YOUR OPINIONS NEEDED!!!

[blinks]

Following on from the ridiculous Madeleine McCann thread, I need opinions and feedback on an idea for MNHQ.

I propose that Mumsnet somehow incorporates a topic or section that raises awareness of UK's missing children and young people. It could also be a place that highlights prevention strategies and general child safety. A different missing child could also be highlighted in each Mumsnet newsletter...

It would be brilliant to turn all of the negativity surrounding the issue into something positive in time for INTERNATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN'S DAY on the 25th May 2009.

It is vital, if this is to go ahead and become a reality, that as many mumsnetters as possible get behind it and either come up with some suggestions and feedback or get in touch with MNHQ yourselves to push it forward. It would be important to keep weird and unwanted attention away from such a section so that's a priority for MNHQ.

As parents wouldn't it be satisfying to offer a platform for those desparately seeking their lost children? If you think about how many members and lurkers there are, combined with the press attention Mumsnet gets- that's a pretty powerful force to make a bit of a difference rather than alot of hot air.

I'll post this in a few sections to see what people think.

-----------
here's a link to missingkids.co.uk where there's info about International Missing Children's Day

You may be right Fredworm, I don't pretend to be an expert by any stretch!

TBH though I find that any posts about things like stranger danger tend to get jumped on hard by people telling everyone that the risk is so low why bother and going on about the daily mail being the source of unrealistic panic etc. None of which is particularly helpful to a parent wanting advice!

I am not sure that a talk topic would help that as such, but it may, especially if it had things like actual statistical information to link to and, for example, the NSPCCs (or other appropriate reputable organisation) advice on how to make children aware and safe.

We have many sections on here that are less used and overlap, for example Pets, The Tack Room, Chicken Keepers, Livestock but are still appreciated very much by those that use them

Blinks I reckon it would be a good idea!!!

Are you trying to get a topic devoted to it or just a few threads set up in chat or other?

A 'Missing appeal' topic may be good, but again people would just need to resist the temptation to post their opinions on it and stick to the appeal itself and updates, extra links to new news stories about that person and for example yesterday on the Andrew Gosden thread someone had added information from a blog the father has been doing like that.

As long as it is verified information and not just gossip from the girls at work then things should be fine.

Anything out of order etc can be deleted through reporting so I reckon it should be fine

I will stop wittering now feel as though I am making no sense now... LOL.

Very good point Lenin, I thought the plans for amber alert would already be in place by now?!

Surely it would'nt though if it was stated that the topic was not for speculation and not for random accusations or arguments it was to provide information regarding the safety of missing children and parents.

good points everyone.

i was hoping that it could feature somewhere on Talk as that gets lots of traffic.

MNHQ would be best placed to decide whether it's feasible to work through at outside organisation (as I mentioned, Missing Kids isn't a charitable organisation- it is run by the Police) in order to feature validated appeals. I don't see why they wouldn't be keen to have another platform to raise awareness though and have often seen appeals featured in papers like Metro and magazines.

I think the newsletters would be a good place to feature appeals as they reach everyone.

I reckon child safety is a good idea for a topic generally which could incapsulate any situation where a child is at risk or potential risk.

Stranger danger IS important but it's only one aspect of child safety- There are many threads within Relationships where children are being exposed to abuse. There are also issues concerning safety around the house and when travelling/road safety. Bullying at school would surely fall within this category.

It would be a good place to feature all of the links/contact details that parents may need for reference, eg Women's Aid, NSPCC, Save The Children (they have lots of interesting stuff on their website about child labour and more international issues), The Children's Society etc

Basically, MNTowers would like to know if people think it's a good idea... It obviously has some issues surrounding it that would need to be looked at but it's something that's missing from Mumsnet that would be beneficial to many people.

With it being International Missing Children's Day soon and also in June it's CHILD SAFETY WEEK (22nd-28th), it's good timing to set something up.

I am torn between thinking people love a good argument discussion too much to resist and people have enough common decency to respect an area like this.

