Announcement re deletion of Wig and Robe/Judge Flounce threads

[carrie (mumsnet)]

Dear mumsnetters,

We are now able to shed a bit more light as to what actually occurred re the Wig and Robe/Judge Flounce episode. We are pretty sure (having received a confession of as much) that, as some of you suspected, W&R/JF was a non-lawyer masquerading as a QC. Given this knowledge we have deleted the relevant postings and banned the user from the site.

If nothing else the whole business is a salutary reminder that you can never be completely sure that folks are who they say they are and neither should you necessarily completely trust the advice, especially "professional" advice, posted on mumsnet.

As a result of some concerns raised by you we are looking into making parts of the site, the swaps and weight loss clubs for example, something that operates via mumsnet HQ so that people's addresses are not being circulated. If anyone has any other suggestions then please [email protected] or post them here and we promise to consider them.

We?d also remind folks that when organising meet ups you should take the same precautions you would when meeting anyone from the net - make sure you meet in a public place and that others know where you are going.

Having said all that, it would be a shame if this relatively rare occurrence of someone pretending to be someone they are not changed the warm, supportive, welcoming and caring atmosphere on mumsnet - and we're confident that you won't let it!

Thanks for all the supportive and helpful emails we've received from so many of you.

Carrie, Rachel and Justine

its a bit like a puzzle everything seems clear now and when we look back there were signs all the way

yeah, but none of it adds up. Freaky.

I feel stupid that I didn't really twig that 'themoneyshot' and W&R/JF were the same 'person' (or persons unknown!).
God, looking back it was so hilarious, wasn't it. I still LOVE PPH's 'Tie Rack' post about why 'she' was really a 'he'.
I remember that idiotic divorce post too. Typically trolly.

I am obviously sad because I've just been reading posts by "Steve Schindler" on the knowhere site - a) the posts are unmistakeably the work of a troll and b) they read exactly like JF's posts in terms of writing style

link please spacedonkey.

ha, ha, god, it would be hilarious if she/he hadn't actually given people potentially dodgy info. Always wondered why when I disagreed about some advice she gave on Data Protection ACt she/he was so defensive.
Take a bow pph.

SD/M - I know you've deleted the W&R threads but if you search under archived messages they can still be seen - just thought I'd let you know (and anyone else who wants to quickly recap)

I had my doubts, as some of the information JF gave was clearly wrong, but I put that down to the fact that not even a lawyer is infallible.
But with hindsight, if I were to offer someone advice, I would double check before offering it.
Well done to the MN sleuths. I think that the attacks on the folk who spotted JF as a fake were as a result of the fact that no one wished to believe that someone would want to delude MN in this way. The mumsnetters I have had the pleasure of meeting in RL have been wonderful. We get lulled into a false sense of a family community here by the intimate and cosy chats. I hope that this episode , whilst making us all more wary, does not change the unique nature of mumsnet.

I remember ages ago someone was asking for W&r for some advise and I posted "AHA! wig to the rescue!" when she appeared.

At the time I had no idea she was a charlatan (DH's word......not mine btw) but I rememebr thinking 'god why am I typing that....it probably all bollocks"

I honestly had no idea she/he was fake though. Wierd!

Thank you MN for cleaaring this matter up. I hope it is left to lie soon, and forgotten about so MN can return to normal asap.

For what it is worth I alos thought the whole matter was dealt with in a very unpleasant manner by some people, and was very disappointed int he way some posters reacted to this. At times it was like a witch hunt

From what MN has already told us on other threads I feel that JF/W&R was a female and I suspect that her bereavement was indeed true also. MN explained that they has spoken to her DH, and as a result had removed any personal posts about her little boy. But I guess there is still always going to be doubt; I guess it is possible to pretend to feel anything

Let's hope all this can be forgooten very soon and MN get move on.

It was a troll hunt.

And MN spoke to a male claiming to be W&Rs DH. Personally I think "her" posts were very masculine in tone and would not be surprised it she were really a he ar$ing about.

yep I am with you
we took her to the edge of town wiht flaming torches as sw said

LOL - too right

It wasn't a witch hunt - it was a successful troll-hunt and it worked, thank God. I've just read 'her' archived messages as 'themoneyshot' which I missed - and my God, what an unpleasant and masculine persona 'she' had. Cannot agree that 'she' was picked on in any way. 'She' was a thoroughly unpleasant and potentially dangerous troll, using other people's deepest feelings for her own amusement. I'm delighted 'she' was outed and banned.

My fave quote "just having a quick brew + choccy muffin (God bless the inventor of those )"

God bless indeed. Snort!

SD - snap!

I too was very disappointed in the way some posters reacted to this. By objecting to anyone asking questions and jumping on soapbox who was raising a perfectly valid one

Hulababy, it was only like a witch hunt because for every post expressing doubt there were about 30 saying how awful the doubters were and how lovely JF was. Inevitably, people who were certain then felt the need to back up their viewpoint.

change yyer name soupy

Hulababy, how would MN know? presumably the communication was via e mail or maybe phone. Either can be from anybody!
And that website - it wasn't exactly informative, was it? No address, no e mail - only a 'contact' link, a really stupid 'virtual meditation' thing or something, and a number for trade reps to call at extremely restricted hours. No real references or Cv details...and very very naff graphics.
C'mon, peeps!

"The sun's over the yardarm, so I'll take a large malt, please"

"By themoneyshot on Monday, 1 November, 2004 9:26:31 AM

Rock It actually reminds of a Judge I once met, same shape, same complexion, only without the humour! Talking of which, let's go and see what mood the Recorder's in this morning. A bad one hopefully, so he'll agree with opposition to bail requests!
"

rofpmsl

Knowhere website

Search for "Steve Schindler" using the search facility. Trawl through the posts (there aren't that many). Voice sounds familiar to me.

"By themoneyshot on Saturday, 30 October, 2004 7:42:56 PM

I wonder what it would feel like if I sat on Spud's nose and wriggled around a bit....!!!!

Add a Message"

thunk
cod hits floor

And I'm still worried for anyone who might have, in all innocence and good faith, given their e mail address to the troll.