POLL NOW CLOSED. Would you like to have the option to Quote posts on Talk threads (like MNHQ can)? Please come and cast your vote

[HelenMumsnet]

Hello.

We've had a few people asking us to extend to everyone MNHQ's Quote function (you know, the thingie where we can quote another person's post in our posts).

But we have also clocked a fair few folk who would rather Talk stayed as it is and didn't have a Quote function on threads.

So we have opened up a little poll to find out what the true picture is.

So what do you think? To quote or not to quote?

Do please feel free to discuss the issue with other Mumsnetters here on this thread, and please do vote and help us decide. (We'll leave this up for a good few days to make sure everyone gets a chance to contribute their tuppence ha'penny.)

NB: as it involves a bit of Tech work, we won't roll out the Quote option unless there is a clear majority in favour of it and, if there were, we would most likely test it in a specific topic (such a Chat) before putting it everywhere - just to check it wouldn't cause havoc.

Thanks v much, MNHQ

ByThePowerOfGreyskull There's also an older thread - ( unloved by MNHQ ) - with plenty of positive views about having a 'like' facility.

At first I thought that if you must have a quote function then you must be able to trim, but trimming could very easily be abused and original sense changed. You could then (theoretically) end up with a load of people quoting a post which misquotes a post and the thread becoming completely shambolic, especially with the sort of troll-types we've had on here of late, not to mention school holidays....

It's a no from me [Simon Cowelly type quote]

While it's true that something can be trimmed to reverse the original posting but that's also true of standard C+P, while it's also true many MN readers are eagle-eyed so are unlikely to let it go without challenge.

A loud and resounding no from me.

What's this talk of "like" buttons too? And highlighting posts? Next it'll be tickers, just simple ones, then moving/dancing emoticons. Shall we have font changes too? And the ability to put images within posts.

Only make a change if you think it will add genuinely value not just to appease someone too lazy to c+p (which I can do on my phone).

Posts can already be highlighted with different colours, something MNHQ added not that many months ago.

C+P vs quote boxes is a very different thing to some of the other possible additions, because quote boxes are an alternative to something which can already be achieved (to a degree) but so far, based on the examples that have been posted:

a) original poster is named, but no date/time shown
b) full quote of post seems to be what is provided

You seem to be against all the other things you mention in your post. I have an open mind about the pros and cons of some options.

Maryz - "this is more using the board as a "chat" board, rather than a "answer the op" board, but I'm happy with that."

There are times when the 'chat' on other topics can get to be far too much IMHO, and while I'm as guilty as the next person of going off on a tangent, I try to limit how often I cause it to happen, or continue to 'stray'.

My concern is how it will change the look and feel. It's rare that I read a reply to a post and don't know who it's responding to NetworkGuy but maybe that's just me. Because most people put the poster's name in their response.
I've only seen MNHQ posts highlighted (or on a webchat).

A lot of people use MN on their phones - I don't use other fora because they're difficult to use on my phone - making changes might make it difficult because how many would be compatible on a smartphone? I've actually just started using the mobile version of MN because it's much "cleaner" in appearance to the main website.

NetworkGuy I think you were very rude there, suggesting that I was trying to turn people against a like/dislike.

I asked a simple question, in the appropriate place, and those are the answers I got. There was no requirement that people agree with me, if people thought that "like" was a fantastic idea they could have said so.

You said This isn't the thread to argue about the pros and cons of 'like' - I wasn't intending to derail the thread is all. and I agreed that it would be good to have a thread to argue about the pros and cons of 'like'.

Are you being rude because the answers were not as you liked, or because it's not your favourite "unloved thread"?

[ An aside from quote boxes question... TrillianAstra - I only named you because I could not claim it was Maryz' thread, but hers was the post suggesting it would hopefully convert someone who expressed an opinion in favour of the "thumbs up/down" option.

You've clearly shown your view with the comment "I am very glad to see that if there were a poll on like/dislike buttons the Nos would have it." but seem to not be taking into account that your thread has been online for less than 18 hours and you can hardly judge the cross section of views (let alone likely votes) in that time....

I wasn't being intentionally rude, but putting a contrary view to that of Maryz, to show ByThePowerOfGreyskull and anyone else that not everyone was against the idea (even if the participants on your recent thread were of that persuasion) and other threads from months ago would show they were not alone, so not to think it was a foregone conclusion that 'everyone' hates the idea. I posted as I did, for a bit of 'balance'. ]

Maryz, you really have outed yourself as a Luddite and a vote-against-change-er :o Still on Classic? Is it 2005? :o

I am on new, I make use of the colouring options, I have even grown quite fond of the droppy-down bar that lets me quickly go to Active or Threads I'm On. I just feel that a quote facility would be misused more often than it was used well.

is there a way to see how the poll is going?

maryz you must get bookmarks. It will change your life.

I'd prefer not, on balance. Partly cos I fall into the luddite camp (yes, I'm still on Classic ) depsite working in IT. Partly because I genuinely see no need for it, and it annoys me on other sites.

And partly 'cos I'm lazy, and I like instantly knowing that the "quote" boxes at the moment belong to MNHQ and are there due to, for example, an intervention or formal response of some sort, if I care to look.

No, I will leave if this happens.

Cut and paste is fine when needed. As others say it will spoil how the thread reads, and when it comes to deleting a post there'll be havoc. Don't do it.

Please...

If I name change, will my votes count separately?

I think quoting clutters up posts. Especially quotes of quotes and where people end up quoting the entire post of someone rather than just étude relevant bit through laziness

Can we have a vote on a limited 'edit post' function?

Lots of sites I use allow you to edit for a few minutes after you post..... I never seem to see my spelling mistakes until after I post and often think of something else I wanted to say after I hit post too and it would be so much nicer to be able to click edit and change the post.

Noooooooooooooooooooo

Oh no. no quote on quotes. no no no. [sound like my 2 yr old]

I voted no too. It's the thin end of the wedge. Next thing there'd be tickers and sigs and hugs, hun all over the place.