to think that AIBU should be for AIBU questions?

[redwineformethanks]

When I first stumbled on AIBU, I read lots of fascinating stories about family feuds, disputes with neighbours, wedding arguments, play group challenges etc.

Recently I feel I've seen lots of questions that I wouldn't really class as AIBU, but more general questions eg requests for holiday info, health questions, or boasting "AIBU to really proud of this" etc, often prefaced by words like "I know this doesn't belong in AIBU, but I'm going to ask you anyway ....."

I know that if I had more discipline I could focus on the threads that interest me, instead of reading almost all of them (blush at admitting I have so much free time on my hands!!) but wonder if others feel that AIBU has gone a bit off tangent?

I did bibbity! I don't think its well recieved though.

I shall join you, bibbity. Who else will link arms with us and reclaim AIBU for entertaining serious threads

I never look at what topics threads are in, I just go to active convos and click the ones that look interesting

Do people really just look on AIBU?

I liked the has it rained yet

My sense of humour is where it's always been.

I didn't see any humour in your post, even though there's a grin in it, it just seemed smug that you got one over on the OP of the other thread and superior to other posters who don't use AIBU the way it was used in the past.

MN has to change all the time, AIBU has the most traffic because a lot of people haven't got time to go to all the different boards of MN but want to use it anyway.

If AIBU was that crap and wasn't the way posters wanted it to be, there'd be no traffic.

I can't see which poster said it, but I don't think the majority do agree that AIBU should change, or why would everyone congregate there?

Ha! Just did my first one. Very satisfying!

agentzigzag, i think its more pompous and self important to put your thread in AIBU for the extra traffic. i mean, how much more important is a thread about which biscuits go with tea, than any other thread? why does it NEED that extra traffic?

Telling posters off for not posting in the right section of MN is as bad as the 'professionally offended' going from thread to thread spouting.

I can't stand pedantry because life and people don't fit into nice neat boxes for those who are anal need control and order in their lives.

If someone's extremely worried about something and wants to start a thread on an internet forum where they know they can have human contact and support, what kind of person would turn them away?

It just has no compassion or understanding for those who are maybe lonely or in vulnerable positions in their lives, maybe they start a thread about drinking tea when they really want to talk about the abuse they're suffering but can't find the words to articulate it.

Who knows?

If there's one thing MN's taught me, is that there's always a story behind the simplest of posts and it's got fuck all to do with biscuits or their MIL.

I find that post actually quite disturbing in a ghoulish way. It's like you're actively looking for misery in innocuous froth. Icky.

Was that post to me MsT?

That's very true maryz

But sometimes (if you're that desparate, which as you've said you'd have to be to run the gauntlet of AIBU) any guaranteed contact is better than posting in the right area and nobody replying, it could seem to reinforce the shitness a poster might feel that nobody gives a bollocks.

Nobody does give a bollocks really because we're all strangers, but a bit of friendly banter can take the edge off sometimes, for some people.

Yarnboo!
But I don't care as much as you & bibbity do [:p]

People here are reasonably good about directing hurt & vulnerable posters to the appropriate board.

I did get pretty fed up over the past few weeks, though, when hardly anything on AIBU was unreasonable! Where's the fun in that?

posters are discouraged from posting in AIBU about sensitive issues because people use it as an excuse to be cunts vile. theres the whole "its in AIBU, all gloves are off" attitude. noone is turned away from any part of the forum, but each section has "experts". for example, a woman earlier posted in AIBU asking for ttc tips, she got 3 responses in an hour, the thread was moved and within 15 minutes she recieved 30 posts. you dont ask a chef how to sew!

Loads of posters hide AIBU because they don't want to get into the fight club. Therefore if there was someone posting because they are vulnerable they may be missing a huge section of MN who would actually be able to help them.

AIBU has a purpose - debating and slating. I for one want to keep it like that

agree with sharon, if anything, posters who are vulnerable will be put off posting on mn if they post in AIBU. agree, it has its place. but its not for chat.

Personally I think everyone should feck off and stop posting all together...anywhere. That way there'll be no arguments and I'll finally be able to get the goddamn housework done. :o