When you want to start a conversation on Mumsnet - how do you do it?

[bibbitybobbityhat]

Please explain as if speaking to a toddler. Thanks .

Saul Killing her would be a little bit strong. Mentally maiming her in the privacy of your head is fine .

I was about 36 weeks at work (quite stressful in terms of pressure and emotions job) when I told off a colleague. He was crowing about a great deal he'd pulled in and how it had saved the teams month. My targets weren't achieved as I was leaving and training other team members so I was distributing accounts. I quipped that perhaps he ought to thank our boss who had done a hell of a lot of legwork on his deal, as had I, before doing the big I am.

He stropped and threw his spectacles at me and they bounced of my forehead . I very calmly handed them back and said "do we need a chat" and he stormed off, as the rest of my team were all at his behaviour, especially as he had been insufferable all week and knew it!

My immediate superior whisked me off to our meeting room, and said "are you ok?"

I said I was fine and asked why she was asking. She pointed out my hands were shaking. I replied (without thinking) "I'm AMAZED I didn't kill him"

My superior said that she was too. She had been standing opposite me when the glasses were flung and said all she saw in my face was "pure bloodlust" she was amazed I pulled it together so quick. This was further confirmed when my other colleague compared it to when the Vamps faces change back and forth in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Turns out he hadn't stalked off in indignation, but had actually ran for his life

Agree with Beertricks re bumping. It's hardly as if it's rude on a forum of this size. And I among with many others check unanswered messages quite often.

I'll join a campaign to get posters posting in the correct topic. DCs would be delighted if I stopped shouting at the computer.

This is how I like to go about starting a conversation:

1. Think carefully about the topic I would like to discuss
2. Check to see whether or not there is a sub-topic which more exactly fits
3. Ponder the wording of my title to offer the reader an idea of what is required, and, at the same time, to hopefully draw in numerous responses
4. Plan my opening post carefully to ensure that all relevant information is included.
5. Check that attempts at humour are obvious and will not derail thread within 5 posts by attracting MissPrimlyOffended
6. Edit post for brevity (although long OPs don't bother me personally)
7. Check spelling and punctuation
8. Make coffee and ask myself what responses I am hoping for
9. Realise I knew the answer to my question in the first place but had been distracted by constant background noise and movement

10. Delete post

But I suppose that if everyone were like me, there would be no threads. At all. Ever.

Roffle at vampire rage. I'd pay good money to see that. It's funny how you think things are and how they actually are when heavily pregnant. I very politely explained to a registrar and midwife, 2 days into an intense and traumatic labour that whispering about me behind a curtain was rude, patronising and as an educated woman I expected them to treat me blah blah blah etc. DH said actually my head swivelled and I roared obscenities at them.

I didn't really kill my MIL. I did roar with rage though. Because one comment about waddling, a couple about how dd could sit on my lap if I still had one and some asides about eclipsing the sun and a beast awoke within. DH had to Take Me Home.

Princess, 'ethical dilemmas' is a very new topic really. It was started because people in the antenatal results and choices topic were really struggling with some heartbreaking decisions and difficult times and their support network was being derailed by people wanting to debate abortions in general. It was decided (after looooooooong discussion) that something like 'ethical dilemmas' would allow that theoretical discussion without treading on the toes of people going through terrible times.

OK. I'm about to ask an urgernt question that should really go in DIY/Property, but need replies, so was thinking of framing it as an AIBU.

In deference to all of you, I shall post in the 'correct' place, but you'd better all come and have a look and post on it so it stays in Active long enough to get some good replies!

They seem to have very good feed back on ebay?

Thanks Honeydragon, at the risk of thread kill/hijack double whammy...I've seen the ebay feedback but it all relates to delivery, etc, not the actual stove. Thanks for replying!

It would concern me that the model can't be found anywhere else tbh. Perhaps find some german websites and see if they are on them ?

The fuss about ethical dilemmas seemed silly to me.

It's a good topic name and could be full of interesting stuff if anyone ever used it.

BUT the reason for starting it was not because supportive abortiony threads were getting derailed, but because there were "let's debate abortion" threads next to the supportive threads in the same topic. Did they think that the debate would seep across by osmosis?

The whole "this is a topic for X and people might get upset if they see Y" debate doesn't really work if threads are titled properly.

The irony is that the more people continue to post in AIBU because "it gets more traffic", those topics set up specifically for other issues become less used - so it's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Trils there was a thread where somebody had posted for support in the antentatal choices bit and it was hijacked by a pro-lifer. It's gone now but was instrumental in the discussion that pushed the ethical dilemmas topic forward.

So basically this thread is saying it's too hard to find the Chat topic?

If so, I agree. I can only find it by going via active convos.

Just put up a simple sentence saying what you want to discuss. You will more often than not get some response

Oh dear. I didn't realise that the 'Ethical dilemmas' topic had such controversial origins when I picked as an example. Sorry.

No, minipie, basically I'm saying its not all that obvious how to start a thread.

Afaik you can only start a thread if you already have a thread open, and then the only option is to start a thread in this topic.

If you want to start a thread in a different topic you have to

a) go back to active convos, look down the list to find another thread in the topic you do want, open it, then click on start a new thread in this topic

or

b) click on topics and search through all the topics and sub topics

I wonder if part of the aibu problem is that it is the most well used and now almost the most well-known topic and so lots of people click on start a new thread at the top of the page without really thinking does this go in aibu or somewhere else.

So we go round in circles, as Biwi said.

ahhhhh

yes, I see your point.

you are absolutely right. There should be a general "start a new thread" button and you should then get asked "where do you want to post the new thread?"

(it's also too hard to find Chat).

I am right, of course

And, yes, chat is hard to find and people don't know it exists.

Do you think I should report my own post to mnhq to bring it to their attention?

Or does that make me an attention-seeking desperado?

I think you should report it, and then we should set up a vigilante Thread Police. You can be the DI and I will be your DS.

I have posted YABU because you have not asked an "Am I Being Unreasonable?" question on a misplaced AIBU.

Hi my 3.5 years old son has got a blood in the urine for nearly one year now .I am so concern what is going on . The doctors has done all the test and an scan but they cant find anything. Now we got an appointment to see a kidney specialist but i was wondering i there is any child with the same problem that has been resolved .. Thank you

Vaguely related - how do you find the dementia topic? I'd have thought it should be in "other stuff", along with "elderly parents" but it's not. It's referenced in the preamble to all the "elderly parent" threads, so my current way of finding it is 1. go to "elderly parents" 2. click on a thread at random 3. select the "dementia" url from within the blurb at the top. That can't be the quickest way, surely?

I am considering getting two sofas reupholstered am based in New Eltham, has anyone had this done and can recommend any firms who may be able to help, thanks

Am I the only person fed up of hearing about prince Phillips crash and why isn’t he being done for dangerous driving

I’m confused how to post a new conversation on mumsnet