Defining the purpose of SN:Children

[lougle]

Hi MNHQ

The SN:Children topic has been an absolute life-line to me since my DD was suddenly diagnosed with significant SN at 2 years 9 months. She's now 7 years 3 months, so I have been posting there 4½ years now.

For many of us there, it is a place where we can share our deepest fears for our children, our most hideous experiences and our darkest journeys. As well as cake, chat and frivolity, of course.

I'm sure you didn't expect that topic to be so widely used, nor so powerful when you created it. I know there were issues around inadvertent offence when posters stumbled across threads in Active Convos and posted as if the child were NT. You made the topic 'opt in' for that reason.

Recently, we have had a surge of posters who have no intention of sharing the community we have created. No intention of giving and taking support as the opportunity arises. They are simply there to 'educate' us. To raise the subject of their agenda.

Please could you define the purpose of the board in the top intro thingy which would make clear that SN: Children is a topic for supporting people who care for children with SN, not a topic to harass the parents who are already tired, downtrodden and vulnerable?

It's kind of like shooting fish in a barrel

[devientenigma]

I don't know what's happened but I hope it has nothing to do with me posting my SN problems elsewhere on MN.

[lougle]

Oh lovely devient! No. Nothing to do with that...haven't seen those threads (out of interest, are you hoping to avoid input from us lot, because if you are, I won't find the thread. If not...I'll take a peek ).

It's about people coming to the SN board simply to post rants about a topic of their interest, with no intention to engage in a mutually supportive fashion.

[devientenigma]

I agree define SN and choose to opt in again, that way those of us with children with severe disabilities/special needs feel able to return.

It does seem to be a supportive board, most do pick up when posters are down and tired etc. However it's not always the case and it can become a place where you know your not welcome.

For me the board has never been the same since the Riven scenario. I have had hurtful stuff said and really brought down by some, so apologies if this is because I am posting my SN stuff elsewhere.

[devientenigma]

sorry cross posted

[IamtheZombie]

lougle, another thread made me do a bit of checking and I've just seen some of what you are concerned about.

I hope MNHQ can help you.

[lougle]

Thank you, IamtheZombie - I feel so passionately that our community shouldn't be invaded by people who have no interest in us or our children, simply to use us for their agendas.

[devientenigma]

which is why I agree it should be opt in again, that way me posting about SN elsewhere won't upset the applecart

[lougle]

It hasn't upset my applecart

[PedlarsSpanner]

ah I have also done a bit of digging and agree that the board SN:Children has suddenly begun to be misused by single issue/folk with an agenda.

Would MNHQ be up for moving thread/s to more appropriate area of the boards, as already happens sometimes elsewhere? Of course the threads would have to be reported for this to happen.

I am sorry that your haven has been so rudely invaded

[hazeyjane]

It is still opt in. I feel uncomfortable with the threads you are referring to, lougle. I agree it seems to go against the supportive nature of the board.

Dev, I can't see why anyone would have a problem with anyone posting about sn anywhere else on the board.

[5madthings]

It still is opt in isn't it? Or it ius on my settings,

I know the thread you are referring to, I read it, raised my eye brows and backed away quickly.

My children do not have sen's and I have learn a lot through the sen boards and some posters who I know through them. They are an invaluable place of support and advice and they shouldn't be being abused by some posters.

[devientenigma]

if MN start moving threads to the appropriate boards, means mine end up in SN

[devientenigma]

oh good I hope so thanks Beer

[5madthings]

Yes they check with the op of a thread before moving it :)

[lougle]

BeerTricksPotter, true...but if MNHQ have defined the topic in top intro thingy then all we have to do when reporting is say 'contrary to the top intro thingy ', and it gets deleted pronto.

If it isn't defined, we have to go to great lengths to justify our outrage dislike of the thread and why.

[hazeyjane]

I don't think that is what this thread is about!

I don't think MNHQ would move a thread that happened to be about sn to the sn boards, without asking the op.

Isn't this about the fact that there seems to be a few posters appearing on the sn boards who only ever talk about one particular issue, in an almost accusatory fashion, which seems to go against the idea of support, advice and friendship that the sn boards usually engender.

[hazeyjane]

Sorry cross posted with everyone else! I meant that I don't think Devientenigma's worries were what the thread was about!

[devientenigma]

it's not about my worries, but I don't want my SN stuff brought to the SN board but it would be fine as MNHQ would ask 1st.

[lougle]

devient, I'm sure that wouldn't happen. I'm also certain I've made it clear that this thread has nothing to do with any threads you may have started in any section of MN.

[PedlarsSpanner]

no no Devient, of course not. You post where you feel comfortable

These ''new'' posters, with their agendas, gracelessly crashing around with no thought for the actual SECTION they are posting in, need signposting to more appropriate areas of MN. I am totally not saying the folk who use SN:Children are to do the signposting because we left behind a LONG time ago, the idea that posters should educate and illuminate ignorant others about disability, special needs and so on. What I am saying is, flag up to MNHQ and let them shuffle the posters on.

Prob not explaining self very well. feel free to tell me to bog orf.