What happened to the babysitter thread?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Is the babysitter forum where you actually advertise for a sitter? That's all I see on the forum. I thought there was a classified section for people looking for and advertising babysitting services.

It is supposed to be for discussion, but people have been using it for advertising. I'm thinking about creating a second forum to resolve that issue.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the babysitter forum where you actually advertise for a sitter? That's all I see on the forum. I thought there was a classified section for people looking for and advertising babysitting services.

It is supposed to be for discussion, but people have been using it for advertising. I'm thinking about creating a second forum to resolve that issue.

Wouldn't it make sense to have the preschool and childcare forum over in the nanny forum?

It is more similar to the discussion of choosing nannies, etc than babysitters are and likely overlaps quite a bit with nanny topics (much more than it does with school.topics)

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the babysitter forum where you actually advertise for a sitter? That's all I see on the forum. I thought there was a classified section for people looking for and advertising babysitting services.

It is supposed to be for discussion, but people have been using it for advertising. I'm thinking about creating a second forum to resolve that issue.

Wouldn't it make sense to have the preschool and childcare forum over in the nanny forum?

It is more similar to the discussion of choosing nannies, etc than babysitters are and likely overlaps quite a bit with nanny topics (much more than it does with school.topics)

You are probably correct regarding the daycare part of that forum, but it's combined with preschools. Those used to be separate forums and combining them was a bit controversial because some posters have strong feelings about the differences. While I obviously don't think there are huge differences, I do recognize that some preschools are much closer to schools, so I wouldn't want to move that forum. I could possibly create a second daycare forum in the Nanny section.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent here and I think that the babysitter questions should absolutely stay in the nanny forum in the babysitter section. I'm glad the forums were separated and that the nannies are largely contained in that area. It sounds like you expect babysitting questions posted in the main forum will automatically attract input from actual parents. If you remember from the days when the forums were together, any questions about child care went the same way. The first few responses would ask what you pay the sitter (no matter what the question), they second set would contain insults about hiring cheap sitters who don't speak English (no matter what the question) and maybe, just maybe, you'd get a post or two with some on topic and useful advice.

If your question is about childcare, it should go in the forums about childcare, in the nanny section. I agree with a hardline policy on this. If you want the nanny forums to be more useful to parents, then participate there and help clean it up by posting good questions and thoughtful responses to other people's questions.

:shock:

Should nannies also have separate water fountains?

I don't really have any strong feelings either way about this topic (& actually agree with a couple of the points you made) but find your phrasing here makes you sound like an insufferable snob.

You sound just like one of the nanny forum regulars. Trolling for a fight where there isn't one with fake shock.

Get over yourself. That isn't what I was saying and if anyone here spends ten minutes over in the nanny forums, they would know exactly what I mean. The vast majority of nannies who post there are mean, nasty and insulting to anyone who disagrees with them that nannies should be paid over $30/hr, rounitnely insult their employers, and pose as MBs to troll and start arguments for amusement. They also routinely like to threaten the few brave FTPs who wade in with a question with how they will lose their nanny in a heartbeat if they don't offer huge bonuses and perks.

Most of the nannies who post there are just plain mean. Am I happy that this kind of vitriol and obvious trolling be contained in one area of an anonymous forum? Sure. Do I feel bad for the few really nice nannies and who try their best to be helpful and positive? Sure. Do I think the nanny forums are the only places on this board filled with vitriol and trolling? No. However and sadly, the nanny forum is especially egregious, in my one opinion.

Luckily, Jeff allows us to disagree on a great number things and you are welcome to call me a snob and I doubt either of us will have an impact on how Jeff decides to delete threads.

As it should be.

I have never posted on the nanny forum. I have no reason to, as I am not a nanny & do not employ a nanny. I apologize if I took your comment the wrong way. I have noticed, however, that some posters on this forum seem to think both childcare professionals & teachers are "beneath" them. This bothers me both as a parent who appreciates the impact these people have on my kids' & their peers' lives & as someone whose own life was greatly enhanced by my relationships with a few of my teachers &, especially, my childhood nanny.

[Anonymous]

I don't know, Jeff. I think you're being disingenuous here. People on DCUM seem to know full well the distinction between babysitters and nannies. I don't know if it has something to do with your advertisers on the two sites or maybe you just don't pay attention (I wouldn't blame you). But I think there is little to no risk of confusion between a nanny post and a post about a teen babysitter.