Hating the "Load older posts" feature

Thanks for switching it off, MNHQ. It was terrible.

If that’s the point of it, I would rather have threads limited to 500 posts instead of having a clunky ‘feature’ like this implemented. Even without all the other issues it was causing, I can’t see why this would improve the overall user-experience when reading a longer thread. We already have bookmarks, we don’t need something that randomly takes us to parts of a thread we don’t necessarily want to be at and limits what can be seen. Simply scrolling up and down is fine, some things don’t need fixing or ‘improving’. Don’t make it more complicated than it needs to be.

Another vote for "this is garbage".

Slow loading times and crashes shouldn't be an issue on any semi-recent tech, regardless of device type; until recently I was using a base model MacBook from 2017 and, while it sounded like a jet engine if I opened Google maps, it had no problem with a lengthy MN thread. Also, the building I work in is like a lead-lined casket and everything still loads fine, even using mobile data instead of wifi.

If anyone is struggling with loading times, they can fix it on their end by changing their view to pages. What sense is there in making the user experience worse across the board?

And it's allegedly to stop the page from jumping around. Well, yesterday I was trying to scroll to the bottom of a thread and every time I thought I'd got there, a bunch of comments loaded and I was sent back up the page. Bloody awful.

I really do not like this feature. Having to keep clicking on the button to see the full thread.

Yes, and this other issue was solved for everyone who rightly hated it by providing a setting that allows it to be turned off. No reason HQ couldn't listen to all this feedback and provide a setting to turn this off too

Absolute jokes 🤣

Better performing for who exactly because for me it's an absolute shit show!

this is about creating a faster and better performing website

If this was the aim it has failed miserable. It's slower and performing badly.

You're talking about something else completely!

Sorry, I've got it now. I had to change my settings to load all instead of 25 per page. That really is shit. It just jumps about and makes no sense.

I'm going back to 25 per page which works for me but totally in support of making this an optional setting for those who like the load all option. This new version is terrible.

Yeah, I find it odd, because it often suggests threads that are over a year old, (and haven't been posted on for over a year.) When you click on it you get a message saying 'heads-up, this thread hasn't been posted on for over a year! Why not start a new thread!'

Seems rather pointless.

I've done that too. Maybe it's not rolled out for all users yet?

Go into a thread via "threads I'm on" and you'll see it...

😫😫😫

It really is terrible. I like to load a few long threads to read before getting on the underground - won't be able to do that anymore will I!

Where are people seeing this load new posts and infinite scroll thing? Is it only on some boards at the moment? I've checked on Chrome on android phone and on PC and nothing looks different.

I'm sorry you're not a fan but as I've said this is about creating a faster and better performing website. I hope we can improve it so that we can achieve this and make it enjoyable for you to use.

Improve it = MN way of saying it's not going anywhere

They're going to do one of two things:

1. Keep tinkering with it. While repeatedly asking users for their device details and if they've cleared their cache

2. Ignore the problem and hope users stop complaining about it.

It completely defeats the purpose of a discussion forum, you open a longer thread and all you get is essentially the first and last post, you basically have to reload the whole page to only get a few posts before the last anyway. How are you meant to follow the discussion if it’s ceased to exist unless you reload posts several times…

Please get rid of it!! I absolutely hate it. I use web browser on my laptop and phone, no app. It's bloody awful.

It's just awful. The site is virtually unusable.

On the thread about "changing colour" Katymumsnet said: we have tested this internally and with users before releasing as we do with all our releases. Unfortunately there were some small issues we didn't pick up during the testing mainly due to varying devices and internet speeds etc. Everyone's help in spotting these is hugely appreciated.
I'm sorry you're not a fan but as I've said this is about creating a faster and better performing website. I hope we can improve it so that we can achieve this and make it enjoyable for you to use.

Given the number of problems that showed up immediately I'd like to know exactly how much testing was really done though!

Did you do any UX testing before rolling this out @MNHQ ? It just seems completely incompatible with the way many users prefer to navigate the forums, plus it has broken several other features that people do use.

Completely agree with this. But tbh this will finally help me step away from MN. So there is that.