TBH though, much as I love my rose-tinted glasses, I suspect some people would end up getting drawn into discussions that are inappropriate at best.

(When I say some I mean in that some would some wouldn't , I am not indicating that I think particular posters are more likely to do this)

VOTE: Yes, I think it is a good idea.

exactly, Mamadiva- the appeals themselves shouldn't need commenting on.

we're not talking about lods of appeals anyway- the missingkids website only has around 25 kids/young people featured.

if we could have a CHILD SAFETY (not sure about that wording?) topic which could cover all aspects of safety/abuse/protection etc where you can either see or link to actual appeals for missing children.

If appeals could feature on the newsletter, that would be brilliant.

Also, a feature on International Missing Children's day with links would be of interest and perhaps bring attention to the new topic.

??thoughts??

Can't it just be stickied Lenin?

Yes the first 48hrs are crucial but it is beter to have it on here first thing in the morning than not at all simply because it cannot be posted during the night isn't it? The same for newsletters, yes it may not be the fastest way to get the news out but it is better than the news not getting out at all.

I don't think Blinks is suggesting MNHQ set up their own Amber alert system, just that they create a forum to spread information to more people.

Hmm. I'm not sure.
Can't see why one would post, other than to comment on the case, which obv we don't want, or to post s.

Wouldn't it be better for MN to have some kind of banner ad up the top, highlighting a different case each week - picture of child, name, age etc. You'd then click through to another section, where you would find all official details of that case and the ones which have preceded it? That section could also contain child safety info.

So
banner ad
click through to Missing kids page with all details of this week's child
links to other children's pages
links to general child safety info

Leningrad- the appeals are mainly for children and young people who have been missing for some time.

check out www.missingkids.co.uk for reference.

Onebat that is a good idea, wonder if MN would put an ad banner for it on though?!

I guess it's the best way to ensure everyone sees it too because with a thread as you say you can hide it but the ad banner you kind of have to look at!

mamadiva, i dont think ive looked at a single ad on here since i joined
i tend to ignore them

blinks, i think its a good idea in theory, im just not sure how it could be moderated

do you think people actually pay attention to banners though?

I'd like to see it simply as a quick means of accessing information about a missing child or young person - much the same as the adverts did (still do maybe?) on cartons of milk - just a photo and some details.

i ignore them too harleyd

I dunnoe I don't really but some of them catch my eye.

Yeah may not work if people don't actually look what about if there was a bit on the homepage?

Does everyone pay attention to that or do you straight to talk?

What if there was like a picture and info about a different missing child every few days say underneath the discussions of the day box and when you click on that picture it takes you through to the missing people site?!

Wonder if that would be possible.

I go straight to talk, I only look at the homepage if someone says Oh look at the home page!

A lot of people have add blockers which would negate a banner add but I like the idea of a section under the discussions of the day box.

sorry yes, banner ad isn't quite what I meant. I meant more a, you know, little box thingy on active convos or even better on all talk pages. There's a nice bit of empty space just below the 'advanced search' button at the top of this page, for example..

photo there
MISSING
Name, age

Only trouble with an advert space fot this is that in effect we are asking MN to donate the cost of the space to a good cause, since they could otherwise offer the space for ready cash. But that's their call I suppose.

You are right about the space under advanced search, it could be a good spot that isn't currently earning them money IYSWIM. I wonder if it is needed for formatting though?

hopefully that's a possibility onebatmother.

what do people think about having child safety info incorporated into the site somewhere?

in my mind 'child safety' could cover issues such as-

• child abuse
• bullying
• road safety
• home and travel safety
• stranger safety

Yup space under advanced search would be ideal!!!

Just to throw another question in...Why should MN do this? As in why should MN feel obliged to do this just because we are a parenting website? We are all people so why not missing persons? Why not a none charitable homeless charity?

I am not being awkward, just trying to see the bigger issue here..

Ad banners would only work for those who don't use ad blockers