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Original poster

Can we have some sort of 'warning' for people who repeatedly post without reading all of OP's posts?

143 replies

HyggeTygge · 02/01/2025 11:25

In the last 3 months or so I think this has gotten so much worse. Not only does it fill up the thread with pointless posts that have been addressed (sometimes days or weeks beforehand), it can actually be quite horrible - in one case a woman being slagged off because a few posters didn't read her sympathetic circumstances.

Could there be a 'report' reason just for this, and perhaps the posts don't need to be removed (but they could be?) but the user asked to 'see all' of OP's posts in future and shown how to do it? And repeat offenders suspended....?!

Or could it even be a note before posting if you go straight to post on a page where you couldn't possibly have read all of OP's posts?

I know it's easy to do, and obviously sometimes OP will update while people are in the process of typing and posting or they haven't refreshed. But when it keeps happening it's really frustrating on a thread and good helpful posts get missed in all the 'OP has actually updated to say this' 'well how was I supposed to know' derails.

'Cancel the cheque!!!' is still as much of an issue now as it was back then!

OP posts:
Original poster
HyggeTygge · 02/01/2025 19:59

I didn't realise that 'see all' wasn't an option on the app, so it would be unfair to introduce this.

I'm sure in the old days people would scroll through a thread, including others' replies, before saying something - but also it was a quieter place generally.

OP posts:
Original poster
HyggeTygge · 02/01/2025 19:56

SmalllChange · 02/01/2025 19:47

But equally if a person finds these things so irritating they want an already overstretched MNHQ to have to police those things, I would suggest posting here isn't for them either.

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I have no idea whether MN are over- or under-stretched enough to be able to add an additional radio button to the 'Report' page or not, hence posting here to ask. It could be an overwhelming ask, I don't know.

And yes, if threads continue to get derailed by people just bashing away at the keyboard regardless of what has been posted then I will stop finding it useful here and will go elsewhere. It would be a shame though as I've learned so much stuff from MN posters over the years, from the trivial to the essential.

OP posts:
Original poster
HyggeTygge · 02/01/2025 19:50

Gwenhwyfar · 02/01/2025 14:14

Exactly this. People who drip feed or leave out very important things from the OP are to blame for most of it.

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I disagree. Often it's clearly an ongoing situation, perhaps posted a day or more ago. They aren't going to be able to post updates before they happen - that's down to people who feel they need to contribute to the thread to read for themselves.

There are definitely people who post OPs and I (mentally) facepalm because they haven't included a lot of relevant info, but these aren't the threads I'm seeing that I'm talking about - if it's missing relevant info then people usually ask.

I agree it’s annoying but no, I don’t agree it should be policed. What next, disciplining people for spelling mistakes or leaving out apostrophes?

No, those aren't really conversation etiquette issues, so I don't think that would be a consequence of asking people to read the thing they are talking about.

OP posts:
SmalllChange · 02/01/2025 19:47

HyggeTygge · 02/01/2025 19:43

So if something is making it less fun or enjoyable, should we ask to reduce the incidences of this happening, or not?

If you personally find it unpleasant to read an OP's posts beyond the first few sentences then I would suggest that posting on forums isn't for you.

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But equally if a person finds these things so irritating they want an already overstretched MNHQ to have to police those things, I would suggest posting here isn't for them either.

Original poster
HyggeTygge · 02/01/2025 19:43

NotVeryFunny · 02/01/2025 13:51

Can we not. Posting on forums.is meant to be a fun or enjoyable activity. It's not a job. People need to chill out about others "not doing social media correctly".

So if something is making it less fun or enjoyable, should we ask to reduce the incidences of this happening, or not?

If you personally find it unpleasant to read an OP's posts beyond the first few sentences then I would suggest that posting on forums isn't for you.

OP posts:
Original poster
HyggeTygge · 02/01/2025 19:42

ABSOLUTELY agree you shouldn't be able to quote the OP either. That's literally what people are replying to unless they say otherwise!

OP posts:
HAPPYNEWYEAR2025 · 02/01/2025 19:39

NotVeryFunny · 02/01/2025 13:51

Can we not. Posting on forums.is meant to be a fun or enjoyable activity. It's not a job. People need to chill out about others "not doing social media correctly".

💯

BIWI · 02/01/2025 18:27

Maybe we could have a specific emoji, which we could then tag the offending poster with, to make it evident that they need to RTFT!

It's incredibly annoying, but I really don't think MNHQ have the time to be able to do this. So I think it's probably up to us as posters to deal with it. (Within Talk Guidelines, of course Wink)

Ariela · 02/01/2025 17:45

Part of the problem is that a busy thread can have 100 replies while you've had to disappear to another window to do some actual work work in the middle of your reply, as opposed to just sitting on MN and finishing your post. This moves the topic on so when you return 5 minutes later to finish off your post on the thread you're not aware of someone else's comment and OP's reply.

Heartbreaktuna · 02/01/2025 16:25

healthybychristmas · 02/01/2025 13:42

I also think we shouldn't be able to quote the original post.

Agreed!

Gwenhwyfar · 02/01/2025 16:24

"If you're asking a question, though, you could just re-read the OP before pressing post."

Exactly. If it's something very basic and you read the OP very quickly, go back and check before asking the question.

