There have been many more nasty trolls on here than there used to be and many more personal attacks and nasty bullying.
I suppose that's because Mumsnet is bigger and therefore more susceptible. However sensitive issues ARE discussed on Mumsnet, our own issues, our relationships, problems with our children - it needs to have a degree of safety. None of us wants to be 'outed' in real life, but I'm sure that if someone could really be arsed, they could gather together all the info we've ever posted and find out a good deal about us.
I don't know what the answer is.
When I first joined Mumsnet I was a first time mum. I had been through the most horrendous depression during my pregnancy and now being a mum left me feeling alienated and very much alone. I saw Mumsnet listed as a parenting site in a newspaper and as we had just got our first pc, I thought I'd take a look. I got sucked in straight away. What struck me at once was the respect I got from other posters.
It didn't matter where I lived, how old I was, what accent I had or what job I did (or didn't do), as far as Mumsnet was concerned, we were all equal. My contributions were taken just as seriously as the GP's or the journalist for The Times. That was the most remarkable thing about Mumsnet. I didn't feel judged at all, in fact the reason I divulged so much personal information at that stage was because I knew I would not be condemned or judged for it, but supported and listened to. That made a huge difference to me.
And of course the kindess of Mumsnet was apparent. When I was struggling to meet other mums, judged by real life people, cut off from childless friends, Mumsnet rallied round me. JanH discovered she lived near me and contacted me, within a week she came to visit, bringing a gift for my dd.
When I found out I was pregnant again, Aloha sent me some maternity clothes as I couldn't afford any. I was encouraged in my plans for a home birth, WWW was due at the same time as me and we offered each other support and encouragment, listening to each other's fears.
When I went to France, ggglimpopo offered her support and she was our main contact in Bordeaux. Through her help I got a job and some invaluable support.
Secret Santa was set up and I was nominated and received so many lovely gifts I cried buckets at the generosity of strangers! When I came back from France some Mumsnetters sent me parcels of French food and things to cheer me up.
It breaks my heart to see the site like this. To see those people who were so supportive of me, who I shared my life with, leave in this way. Of course I'm upset that I wasn't invited, but more than that, I'm upset because those were some of the people who made Mumsnet what it is. I feel like the site and myself are being abandoned. I'm sure Mumsnet can be great again - so many new people are joining who are just as kind, just as supportive, just as inspirational.
However the goodness of Mumsnet is being overshadowed by this bitterness, this bad feeling. Of course the whole Moldies thing was badly managed and if they had been more honest, more open with us, perhaps none of this would have happened. But it has and I really don't think harping on and on and on about it anymore will stop the hurt or mend broken friendships. We need to move on. There are posts out there, begging for help, that are being overlooked. Mumsnetters are so busy bitching and sniping and accusing that they are forgetting why they joined Mumsnet in the first place, and why others are still joining.
If you want Mumsnet back the way it was then you have to do something about that.
It's up to all of us now to make Mumsnet great again!