to think that Off The Beaten Track was a mistake

[rolandweary]

this isn't a thread about a thread, it's a thread about a topic, and some of the threads in it

so hopefully not bad form

I think it was amistake - it seems to be used for all the wrong reasons. For example the shiney crew feeling they ought to post on there because people were complaining about them being a clique - that seems wrong to me, MN is public and nobody should feel they have to retire to a private area. And the BoM thread which is full of personal attacks and insults - people seem to retire onto that thread to make the sort of remarks they wouldn't make on the main boards

I think it should be got rid of. What does everyone else think?

I just think the whole topic is wrong

but willing to be persuaded otherwise

A few people have moved over there for sensitive threads so sorry YABU even if it is "misused" in your opinion.

what is BoM??

i always thought the hooha abotu the shiney threads was ridiculous.
there are loads of ongoing threads (lighter ladies, wise and avid, stately homes, ipoat, various TTC ones, antenatal ones...the list goes on)

OFBT only seemed to be used by the shiney threads. If it was designed to be used by all the ongoing threads then how come only the shineys went?

And if it was so you could post without other members knowing then it was a bit silly really as OTBT wasn't private or secret or unsearchable. It just didn't come up on the main boards. so any comments were still visible

I think it's a good idea to have a "safe" place for sensitive threads; that is what I thought it was originally intended to be. Have seen & posted on at least two threads that did fit that bill, and in both cases it seemed like the right place for them to be.

As long as it serves that purpose, surely it doesn't matter very much if people also choose to post there for other reasons?

Yabu.

ShineyCrew wanted to keep themselves to themselves at the time afaik.

I am sure they thought it was a handy facility. Not sure why they have "come back triumphant", but whatever.

It is nice that there is an ungooglable corner of Mumsnet for those that want to use it.

What exactly is your problem op?

YABU

OTBT cannot be Googled and does not appear in active convos, therefore is a safer environment for some vulnerable posters.

OK, I may be wrong

if people feel safer posting there about sensitive issues I can understand it

I think it is too open to abuse though, and personally would use PM or communicate off-board if I wanted privacy

What sort of abuse?

Yes, was just going to say same as DirtyMartini.

I think there is a ton of abuse going on on the main boards, at least otbt is slightly harder to find.

The shiney lot facebook each other all the live-long day afaik, so quite why they need Mumsnet to host their chats I'm not sure about. Perhaps facebook doesn't work in quite the same way?

But, anyway, I think you are the only person who has a problem with otbt, op.

I did answer the "what sort of abuse" question in my OP, really. I don't want to expand on it here because I don't want to drag up individual posters/postings, I was making a general point about the topic itself.

I'm not demanding it be got rid of, just expressing my own misgivings about it and wondering what others think.

OTBT is non-googleable so it serves a very important purpose as far as I'm concerned.

Oh and a saucer of milk for Bibbity.

AS Ilove said: what is BoM?

People can and do get abusive/say inappropriate things on all sorts of threads; it's not usually blamed on the topic though.

I'm not trying to crush/override your argument; I'm just not really grasping how the topic is at fault , or indeed how you can really say in any objective way what the right/wrong reasons are to post there.

jeezus!

I just had a look at the BoM thread. I habe no idea why people have such a problem with the shiney lot. a quick skim of their threads and its all food and make up with the odd bit of cock.

The BoM thread is a total bitchfest. those laides have some real issues going on.
Why has it never been reported? there are quite a few very direct and offensive posts on it.

I don't see the harm in it? If people want to be a little more private then it suits that purpose.

If you want to search it out, then you can. No problems?

I think its fine provided people don't forget the threads can still be read by everyone.

Weren't mn going to come up with some private areas where people could post on threads that weren't visible to everyone.

What is BOM? Why do I get a saucer of milk?

I think the problem with the shiney thing was it was about the name and trying to be 'famous'.

Famous?

Is this all about something that has happened in past three days? I haven't been on MN much since Tuesday.