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AIBU?

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Original poster

In thinking that Mumsnet are recycling threads?

32 replies

Needhelp101 · 17/03/2023 23:55

Probably a message from the Universe that I should get off the site... But there have been at least 3 threads across topics today that I have definitely read before. And I don't mean updates bringing threads back to life. I mean, they're posted as new threads. The Putin Posse one is a case in point.

I've noticed this for a while actually. As in weeks of stuff being posted as a new thread that I KNOW I've read before.

Unless I'm being really thick and it's some technical issue?

OP posts:
Original poster
Needhelp101 · 17/03/2023 23:57

Or I could just be going mad...

OP posts:
Lucylock · 18/03/2023 00:01

I've seen this over the years.

KateAusten · 18/03/2023 00:02

Yes. I saw one too about two weeks ago

LadyAstor · 18/03/2023 00:03

Agreed, especially when the op doesnt return to the thread.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 18/03/2023 00:06

Lucylock · 18/03/2023 00:01

I've seen this over the years.

Me too, over a number of years.

MrsDoylesDoily · 18/03/2023 00:07

Yeah I was wondering about this too.

I mean obviously certain subjects are popular and will always be repeated, but lately there seems something very 'BOT like' about them.

Original poster
Needhelp101 · 18/03/2023 00:08

Ah well, at least I'm not going mad!

OP posts:
Flavabobble · 18/03/2023 00:11

There's certain types of thread that get repeated every couple of weeks - "how would you spend £20/an afternoon to your self?"
"Someone's parked in my spot live thread"
"Do you wash your knickers with your tea towels?" And a few more, you'll often see a carbon copy title in the suggested threads below.

DojaPhat · 18/03/2023 00:12

There was one which I was pretty sure was word for word from a while ago posted as a 'new' thread. Thing is it's not so much the subject matter of the thread as it is the circumstances which make it seem like an exact copy e.g. plenty of people have posted about wok fuck ups but not in the exact same scenario etc etc

CheekyHusky · 18/03/2023 00:12

This happens a lot on Reddit, it’s usually bots scanning for and copying popular comments and posts.

DojaPhat · 18/03/2023 00:13

*work fuck ups

AutisticLegoLover · 18/03/2023 00:14

I've noticed this too.

Pixiedust1234 · 18/03/2023 00:14

You aren't going mad.

MrsDoylesDoily · 18/03/2023 00:29

DojaPhat · 18/03/2023 00:13

*work fuck ups

I've had plenty of wok fuck ups too, to be fair 😂

DramaAlpaca · 18/03/2023 00:38

You're not going mad. I've been here for years and I've noticed the same thing regularly.

WandaWonder · 18/03/2023 00:45

In the last few weeks or so I feel like we will have 'bus thread' (wait for one and another 2 turn up)

I am no way psychic but there are some that I see first (first for me anyway) and I know a few hours or days later another will show up, it is getting predictable

Feuillemille23 · 18/03/2023 00:48

Yep, I've not quite been able to work out if it's a Reach journalist or some kind of bot, the stories frequently turn up almost word for word in Leicestershire Live or wherever a couple of days later... they're not phrased in a way that's entirely human. At least, not ordinarily human.....

CallieQ · 18/03/2023 01:04

There are around 10 separate threads in active tonight about baby sleeping problems... weird

CallieQ · 18/03/2023 01:06

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UdoU · 18/03/2023 04:56

I doubt MN has a bot that reposts old threads. What would be the point if the OP isn’t there to respond? Or are people saying the bot-as-OP responds?

MNHQ
YetAnotherBeckyMumsnet · 18/03/2023 12:22

Hi OP - we definitely don't have a thread recycling bot - or human for that matter. It may just be a case of plus ça change - but we also know that trolls often return to post a similar version of the same story and so if you think the OP is iffy, we'd urge you to report them to us.

JudgeJ · 18/03/2023 13:18

Lucylock · 18/03/2023 00:01

I've seen this over the years.

I really missed the moaning about the school gate spats during lockdown!

Original poster
Needhelp101 · 18/03/2023 23:18

YetAnotherBeckyMumsnet · 18/03/2023 12:22

Hi OP - we definitely don't have a thread recycling bot - or human for that matter. It may just be a case of plus ça change - but we also know that trolls often return to post a similar version of the same story and so if you think the OP is iffy, we'd urge you to report them to us.

Thanks, but that's not what I'm talking about at all. I'm reading threads from OPs who are (as far as I can see) non-trolls, who post stuff and then others post stuff in response, and this is what's repeated. It's the whole thread and responses repeated.

Obviously there are multiple threads of tediously repeated similar subjects as PP have mentioned before, but I'm talking about whole threads essentially being cut and pasted. It's happening more and more, imo.

Probably a sign for me to stop reading for a bit...

OP posts:
UdoU · 19/03/2023 06:33

@Needhelp101 can you link to any examples? I’ve never seen this.

MonumentalLentil · 19/03/2023 07:14

I have seen this over the last few years too. I open a thread and recognise it, check the date and see it has appeared as a new thread. I also check for recent posts and usually there aren't any (unlike the carpet fitter thread that wouldn't die for years and finally filled up).