Making Adoption board "opt in"

YEs please.

I think sometimes people click through to a thread which says "My child can't sleep alone" don't notice that its and adoption thread, people very patiently explain that no, controlled crying is not considered suitable for adopted children and poster then either slinks away feeling like an idiot or humphily says "But I know what I'm talking about - my mothers second cousin was adopted 60 years ago and her parents did controlled crying and she's fine now and I have 15 children who all love me doing controlled crying so much its now our family hobby".

I made be exaggerating a little for effect...

If posters don't have to opt in - they can start all the threads they like in chat complaining about nasty adopters/courts/social workers stealing blonde blue eyed children to order can't they? Or (more seriously) how the system could be improved if they want the rest of the worlds opinions on generic stuff which doesn't actually impinge on their lives day to day.

I can't understand what possible argument there could be not to do this.

Is there one, MNHQ?

Yes please!

Yes please!

Yes please.

When you're going through a difficult time, it's so hard to have trolls basically saying we're no better than the people who kidnapped Madeline McCann and therefore deserve all we get.

I whole heartedly agree with this request. I used to post regularly on the adoption boards, but gave up eventually as a result of the trolls and ill informed posters turning up to tell us how wrong we all are, I now lurk but would be more likely to post if the area had some kind of protection.

However, I remember the last time MNHQ were asked to make the board opt in... They made all the right noises and then sweet FA happened. Please, please listen this time before everyone just gives up and goes elsewhere.

I think this is a great idea . Many threads function as support threads for posters going through unimaginably hard circumstances of trauma and loss. It's very distressing when they get disrupted by trolls.

We also get invasions from posters who are now experts on the subject because they read an article in the daily fail / watched Jeremy Kyle and want to give everyone the benefit of their wisdom . Yes, its good to educate some people some of the time . But often it's too much to ask of a parent who has just lost a child / is struggling with a child with SN / behavioural problems etc.

The opt in has worked well for SN as it has cut down on the random trouble makers and time wasters, leaving some space for parents to support other parents .

Yes please.