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Original poster

To wish Mumsnet would improve the way threads work

140 replies

Guis23 · 09/03/2023 19:04

So often threads end up repeating themselves or others complain at posters who have not read page upon page of comments that they haven't done so.
It sometimes really stifles contributions and help for the OP.
I don't know what might make it better but a 'like' option might reduce the amount of comments a bit and show those which are most popular. What do people think ? What would you suggest could improve threads ?

OP posts:
MrsMikeDrop · 10/03/2023 00:57

HyacinthineMacaw · 10/03/2023 00:45

Lordy no, please don’t make it look like Reddit - I can’t make my brain take in what I’m looking at there, and consequently I’ve only been on it a couple of times.

I like the way MN threads go, with conversation and discussion developing organically. It requires more thought and investment, and in theory, that should make for more considered responses (I did say in theory!). I have found some discussions here very enlightening and thought-provoking. A site with likes and threading and tangents would much diminish this place, I feel.

Except for usually its someone who hasn't really bothered reading it, so comments are either repetitive, or completely irrelevant after updates, or someone is responding to a post far down so you don't know who they're responding to, or they go off on a complete tangent. It's very archaic actually, that's why other forums aren't like this

maddy68 · 10/03/2023 00:58

Purplepinkfairy · 09/03/2023 19:07

I think if you could have a option just to read the organial posters reply only.

This indeed

NevieSticks · 10/03/2023 00:58

Purplepinkfairy · 09/03/2023 19:07

I think if you could have a option just to read the organial posters reply only.

There is - press See all.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
MrsMikeDrop · 10/03/2023 01:00

NevieSticks · 10/03/2023 00:58

There is - press See all.

Show quote history

Not on a Samsung app. If the app was good, this might actually help things

OrderOfTheKookaburra · 10/03/2023 02:46

I like using the 'reply' feature and am annoyed that I can't reply to a reply. THAT would be a nice feature for me.

echt · 10/03/2023 04:05

A "like" option is for the hard of thinking; far better to engage with the argument using, like, sentences.

MN rendered this problematic with fuckwitted voting on AIBU.

discobrain · 10/03/2023 04:07

The whole forum is archaic. It needs updating badly, you can't even edit a post. It's ridiculous.

ItsTrueLou · 10/03/2023 04:31

MN know the whole thing is ancient but the cost of a rewrite or buy and customise is prohibitive for a site that is past its best and is the stomping ground for those of use who were here in 2002 that just dip in and out while following Reddit and other social media.

Ragwort · 10/03/2023 04:53

If people don't like Mumsnet then look elsewhere... plenty of forums available I assume (I don't really know because I've been here over 20 years and really like the format).
And why is there the constant comment that 'you can't edit a post' - surely you just 'preview' before posting.
If people are too busy important to read the thread then just don't comment, it gets a bit like a real life discussion with someone with poor social skills who just wants to hear the sound of their own voice and continually interrupts without actually adding to the conversation.
Sometimes I find myself composing a reply and then I stop and ask if I am actually contributing anything ... if it's not a new or relevant comment then I refrain from posting. You can still learn a lot from just following the conversation without having to join in. Smile

EmpressaurusOfCats · 10/03/2023 06:35

People who post without having at least read all the OP’s posts just make themselves look daft a lot of the time.

LlynTegid · 10/03/2023 07:11

I'd just like five minutes after posting to be able to correct a typo.

BertieBotts · 10/03/2023 07:19

MrsMikeDrop · 10/03/2023 01:00

Not on a Samsung app. If the app was good, this might actually help things

Show quote history

Just use the mobile site, it works fine.

MrsJBaptiste · 10/03/2023 07:45

Can I just ask... I use the desktop site and there used to be the option of seeing the whole thread on one page (even if there were e.g. 500+ comments) Can we not do this anymore? I've been looking for this option since the last 'upgrade' 🙄

RattlewhenIwalk · 10/03/2023 08:09

JunkinDonuts · 09/03/2023 20:09

There kind of is one, just preview your post before posting it.

