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Heads up - Improvements to watched threads coming

868 replies

BeccaMumsnet · 04/08/2015 12:52

Hullo everyone,

Just a heads-up: we wanted to let you know we've been working on some changes to improve the way our 'watched threads' option works, and we’re going to be releasing them today.

As you know, at the minute, if you want to receive an email notification when someone posts on a thread you yourself have posted on, you have to check the ‘watch this thread’ box when you post your message. From today, the box will be automatically checked.

Our thinking was that because, in the immortal words of Ferris Bueller, , it can be easy to miss replies to threads you’ve posted on, so it’d be useful to keep you updated as a matter of course.

Some crucial points:

  • Fear not: we absolutely won’t email every time someone posts after you have - and if you’re still looking at the thread, we won’t mail you at all.
  • You’ll only get ONE email after you’ve left the thread, to say it’s been updated.
  • If the idea of receiving any such emails makes you want to weep/tear out your hair/throw a toddler-style tantrum on the kitchen floor, DON’T PANIC: you can do a one-time-only opt out, by clicking on customise at the top of any thread, and unchecking ‘Auto-watch threads I start’ and/or ‘Auto-watch threads I post on’.
  • If you’d like to adopt a mix-and-match policy and be alerted to replies on some threads but not others, simply uncheck the auto-watch options in customise, and check the ‘watch this thread’ box underneath the message box on the thread you’re interested in.

Hope all of this makes sense, and sounds useful. Do shout if you've any questions (we know we can rely on you Wink)

Thank you all Flowers
MNHQ

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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ThumbWitchesAbroad · 05/08/2015 15:30
MrsVamos · 05/08/2015 15:30

Maryz Grin

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 05/08/2015 15:30

"We shall not, we shall not be moved to MN New..."

Happy to be a CUNT under this banner!

PrivatePike · 05/08/2015 15:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsVamos · 05/08/2015 15:28

Dark cant link, sorry. Its in SS, about intermittent usage tomorrow morning between 8 & 6 am.

LittleBear It would.

I think sometimes pps forget that ops, or anyone for that matter aren't obliged to return to a thread and update.

Maryz · 05/08/2015 15:27

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DarkEvilMoon · 05/08/2015 15:26

Most of us hate the "bollocking about" thumb :( As yes to a concern about imposed changes if forced to log out.

Katymac exactly. I don't always want to post on the threads I am watching and sometimes I want to watch threads I have posted on because there is useful info I want to return to.

LittleBearPad · 05/08/2015 15:23

It's possible MrsVamos. It would be nice for someone to explain the thinking though.

Maryz · 05/08/2015 15:23

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ThumbWitchesAbroad · 05/08/2015 15:23

I'm really very cross about this. I'm quite sure MN couldn't give a flying fuck if I leave, but I probably will if I'm forced to use the site in New.
I'm also concerned that MN classic and my colour settings will disappear if I ever log out for any reason, or get forcibly logged out, as has happened recently. Is that going to happen?

God I hate all this bollocking about. Angry

Katymac · 05/08/2015 15:22

Threads I'm on = threads I've posted on

Threads I'm watching = threads I may or may not have posted on but would like to keep a link to because they have information I'd like to read either when I have time or information I'd like to refer back to at some point in the future

Please don't confuse them

Why watch threads that are on Threads I'm on - it's redundant

DarkEvilMoon · 05/08/2015 15:21

Don't suppose you can linkie? I am not supposed to be here Blush

MrsVamos · 05/08/2015 15:17

Stay strong, Maryz Smile Resist any unnecessary clicking !

Dark Same here. Also getting the 'technical hitches' page appearing lots too.

I think they've started early but not told anyone cos they've realised 'improvements' will take much longer than between 6 and 8 am tomorrow. (see other warning thread).

GreyAndGoldInTheMeadow · 05/08/2015 15:16

The cynic in me would say these changes aren't anything to do with improving the site for its users, but because mnhq want to reach us when not here by emailing that a thread has new posts to draw us back to the site in turn creating more revenue opportunities for the owners, and the easiest tech option for that is to bump any thread we post on onto our watch lists rather than it being just on threads I'm on.

DarkEvilMoon · 05/08/2015 15:12

I think something might be happening as getting a lot of bad gateway 504/502 errors atm...

DarkEvilMoon · 05/08/2015 15:12

I think something might be happening as getting a lot of bad gateway 504/502 errors atm...

Maryz · 05/08/2015 15:09

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Stormtreader · 05/08/2015 15:09

I used Sludge Green for my posts, and Goldenrod for the OPs.
If only 8% of us used the colours, and you all hate Sludge Green, that must make me a tiny % of the 8% and therefore extra-special Grin

MrsVamos · 05/08/2015 15:00

Samcro

I want to offer consulation, but will Wine be a bad idea ? Grin

I can see me talking to myself too, if all these changes over ride everything eventually. And I don't drink. Blush

DarkEvilMoon · 05/08/2015 14:59

Clicking and deleting things off TIW is ok Maryz just avoid customerise like it has a bad cause of plague!

I was thinking about what makes a website accessible the other day. I am creating quite a list of things that make it unusable, and there are stuff that I do like. Accessibility is a HUGE problem on the web, and as yet the legal implication of failing to provide reasonable adjustment is not something that has annoyed me enough to look into it. But it just has. I can change the size of the text only by zooming in, but that can lead to exciting layout issues when upgrades are happening. The customise colours are incredibly useful as I can then access the text easier without worrying about unreadable colour combinations. Apparently we should live in a country where reasonable adjustment can be expected, unfortunately that does not seem to make one bit of an impact for some businesses/organisations when they are doing their planning and implementation.

MrsVamos · 05/08/2015 14:57

My TIW hasn't changed, Maryz, if it helps.

Like Fiderer I'm being brave.

Feeling very wibbly at all the changes though.

LittleBear

Could it be that perhaps HQ have noticed the rare, occasional threads where ops don't return and some pps whinge about the op not returning ?

Surely if you've posted on a thread you will remember, and return to said thread if you want an update ?

Sounds like we could get loads of threads bemoaning ops who never return to update.

I had so nearly forgotten the awfulness that was the mobile site too. This is bringing it all back.

It was horrible.

Samcro · 05/08/2015 14:52

its not an improvement, its plain daft, why change what was not broke,
I had my posts in one colour and op's in another and could click on a thread without it being added to my watched.

now me and OP are same colour. when I am drunk i WILL answer myself, I know it,

Maryz · 05/08/2015 14:47

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Maryz · 05/08/2015 14:46

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LittleBearPad · 05/08/2015 14:45

But View where were the threads from frustrated mumsnetters wanting emails whenever threads were updated, bemoaning the fact that posting on a thread added it to TIW. What problem was this change meant to solve?

MNHQ haven't answered any questions as to why this 'improvement' has been made. They have simply fucked off a lot of their users. Just as they did when the new mobile site was introduced.

For what it's worth the new test app highlights OP and my posts in different colours which can be chosen from about five options - admittedly only our names are coloured but if this has been built into the new app why was it considered unnecessary on the site? There's no logic at allConfused