Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Hide threads containing a particular word or phrase

38 replies

YourSexNotGenderIsOnFire · 13/06/2021 23:15

I would like to suggest a feature which allows you to automatically hide all threads containing a particular word or phrase. I know you can already hide a given topic or thread, but this could be much more useful.

It would allow people with PTSD to avoid certain triggers (eg by blocking words like "rape").

This could also be a nifty solution for those who want to read the feminism board but don't want to see any threads relating to trans issues. If this feature was available they could simply decide to hide all threads that referred to eg "trans" or "transwomen." This would be much better than trying to split the board into sex/gender and other issues (which IMO seems unworkable given the nature of the threads on FWR).

Would such a feature be possible?

OP posts:
ScreamingMeMe · 14/06/2021 12:42

This is a much better idea than a separate board.

MNHQ
DawnMumsnet · 14/06/2021 12:22

Hi @YourSexNotGenderIsOnFire,

Thanks for suggesting this. We're always open to new ideas so we'll be passing this on for further discussion in the office.

We'll keep an eye on this thread too to see what the general consensus is.

Thanks again.

Original poster
YourSexNotGenderIsOnFire · 14/06/2021 10:41

Would it help more if there was a topic area in FWR for discussions relating to trans issues?

No. There is another long thread on this which prompted my request. The sub-forums seem to be rarely used and it's not fair that the majority of FWR posters should suffer because a small number of Mumsnetters want to read FWR without seeing threads realating to sex/gender issues, which is IMO an existential threat to feminism. I would not have been particularly aware of these issues if I hadn't stumbled across the threads in FWR.

OP posts:
MustardRose · 14/06/2021 10:20

Would it help more if there was a topic area in FWR for discussions relating to trans issues? There are already several topics in that category anyway so presumably it would be fairly straightforward to add another.

Manteo · 14/06/2021 10:19

I'd also like to be able to have threads with certain words in highlighted. If it was something I was interested in and wanted to know when threads were posted about it

Original poster
YourSexNotGenderIsOnFire · 14/06/2021 10:14

If this is too complicated to implement, perhaps we could have an option where the OP when creating a thread can tick a box to indicate if it:

  • "contains distressing content" and
  • in FWR, it "relates to the impact of transgender ideology on women".

I imagine it would be easier to then filter those threads for those who want them to be filtered.

I just think the splitting FWR idea is throwing the baby out with the bath water. There are probably a fairly small number of women who want to avoid the trans issues, and it would be better if there was some opt-in approach for them to block posts they don't want to see.

OP posts:
Wrongsideofhistorymyarse · 14/06/2021 09:24

I like this idea. Instructions could be stickied at the top of the board.

Helleofabore · 14/06/2021 08:48

Oops.

Obviously the keywords would feed into a filter that users can set.

Helleofabore · 14/06/2021 08:46

I was wondering about whether the OP could have some keywords that need to be selected (like hashtags) that would assist in facilitating that. I know it might need a third party ‘plug in’ but it might be achievable.

Of course… threads can go in unpredicted directions and as such some may ‘sneak’ Hmm through but it might catch enough.

It would also give another way for those threads to be targeted, but then using AS allows that anyway I guess.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 14/06/2021 08:29

Good idea, except in those cases where a poster had 'trans' hidden and would not see posters on trans fats or Trans Siberian or so on :) - so maybe it would need to be board specific?

inever · 14/06/2021 07:57

Ideally but the way MNHQ's tech is set up, I doubt it would be possible. Even big tech websites and forums that I know either can't or won't do this (for one of them, you have to rely on a specific third-party software to be able to do something like that).

I doubt MNHQ, who won't/can't give seemingly easy features like the edit button, would/could do it. It would be great if they do though.

Pyjamagame · 14/06/2021 07:24

Perfect solution.

SirSamuelVimes · 14/06/2021 07:22

Great idea - I'm not techy at all so don't know if this is possible but it seems a better solution than splitting the boards.