Recognise your fellow Mumsnetters by nominating your favourite Mumsnet user to win Silent Pool gin

[AbbiCMumsnet]

To tie in with their new #FortheSpirited campaign, Silent Pool Gin is on a quest to unearth the UK’s most spirited characters – and the search starts right here. For two months, the award-winning distillers will be celebrating the spirit of Mumsnet by getting you to nominate the users who you think show the most – well – spirit. They'll be giving one bottle of gin per week to a winning Mumsnet user. In addition, if your nominee wins, you'll also receive a shopping voucher worth £30..

Here’s what Silent Pool Gin have to say:
“For the spirited. Three small words that capture the essence of Silent Pool Gin. It represents our independent mindset and our uncompromising commitment to producing a gin with a refreshingly individual character.

For the spirited is about following your own path. Embracing life and living for the best things it has to offer. It’s about doing something kind, inspiring, creative, different. Could be finally handing in your notice, booking that round-the-world trip, starting that new Japanese course or even just deciding to make your very first post on AIBU.

Whatever your version of ‘spirited' is, we applaud you. However, applause only gets you so far, so to officially recognise the wonderful achievements of the Mumsnet community, we are launching the Silent Pool Gin For the Spirited award. Each week, one lucky Mumsnet member will be recognised as a kindred spirit and will win one bottle of Silent Pool Gin.

Also we’d love to hear your spirited stories so please tag us in at #forthespirited @silentpoolgin”

There's no such thing as a best Mumsnet user but you probably have your favourite(s). Is there someone: Whose posts you always read? Who brightens your days and whose views keep you glued to the screen? Who has given you priceless advice, yet you wouldn't know from Adam in real life?

Every week for two months, Silent Pool will be giving the #FortheSpirited award to one lucky Mumsnet user – with the prize of a bottle of gin. Simply nominate your favourite Mumsnet user on the discussion thread and they'll be in with a chance of winning. In turn, if your nominee wins, you'll also receive a £30 voucher. Win, win (gin) .

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

[EDITED BY MNHQ TO INCLUDE FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE DESPATCH OF PRIZES]

Terms and conditions of prize draw:
Activity specific T&Cs: Mumsnet will run a random prize draw once per week. The nominees within the winning entries will be contacted via email or PM to inform them of the win, and to ask if they would like to receive the prize. A non-alcoholic prize will also be available if desired. To receive an alcoholic prize, nominees will need to provide a copy of photographic ID to Mumsnet (eg a photograph of a passport or driving licence), as well as a physical name and address for the prize to be dispatched to. The name and address will be shared with Silent Pool Gin, with the user's permission. Mumsnet will dispose of this information within one week of users' receipt of the prize. Posters of the winning entries will be emailed by Mumsnet to inform them of the win, and to give them the opportunity to choose the voucher they would like. Their name and email address, with the user's permission, will be shared with Mumsnet's voucher fulfilment company for the purposes of ordering the voucher. Voucher winner's details will be retained for audit purposes. Winner's details will be used for the purpose of the prize draw and prize delivery only, and not for any other marketing purpose. Standard Mumsnet T&Cs can be found here.

[POST EDITED BY MNHQ to remove language around 'courage' and 'bravery']

@KurriKurri

Surely this thread qualifies for deletion under the Tits Up criterion ?

The old Christmas appeal was all done by private nominations IIRC, - which would be a better approach, if you are determined to have popularity contests.

Well we don't delete for going tits up, especially if it's our mistake in the first place

It's really not intended to be a popularity contest. We take the point about private nominations but it's potentially rather nice to have a public thread where stalwarts are named and celebrated - different thing from mass popularity contests esp as it's not about the number of nominations? Some of the names on here and the reasons they've been nominated will be new to other MNers

I would prefer its who most deserves a treat this week so it goes to people going through a hard time or who have been extra kind to those in need. That was how I interpreted originally but your OP is very unclear - it says favourite MN, then spirited and a few other things.

I am not sure choosing a favourite post is a good idea - some people will not want their posts highlighted, or want gin and some people will nominate provocative posts. If you do go with this maybe put it in a separate area not posts from the whole site.

I would have preferred something other than alcohol - I know a couple of people whose lives have been destroyed by alcohol and some posters on here have alcohol issues. I have no way of knowing if I am nominating one of those and if they would have the willpower to turn down free alcohol. Chocolates or toiletries or similar might have been a safer bet - can you offer an alternative.

I didn't think there was a plan to get people nominated but did wonder if someone is just namechanging a lot and nominating themselves for gin

And iVampire you are great for all your support on the cancer thread.

How are the shopping vouchers allocated ?

ah , answered .

It could be you could do different boards each week so week 1 could be who deserves a treat who often posts on health boards so someone like TQ or IVampire
Then say relationships, and 6 other categories.

Just on a point of order: 'who's your fave MNer' threads aren't actually banned (there are very few 'types' of thread that are automatically disallowed). It's just that they tend to go pear-shaped, so often end up being deleted for that reason.

And yet you still did it? 🙄

@PenguinsRabbits

It could be you could do different boards each week so week 1 could be who deserves a treat who often posts on health boards so someone like TQ or IVampire Then say relationships, and 6 other categories.

Thanks Penguins, these are all good thoughts. Would love to find a resolution that works for you all so please keep ideas coming and let us know what you think

@biwi for the tireless and massive amounts of work that must go into running the low carb bootcamps. Shes endlessly patient but straight talking and the bootcamp is literally changing lives. Thanks @biwi

It's really not intended to be a popularity contest.

I think it was really naive to imagine that would not be the outcome, though. Nearly every day, there are threads, particularly in AIBU, where the main thrust of the debate veers heavily in one direction or the other, often resulting in a really cruel pile-on, because MNetters, like most of the human race, are susceptible to peer pressure. There are too many people here for that not to be a issue. Inviting people to publicly state who they 'like' or 'admire' was always going to be a hostage to fortune imo.

