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Original poster

IMPORTANT MESSAGE RE: THE MN CHRISTMAS APPEAL

74 replies

SaintGeorge · 01/10/2008 23:44

This morning I officially launched the MN Christmas Appeal 2008.

In view of recent events, I am now officially putting it on hold.

I have some concerns which I want to think through and possibly discuss with a few people. Those discussions will happen off the board.

And before anyone thinks to shouts 'clique' I am going to keep those discussions off the board because of things like tact and diplomacy, not because I am getting together with a bunch of my mates or trying to keep secrets.

I am sure most people can appreciate that there is a certain level of responsibility involved in running the appeal and right now I want to make sure I am truly happy to carry on, before it is too late.

TIA for your patience and understanding [hopeful emoticon]

OP posts:
Pushpinia · 02/10/2008 07:29

buda it was someone lots of people had helped, admitted they were actually mucking about

Long long threads last night

horrid really for loads of people

But sorted out now.

ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe · 02/10/2008 08:05

I am sure it is the right thing to do but I feel very strongly that some (insert word of choice) people shouldn't spoil it for the majority of decent Mners who just want to give a little smile to someone at Christmas. I'm still in for donating once you sort everything.

BecauseImWorthIt · 02/10/2008 08:12

Good idea, StG.

I was thinking about this last night, and wondering if, given what has been happening recently, if much of this would have to happen off board anyway.

lizziemun · 02/10/2008 08:13

I agree ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe the few selfish/stupid people ruin something that give lots of joy/hope.

fryalot · 02/10/2008 08:14

agree with all the others, StG, tis a wise move to stop and think about this for a little while.

But, as notMamaG said, twould be a really big shame if one twatty trolling arse spoiled this.

I really do believe that this is one of the nicest things that MN does, and it always makes me proud to call myself a mumsnetter.

I also believe that if we don't do it every year, we'll forget and never do it again.

I'm more than happy to help with anything if you do decide to carry on.

If you decide not to carry it on, then I'm sure everyone will totally understand that decision as well.

hope you kwim...

bubblerock · 02/10/2008 08:20

I missed all the troll crap thank goodness!

Can't you just scale it down this year - do a shoebox scheme or something with unisex gifts/chocolates or similar? I know in previous years people have received tons of stuff, but surely a little gift would be just as fun, less risky and easier to organize. If someone needs more they can always ask in Free for Postage.

BecauseImWorthIt · 02/10/2008 08:20

One thought - I know you've set a restriction re the date by which people needed to be registered on MN in order to be 'allowed' to take part. Could we also not have some kind of system showing how many posts they have made and how long posters have been around - even if you name change, this part of your posting would remain the same?

Then it would be easy to see how new people are, when they suddenly appear with their 'stories'.

lou031205 · 02/10/2008 08:21

Is there any way MNHQ could support? Perhaps (thinking off the top of my head) they could knock together some kind of limited release form, applicable only to this years Christmas Appeal, and send it out to all registered emails that qualify (i.e. registered before 01/09/08) and then posters could return the release if they want to be involved, in which case MNHQ could send the email address to StG.

My thinking is that this way, MNHQ are validating the email address, rather than someone being able to divert things.

batters · 02/10/2008 08:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fryalot · 02/10/2008 08:26

lou - that sounds like a good idea, but there are thousands of mumsnetters.

And I imagine that not only would most of them want to take part in this in some way, the trolls deffo would, and it would be an enormous amount of work for StG.

I can't see that working tbh

OrmIrian · 02/10/2008 08:27

Good idea stg.

I would like to contribute this year after the lovely lovely gifts my family and I received last year.

bellavita · 02/10/2008 08:31

Would completely understand if you don't want to carry out.

Buda · 02/10/2008 09:10

Wow. What a mess. What a bitch whoever it is/was.

Totally understand your worries StG. What a nightmare.

TequilaMockinBird · 02/10/2008 09:16

Understand completely StG, and I think you're right in doing so.

BecauseImWorthIt, the troll who kicked all this off had hundreds of posts though in the short time she was registered so I don't know if your idea would 'prove' anything IYSWIM.

Agree though that there needs to be some way of ensuring trolls don't get involved.

What a shame

differentWitch · 02/10/2008 09:19

Completely understandable StG. I don't blame you for proceeding cautiously.

HRHSaintMamazon · 02/10/2008 09:23

Well this had ven me cause to be truely angry with MNHQ for the first time.

There doesn't need to be any security issue's or concerns. they just investigate this poster and any IP's that she has posted from.
they then come on here and let us know their findings.

I was helped in the first ever Christmas appeal, without my knowledge and i cannot tell you how fantastic it was. not for the material objects that it sent but that people had the genereosity to send anything and that someone thought i would be worthy of recieving those gifts.
it really was overwhelming...nd i am not a huggy kissy lovey dovey kinda person at all.

for this parasite to be able to ruin it for anyone else due the paranoia and hysteria she has caused is just devestating.

But given the lack of any real factual information i agree that you have no choice STG

justaboutsensible · 02/10/2008 09:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dragonbutter · 02/10/2008 09:27

can anybody cat me and fill me in. i went to bed at 10 but the thread has been deleted now. thanks

HRHSaintMamazon · 02/10/2008 09:30

so did i DB.

don't know if there were any further revelations.

BecauseImWorthIt · 02/10/2008 09:31

A combination of number of posts and length of membership was what I was advocating. Sorry if I didn't make it clear.

I know that some of us people do make loads of posts per day!

ShowOfHands · 02/10/2008 09:38

Absolutely the right thing to do StG. It is sad that this has to happen at all but I think you must do what you need to right now.

Is there an official announcement from MNHQ about the outcome? I made it to about 10.45pm before retiring. I'm not too bothered about specifics, just worried about other significant parties whose names became embroiled in the whole thing. Was there a definitive answer to whether the troll was a short term louse or a regular who namechanged?

TequilaMockinBird · 02/10/2008 09:43

BIWI, sorry I think that was me reading it wrong

Understand now what you meant!

littlelapin · 02/10/2008 12:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lucykate · 02/10/2008 12:33

stg, very wise to put it on hold, i'm sure many others who may have been considering offering a donation will also be reconsidering after all that happened yesterday, just a shame the christmas appeal got pulled into it.

MerlinsBeard · 02/10/2008 12:37

very wise to put it on hold StG. Take some time to think and see what you come up with. I am sure it will be the right decision, and i know that the people you will be speaking to off MN will be Wise also