"Bullying" on the forum

MrsAnnie

I am a regular lurker on this thread (I feel I have nothing to constuctively offer, but soooo much to learn from you guys!!! ) and have never seen any sort of bullying. Other forums - YES!! But certainly not on this one! Thanks for all the OS tips... keep them coming!:j

Reverbe

Thank you for that post Andrea. It is a sad fact of life that this kinda stuff goes on and a real pity that it detracts from the invaluable shared info and great feeling on this board. I hope that you can stamp out any offenders and that this post should they see it will make them think twice before flaming, defaming, campaigning and bullying in future.

I'd also like to thank MSE for the boards in general have found soo much of use and found some lovely people here in the online MSE community.

ubamother

There have been some occasions where I've found people's replies to each other surprisingly sharp - esp of the "I can't believe anyone is stupid enough to...." style of remark - when you add the "sarcastic" or "confused" smileys that I personally I think look really horrible and inflammatory. Personally I'd ban smileys altogether - except the ultra happy ones as I think it's easy to read far too much into them.

I think sometimes different opinions shared verbally that are fine, often read very differently in print.

I would just add that responses to anything regarding parenting issues - especially foodie ones - should be really carefully thought through - when parents are having a hard time, it's very easy for them to reinterpret genuine advice into a judgement of their parenting.

Nomoneymummy_2

I've only been on this forum (and whole site) for a week and have seen no bullying on here and had nothing more than very helpfull replys to what are often quite frankly v dumb questions on my part,

Have only ever had friendly kind and well meaning replys and found everyone very welcoming!

Really hoping this forum isn't shut down, never found a place to chat that I've actually liked ( im 26 and detest facebook etc !!) and would personally be very gutted to see this place shut down, all the posts are very supportive with people wishing well and hugs and checking up on friends going through problems, It would be a huge shame if the few spoiled it for the many.

Thanks to all the nice people who make this site possible, obv though wherever there are groups of people there will be dissagreaments but its a shame all the same.

Caterina

Hi

Thank you Andrea for your post. I haven't seen any serious bullying, but I am sure that if complaints have been made something must have happened and I hope it has been dealt with.

In my experience on the OS board if someone posts anything sarky or abusive the other OSers are quick to put them in their place and gently point to them the error of their way, but perhaps I have missed something.

For the most part I have found the OS threads to be the friendliest in the whole forums and I hope they stay this way.

Caterina

thriftlady_2

Nomoneymummy wrote: »

Really hoping this forum isn't shut down, never found a place to chat that I've actually liked ( im 26 and detest facebook etc !!) and would personally be very gutted to see this place shut down.

No one is suggesting that the forum be shut down

Molly41

Hi,
Ive noticed some undertones. However I would agree that this is generally very friendly and supportive although sometimes i do feel its a little clique (sp?) and somedays I would like to post but just dont feel people would be interested in what I have to say.

I have had some very bad experiences on the tax and benefits thread and hope someone is tackling that because some serious bullying goes on there!!!
mollyx

Joe_L

I'm not a regular poster, but came across this thread and, well, I don't get it. I've never understood the concept of bullying on an internet forum, unless a real power imbalance occurs--as happened once to me when a clique ganged up on me. But even then I simply left the forum, as life's too short. If someone's rude to you on a forum you first let them know that's how you experience them (being abusive may well be the furthest thing from their mind and they may appreciate the feedback) and if they persist, simply tell them you intend to ignore their posts in the future and then do so. Bullying is a nasty business that goes on in situations where people have few options to escape (families, school and work). The internet isn't one of them. Just my 2 cents. I've no intention of bullying the OP ;-)

MUMMYTO2BOYS

I've noticed a bit of hair pulling and somebody got their dinner money stolen.

ceridwen

Well - hopefully we can all get back to what we do best - ie swopping O.S. hints and tips.

I've certainly picked up loads of helpful tips and just to quote today, for instance, there's been:
- the famous watering-down the milk tip (I have now swopped from skimmed milk to full-fat/watering it down)
- using halogen heaters (instead of the fanheaters I used to use)
- if my bed feels a bit chilly come bedtime - I'll give it a quick blast with a hairdryer (I didn't bother to replace the last electric blanket when it gave up the ghost on me)
- I'll be making a pudding shortly from a recipe I picked up on this board
- hopefully I'll get time to make another recipe I picked up as well from this board

...and that's a pretty typical days worth of moneysaving efforts these days...:D