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

Would it be possible for all threads from first time posters to need approval before submission?

36 replies

AlternativePerspective · 28/02/2022 07:24

I get that people think that if we stopped first time posters from starting threads for a period of time then people might feel they couldn’t come here for support.

But given the prevalence of trolls and spammers wanting to post fearmongering threads about the war, the possibility of nuclear war, how to build a bunker in the back yard and so on, wouldn’t it be an idea for all threads from first time posters to be subject to approval before they were allowed on to the boards?

That way we would at least stop an awful lot of trolls and spammers posting here, even if we couldn’t prevent the fearmongering entirely.

Plenty of fb groups have a rule where a post is submitted for admin approval before appearing on the group, and while it would involve some work for HQ, this would presumably be countered by the fact that HQ wouldn’t have to look through so many reports about these kinds of threads because they will already have seen them.

I would make the moderation for say, 30 days.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
TeenPlusCat · 01/03/2022 19:45

I wonder how many brand new genuine posters MN gets each day compared with numbers of trolls?
if it is 99:1 new:troll then it wouldn't be worth pre-moderation.
On the other hand if it is 1:99 then it would save MNHQ a lot of effort to pre-moderate, even if it meant that new posters had to wait 30mins for their first threads to be posted.

rosesarebluey · 01/03/2022 08:56

[quote Workinghardeveryday]@rosesarebluey I agree! That is how I felt too.

A quick search shows I am not new at all.

Sorry that happened to you x[/quote]
My post was deleted. I actually don't get what I said was wrong.

Workinghardeveryday · 28/02/2022 22:30

@rosesarebluey I agree! That is how I felt too.

A quick search shows I am not new at all.

Sorry that happened to you x

rosesarebluey · 28/02/2022 21:36

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

MNHQ
LilyMumsnet · 28/02/2022 19:08

Hello and thanks so much for the suggestion.

We've always been post-moderated and rely on reports to let us know if anything is wrong on the boards - to be honest, this isn't likely to change in the near future.

We're very aware that parenting can throw up A LOT of unplanned late-night googling, with parents seeking help online, and we'd never want to cut anyone off from that support. That's one of the great things about the site.

We'll always deal with reports as quickly as we can and boot trolls off of the site with haste. These past couple of years, we've been working on lots of new moderation tools - for instance, our spam filter tool auto-hides spam immediately. We're continuously working to improve our moderation behind the scenes in order to make Mumsnet a great place.

As ever, please do report anything that's causing concern - we're always more than happy to take a look.

GirlInACountrySong · 28/02/2022 10:39

After dealing with anxious people in RL all day long ,especially through this pandemic, I want somewhere to go where it's straight talking and honest

If I can't get that here then where? There's many educated people here and over the many years I've been here I have learned a lot

Trolls will ALWAYS. Be a problem. Some of the biggest troll stories are from trolls who are here amongst us building up stories for a long time. Not someone joining up just to post something controversial

WorraLiberty · 28/02/2022 10:36

I can't see this working because there are far more non first time posters starting fearmongering threads about the war. Usually under headings like "I'm terrified" etc.

I think this is where personal responsibility comes in, in simply hiding them or (if they're not obvious from the title) hitting the back button once you realise it's the 50 millionth war thread.

Sparklingbrook · 28/02/2022 10:34

Yes. And if MN can help them get the real life help they need that's a good thing

In an ideal world but it doesn't always work like that sadly. The instant help can be very variable.

Like I said upthread though, this idea is never going to happen so it doesn't really matter, things will carry on as they always have.

SoupDragon · 28/02/2022 10:29

@Sparklingbrook

Vulnerable people should be encouraged to seek RL help. It's not about 'giving a shit' but vulnerable people potentially being given incorrect or harmful advice that's not going to help in an emergency.
Yes. And if MN can help them get the real life help they need that's a good thing.

There is a greater chance of harm from denying those people the virtually instant help of MN than there is for people finding out they've helped a troll.

Workinghardeveryday · 28/02/2022 10:27

Yes I agree, I remember that one not long ago. Usually a Saturday night, what is it with these people!!

SailingNotSurfing · 28/02/2022 10:24

I think private messaging should be disabled for newbies who post carefully crafted threads asking for money. Usually with a couple of hungry babies and only 37p in the bank.

