I think it's time to go

[becstarlit]

You probably don't know me - I've been around ages but I'm not very controversial - in 8 years on this site I've never been deleted or even had a barney with anyone! I've been various incarnations of becstar along the way with quite a few NCs all on the same theme.

I've been thinking of getting some internet blocking software anyway, just because I need to get a bit more work done. I've taken a break before and I'm a heck of a lot more productive away from this place

But then it's all got a bit weird with all the dog whistle threads (GFs) and I've noticed that MN is not a positive force in my life any more. Hanging out on MN is increasingly leaving me feeling the same way that reading the DM makes me feel - a bit sadder, a bit angrier, a bit more worried. It didn't used to have that effect and maybe it's me that's changed...

I'm done. I'd just like to say 'thank you' to all those who've entertained me. I will always smile when I hear a toddler say they want something 'cutted up', I'll never be able to see a Lemon Drizzle Cake without wanting to punch it, and I shall keep the word 'wankbadger' in my swearing arsenal in case of dire need. Thank you for all the fun, and for the advice on pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, skincare, parenting, and scarves. Thank you to all of you who lead very different lives to me for sharing your experiences - you've made me a more open-minded person.

[HarrietSchulenberg]

Aw don't flounce. Just do what I do and nip in now and again to see what's going on, then go back out and on with real stuff in the real world.

'tis just a little corner of the internet that can be entertaining and sometimes very useful.

[EldritchCleavage]

I know you, ish. Never say never bec, even tidal waves of goady crap have to recede sometime.

[becstarlit]

I'm a bit too much of an obsessive for that Harriet! I tend to be all-or-nothing. I've taken a long break before and those experiences combined with the current mood on the boards makes me think it should be permanent.

Thanks for stopping by Eldritch, I've nodded at your posts many times! Yes, the waves will recede, but then the tide will rise again - and each time it seems to rise a little higher. Since penisbeaker it's more like a tsunami.

The tone has changed as well. I reported a post a few days ago - a really nasty triggering insult about someone's medical condition - and it was still there a few hours later. I hadn't responded, just reported, like we're supposed to. I re-reported explaining why it was such a terrible thing to say in the context of the thread - and it was taken down. But the OP will have seen it in that time and god knows how it made her feel. I should have PMed the OP but got a bit caught up in my own personal dramas - have got some RL stuff going on myself at the moment.

This was never a 'nice' place thank god, there were no 'hunny' 'xxx' type platitudes but there was a fundamental kindness and decency at the core in amongst all the filth and heated debate. I feel like it's gone. It's not just about fuckergate, it's the tone of the site.

Then the insult thread in support of AF last night - I didn't join in, I've always quite liked AF, felt MNHQ had misjudged, but was sure it would all be sorted out. Everyone was having a good laugh together... and the thread was deleted. It wasn't a mean thread, it was a funny thread and I think in the old days MNHQ would have responded in the spirit of the thread. Whereas the 'Oooh, my grandma always warned me about gypsies!' thread and the 'what should I call a black person?' thread and about a kergillion 'here's a bit of unfounded speculation about MMcCann' threads were in Active Convos for ages - for all I know they're still around... Don't fancy going looking for them, I don't need more rage!

I forget who said it last night, but someone pointed out that at one time MN would go to the wall to protect the identity of a poster who made a comment towards an internationally famous childcare guru. Would they do that now? What I write here is immediately owned by MN. What the penisbeaker OP wrote was immediately owned and possibly used as PR by MN to driver user numbers, who knows. How did that impact the OPs life?

There are still some great people here and there are things I'll really miss. But I think I'll be missing how it used to be, rather than missing something that's still there. (Now I really do sound like one of those 'it was all much better in my day' flouncers! How many of those I have read over the years...). I won't be missed as I'm quite bland and can kill a thread just by looking at it. But I needed to say why I was leaving and to say 'thank you' for the good stuff.