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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Have I missed something?

67 replies

OracleInaCoracle · 29/01/2011 11:51

Is it a half term and noone bothered to tell me?
full moon?
are people just bored and trying to poke a stick at us?

I know its probably related to the media attention (again) we had the EE thing where the media seemed to try to show MN as campaigning harpies trying to take on the beeb. then not long after we had R's situation and the craziness that started as a result of that, but the board seems to be going crazy! we've had a zillion controversial threads, some out and out nastiness, arguing amongst ourselves about pretty much everything, a series of trolls/namechangers and some serious weirdness. AIBU to hanker after the days when mn was just for idle chit chat about rubbish?!

OP posts:
mutznutz · 29/01/2011 12:45

Well 'badly laid out' is just my personal opinion Blush

But some very basic functions are missing and that is an 'update' symbol at the side of a thread to let you know someone else has posted (saves having to remember the name of the last poster)...and to be able to click on a thread and go back to where you left it instead of having to scroll through.

But I'll martyr on and enjoy the misery of my mistfortune Grin

BitOfFun · 29/01/2011 12:49

Style And Beauty is not immune. That bridesmaid thread is kicking off now.

ShowOfHands · 29/01/2011 12:51

mutznutz, you can bookmark a thread up to where you've read it. As long as you're on MN new.

I like MN just the way it is. No quoting and other fripperies. Would ruin it entirely.

With most regulars you know who they are in namechanges anyway.

Yes you always get this sort of stuff on forums. Like I said I've been here years and atm it's bloody awful.

ShowOfHands · 29/01/2011 12:52

And Boffy could you just refrain from posting next to me. You don't look right I'm afraid.

It IS all about me after all.

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 29/01/2011 12:53

There's nothing wrong with thinking it's badly laid out if you have some good suggestions :)

You can go back to where you left off... you just need to change your settings!

-Customise
-Display book mark links (change to yes & save)

then on the thread hover your 'arrow' over the bottom right of the last post, it will come up with 'bookmark' click on it and it will save, then when you click on the thread in your 'Threads I'm on' it will (after a few seconds) go to that post.

If you use your 'Threads I'm on' you can also see 'updates' - is that what you mean?

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 29/01/2011 12:55

I also have my setting on

'Flip all threads' as I like reading it down the page.

'No pages' - much easier to read.

and 'Highlight OP's Posts' great (newish) option!

mutznutz · 29/01/2011 12:56

Ahh yes I've tried the bookmark thing but it seems pretty hit and miss unless it's my ancient computer Blush

It often says 'error on page' at the bottom and I still have to scroll through...especially after clearing cookies. I just think it would be far easier to see the update symbol and 'go to last post' on the front of the threads...it does seem to be a very basic function on even the crappiest of forums so I'm surprised a forum as popular as MN doesn't have it.

Re the quote button...thinking about it now you're probably right, it's too fast moving in AIBU to work.

mutznutz · 29/01/2011 12:57

Oh yes I've got it on the newest setting...no pages and highlighted OPs posts. Oddly enough it changed from green to blue last week...now it's green again and much easier on the eye lol.

MsKLo · 29/01/2011 13:06

Agree with mutz that there is a load of unhelpful biscuits and comments for 'newbies' at times

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 29/01/2011 13:34

Mutz - I have never had that and I never clear cookies - so maybe that's it, you could try asking in 'site stuff'.

It can be really slow, so you think it's not working but if you wait another second or two it is. However, because that's so slow I have the the ctrl+f (or f3 as I just found out is the shortcut) box permanently on at the top of the page with my name in it and just use that... If you have the 'go to last post' thing, does it take you to 'the' last post or 'your' last post?

You see - they can't please us all can they! I find the green makes it really difficult to read the writing and have asked a couple of times if they can make it lighter - but to no avail. I love the MNHQ pale blue - I want that for ME Grin

LilRedWG · 29/01/2011 13:41

I know what you mean Lissie et al. I'm not a newbie but I haven't posted for support over the past couple of weeks even though I could use it atm. It just feels too weird.

usualsuspect · 29/01/2011 13:43

So many threads seem to be started at the minute just to get a rise out of posters ...its putting me off MN tbh

coppertop · 29/01/2011 13:48

There's a lot of nastiness on here at the moment and it's not just trolls. It's even worse than when there's a full moon IMHO.

