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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:
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31
Sparklingbrook · 05/08/2015 10:28

They're trying to improve it and make it better.

Yes without asking anyone that uses the site what they would prefer or what they would think about the changes. That makes no sense.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 05/08/2015 10:25

At one point the entire site didnt exist, that doesnt mean that just deciding to get rid of it and say "this is just how things used to be" is fine.

Lol. Can I get this on a gif for posting on other threads where any criticism of MN is seen as ungrateful whining rather than, I dunno, legitimate complaint from service users?

ViewFromThe4thFloor · 05/08/2015 10:25

What makes you think it was random? Or that they're not quickly trying to fix it?

And simplifying software is all the rage isn't it? Perhaps you should get a job with a more modern company?

Also "this is just how things used to be" - isn't this just the opposite? They're trying to improve it and make it better. Ok so they messed up a bit, but they say they are going to fix it. Every one is human, no?

Sparklingbrook · 05/08/2015 10:24

Catherine Tate? There's a blast from the past.

I am going to be rude to everyone til this is fixed. Grin

ViewFromThe4thFloor · 05/08/2015 10:23

Sparkling, are you being rude about me? About me being rude about them being rude? Who are you, Catherine Tate? Bovered. Rude. Bovered.

And why would this be a precursor to removing threads I'm on. That makes no sense whatsoever. Shrug.

Stormtreader · 05/08/2015 10:22

Sorry view but I work in software systems, and if I just randomly decided to remove options like this that caused so much unhappiness and cost nothing, Id be expecting to be called in by my boss to "discuss" it, and also would have been told in no uncertain terms to fix it, and quickly.

At one point the entire site didnt exist, that doesnt mean that just deciding to get rid of it and say "this is just how things used to be" is fine.

Thurlow · 05/08/2015 10:18

That's true about the flouncing. It's a bug, Tech didn't expect this to happen, it will be fixed at some point.

But it is making MN bloody hard to use at the moment!

Sparklingbrook · 05/08/2015 10:18

View Grin being rude about the rude people.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 05/08/2015 10:17

Yeah me too fine. If I had to choose one to go it would be Watched threads not Threads I'm on. You can always favourite a URL on your browser but there's no equivalent to TIO.

ViewFromThe4thFloor · 05/08/2015 10:16

Gosh how rude are some people?

Moaning that site updates and changes are bad makes me laugh. You do realise that the option to have the OP and own-posts highlighted in colour hasn't been around forever and that that was an update once upon a time?

I think MNHQ have been pretty clear: the lack of post highlighting is a bug that they'll fix. As for flouncing over it, well, I doubt you'd be missed too much. MN has quite a lot of users I think.

Sparklingbrook · 05/08/2015 10:11

.

Heads up - Improvements to watched threads coming
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 05/08/2015 10:09

Has anyone pointed out that this change is likely to be the precursor to removing threads I'm on and just having watched threads?

I thought that too, and its really shitty. I use both all of the time, and for completely different reasons.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 05/08/2015 10:07

Has anyone pointed out that this change is likely to be the precursor to removing threads I'm on and just having watched threads?

Otherwise why do it?

Stormtreader · 05/08/2015 09:50

So much for "you wont be emailed multiple times", ive had 3 emails and 2 were for the same thread.
I go in to untick the "email" option, and now my colours are gone, apparently for ever!

I only want my simple options back - show whole thread in one page, bookmarking on, do not email me ever, highlight the OPs posts and my posts in whatever colour you want. That shouldnt be impossible, should it?

Thurlow · 05/08/2015 09:30

Wailing here too. Have unticked the TIW box - though how weird that the options are for automatically watching Threads I Start and Threads I Post On, but it's ticking everything I look at? Confused - and now I've lost my colours and the options to have workplace mode etc

Sad
Piratespoo · 05/08/2015 09:23

I just want an email when the op posts. Not anyone else. Everything else works fine. Sod ferris, what about 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it!'

Jux · 05/08/2015 09:21

Why on earth would I want to watch threads that I've posted on, when they will show up in my I'm On list and I can see immediately whether anyone else has posted?

Now I seem to watching a load of threads which I can access easily through I'm On, but have to somehow disentangle them from the threads I want to watch because I haven't actually posted on them.

It's madness and silly and then you lose your colours which were about the best thing MNHQ ever did.

Bakeoffcake · 05/08/2015 09:15

Fiderer I'm doing the same-

Don't touch Customise

Untick "Watch This Thread" on every sodding thread you click on

Then you keep you're colours and don't receive any emails.

ShuShuFontana · 05/08/2015 09:14

colour highlights are lost....stupid stupid site updates.

please correct the madness, are you all on glue?

ShuShuFontana · 05/08/2015 09:06

oh well, I found the box to tick to prevent every last think going to my watched list and now none of MY posts are highlighted.

the op is blue on this thread but I have a feeling that's because it's a MN thread

what a fiasco.

I am coming back here with a whole host of wailing too, if I post this and it goes to my watch list after I have unticked that box
Angry

DonkeyOaty · 05/08/2015 09:02

H'okay looks in order. This thread not on tiw. Colours are the same. Good, good.

(On the mobile site, not an app. Gave up mning on ipad as the site crashed all the time, rendering unusable)

FruSirkaOla · 05/08/2015 08:59

I said this on the other thread in SS and I'll repeat it here. Come on MNHQ and 'fess up that you've cocked-up big time this time.

DonkeyOaty · 05/08/2015 08:59

So - suck up emails to keep colours, no fiddling with settings either

Right here goes

Fiderer · 05/08/2015 08:55

Colours - check, for OP and me
Emails - none

Stay away from the 'Customise' Click of Doom Grin

For those already afflicted we'll need a Colourless Bar, which will be as gloomy as it sounds.

Fiderer · 05/08/2015 08:50

So if I don't click on 'Customise'
Don't tick or untick anything

Then I keep my colours (as now) and don't get any emails (never did)?

I use TIW and TIO and they're the same except there are more posts listed (18) but that doesn't bother me.

Am tentatively about to click "Post" and have unticked "Watch this thread" below, just to be on the safe side.

Chocks away!

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