The MN Mail Column - what we think, and what we plan to do next... part 2

[whataboutthisone]

Firstly, I am a regular but have created a new name for this.

My thoughts about what I know so far:

1. In a much earlier post there was a discussion about a change in T&Cs and whether they are valid or not. Several years ago I took a company to court for a breach of their T&Cs. Their argument was that they had changed T&Cs and my complaint was therefore no longer valid. However, the judge said that because I had not specifically been asked to accept the new T&Cs, I was entitled to rely on the ones I had accepted and therefore I won my case.

1. I choose to post on MN in the knowledge that the details I give are probably just obscure enough to anyone I may know in RL who also posts, so that what I say still effectively remains private. However, that doesn't mean that the same could be said of, for instance, my mother, who reads the DM (!) There is probably just enough about my circumstances that would enable her to put 2+2 together. I would like the option to choose whether or not I let my Mum ( or anyone else in RL) in on certain areas of my life, and there is a real possibility that this hack, has taken that choice away from me.

1. I have never ( and now will never) post asking for advice, but I will also be very careful about offering advice in the future. I, along with many others, occasionally use examples from my life to explain where I am coming from. If I continue to do that, as I said earlier, it is possible that some people would be able to work out who I am. Now, I am not so big-headed as to believe that any advice I offer is worth taking, however, there are many fantastic posters on here who do give amazing and insightful advice based on their own experiences. It would be a real shame if that was to stop because they, like me, do not want to share some of those experiences with the folk they are close to in RL. It would also be a real tragedy if others were prevented from asking for help for the same reasons.

I am very disappointed that any MNer would feel it is acceptable to violate the trust we place in each other on this forum. I do not know who she is. I do not want to know who she is. But I hope she is hanging her head in shame for breaching the trust that has been placed in her by everyone whose words she has stolen to make a few bucks!

The names are pretty crappy, but to be fair they'd really have to be, to be sure they weren't actual names - the only way to be sure a name's not been used is to register it. Even doing a search on a name wouldn't be enough, as the poster could have only posted in chat more than 90 days ago.

But that thread is from weeks ago, it is not the new hamgate thread, in fact it was well before the ham announcment and to do with the nurseries controling behaviour....

So, as predicted, they are already taking threads and making them appear to be something else - how long before the real twisting of words begins do we think?

Also how come the charity who said it gets to keep their name out of the papers yet MN has no such option?

BTW I agree about having agreed terms my, tiny, limited and mostly based on hearsay understanding is that agreeing terms is agreeing terms, telling them no after doing that will be almost impossible - I really hope HQ got some good legal advice before they did that - assuming they do still want to say no that is.

Sorry LBAM, just read your post, I didn't refresh after I read the "artical" and before I posted!

King just glad I hadn't got mixed up

lol at the uncyclopedia link

I give the DM 3 weeks before they forget their promise of keeping away from SN/domestic violence and print something.
Or one of the threads on not having any money. Because the DM thinks anyone without money is obviously a scum-class feckless scrounger who's probably gay to boot.
I see the journo had to wrack her brains to think up nicknames. Suprised she didn't go with the current ones

it is so bad it is laughable, does LH really get paid just for stealing other peoples words.

Wats, if it kept them off the rest of the board I would - I would namechange once a week and give them something they could print - the same as I respond to other properly done requests for assistance where I can.

Of course I would still hate seeing my words in the DM but I would know that was where they were heading from the off and it would be my alter-ego DM self not "me" IYSWIM.
It is a price I would pay if it protected the rest of MN.

I think the idea for them to post a request in media is a good one.

Personally, though, if there was a request from the DM I wouldn't post on that thread, due to the fact that they are misogynist, racist...etc etc.

I'm really regretting ever posting about anything that has been emotionally important to me. It is a shame, but will probably be good for me to give up Mumsnet ( I might finally get round to cleaning house and unpacking boxes from moving house last year)

LBAM - no, I knew that thread and I have been avoiding the boards proper since this all started, hamgate was post DMGate so it coiuldn't have been about ham - in fact there is no mention of ham in the posts and it is clear that is not what is being discussed.... it is a pretty pants article isn't it? Even taking personal feelings aside!

