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AIBU?

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Original poster

Please can people respond with the original message included

39 replies

Dahliasarebeautiful · 07/05/2025 01:38

I've been on Mumsnet a while and I obviously use the "see all" function a lot, I think a lot of us use it.

It's absolutely useless to anyone who isn't the responder or the OP, if the OP just @ all the people in a multi response or just respond to the latest message they've seen on their OP.

I've actively stopped responding to or following those posters messages that do this because, frankly, I have a busy life and I just don't have time to read all the posts to understand the responses, and I want to respond in a way that the OP might be receptive to, if you respond by clicking the "quote" it includes the post from the responder to your OP.

I'm not including "Thanks all" posts in this obviously, or "roundups", or "general updates", but I've noticed more recently that OPs are responding only with a specific username or a response to multiple specific usernames, and I just think it probably alienates more than just me? Perhaps I'm wrong? Apologies if I am?

If I'm incorrect I'm sure you'll obviously let me know, but I can't be alone in this judging by various comments on individual posts I've seen.

I'm not here for hate and I understand responding to multiple comments is stressful and is cumbersome in stressful situations and I also appreciate most situations on Mumsnet are also not ideal, but I know I'm not the only person who thinks this and you might be missing out on valuable information or advice in times of conflict or need. You obviously don't need to respond to every single message on your original post. Just do a @ all.

I obviously have no issue with low stress low level general advice required, like when shall I plant my carrots? etc... no-one needs to respond directly to those... Common sense. (I appreciate these posts probably won't be on AIBU or similar).

I might be being selfish, because some OPs are in stressful situations (I understand that) but if you definitely want rounded advice from your posts, it's not hard to quote your responders, but I guess overwhelming to respond to everyone individually, so just do a blanket message to all instead please.

It makes no sense to anyone else reading the responses if using the "see all" function if responders messages aren't quoted.

Rant over. I've admitted it. I know many of you feel the same and if you're not bothered, fair play to you... Thank you

OP posts:
Youcalyptus · 07/05/2025 06:16

I just read the thread or the OP see all. you can usually work it out.

Itsawildridealright · 07/05/2025 06:11

I agree this is a pain in the arse but tbh in these instances where the Op is replying via @, I usually just copy the relevant username and put it into the 'find in page' function in chrome... Bit of a faff but less so than scrolling back up through what can be a lot of posts!

murphys · 07/05/2025 06:02

I agree OP. This is what the quote function is there for, and not for bloody quoting the first post.

I don't read the @ posts either as if it's a long thread I have to now scroll up to find that particular poster, just to work out what they are responding to.

Those who should use the quote function don't, while those who shouldn't do 🙈

TimeForATerf · 07/05/2025 06:02

I also agree, I can’t stand an @ reply, quoting is there for a reason.

Cerialkiller · 07/05/2025 05:57

This isn't an exam setting where you need to fully show your working, start your answer with the question and write in full sentences. Some people don't have the skills/time for that.

Mumsnet is full of a broad range of people with different ways of writing and and differing opinion yes sometimes you have to wade through some hard reading or pointless posts but what is the alternative? Ban poster who don't fit the format? Many posts aren't here to entertain you there are there to help an op with a specific problem.

I do agree with the quoting the original post though and think mn should take away the option! Ops are often long!

Keyanski · 07/05/2025 05:49

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

rosemarble · 07/05/2025 02:16

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 07/05/2025 01:59

I understand exactly what she means.

Show quote history

Me too.

LunaShadow · 07/05/2025 02:05

CountryQueen · 07/05/2025 01:53

Your post is impossible to read. I think the kids call it “word salad”.

I thought it was just me!

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 07/05/2025 01:59

CountryQueen · 07/05/2025 01:53

Your post is impossible to read. I think the kids call it “word salad”.

I understand exactly what she means.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 07/05/2025 01:58

Wacqui · 07/05/2025 01:48

I quite like reading the sub conversations tbh. Some of them are cracking.

Only if they make sense!

If there is no quoted post, it's impossible to understand what the OP means.

For example, they might write:

@Wacqui "I disagree with you - my child never does that" ........... and nobody reading that would have any idea what was meant by the comment (unless they scrolled back to whatever had been said).

A thread makes far more sense when the OP responds with a fully-quoted post.

HaddyAbrams · 07/05/2025 01:56

Wut? You want the OP to use the quote function, but also just do @ all? Which doesn't do anything AFAIK.

CountryQueen · 07/05/2025 01:53

Your post is impossible to read. I think the kids call it “word salad”.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 07/05/2025 01:52

I agree with you 100% @Dahliasarebeautiful

While we're about it, can people also stop quoting the whole OP when they're commenting.

Wacqui · 07/05/2025 01:48

I quite like reading the sub conversations tbh. Some of them are cracking.