Introducing AIBU voting

So what's happened? Cannot see a thread with a vote button on the first page?

Oh I wondered what that vote symbol thing was on threads (thought it was a new emoji actually).

I don't mind the idea of this in principle (since the OP has the choice of whether or not to enable it) - loads of times I've seen AIBU threads where I've thought arseholes people were being unfairly harsh to the OP and thought I can't really be arsed interacting with these posters but then if someone were metaphorically weighing up the YABUs and the YANBU I would at least be adding my support to the OPs side.

Maybe MNHQ think it will increase interaction on other boards which I think would be brilliant. I think it's sad that so many people are posting in AIBU 'for traffic' because we all know that they will attract the nutters/trolls/well-meaning people with no actual specialist knowledge, maybe this will encourage people to use other boards.

Maybe MNHQ are actually trying to address the fact that AIBU is often a nasty, unsupportive place that reflects really badly on the whole site (given the chance to vote about AIBU I'd vote get rid).

It looks ugly. It's way too big.

I don't see the point of it at all. You will end up with even more people posting threads that don't belong in AIBU.

Just clicked on a thread asking about a sick child with terminal cancer and what is right under the OP - the big clicky AIBU, yes or no? Could that be any more crass?

The OP would have enabled the voting for that thread. I agree with you that it looks crass though.

MNHQ you could have made the search function more useable, trialed a timed edit button and a quote button. Or fixed the many faults MN has.

There has been no great request for this feature has there?

I like it! Will have to look for threads to vote!

See, I don't think it will necessarily decrease interaction.
I mean, the people who like to comment still will, and people who want to interact but don't feel up to any oncoming onslaught their comment might or might not attract still can by pressing the Yay or Nay button.
Win win?

Once again for emphasis:

(1) The Tech Team should fix what's broken before working on new toys.

(2) The vote buttons will decrease not increase interaction.

No, please don't put a vote on this thread. Putting concerns about the impact of an action on mental health to a vote is crass.

To those saying that we simply don't have to use the option if we don't like it. It's not a case of 'not liking it' it's a case of us being concerned about the impact on both vulnerable individuals and the wider site.

"It appears to be clear though that MN aren't actually interested in our thoughts on this."

Maybe they should put a vote button on this thread?

@MashedSpud
I like it. If you don’t like it go to preferences and turn it off or yabu

Same

Once again for emphasis:

(1) The OP of a thread in AIBU has to actively select the option to have voting buttons. They will not appear by default on all AIBU threads.

(2) If you don't like seeing the voting buttons and result being visible, you can switch this off in your Talk Preferences.

It appears to be clear though that MN aren't actually interested in our thoughts on this.

Indeed OYBBK The silence from them is deafening.

I like it.

If you don’t like it go to preferences and turn it off or yabu.

That rather misses the point of not introducing tools that can further damage people's mental health and lower the bar even lower than it is in terms of constructive discussion.

It appears to be clear though that MN aren't actually interested in our thoughts on this. Have they assessed the potential impact or is money everything?

People who hate it, remember that you can switch it off in your talk preferences. That way it's as if it was never there.

I also think it's difficult to gauge from reading threads whether it's 50/50, 60/40, 70/30. When it's 90/10 it's really easy to see that it's very one sided, but otherwise it can genuinely be quite hard to tell where the exact balance is.

And it's still not possible to tell because some people will use words rather than clicking an inane button so you still have no idea what the true balance it.

Against this for all the reasons already stated. Also it’s REALLY irritating to just see it when scrolling through. Please reconsider

I think you can definitely tell the balance just by reading the thread. But does it matter? Just post your opinion. In actual words.
I still don't see how it helps to have exact figures.
Does it mean that new posters to the thread can join the 'winning' side so to speak?

I just want to add that I found the voting really helpful when I posted the other day. A lot of the people who take time to comment are the ones who want to tell you YABU, and often the YANBU majority stay silent. I know I often do as it seems silly just to say YANBU and there are other posters who have articulated why YANBU effectively already etc.

I also think it's difficult to gauge from reading threads whether it's 50/50, 60/40, 70/30. When it's 90/10 it's really easy to see that it's very one sided, but otherwise it can genuinely be quite hard to tell where the exact balance is.

So thanks MNHQ.

You should add ‘ESH’ - everybody sucks here - like reddit

“There are so many topics / posts that end up in AIBU that are totally inappropriate for it. You then get a load of comments from people with no specialist knowledge or experience commenting with either dangerous or downright cruel advice. “

Yup!

AIBU is the bilge water of MN.

I think it's a bad idea. It will decrease interaction, rather than increase it, and am perplexed that MN thought AIBU was in need of more interaction. It's surely the topic with the most interaction anyway, no? Perhaps with the exception of Chat.

Although that screen shot absolutely looks bad I don’t think much in that thread covers Mumsnet in glory. Some of the comments are totally clueless and unsympathetic to what is a terrible situation for everyone. There are so many topics / posts that end up in AIBU that are totally inappropriate for it. You then get a load of comments from people with no specialist knowledge or experience commenting with either dangerous or downright cruel advice. I used to report them but now I can’t see the point as threads never seem to get pulled even when the wrong advice is given consistently to posters or things have become downright cruel.

I’d much rather you focused on taking down some of the frankly horrendous, bullying threads on here rather than set up a poll. But if you are going to set it up then I like it.

That screen shot earlier says it all, how crass and ridiculous do those big buttons look

Poor show

While I agree it's a great idea. If it is only being rolled out for certain users and not everyone on that particular thread, surely this does not give an accurate % of views of the people on the thread. Just of the people you chose on the thread @TomMumsnet

Will we be able to vote for getting rid of AIBU?

When someone with voting rights asks that question with the poll on.

Any volunteers?