Oh, just a thought everyone, the DM name changes will make no difference now as they are changing the names that go into print - anyone else see that as a nice little sidestep by them? (I admit that may be my paronoia though )

I haven't posted on these threads before - was on holiday when it all started.

Just want to say that I feel appalled that this is happening. It isn't journalism. Taking one random thread doesn't give a true idea of what MN is like. I agree with others who have said it would be better to ask readers to write in with their views on a topic than label it as MN views.

Perhaps they could print a disclaimer at the bottom of each piece, that most MNers are not in favour of this?

LH not only changed the names, but reworded the posts - which is good as reduces the concern that a copy and paste into google could reveal the usernames. Still somewhat meh about it all - good people are leaving, and I don't imagine the column is always going to be this dull anodyne.

Jeez, instead of being frigthened off the boards, I'm going to be embarassed off them. This is an insult to our intelligence (not to mention an insult to MP), and the only people who will be attracted to our pages from this stuff will be the NM-type who then get all hoity and offended by the cut/thrust. It's like Alphamummy running a cross-stitch ad.

Besides, does MNHQ/shewhoalsomustnotbenamedbutweallknowwhosheis really think Femail is going to continue to publish such shite when there is what they would consider to be salacious scandal and stuff that will shock their readers to be found on these boards?

Who's the bigger fool MNHQ, LH/Al, or us? I know that journalism/advertising may feel like the last chance salloon at the moment with circulation down the drain and jobs at stake, but if you want to survive you don't shit in your own bed when you are looking to sell stories. And this cosy little MNHQ/journo thing looks an awful lot like a very big dump. And once those who do not want their views aired to a wider and less like-minded public (in whatever rag) leave, then all that will be left will be fucking sarnie box threads (and Daftpunk).

So how much would one get paid for this sort of drivel thing?

I haven't really made any comment so far, waiting to see the outcome, but given the current situation as set out by carrie I am going to have to register my vote of distate.

I have always love the ethos of mumsnet and I really think an association with the daily mail goes against it. It's a misogynistic, fascist, lazy journalism rag. Name or not, I don't want to see my drivel wise words in print lifted by some getting paid to do so. So I expect I shall be seriously limiting my use of mumsnet from now on. Also I will steer clear of mentioning my use of it to other people, as I don't want people saying 'oh yeah, that's the thing I read about in the DM' cue an embarrassed look from me.

Not sure my vote is going to make any difference. I'm sure my void will be filled by some other woman popping over in between reading about Fiona Phillip's battle with the bulge or some other body fascist tripe.

Well now the privacy issue is sorted this really is no different from the Mothercare controversy of a few years ago.

Talk has changed - it's not been guardianista for years- but probably more because it's larger than anything to do with where it is actually exposed. MNHQ have made it very clear over the last few years that they want it to be large and not small and exclusive.

I am glad that the deletion request is being taken more seriously - thanks, Carrie.

The namechanges help a bit to make sure no-one searches, but as soon as a meatier situation is printed it will become an issue again.

It's all a bit 'deckchairs on the Titanic' for me, though, so I'll de-reg now [and I won't let the door hit my arse on the way out]

Bumper - you mean your friends with people who read the DM? tut tut

I too am deeply saddened by it all.

The whole sorry lot of it.

I think MNHQ hhvae neded up between a rock and a hard place.
They et exposure with the DM/whatever shite rag now decides to get involved- becuase there is no way that they can protect us against any other paper.
At the expense of losing some interesting and fab posters.

Will dilute the threads and make everyone more dumbed down IMO.

expcet there are still a bunch of people posting all sorts about their lives on the other boards here, oblivious tot he fact that they are now under more scrutiny then ever from the media.

I doubt this is just going to end with one fairly cobbled together "agreement" with th DM.

I think MN havea big duty to make it veyr veyr clear to all the posters on here that this agreement is in plce.

i stopped a thread in its tracks the other day with that revelation...I do hope this gets addressed fully..

If this week's offering is anything to go by, you have nothing to worry about. It is as bland as a processed ham sandwich on white ready-sliced bread.

MN I am disappointed by your response to this.

It will certainly affect how I post in future.