Show quote history

Kind of....there either is or there isn't and there isn't.

CrkdLttrCrkdLttr · 10/03/2023 08:25

@MrsJBaptiste I’ve been using the mobile site for more than a decade and kept my settings as they were when MNHQ gave us the option to change. So I can still scroll through 1000 posts on one page. I must admit, on The Archers threads - which always run to close to 1000 before we move to the next - it can currently take longer than is ideal to arrive at the end when there are more than about 700 posts. So I’d like that to improve. But really, no other format makes sense to me.

So I have:

1000 posts per page.

Newest post at the bottom so I can scroll down chronologically.

OP’s posts in green.

My posts in pink.

It works for me. The thing is, I assume everyone else is using these sensible settings too - and never anticipate that other people’s experience of MN might be a complete muddle, meaning they can’t participate with alacrity or full comprehension.

ChilliBandit · 10/03/2023 08:38

I think there could be a like button that doesn’t change the order of posts, I don’t like the Reddit upvote/downvote system as it just leads to the same people’s posts showing up to the top. A like button could stop loads of comments just saying the same thing though.

Personally I would like to have a see all posts option for all users. Also the function to click on the username that someone has @‘d to see what posts they were replying to.

ChessieFL · 10/03/2023 08:38

Another vote for keeping it as it is. I don’t use other forums because I don’t like the way they work, with different threads everywhere and posts out of order because it depends how many likes they’ve got. But I don’t go there demanding that it all changes. I just don’t use them. If you don’t like how Mumsnet works then don’t use it and let those of us who do like it carry on!

LindorDoubleChoc · 10/03/2023 08:42

If people could just resist quoting and re-quoting great long posts it would be much improved. I'm one of the old dinosaurs whose been on Mumsnet since 2006 and I actually can't see the harm in a like button, so long as it doesn't change the order of the threads.

We don't need threads full of "agree with this" and 6 paragraphs of quoted text above it.

PurpleParrotfish · 10/03/2023 08:54

Tangent here, but why do people even use the app if it’s so inferior, e.g. not being able to view OP’s posts only? Which not only lets you check for updates but also you can see at a glance when it’s a 200 post thread where the OP never came back, as there’s no ‘See Next’ link.

Why not just access the website through your phone browser and get the fully functioning version of MN?

GoodChat · 10/03/2023 08:57

PurpleParrotfish · 10/03/2023 08:54

Tangent here, but why do people even use the app if it’s so inferior, e.g. not being able to view OP’s posts only? Which not only lets you check for updates but also you can see at a glance when it’s a 200 post thread where the OP never came back, as there’s no ‘See Next’ link.

Why not just access the website through your phone browser and get the fully functioning version of MN?

You can view the OP's posts on the app. There's a filter button on the top right and you can select just the OP there.

RiverRock22 · 10/03/2023 09:23

The app is quicker than the browser for me.

WinterMusings · 10/03/2023 10:24

LittleBearPad · 10/03/2023 00:32

The thread has moved on when there are 5 further pages of posts. Either your comment will have been made multiple times or it’s highly likely to be irrelevant by the time you post it.

Show quote history

ODG

There are many threads where that's not the case.

we don't need your approval to not want 'likes' or threads within threads within threads!

Original poster
Guis23 · 10/03/2023 10:25

Perhaps something that shows a number of how many people agree with a post, an ability to reply to a post and have that reply lodged under the post not as a separate one in itself. Something .

Mumsnet earns enough money to pay for a few changes. They surely will have in-house analysts and programmers.

OP posts:
purpledalmation · 10/03/2023 10:25

Definitely no edit button. You would get posters who are being provocative going back and altering posts when they make a slip up that people have called them out on.

MrsMikeDrop · 10/03/2023 10:28

BertieBotts · 10/03/2023 07:19

Just use the mobile site, it works fine.

Show quote history

But that has a really terrible interface, and so many ads taking up the page. Also it's much harder to even scroll through a thread. The app is much better imp, even though unfortunately it doesn't have that function

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