The other thing I think this thread has brought out into the harsh light of day is the complex relationship between participation (as opposed to lurking) and prior experiences of social success or failure. Consider for instance:

• how many threads here are about precisely the feelings that arise out of current or historic experiences of friendships/relationships gone wrong, bullying, exclusion, not understanding what you've done wrong, etc

• that a large part of the attraction of online forums is the opportunity to present yourself as you wish to be seen, not as you may have been characterised by others in the past

• that many people here namechange often not just for security/privacy reasons but in order to be able to walk away from threads that have turned nasty or against them for no very good reason BUT that simultaneously their 'popularity' gets reset to zero every time they do that.

If @MNHQ are genuinely surprised at how badly this thread backfired, I suggest you all have a good think about some of those things (and I'm sure there are many more besides). They really shouldn't be new concepts for anyone running an online community.

The choice of prize aside and the phrasing of parts of the OP (i appreciate that alcohol is an emotive topic for some) I must admit I'm struggling somewhat to understand the hullabaloo this thread has caused.

There are very many MNetters who regularly go beyond most members of the community with regard to their ongoing contributions and support, covering a wide variety of topics (as evidenced by this thread).

I see no issue in recognising their contribution. Without them MN would undoubtedly be a lesser place and I'd rather see their efforts rewarded than a single one off witty post each week.

These posters don't make these contributions to become "MN Royalty" they do it because they care deeply about a specific issue (or multiple issues) as is very evident when you read what they post and I can't help feeling that a green eyed monster is lurking behind some of the comments on this thread.

As for the idea that that there's some sort of conspiracy to get specific people nominated, well I'm sorry, that's just silly.

Regarding name changing, I appreciate there are posters who have good reasons to NC on a regular basis, however fundamentally you need to accept that anonymity and recognition are mutually exclusive in this context.

I think it's sad that something nice has turned into a bun fight though I do appreciate the OP could have been worded better.

People nominated are under no pressure to accept the "prize" if they don't wish to.

@TheHopefulTraveller

It's really not intended to be a popularity contest.

I think it was really naive to imagine that would not be the outcome, though. Nearly every day, there are threads, particularly in AIBU, where the main thrust of the debate veers heavily in one direction or the other, often resulting in a really cruel pile-on, because MNetters, like most of the human race, are susceptible to peer pressure. There are too many people here for that not to be a issue. Inviting people to publicly state who they 'like' or 'admire' was always going to be a hostage to fortune imo.

The other thing I think this thread has brought out into the harsh light of day is the complex relationship between participation (as opposed to lurking) and prior experiences of social success or failure. Consider for instance:

• how many threads here are about precisely the feelings that arise out of current or historic experiences of friendships/relationships gone wrong, bullying, exclusion, not understanding what you've done wrong, etc

• that a large part of the attraction of online forums is the opportunity to present yourself as you wish to be seen, not as you may have been characterised by others in the past

• that many people here namechange often not just for security/privacy reasons but in order to be able to walk away from threads that have turned nasty or against them for no very good reason BUT that simultaneously their 'popularity' gets reset to zero every time they do that.

If @MNHQ are genuinely surprised at how badly this thread backfired, I suggest you all have a good think about some of those things (and I'm sure there are many more besides). They really shouldn't be new concepts for anyone running an online community.

The way the OP was a flat-out error caused by bad communication at MNHQ - we're not surprised by the response.

Re popularity contests - we think there really has to be some way to recognise the contribution of individual MNers to collective wisdom/gaiety/kindness without most MNers feeling it's unpleasant (would be sad indeed if there isn't a way to do that)

On your 'nasty pile-on' point PLEASE do report stuff like that (if you don't already)

I think it would be nice to reward the MN who have helped others the most so people like the people who do Woolly Hugs, PigletJohn, JingleBells in Menopause Thread, etc There's lots of people. Loads of supportive people on SN thread and health threads.

The person who has helped me the most is MissConductUS but she's in the US - would be nice if there could be a light option so we could include overseas MNetters but can appreciate that may not be possible.

This might be well out of date as the thread in question is old but, Boysclothes due to thread about Korean lady in her garden. I was riveted and it was hilarious

I'd like to vote for @Mysterian because of his wisdom, spelling, awesomeness, curridge and general lovelifulness.

I would have voted for @RowanMumsnet but I didn't think that would be allowed.
I'm sure you're still allowed to vote for me though @RowanMumsnet. BTW, what a lovely blouse you have on!

I think who is most deserving of a treat is a bad idea.
Funniest post would be a good idea imo.

@Mysterian

I would have voted for *@RowanMumsnet* but I didn't think that would be allowed. I'm sure you're still allowed to vote for me though *@RowanMumsnet*. BTW, what a lovely blouse you have on!

I don't wish to put my thumb on the scale here but IT IS MY BIRTHDAY

Anyfucker
Ohyoubadkitten
Knottyandpistey

And also mummyoflittledragons. Always kind, fair, constructive, good humour, balanced, and happy to call someone out when it's needed.

Was @MichaelMumsnet the 'over my dead body' HQer? In which case, I nominate him.

Happy Birthday RowanMumsnet Maybe you have a MNHQ party and drink all the gin then problem is solved. Was someone drinking some before they designed this competition?

Happy Birthday Rowan 🥳

Happy Birthday! Take the rest of the day off. We all promise to behave ourselves.

@Mysterian

Happy Birthday! Take the rest of the day off. We all promise to behave ourselves.

As. If.

As. If.

I'm going to take that to mean they won't let you go home rather than you don't believe we could behave.

Happy birthday :)

Happy Birthday Rowan