I think it would be a good idea to start a Mumsnet voluntary help line

[loopylou6]

I don't know quite how it would work, but I was thinking members of Mumsnet who have been a member for over a year and who have submitted a certain number of posts, could volunteer to man phone lines, sort of like a Samaritan thing?

Thoughts?

I wssn't being bitchy.or stealthy

Not you Pag, the Nipple bird was tho

being a member for a year and having posted would bear no relation to suitability for telephone crisis counselling. It's a kind idea, but not workable, am sure MN HQ would not want to bear responsbility for recruiting suitable volunteers.

I also wouldn't feel remotely qualified to help anyone without some kind of trainning.

My suspicion is that,like politicians, those who would be the first to say they could do it would be the very last people who should be asked

Ok Ok it wasn't a good idea after all. Will ask Mumsnet to delete.

I'd like a randomly generated advice button on some topics. Just a click here for a one liner. Like the Daily Mail random headline generator.

Style and beauty, beautifully shaded button in changing seasonal tones with 'wtf are you wearing that for' and 'you look wonderful daaarling'.

And a big throbbing purple button on the Friday night topic (which I'm still waiting for btw) that screeches 'try some lube' and 'not that orifice, the other one'.

And a big, offensive, luridly green one on AIBU that hisses 'man up fgs' and 'yabvfu' at random.

Might email Justine later.

I'm sure it was well intentioned but it is a ridiculous idea

For those of our community that want to volunteer and counsel there are many appropriate channels and programmes to do so through

This is just a website with some collective experience to draw from.
If you have a real problem there are people on the boards almost 24hrs per day to seek a soun ding board or be directed in the right area

How would mn organise what you suggest?
Man it?
Get insurance for it?
Finance it?

Especially when there are truly excellent organisations of better qualified, trained and resourced people already at the end of a phone

I don't think this thread has been stealthy or bitchy but I do think this wasn't at all thought through

Mumsnet has just jumped the shark.

loopy - sherrie didnt say you were ridiculous she thought the idea of a MN helpline was ridiculous

Subtle difference!

And neither was she bitchy by stealth - she just came right out and said her piece

I agree with Ronaldinhio - it is a nice idea but would be impossibly difficult to organise and manage. MNHQ have enough trouble keeping us lot from rioting

Ok I didn't think it out, I just thought of it and posted, Excuse me for trying to be nice

loopylou

don't take it personally. Obviously you are well intentioned - and very few of us think out posts through before we hit the button

People really arn't being mean to you - just reacting to the idea.Don't be huffy

Thanks for the idea Loopylou.
I've not had a chance to put this to the others at HQ or if they've seen it as yet but my personal feeling is the reservations that have been raised on this thread would have to be taken into account.

Re: Hula and Lulu's suggestion of linking to other helplines we do this already: here from the talk boards.
HTH
not actually at MN Towers today