Ahoy hoy mnhq - you aren't going to do anything about AIBU, are you?

[bibbitybobbitybloodyaxe]

You are sticking your fingers in your ears and going la la la and pretending not to notice that aibu is just awful?

Well then whose fault is it that the threads look silly? Not MNHQ's fault, no, the fault of the person who posted a Christmas thread in AIBU, that's who.

"True but don't most people put AIBU mentally in front of any question beginning with the word "to.....?" Or is that just me?!"

If that's the case, why do we need the AIBU topic at all?

Actually, I think the app makes it easier to keep to topics, because it has the My Topics list, which means you can quickly get to the topics that you use most. If only we had it on the main site (hint, hint) it would help get people used to looking at, and posting in, individual topics.

Trills - I agree, but MNHQ could do something about it - or is Olivia just covering up the fact that she doesn't know how to change a thread title

@RustyBear

Trills - I agree, but MNHQ could do something about it - or is Olivia just covering up the fact that she doesn't know how to change a thread title

Oi! I totally can do that (ask the poor people on the Downton thread, I had to change it three times as I was trying not to read any spoilers as I am behind!Even then I think it's still wrong )

It's very rare we change a thread title though.

I am a real stickler for keeping the Christmas threads in the Christmas Topic until MNHQ put the thread up for the Christmas Appeal - then, really, I feel it should be OK to post AIBU... in AIBU...

I have to say that I've hidden aibu now. It makes me want to scream. And while active convos moves a little slower (not necessarily a bad thing) my bp is significantly lower!

I think that Christmas things should stay in Christmas until at least the Halloween hats have been and gone. But I have given up for this year.

But it wouldn't be much of a change to make it 'Can I ask' instead of 'to ask' would it?

Am i being unreasonable to..... sorry this just isn't the right place or time is it?

Hello... my name is LyingWitch and I'm an AIBU-holic.

I e-mailed MNHQ about the omnipresent 'thread police' on AIBU because I think it's disruptive to complain, on a thread, that the thread's in the wrong place. The poster can't do anything about that, so why not just report it to MNHQ and ask them to move it if somebody feels that strongly?

I dislike the assumption that everybody who posts on AIBU on every thread is behaving badly, spitefully or any other negative type of comment. Most of the people I've seen post on AIBU are kind, the responses depend on the question asked. There are examples of that everywhere and it's unfair to lump everybody into the same board and tarnish them for posting in AIBU. Many of the posters I've seen on this thread post there anyway and I've seen some robust comments from some.

AIBU seems to have changed from a question like, "AIBU to wear my knickers for three weeks without changing them?" (a question about oneself), to "AIBU to call anybody who doesn't change their knickers, a skank?" (sweeping up myraid other people). Obviously those are daft questions but it's the same with benefits or teachers or driving or anything else that can scoop up multiple posters in the same broad-brush comments.

The point I'm trying to make is that people like AIBU, reading it and posting on it, not all of them are harpies and not everybody intends to hurt others with their posts. I've seen people make hurtful comments everywhere on this site and AIBU be slated as the 'home of the bunfight'. It's not on. I think it's a board like every other - you recognise the posters there as 'buddies', regulars, just like on every other board.

The overuse of the term 'bully' is irritating as is the reluctance of some to take personal responsibility for themselves by engaging with bullies or trolls or whatever. Ignoring posters is a very powerful tool, the most powerful one there is. I don't post on the SN board or many others really, I haven't the experience so I keep quiet. I imagine many other posters are the same.

I just really resent the implication that AIBU is some kind of lesser-board, similar to Broadmoor, with thuggish posters. That type of poster is almost everywhere. There are many kind and generous posters on MN and on every board, including AIBU.

I agree with LeBoof's post and, as always, Hecates.

Hello LyingWitch. Thanks for your comments - and, actually, you're singing from the same hymnsheet as us.

You're just the sort of poster AIBU was made for: fun, feisty and honest.

You're right that AIBU isn't - and was never intended to be - a lesser board, a Broadmoor board or a thuggish board. It's meant to be, well, fun, feisty and honest.

Where it's gone a bit pear-shaped recently is that some (newbie?) posters have started threads in AIBU that clearly aren't AIBU threads. We're talking heavy, sensitive stuff or posts by vulnerable people who need a calm, reflective place to air their concerns. Those threads really are better off in a more relevant topic. So we're going to move them, when (and only when) we think it's necessary.

We're also aware that some Mumsnetters have been posting in AIBU in a way that breaks our Talk Guidelines. But that other AIBU regulars are not reporting those posts to us - maybe because they're newer to Mumsnet and aren't aware of our Guidelines or our Report system. Whatever the reason, this has meant that bunfighty AIBU threads haven't come to our notice in the same way as bunfighty threads in other topics would. So, as Justine's said earlier in this thread, we're going to try to monitor AIBU a bit more closely - and ask you folks to help us out by reporting posts that break the Guidelines.

Hope that's helpful. Bottoms up to the AIBU-aholics!

Perhaps newbies should be assessed before they're allowed to post?

Or we could keep Aibu hidden from newbies and fuckwits until they've completed a variable and subjective probationary period.

I know I'm coming really late to this but I think AIBU would be cleared up much more quickly if WWYD was in the list of Boards at the bottom of the page. Also if it was in a threesome with AIBU, Chat, _WWYD.

Yes, yes Akmd good point.

I like AIBU. Just sayin'. But it gets boring very very quickly when there are so many 'to love my ickle doggies' 'to think MNerX is awesome' 'to wear my blue blouse today' 'to love the smell of...' threads. Can a thread be reported for sheer awfulness?

I know Maryz, that's where I nicked the _s from :o I was thinking that it would be good to have WWYD at the bottom but didn't know how to out it next to AIBU and Chat.

I didn't realise the significance of what you're all posting when you post _AIBU. I do now. Seems a good idea to me. It doesn't stop anybody posting there.

MNHQ... a question please? Is there any merit in putting in something that indicates the number of members perusing a board at any time? No names, just something like '34 members on Chat'.... '6678 on AIBU',, etc.

Failing that, are you able to identify the boards that people visit seldom and maybe reduce the spread a bit?

I do love MN, there's always somebody to talk to and more information than I ever knew I wanted to know...