NotVeryFunny · 02/01/2025 16:04

gamerchick · 02/01/2025 14:30

Exactly.

People also need to understand that even when they put a lot of emotions into a thread, the poster of it might not be for real as well.

You can't police this stuff.

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Yes plus the reason I like MN is that there aren’t too many rules and regs. There’s way too much policing of everything these days, it feels oppressive and unpleasant. We can’t, don’t need to and shouldn’t try to police everything just because a few people find something a bit annoying.

IdgieThreadgoodeIsMyHeroine · 02/01/2025 16:01

PokerFriedDips · 02/01/2025 15:42

I tried clicking on that and got a broken link
Try this link instead

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Oh thank you; sorry @CowTown.

NotVeryFunny · 02/01/2025 15:59

@IdylicDay MN is definitely social media!!! Lol. And even if it wasn't it's still not a job! It's Kent to be enjoyable. Not a task to be undertaken!

NotVeryFunny · 02/01/2025 15:57

AzurePanda · 02/01/2025 14:05

Couldn’t agree more about a ban on quoting the entire original post.

Again sometimes this is relevant to do for example where there's been a long thread and you are referring to something in the OP.

MNHQ
LilyMumsnet · 02/01/2025 15:48

Hi all,

Just to say that we've read through this thread (and the suggestions). We really value the feedback and will discuss it in the office.

PokerFriedDips · 02/01/2025 15:42

IdgieThreadgoodeIsMyHeroine · 02/01/2025 15:35

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_classics/2630932-Post-wedding-message-please-help-me-what-the-hell-do-I-say

Here you go! I just discovered it the other day.

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I tried clicking on that and got a broken link
Try this link instead

IdgieThreadgoodeIsMyHeroine · 02/01/2025 15:35

CowTown · 02/01/2025 14:06

*Puts hand up

What is Cancel the Cheque? I know about Penis Beakers, but not about Cancelling Cheques.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_classics/2630932-Post-wedding-message-please-help-me-what-the-hell-do-I-say

Here you go! I just discovered it the other day.

HolidayAtNight · 02/01/2025 15:21

If you're asking a question, though, you could just re-read the OP before pressing post. It's not some kind of exam where you only get to see the post once then have to respond based on whatever percentage you manage to retain.

It doesn't bother me so much when people are like "sorry I missed that bit", but often you get someone derailing threads and/or really aggressively hammering the OP about some point they've made up which has already been contradicted by one of the OP's posts, and they seldom apologise after this is pointed out.

SummerFeverVenice · 02/01/2025 15:08

SmalllChange · 02/01/2025 15:05

You’re just annonyed that they’re missing a detail you didn’t miss, but rest assured you will have missed details they didn’t miss.

That's a very good way of putting it actually.

Also, reading comprehension can be a little more difficult when English is your second or third language and I would consider multilingual posters as anything but stupid.

Same here. Many things affect reading comprehension rates- dyslexia, attention deficit, poor memory, brain fog (menopause, fatigue, illness), 🍷

Maybe those in favour of this should have a Mensa board for the geniuses who always have 100% reading comprehension with perfect spelling and grammar.

SmalllChange · 02/01/2025 15:05

You’re just annonyed that they’re missing a detail you didn’t miss, but rest assured you will have missed details they didn’t miss.

That's a very good way of putting it actually.

Also, reading comprehension can be a little more difficult when English is your second or third language and I would consider multilingual posters as anything but stupid.

SummerFeverVenice · 02/01/2025 15:00

Allthegoodhorses · 02/01/2025 14:55

How on earth can you miss the age when it literally is in the first sentence of the OP or the thread title? There was one the other day, "Should I do xxxx with my 6 year old" then went on to mention she had a newborn, the amount of posters asking how old the child was and whether she had any other children was staggering. No reading comprehension whatsoever, so I think a PP is right, whatever rules you make up you can't fix stupid.

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People miss details all the time in a long post. It’s very common. It doesn’t make them stupid. Reading comprehension is measured in terms of what % of a text can you perfectly recall after reading it once.

The average rate of reading comprehension is 60% at the average 200 words per minute reading speed.

So yes, people who have read it, and have above average reading comprehension are still going to miss details. You’re just annonyed that they’re missing a detail you didn’t miss, but rest assured you will have missed details they didn’t miss.

SmalllChange · 02/01/2025 14:58

People with poor reading comprehension aren't always stupid.

Although I accept it can be annoying at times.

Allthegoodhorses · 02/01/2025 14:55

SummerFeverVenice · 02/01/2025 14:21

How do you know they didn’t read it vs read it but missed the age?

Show quote history

How on earth can you miss the age when it literally is in the first sentence of the OP or the thread title? There was one the other day, "Should I do xxxx with my 6 year old" then went on to mention she had a newborn, the amount of posters asking how old the child was and whether she had any other children was staggering. No reading comprehension whatsoever, so I think a PP is right, whatever rules you make up you can't fix stupid.

Nothatgingerpirate · 02/01/2025 14:52

I would like the "reactions" apart from the heart, smile and agreement to also include some form of disagreement.
There isn't much of a way to express different opinion rather than quoting a person.
Similarly, from another bucket, the "dislikes" disappeared from YT comments.
The PP who said about correcting grammar had quite a good idea 😁👍😜