Mumsnet warning that we are not experts

[donkeyderby]

Can anyone tell me why Mumsnet carries that warning on the Special Needs section in Talk, saying that posters are 'members, not experts'? I have flicked through some of the other topics, some of which involve medical advice - e.g. conception and childbirth - and can find no such warnings there.

While I personally find that it is other parents who have always offered the most expert advice to me, not professionals, I can understand that Mumsnet might wish to cover their backs.

What I can't understand is why they don't feel the need to cover their backs on other topics where medical, educational and emotional advice is being dispensed by other parents. It looks like we are less expert than other parents without sn children...! Or am I just reading it wrong?

There is normally a warning on all the health topics - just seems to have been lost in the move

because we are special

Ah, yes, we are special!

they have to be extra careful as the saints and halos could be a bit deceptive.

We ARE bloody experts though, aren't we

More so than most of the 'professionals' I come across!!

Theres one on the AIBU section warning that you can be easily offended so am thinking it could be worse lol

It has been here for ages, tbh I ignore it as I think most of the people on here know more than the proffesionals.

Couldn't agree with you more. I think that warning should be removed, and every topic prefaced by a 'follow advice at your own risk' sort of warning. Of all the groups to single out for lack of expertise, ours is possibly one of the least appropriate.

There were warnings on several topics, including mental health and general health -have they disappeared then?

And it should be on the legal stuff too.
It's just a reminder that people may come on and pretend to be a professional and they aren't.

I think that most people give fab experience based advice on alot of topics, but there are a few where posters should just be aware that maybe professional advice is sought.

Not sure who cna remember theJudge Flounce- a profic poster who pretended to be a lawyer- s/he posted some very very dodgy advice before being outed- and some people carried on believing that s/he was for real until very late into the "investigation"

There's been one on the Mental Health boards for ages - I think since some poor woman was suicidal and people trying to help her just felt completely out of their depth. I'm overwhelmed by the huge amount of knowledge and understanding of very complex issues that is shown on the SN/SEN boards, but apart from Moondog and some others, few of us have the relevant training.

And you've got to look at the worse case scenario - someone asks us what we think about their DC's problems, we collectively diagnose X and it turns out to be Y, but parent has by that stage gone down the wrong route and help to her DC is delayed.

there certainly used to be one on the legal boards. Suspect thumbwitch is right and some have got lost in the move.

Um... the Special Needs users asked for it here is the "thanks" but I can't find the original thread.

At the same time, the Special Needs section of the webguide was updated with links to professional organisations. Have a look at it and use the link if you have any more suggestions. (Don't do it now as it would seem that the webguide has got lost in the move!)

If I remember correctly we requested it some years ago to prevent any comebacks about advivce given. Anyone else remember?

thanks for the explanation soupdragon and davros, I had completely forgotten that.

I found it! here

And this where links were discussed.

Some posters are technically experts but don't make a big thing about it. You can usually tell because they will make it very clear what the limits of their knowledge are.

Have you noticed that in the new and improved mumsnet that Special Needs comes up on active convos whereas before it didn't.

Or am I wrong about this?

I think that's on the (long) list of things to be sorted ILoveMyDog