonelymum · 08/01/2005 14:41

Over the last few days, when I have come on Mumsnet, there has been a lot of "talk" about Wig and Robe/ Judge Flounce or Lavender etc and lots of back biting and "in" jokes. It is quite off putting for people on the periphery such as me. Do you agree that Mumsnet would be better off without this kind of talk? I don't necessarily want to talk nappies and weaning all the time, but I am far happier to give advice on that score than to find nothing but gossip and girls being bitchy.

I am not flouncing, but if I don't get much positive response to this post, I shall seriously reconsider coming to Mumsnet again.

OP posts:
suzywong · 08/01/2005 15:28

yes how was egypt beety < she asks at the risk of being cliquey>

Beetroot · 08/01/2005 15:30

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maomao · 08/01/2005 15:30

welcome back beetroot and lou!

suedonim · 08/01/2005 15:33

To me, Mumsnet reflects real life but at the same time, it isn't real life. It's kind of like a big party with people chatting in groups. I like most of the guests with only a very, very few I don't warm to. It's simple to choose which chats I want to join in with and which I can't be doing with. Some party guests obviously know each other well and have their in-jokes and seem to be in cliques but so what? I'm not in a clique, that I know of, but if others want to be, that's up to them, it's no skin off my nose. B*tchiness and gossiping happens in real life so it's not surprising that it happens here as well, even if it's somewhat unedifying. If one day I were to decide to leave the MN 'party' then I hope I'd just slip out of the door quietly simply by no longer posting. I find it best to try to keep a sense of proportion about these things and to remember that there are more important things in life. Jm2p.

Beetroot · 08/01/2005 15:36

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joash · 08/01/2005 15:54

suedonim - agree with your post. However, I have noticed that over the past few weeks, there doesn't seem to be much else than the bitchiness. Sometimes find it difficult to find things to contribute to and yet I love the stupid threads also (for example the '500' thread - am I a saddo or what).

Tinker · 08/01/2005 15:56

Well said suedonim

MrsBigD · 08/01/2005 15:58

I'm sort of with suedonim...

boards are nothing but a collection of rl people so you'll get rl 'issues' like cliques and bitching.

I usually just ignore the threads I don't like as I am a firm believer in everybody has the right to their opinion, views and ardent believes . O.k. sometimes some mn'ers are a bit aggressive about it, but tbh, that happens in rl too...

However, I do object severely to hijacking a thread and turning it into a slinging match (is this the right expression? English is not my mother tongue )

MrsBigD · 08/01/2005 15:58

p.s. dh is on a few other boards (not parenting related) and you get all that there too... so not a female thing

CountessDracula · 08/01/2005 16:05

Do you really think that posts like this will calm things down Just adding fuel to the fire IMO.

MrsBigD · 08/01/2005 16:08

CountessDracula - well she is entitled to her opinion

{{{{quickly scuttles away after adding her bit of 'bitching') }}}}

CountessDracula · 08/01/2005 16:08

WATCH IT GRRRRRRR

MrsBigD · 08/01/2005 16:08

sorry ... couldn't resist as feeling a bit contradictory today due to severe PMT. I shall shut up now on this thread

CountessDracula · 08/01/2005 16:14

norty

suedonim · 08/01/2005 16:23

Re threads that diverge from the original subject - I know it can be annoying but that's what happens in real life, too. Maybe if someone thinks their thread has gone awol they could restart it including any relevant posts?

The oldest poster, Beetroot - I'm not quite the oldest, I don't think. Anyway, I'm off now to make some BEETROOT soup!!

Beetroot · 08/01/2005 16:32

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Tinker · 08/01/2005 16:35

So does that mean sd just talked to herself all teh time at the beginning?

suedonim · 08/01/2005 16:36

I think I was one of the early MNetters, Beetroot. Tbh, I can't even remember when I first started. Anyway, I must go and make that soup.

Angeliz · 08/01/2005 16:36

Hsven't read all this thread but Lonelymum, i don't see you as 'on the periphery' i see you as quite a regular!

suedonim · 08/01/2005 16:37

I do that anyway, Tinker - at least I get the right answers then!! Weren't you one of the first as well?

Beetroot · 08/01/2005 16:40

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Tinker · 08/01/2005 16:40

3 1/2 years now but there are others who were here long before me.

Beetroot · 08/01/2005 16:41

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MistressMary · 08/01/2005 16:42

only been here since august 04, hope I'm ok?

Twiglett · 08/01/2005 16:46

I haven't been here that long but I'm sure to a lot of you I seem like an oldie

it depends who you bump posts with in a way as to who knows you ... and who you know .. and how long it seems you've been posting

Lonelymum .. I certainly wouldn't put you on the periphery cos I see your posts quite a lot

And TBH if I want to start a piss-take thread when its all getting too heavy and people are setting themselves up as mumsnet police I will maybe I shouldn't have taken this particular thread personally .. but I did .. I feel I've been called naughty and cliquey and I don't think I'm either TBH

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