YOUR OPINIONS NEEDED!!!

Love the idea ..sounds good..but as others have pointed out may not be as easy to achieve..goodluck

if mn couldn't afford to give up potential revenue, they could hustle for sponsorship. Adn the govt (whichever dept it was) might give a grant.

I agree with mumofmonsters post at 13.19 today

There are loads of good causes we may or may not choose to support. Whilst I am very sympathetic towards any family who have a missing child as a cause its just another on a very long list of causes for me tbh

Also I never look at adverts
And almost never look at mn homepage

I did for a second think positively about a MN topic called - Missing children/people, but it would be such a target for trolls - I really cant see the point sorry

How about introducing a new topic for 'missing person appeals' but running it in a similar way to the classified ads section with a small charge to post a new thread?

May sound a little crass, but would hopefully eliminate the risk of malicious trolling.

I'm afraid I agree, mumofmonsters. Anything much more than cooperatively bumping appeals in already-existing topics, or adverts subsidised at the same rates as other 'good causes' adverts, would seem a bit arbitrary. There are a lot of good causes -- too many to single out this one for special attention.

And I don't really see much need for a special child safety topic either.

It is a well-intentioned idea, and I see the force behind it. But it doesn't feel quite right.

Just to throw another question in...Why should MN do this? As in why should MN feel obliged to do this just because we are a parenting website? We are all people so why not missing persons? Why not a none charitable homeless charity?

I am not being awkward, just trying to see the bigger issue here..

Ad banners would only work for those who don't use ad blockers

Yup space under advanced search would be ideal!!!

You are right about the space under advanced search, it could be a good spot that isn't currently earning them money IYSWIM. I wonder if it is needed for formatting though?

Only trouble with an advert space fot this is that in effect we are asking MN to donate the cost of the space to a good cause, since they could otherwise offer the space for ready cash. But that's their call I suppose.

sorry yes, banner ad isn't quite what I meant. I meant more a, you know, little box thingy on active convos or even better on all talk pages. There's a nice bit of empty space just below the 'advanced search' button at the top of this page, for example..

photo there
MISSING
Name, age

I go straight to talk, I only look at the homepage if someone says Oh look at the home page!

A lot of people have add blockers which would negate a banner add but I like the idea of a section under the discussions of the day box.

I dunnoe I don't really but some of them catch my eye.

Yeah may not work if people don't actually look what about if there was a bit on the homepage?

Does everyone pay attention to that or do you straight to talk?

What if there was like a picture and info about a different missing child every few days say underneath the discussions of the day box and when you click on that picture it takes you through to the missing people site?!

Wonder if that would be possible.

I'd like to see it simply as a quick means of accessing information about a missing child or young person - much the same as the adverts did (still do maybe?) on cartons of milk - just a photo and some details.

mamadiva, i dont think ive looked at a single ad on here since i joined
i tend to ignore them

blinks, i think its a good idea in theory, im just not sure how it could be moderated

Onebat that is a good idea, wonder if MN would put an ad banner for it on though?!

I guess it's the best way to ensure everyone sees it too because with a thread as you say you can hide it but the ad banner you kind of have to look at!

Hmm. I'm not sure.
Can't see why one would post, other than to comment on the case, which obv we don't want, or to post s.

Wouldn't it be better for MN to have some kind of banner ad up the top, highlighting a different case each week - picture of child, name, age etc. You'd then click through to another section, where you would find all official details of that case and the ones which have preceded it? That section could also contain child safety info.

So
banner ad
click through to Missing kids page with all details of this week's child
links to other children's pages
links to general child safety info

Can't it just be stickied Lenin?

Yes the first 48hrs are crucial but it is beter to have it on here first thing in the morning than not at all simply because it cannot be posted during the night isn't it? The same for newsletters, yes it may not be the fastest way to get the news out but it is better than the news not getting out at all.

I don't think Blinks is suggesting MNHQ set up their own Amber alert system, just that they create a forum to spread information to more people.