Workinghardeveryday · 28/02/2022 10:20

@AlternativePerspective I really hope this thread isn’t based on your believe that my on going thread is from a new poster.

Maybe you don’t search history properly and believe so many people to be new when they clearly aren’t.

Sparklingbrook · 28/02/2022 10:16

Vulnerable people should be encouraged to seek RL help. It's not about 'giving a shit' but vulnerable people potentially being given incorrect or harmful advice that's not going to help in an emergency.

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 28/02/2022 10:14

There's more types of emergency than those requiring A&E.
Anyway I'm not carrying on defending myself for giving a shit about a potentially vulnerable poster.

Sparklingbrook · 28/02/2022 10:08

@Ihopeyourcakeisshit

Actually I think it's more arrogant to assume that people do have 'real life' support Confused And yes by and large it's a forum for talking cobblers Wink I just wouldn't want someone in distress to be penalised because of the odd numpty?
It's not arrogant. MN went down for 3-4 days when it was hacked. i am sure people managed just fine. Most people have an A&E Department or a GP in times of emergency. I don't think if you are distressed this is always the best place for the correct support.
Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 28/02/2022 10:05

Actually I think it's more arrogant to assume that people do have 'real life' support Confused
And yes by and large it's a forum for talking cobblers Wink
I just wouldn't want someone in distress to be penalised because of the odd numpty?

Sparklingbrook · 28/02/2022 09:56

It is. Just a Talk Forum where mostly people are avoiding what they should be doing in favour of messing around on the internet.

GirlInACountrySong · 28/02/2022 09:23

@Sparklingbrook

Yes MN isn’t some sort of emergency service. Getting advice from randoms on the internet if you’re in an immediate panic probably not the best idea.

It's just a forum....a place to spend a bit of time..... chat. About what we like

Sparklingbrook · 28/02/2022 09:21

Yes MN isn’t some sort of emergency service.
Getting advice from randoms on the internet if you’re in an immediate panic probably not the best idea.

Original poster
AlternativePerspective · 28/02/2022 09:10

What about namechangers? They have no visible ( to you) posting history but may have been here years it would be easy enough for there to be an algorithm which would identify a new joiner vs a name changer. But actually we would also prevent a lot more trolls if name changing wasn’t so easy. But that’s a different discussion.

Added to which it’s really quite arrogant to assume that mumsnet is someone’s only source of support on a serious matter. People would get far more genuine support if they sought help in RL, if it’s a matter of life and death MN isn’t the place to go, because there aren’t even any guarantees of replies,and even if they are nobody is generally qualified to give life and death advice that is going to save someone.

I do advance search all the Ukraine hysteria threads and I report them all.

Unfortunately the hide thread isn’t accessible when using voiceover on safari so I don’t have that available to me…

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 28/02/2022 08:55

@GirlInACountrySong

A totally innocuous thread may veer off and become about 'the war'

You then get posters deciding to police the thread saying don't post about that here as they are sensitive and don't want any discussion that may upset them

This is a forum for adults.

I meant from the outset. When it starts off about Ukraine/War, say but the thread title gives no clue. You can then hide the thread without bothering to open it.
GirlInACountrySong · 28/02/2022 08:49

A totally innocuous thread may veer off and become about 'the war'

You then get posters deciding to police the thread saying don't post about that here as they are sensitive and don't want any discussion that may upset them

This is a forum for adults.

Sparklingbrook · 28/02/2022 08:39

I wish that posters (new or otherwise) would put in the thread title that the thread is about the War/Ukraine that would be helpful.

DropYourSword · 28/02/2022 08:37

I understand why you'd suggest it, but honestly I disagree with the idea.
So what if a first time poster writes about their concerns over Ukraine, or COVID, or whatever happens next in the future.
If it goes against talk guidelines it will be deleted.
I'd prefer to sift through or ignore a troll or two instead of preventing all new people from posting.

Sparklingbrook · 28/02/2022 08:36

We should just be grateful for the Hide Thread function at this point, it's all we have. Grin
Although saying that I gave up on MN completely in the first half of 2020 for a few months because it was thread after thread of Hmm about Covid.

Swipe left for the next trending thread