Time to delete some topic boards?

[Queenbean]

I've just seen a topic which is called "only joking" and two of the last five threads are either racist or disablist threads.

And of those five threads, one of them goes back to 2004 so the board is barely ever used.

Isn't it time to do an audit of topics and delete some? There's all sorts of random stuff out there - do we really need it kept forever and ever?

Is it time also to consider an expiration date for all boards, not just chat? Maybe one year for all topics apart from Classics?

[Queenbean]

The topic "the plughole" has no threads on it!! What's it even supposed to be for??

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_plughole

[Queenbean]

"London2012" - really? Possibly due an update to sometime, erm, four years later...?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/london2012

[Sparklingbrook]

The plughole is to 'plug' stuff.

I vote get rid of AIBU. Or name it 'Petty Gripes' as has been often suggested.

Do some posters ever look at anything except AIBU?

I think very few threads in Classics deserve to be there.

[Queenbean]

Re plughole what do you mean it's there to plug stuff....?

Agree about AIBU. Or "I Know I'm Not Being Unreasonable But Want To Discuss This Anyway"

Agreed about classics. Esp newer ones which are just not funny.

[AnnieOnAMapleLeaf]

I agree completely! There are far too many useless topics and I also agree that Classics is overused now. It used to be that only the truly exceptional posts were added to Classics.

[Redglitter]

I've always found the 'Ford' section to be totally bizarre. I mean why????

[Sparklingbrook]

How about 'IANBU and don't you dare tell me I am'. Catchy topic title.

Or 'Bunfight Topic'

Yes plug/sell stuff IIRC. Maybe MNHQ can clarify.

[AnnieOnAMapleLeaf]

AIBU is used too often:

AIBU to think that Christmas is nearly here?

1. You are not unreasonable to think anything.
   
2. This belongs in the Christmas topic!

[Queenbean]

"AIBU to want to donate money to a well respected charity when I can easily afford it?"

HOW ARE YOU POSSIBLY BEING UNREASONABLE

Maybe all posts need to get an even split before they'll be allowed to be published to everyone, stop so many of the bloody unanimous YANBU threads

[Queenbean]

Oh I see Sparkling, I thought you meant plug stuff as in fill a hole. Although there's probably a topic for that as well.

[pennycarbonara]

Rather than deleting, can these defunct topics be closed to new posts and put in a "graveyard" "closed boards" or similar folder, the way some other forums do?

[AnnieOnAMapleLeaf]

I would like a "Petty Gripes" board mentioned upthread however I would still like to keep AIBU except change it to a poll . The OP posts their AIBU question and people can vote YABU or YANBU - no comments or bunfights allowed.

[IrenetheQuaint]

Oh God there are far too many dead and pointless topics. MNHQ seem oddly resistant to deleting them, though. I guess it just comes a long way down their priority list.

[Queenbean]

Do we really need to keep them Penny? What purpose does a racist joke from 2004 serve....?

(Not having a go, just that they cherry pick posts to pick and I'd say 95% of them are useless to the 5% worth keeping)

[IPityThePontipines]

I vote get rid of AIBU. Or name it 'Petty Gripes' as has been often suggested.

Oh yes!

Agree with any old nonsense going in Classics.

MNHQ needs to have a Kondo-ing session!

[TiggyD]

Yup. Agree. Any topic with fewer than 10 posts per month can go. Apart from Dadsnet because you have to look after minorities.

[cozietoesie]

MNHQ are really missing some lovely 'consultation' opportunities here. A staffer can post to say 'We're thinking of reducing the number of moribund topics. Which ones do people want to keep?'

And 600 posts later, most of which haven't clocked the issue of whether they should be reduced in the first place..............

Likewise, consulting on:

Closing threads rather than deleting them
Culling threads
Colours
Style

Etc
Etc
Etc


I agree with you though, OP. You need to fight your way through the tumbleweed on some boards.

[TiggyD]

Brainwave!

Why not combine some?

Ford/Olympics2012 fir instance!

[cozietoesie]

I rather like the idea of depositing all the old threads in a special topic - provisionally called The Graveyard or The Sin Bin or something. I have no talent for names though, so someone else will doubtless come up with a better one.

(Although I'd rather cull the majority of the old ones outright. That's just personal preference though.)

[HillaryFTW]

Good idea op

[iminshock]

Agree
Get rid of the Scotland one. Ridiculous idea. (I'm Scottish)

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

Didn't the Ford one arise out of some long forgotten test drive thing?

[Veterinari]

Also why are the topics so randomly organised? After much campaigning mumsnet gave us a nice shiny cycling topic, but rather than organise it with 'health' or 'exercise' or another related topic, put it in the 'in the club' area with mumsbet-specific topics like sure stuff so no one can find it! It's crazy!

[Veterinari]

mumsnet, and site stuff