Goblinchild · 29/01/2011 14:00

I agree, but hopefully things will shake down.
Trolls I can cope with, it's the genuine posters with big opinions and hobnailed boots that I'm scampering about and avoiding. The ones that get all shouty if you disagree with them
I don't mind having differences of opinion with intelligent people that becomes a debate.
Jeremy Kyle-style squabbling is not something I enjoy, or take part in.

Original poster
OracleInaCoracle · 29/01/2011 14:23

its an interesting point about the biscuits, I think a lot of it stems from the old timers being a bit more suspicious, we have had a lot of very damaging trolls. it may not be right, but imo it is understandable.

it makes me sad that posters like red feel they cant use mn for its true purpose though.

OP posts:
coppertop · 29/01/2011 14:29

I think there's also an element of showing-off going on. It seems to happen whenever a MN-related story hits the headlines. IIRC it was the same when the GF story came out.

JohnBovi · 29/01/2011 14:30

Ooh yes, I agree. I really don't like the feel of the place the moment. I'm really not one for saying "it's not like the old days", and maybe I'm remembering with rose tinted specs and all that - but I don't remember quite so much nastiness and name calling. There were arguments but with more of a debate feel to them than the current threads.

Original poster
OracleInaCoracle · 29/01/2011 14:38

coppertop, you may be right. theres no willingness to back down and the site seems to have split into two catergories.

just thinking about the namechanging, knowing someones history does affect how you react to them. I had a bit of a spat with a poster and had a rant about it on FB. turns out she was one of the people that I consider a really good friend who had namechanged. it put a totally different spin on her posts and something that I'd taken offence at wasnt actually offensive and was v sweet Blush although i blame my hormones Wink

johnbovi, I agree. a lot of needless nastiness imho

OP posts:
KittaKatta · 29/01/2011 14:50

I can't really say, if it has changed or not, was only a member for about 6 months before all the media attenion And then only popped in and out . but if it is odd or not I have found this site a great source of comfort in the last few weeks ( trying not to be a suck up) it is nice sometime to just vent

JohnBovi · 29/01/2011 14:54

And as much as I don't like/do cliques or MN royalty, there were a large number of posters who would call people who were being unfair or rude. It just wasn't tolerated by the masses. Maybe we were smaller back then and it was easier because we "knew" each other better. I think the namechange thing is a factor too. I namechange a lot these days because of really personal stuff that I post, and I don't want someone piecing all the bits together and realising it's me.

Original poster
OracleInaCoracle · 29/01/2011 14:55

kitta, its good to know that people are still getting something from mn, I have worried in the last week that all the twatty threads (which reach 500+ in a day) push the genuine posters out of active convos.

OP posts:
Original poster
OracleInaCoracle · 29/01/2011 14:58

ive never really got the "clique" thing. a few years back when I opened a teashop thread every day, there were regular threads moaning about it (in the same way the shineys get now) and I didnt/dont see the issue with people who know each other well talking on one particular thread. but there do seem to be a fair few threads being needlessly rude.

OP posts:
JohnBovi · 29/01/2011 15:05

I agree, those types of threads are absolutely fine IMO, it's what people do - have something in common and chat about it. The nasty ones are a whole different ball game.

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 29/01/2011 15:12

LissieLou - I don't think there's anything wrong at all with the 'Tea shop'/'Shiney' threads. I think the only thing is that people aren't sure if they are welcome to post on them or if they are an 'invite only' thread... I don't have any problem with 'invite only' threads at all - BUT if they are 'invite only' then doesn't it make sense to have them in the 'Off the Beaten Track' section?

We (well Hark) have (has) a late night thread most nights - we all meet up there and chat, it's nice to have a thread that's just chat without there needing to be a 'topic' everyone is welcome - the only downside is that it's not helping my insomnia!! Oooops.

FranSanDisco · 29/01/2011 15:13

I've posted here on and off since around 2001 and it's the personal name calling that I don't get. You can disagree without calling someone a stupid cow or fucking selfish brat. I am capable or swearing like a trooper but it spoils the debate when it gets too personal.