Get rid of the Laugh reaction

[LetsNCagain]

We don't need the Laugh reaction.
I've now only had it had used mockingly.

Specifically for example, in a thread where the op is upset about something and I gave a supportive message. Some loser gave me the Laugh emoji because they think op is being ridiculous and by extension, so am I for showing sympathy.

Mumsnet, please just get rid of it. If someone says a funny joke, the clap hands or thumbs up is perfectly adequate. The Laugh emoji is the only one that can be used in a mocking way

Edit to add Please!

Yes they are and they still havent replied to my email when I asked them what they are going to do about the 2 people who kept repeatedly doing it to me on every single post.@HebeMumsnet @BeckyAMumsnet @mnhq

I'm sorry this happened to you. Are they still doing it?

I think that, although this is (I believe) a very widespread problem on mumsnet right now, it's not a priority to mnhq because it's hidden. So it's not a publicity issue in the way that bullying comments would be, that can be shared on other sites.

I hope mnhq do something about it but this thread has been running a month now so it's looking less likely

No they've stopped now but I post less can't be doing with that shit

This is really concerning. I also reported this and didn't have a reply. The only thing that happened was that your post naming the offenders was deleted.

Whilst I agree that one should be removed as it can be used for bullying, mocking or not in the spirit, I also wonder how many people have stopped doing the thanks as well?

I used to thank at least once or twice a day, usually for a very informative post when it was just the thanks button but I think I've only used the button twice in total since they've been changed. So I've effectively stopped reacting which is surely the opposite of what MN wanted to achieve.

Me too actually. I used to thank posts a lot if I agreed or whatever, but I don’t react as much now either. It feels strange and I never know if the clapping hands or thumbs up is appropriate, so I just don’t bother much.

Yes, I'd quite like people to see the behaviour of the poster who's currently refusing to engage with me verbally but is just clicking the laugh reaction on my posts. It's deliberate goading and absolutely juvenile.

I don't like the laugh reaction either. I have only ever received it as an insult - that what I have said is laughable e.g. when my views on pornography do not match current ideas of sex positivity.

Actually I’d like to see an empathy reaction. Maybe the unmumsnetty hug. Sometimes you just want to show you care. There is the heart reaction, but sometimes it feels wrong to use, like I’m loving what they are saying.

Why not just post on the thread though, @PeachPumpkin? Why do we need/want to post such sentiments privately?

I see your point, but sometimes I don’t want to clutter up a thread when I have nothing useful to add, but instead just want to show a bit of empathy. We’ve got a range of reactions already so it doesn’t seem a big deal to add another. I appreciate I may be in the minority. I was just throwing it out there.

I agree.

Like PPs on here, I recently reported a very offensive post to someone else, said on the thread I have reported it, the offensive poster then added a private ‘Laughing’ reaction to my post where I said I was reporting it.

I always post on the thread where I am reporting something, to let the offensive poster know because I think it creates a better environment on the thread and site. Reporting openly encourages other posters to do the same. It makes it clear to bullies that they are not welcome here.

I’m pretty disgusted this new emoji feature is still here after this whole thread of posters reporting our bad experiences with it. It’s empowering those wierd; attention seeking multiple nasty posts type of people that love to come on the MN because they love the idea of winding up mothers/women. To a site where very vulnerable women may be posting.

MNHQ, please could you remove these emojis? (And also try to make a quicker response to reports?) Otherwise if people are trolled out of being confident to report, to keep posters around; MN willl need to be much more heavily moderated. Which would then cost MN HQ more money.

I’m not sure why this current situation is being treated as OK. This thread has been running for weeks now.

we introduced Reactions based on MNer feedback

If you listen to mumsnetters feedback then why are you choosing to ignore all of us mumsnetters who are feeding back that we are annoyed/upset by the laughing emoji? Or do you only listen to the mumsnetters who have effectively bullied all of us on this thread?

Clearly, it's not on if posters are using the laugh to mock other posters and we'd consider this on a par with a personal attack or similar.

BeckyAMumsnet this mockery is exactly what is happening and it doesn’t seem to be being removed. I have reported the same poster twice now on the same thread but their offensive post is still up there as is their private laugh emoji.

Hi everyone, thanks for your patience. We're going to treat this kind of behaviour as a personal attack. Please report it to us and we'll do our usual checks. We will also warn first-time offenders and if posters continue, the usual suspensions, etc, will apply. We know it's a rotten thing to experience and we'll treat it accordingly.

Thanks @BeckyAMumsnet . How would someone go about reporting it? And will the guidelines be updated to reflect it?

What if someone reports someone who was using it as intended in order to get them suspended @BeckyAMumsnet? Will MNHQ do the usual thing of not looking at the context before getting the ban hammer out? I think it's probably safest not to use that emoji at all.

Thank you. I had the love reaction used on my post yesterday as a personal attack. I would report it but the thread has been deleted. If I experience that behaviour again I'll report posters who do it.

I'll report my own post and give the username of the person who's using the emoji to goad.

I've just had one on another thread...I couldn't work out why the poster had added it as what I'd written wasn't funny, so I suspect it was meant in a 'I disagree with you but cba to use my words' type way.

I'd report it then. I had it repeatedly on one thread last week which is why I was so annoyed.

For now, you can just report your own post and add a note as to why. Thank you.

As with everything, we’ll look at it in context. If users make a habit of it, this will quickly become apparent to us!

Thanks Becky. That's what I'll be doing if it happens again.