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!

I don’t like it either, feels quite negative really although it’s a laugh.

I agree. This is always what it's been for, from "how do I prepare formula" all the way to "should I LTB".

There are so, so many other places in the Internet where you can be a hilarious mocking edgelord, if that is how you want to spend your hours. So many.

If you think MN is a lovely fluffy supportive place these days I suggest you go and read some of the replies on the Driving my DD to the hospital thread. A mocking emoji behind the scenes has nothing on some of the very public arseholes replying on that thread.

The point is that public arseholery can be called out by others. Either simply contradicted or reported and removed.

Whereas private mocking relies on the mocked person to report it.

Reading this thread, makes me glad that I only use the Mumsnet app on my phone.

I get email notifications that I've been thanked and have started to get notifications that someone has reacted to one of my posts but can't be arsed to go to the website so have no idea who has reacted to what or how.

Users who publicly post shitty comments can be called out on their behaviour. It's horrible to think that some users will be using reactions to be abusive to posters who are already feeling vulnerable or desperate and nobody else can support that person because we don't know what's happening.

Exactly that@LetsNCagain I don’t think for a second MN is a fluffy place, but the a-holes show themselves and can be reported, told to stfu, if filed under ignore in future. A laughing emoji is private, and if someone was to receive a bunch of them then that’s going to be really hurtful - and of course, the a-holes know that and delight in it.

You sound like hard work OP.
How on earth you can get so worked up about an emoji is beyond me.

Yes, I can imagine it’s well beyond you.

Same here. I've just used it on another thread because the comment was funny. I quite like the new reactions.

Completely agree with this.

If we have t have it, it should at least be the MN
Changing, of course, from Advent Sunday to Epiphany to

?

Examples of both of these are illustrated on this thread to good effect. No doubt this will please those upthread with a preference for the ironic/self-referencing type of humour.

The point is, if A mocks B, it's a lot easier to deal with if C can rally to B's defence.

Nb I'm not upset, hard work, vulnerable, whatever you want to call it, right now. My reaction to people mocking me on this thread is on the "sure Jan" end of the spectrum.

But if I'd come on here 4y ago in the throes of ppd, at my absolute worst, probably typing quite incoherently, and got mocked, I'd have been very sensitive indeed to mockery

Edit to explain I did come on here 4y ago and got help, with both practical baby care stuff and self help

Because it seems as if you’re purposely missing the point.

1. I don’t need to spend my Sunday going back and forth with you when I’ve already made my point. Especially when you’re not the person I originally quoted.

2. If someone laughs at your comment when you respond to a post, for whatever reason, you don’t need to be ‘distressed.’ It will never be that serious. It’s the internet. There’s no threat to your life so put the phone down and go about your day.

3. At the end of the day, this is an anonymous discussion forum. If people think that when they comment to ‘help’ and ‘support’ others that everyone will agree with their point and no one will use an emoji mockingly, well I have news for them. Think before you post, you may receive a response you don’t like. With or without the new laughing reaction, someone can easily quote their post with a ‘😂’ or ‘🤣’ emoji.

4. Goodbye

Bye then.

I just want to repeat it might well have been posted by mistake, I keep doing it while scrolling on my phone. I do it on FB too and have to go back and delete the emoji.

Absolutely agree. The thoughtful and humane posters on here are showing that that side of the site IS still alive

MN is a lifeline with its content produced for free, for women by women, please don’t lets reduce it down to the shitty level of ‘the internet’

If so then the implementation isn't really fit for purpose anyway.

I agree the implementation is rubbish. It’s constantly garishly popping up the row of emojis as I scroll and just makes me irritated.

I don’t want to come here and have to worry that I might be leaving a trail of accidental randomly offensive emojis behind me. Basic usability. And the premise is crap anyway. Just bring back the ‘thanks’ option please and leave it there.

Morning, everyone. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We'll have a discussion about this in the office and keep an eye on how the new reactions are being used. If you see them being used in a negative way, as described here, please do drop us a line and let us know. We'll keep reading here in the meantime.

This is a shittier response than a laughing emoji, you hypocrite.

I like them Hebe and judging by some of the reactions I've received a lot of people like them are are using them.

And the great thing about it was that you could call me out on it publicly as opposed to posters who want to put the boot in further by leaving a shitty, hidden 😂 for a poster going through a really difficult time and looking for support or help. Which is precisely what many of us have been saying about this feature.

That's why they need to be visible not hidden.

I’d prefer them to be removed completely, but if MN insist on keeping them then totally agree they should be visible so that they can be reported and/or called out by other posters.

The thing is, I'm not really sure why they need to be there in the first place! We can already use emojis on posts. Why would someone need to do them privately?

I understand why the 'thanks' button is private, so @HebeMumsnet I'd prefer that we reverted to the previous approach, i.e. there's just a button for 'hidden gratitude', which was its original purpose.