Is it time for a root and branch review of MN content?

[cozietoesie]

At the moment, there are at least three threads here seeking new topics/sections on MN, umpty topics which aren't really being used (MNHQ will doubtless have stats), four (4!) Mumsnet styles for people to adopt, a semi-functional app or two, new apps under development etc etc etc. How many times every week do people post in AIBU for 'traffic' because they're using a niche topic and not receiving any response after some time?

(I can only think that several bottles of gin must come with the job for Tech - if I worked there, I'd be crying in my sleep every night.)

I don't see how it can go on like this for much longer and still remain a fully functioning site because it already doesn't seem as if it's truly fit for purpose. You can't just keep on adding topics and the site surely now has enough momentum to carry on after significant changes.

Isn't it time to seek user views with a view to rationalizing the structure properly?

[Littlefish]

I agree. Far too many topics with very little in them. So many in fact that I can never find what I'm actually looking for!

[caroldecker]

Surely there is a gardening topic to discuss roots and branches?

[cozietoesie]

[Sparklingbrook]

Every topic is AIBU isn't it?

[meditrina]

How about a 'use the topic' week?

When someone actually moves all threads into their topic. And locks duplicates, with a link to the pre-existing thread.

And perhaps not gardening, but 'The Great Outdoors' for branches?

[cozietoesie]

Organisations can become so darned tentative about change - it being easier in the short term to 'add on' rather than to think fresh and maybe cut away; and possibly face COMPLAINTS. (EG the Heath Robinson OSs that Microsoft made people live with for so many years.)

I rather feel that MN is at that crossroads right now.

[LikeIcan]

I'm sure HQ could get rid of half the topics & no one would notice.

[DoctorLawn]

I can see where you're coming from and agree that there are a bazillion topics that don't necessarily get used properly.

However - I came here as a self-imposed exile from the changes that TES made to it's site. Change is OK as long as the site remains easily usable - sadly something that TES really isn't any more.

[DoctorLawn]

Erroneous apostrophe - sorry!

[CloserToFiftyThanTwenty]

YANBU

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

How do the people who want a root and branch review imagine it being changed?

[cozietoesie]

....How do the people who want a root and branch review imagine it being changed?....

I don't know for sure, Countess (I had to retype your name there after leaving a letter out by mistake ) which is why I think MN should actually be asking people now where they want to be with this site in a few years' time. (Users and advertisers, say.)

After using the site for a bit, my feeling is that it's becoming too cumbersome and 'busy' to be used effectively - and I hate to think of the difficulties in maintaining it day to day. It feels top-heavy and ready to topple over.

I'm only one person though and I may not have a handle on how other people will want to use it in the future. Why not ask them?

[caroldecker]

I think all OP is saying is that the topics need slimming down and re-structuring. Maybe to start with, any topics with less than an average of 1 post a day gets cut.

[magimedi]

I would be thrilled to see the number of topics cut - I was thinking of starting a post here asking for no more new topics!

MNHQ have been muttering about clearing up topics for ages..............


I would also like to see Mumsnet Local moved out of the full topics list - it takes far too long to scroll through.

ANd I'd welcome a bit of thread police, especially in AIBU - 50% of what is posted there is not AIBU or YABU, just a way of getting traffic.

[AuntieStella]

One think I was wondering was whether, when in one topic, the 'allied' topics could appear at the bottom of the page (not always the same ones regardless of where you are).

Also, add 'In the News' to the main menu, so news stories in particular don't get shoved into AIBU (really does feel like a mismatch, and hard to find) or go into chat, where they self-extinguish.

And definitely move stuff out of AIBU to the topics rather more. Not just 'if OP wants it' but because it's in the wrong damed place an affecting the site.

Also, do something to reduce the number of duplicates. It's harder to talk about something when the convo is in four places, or a new one flattens out everything people contributed earlier.

[BeccaMumsnet]

Hi everyone - We'll have a think about this.

Thanks very much for your suggestions, and please do keep them coming.

[darkness]

Would you like suggestions for other forums that are...dare I say it...doing it better than you and why ?
For instance
Money saving expert.com
Being able to thank posts means there is a lot less repetition as people can clearly see if posts are contributing to the discussion
Editing a couple of mins still available after posting to realise you have cocked up..spelling , x posting, cooling down...less handbags at dawn that way...
Name changing you positively encourage it...but other sites dont, here it means people don't "own" their posts, ..and so can be very spiteful very quickly with no consequences..I do appreciate the need for occasional anonymity but perhaps limit each account to two names ?

[ElizabethHoover]

Just the very expression "for traffic" annoys me

[CuttedUpPear]

If I were you I would post this in AIBU for more traffic. ..

Seriously, I totally agree with OP.
AIBU is filled with people asking whether they are being unreasonable for wearing a particular pair of trousers, eating a pack of biscuits, etc etc. These threads belong in Chat but if I mention it to the OP as is my wont I get shot down in flames.

And has anyone noticed the anomaly that the argumentative mess that is AIBU actually comes under the topic heading of 'Fun and Games'?

[darkness]

Also, because you have no stats on threads, top posts (active) are ones that that people are contributing to, not just reading, and sometimes really interesting threads are hard to contribute to, so what's always top on MN is contentious threads, or tragic ones..
This contributes to you "traffic" problem and skews everything towards rows and tragedy, rather than useful or interesting conversations, ...and its quite possible to have several different selection criteria available as a way of post sorting...(again see ms expert) fyi

[SoupDragon]

Name changing you positively encourage it...but other sites dont, here it means people don't "own" their posts, ..and so can be very spiteful very quickly with no consequences..I do appreciate the need for occasional anonymity but perhaps limit each account to two names ?

Well, that's going to make the seasonal name change competitions rather dull.

How about we make every forum an identikit replica of every other forum?

I've been here for years and I simply don't see half the problems people say are rife.

So what if there are 4 styles for MNers to choose from? How does that affect anyone else?

I don't see a problem with having a lot of topics if they are properly organised into subsections and thus easy to find.

skews everything towards rows and tragedy, rather than useful or interesting conversations

I see plenty of content other than rows and tragedy.

[SoupDragon]

I can't believe MSE is being held up as the epitome of an internet forum.

[ElizabethHoover]

the random classification thing drives me nuts

would rather just have it alphabetically

[ElizabethHoover]

Mind you the phrase' root and branch' drive me nuts

Like ' fit for purpose'

What does the root and branch bit add to it, rather than just ' Isnt it time for a review of Mn content'? ( although the OP means topics i think)

[Sirzy]

I think streamlining a lot of topics - merging/deleting boards would make a lot of sense.

Reduce/change the topics list to make it clearer for people trying to find a specific board which area it will be in. Even if it's as simple as "chat boards" "raising a family" "education" "diet" "exercise" "health" "travel" with sub-boards of each as needed.