AIBU to wonder why there is the 'no threads about a thread' rule?

[BritFish]

I've been looking all over the site for a Mumsnet etiquette link, and in typical fashion I cant find it.
so i thought id ask, why cant you make a thread about a thread? why is it bad?

i would have though that it would be easier to have a seperate thread for an issue that spins off the original, because then you're not reading two/three conversations between posters at once, and maybe the subject deserves its own thread?

am i missing something?

there is no rule just some cat bum mouths like to pop up and pretend it is is 'bad form' or something. i love a good thread about a thread.

i didnt know there was one.

i think its all to do with whether you can put your opinion in the original thread.

i was sorely tempted about 15 mins ago to start one as someone fucked me right off

It's not so much a rule as a guideline for politeness. A thread about a thread is too akin to talking about someone behind their back.

If you want to spin off onto a tangent it's fine to say on the thread 'I know this isn't strictly about the original topic so I'll start a new thread here' and link.

Less good to start a thread and say 'don't you think that other thread is really stupid' or similar.

i quite like threads about a thread.. just in case i have missed origional thread

lots of people come along saying 'oh, hmm hmm, this is a thread about a thread what bad form..' then i have to instantly go and find the first thread because a thread about a thread nearly always means origional was a bunfight lively discussion!

so that the entire boards dont get filled up with people who aren't able to get their point across on the main thread and so start a thread so that they can bitch and moan on their own thread.

its tedious for everyone else.

LOL at BariatricObama

Sorry I couldn't resist staring a thread about your thread! many apologies

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/930423-to-think-that-someone-shouldn-39-t-start-a-threa d lol at yogi - you forgot your link

I like threads about threads. I think you can miss out on topics that you are interested in/have an opinion on just because the thread title doesn't really give a proper description of the content.

I'd love to start one now but cannot due to Mnet etiquette.

Instead I will have to put up with knowing that a poster lied to their back teeth on one thread and is being utterly odious on another.

Can't do nuthin' about it. Cos the thread about thread police will get me .

When people start a thread about a thread in a bitchy vein, I disagree with it.

But I don't think there should be a 'rule' on it. In RL, conversations flow, people are inspired by something one person said and start a conversation about it with someone else...why should it be any different on MN?

I suppose it keeps all the stuff relevant to a discussion together in one place. Not everyone has time to comb MN to keep up to date. Or, if a MNer were being attacked from several sides, s/he would not have a fair chance of replying to all the "accusations" (if such there are).

TrillianAstra, your comments about talking about people behind their back also has a lot of resonance!

There's no rule - it's more about people getting the hump about something and then rather than addressing it with the OP, going off to start bitching about them behind their back.

I suppose it's akin to "if you've got something to say, say it to my face".

There are lots of threads-about-a-thread in terms of the situation you describe; "a seperate thread for an issue that spins off the original, because then you're not reading two/three conversations between posters at once, and maybe the subject deserves its own thread?" No-one cares about that.

It's the "AIBU to think that mummy40116 was being a total beyatch to diss my list of babynames" type thing that is tiresome.

Pisses me off if the original thread has been deleted and I've missed the bunfight debate

Im so proud, my thread about threads has a thread on it!
good. so no bitching, and not on the same topic obv. like a spin off tv show, only better!

bibbity - we are all now rushing off to search what threads you have been on recently could you accidently drop a hint - so long as it not me ...

Britfish it wouldnt be right without a link - shame the thread at the end of the link is not coming up a delete.

Oh I loved old english spangles ... sorry as you were

usualsuspect: oooh i hate that!
i love baby name bitching when someone bitches about a name, and then someone pops up going 'thats my son/daughters name!' but takes it good humour.
it gives me hope to the sense of humour on mumsnet!

god, would i be being unreasonable to start a thread asking what everyone's favourite comedians are? or should i put that somewhere else? i dont think there's a comedy topic. and i dont want to put it under tv...

usual suspect me too - I missed the 90's relaunch

I'll give you a hint if you hint back your previous posting name OES .

The threads I'm talking about are really quite shocking but there is no evidence left thanks to mnhq's magic deleting button.

I think people should be able to start a thread about whatever they choose. I don't see why it should matter that there is already a similar thread on the go.

In means that people can choose which one they prefer to post in. It's not like we are in parliament and the final swing of the thread changes things in RL.

It sometimes comes across that there are a few people who have been using this site for some time and have become self appointed moderators.

People can always ignore and hide threads that they don't like or have no interest in. I do it all the time.

The other one I hate is when someone posts a genuine question or topic and another poster reponds with a biscuit and says "already been done to death". Well good for them, but the poster clearly hasn't seen those threads and new people have joined who may want to discuss whatever topic and add new viewpoints.

Well done OP for raising this, it's something that I have been irritated by in the past but have never bothered saying anything.

I loved the butterscotch flavoured ones ..sorry , so off topic maybe I should start a thread about this thread