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Original poster

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

14 replies

bibbitybobbitybloodyaxe · 24/10/2011 21:55

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

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MNHQ

OliviaMumsnet · 24/10/2011 22:53

Thanks for this
TSSDNCOP

MNHQ

OliviaMumsnet · 24/10/2011 23:21

@BecauseImAWerewolefIt

Olivia - TSSDNCOP does not mean you can ignore threads ...

Oh.

Grin

Seriously, though. It's half term, and more importantly MY BIRTHDAY
so I am not sure AIBU is going to get "solved" this week but thanks for all suggestions as always.
M Towers

MNHQ

OliviaMumsnet · 24/10/2011 23:29

Ach, hold the flowers until thursday please Blush

MNHQ

OliviaMumsnet · 24/10/2011 23:35

@Maryz

Happy birthday Olivia

Aw, thanks Maryz.
You're my favourite
Grin It isn't until Thursday though.Blush

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 27/10/2011 15:12

Hello, hello. And apols for the lack of MNHQ presence on this thread lately.

OK, first of all, we are very happy to move AIBU threads that really shouldn't be in AIBU (maybe because the OP is a newbie and doesn't know about our other Topics). Please do report any that you see.

Also, just to be clear, we don't moderate AIBU any differently than any other area of Mumsnet - posting in AIBU is definitely not a licence to be ruder to/less respectful of other posters than you would be if you were posting in another Topic.

If you see posts in AIBU that break our Talk Guidelines, please report them to us and we will delete them if they do - and, if necessary, mail the poster with a warning or even ban her/him completely.

For those who don't already know, Mumsnet is post-moderated - this means no one at MNHQ reads posts before they are posted up (we couldn't possibly keep up!); instead, we rely on you all to flag up posts that break our rules by reporting them to us (using the Report link above the post in question). In other words, Mumsnet's (and AIBU's) tone is largely set by Mumsnetters.

Having said all that, we take your many points on board, and we will have a think about taking a tougher line with AIBU posts that are reported and maybe having a twiddle with the "please respect our Guidelines" note at the top of AIBU threads.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 27/10/2011 15:21

@Hullygully

And a poo topic?

Now that is BU, hully...

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 27/10/2011 15:26

@Hullygully

There's another one right now, Helen.

If you gave them their own topic, they could all get off happily on their poo doings together and leave the rest of us alone.

But have you reported it, Hully?

Unfortunately, we don't yet have a siren that goes off at MNHQ when you post "poo troll" although it's quite a tempting idea

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 27/10/2011 15:45

@Hullygully

Yes.

We need:

  1. Topic topic
  2. Poo Topic
3 Frothing Berserker Topic

Get rid of all the dull baby stuff.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 27/10/2011 15:49

Me either, GetOrf. I was told I was "mooing like a cow and it was putting the other labouring women off" Blush

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 27/10/2011 16:01

Grin
MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 28/10/2011 11:18

@JaneBirkin

Helen, sorry to get all serious but would you take a look at my question further down? (or up if you're on 'new')

How is aibu adding anything to this site's ethos? How is it helpful to people especially new posters?

It's harsh, really harsh. I avoid it and I'm helpful. I'm not helping people as much as I could be, because they are posting there. There are loads of us doing the same.
I just don't get how it makes parents' lives easier.

There is a value in honest advice and opinion, I think, and AIBU does tend to encourage that so it's not without merit in theory. It is also pretty entertaining and fun at times (Not talking about the harsh stuff) and as you know we only started it because it reflected the volume of threads that began with AIBU - so it's a mirror on what was already happening. People do genuinely want validation of their feelings and emotions and/or to be told they're mistaken.

But we do agree that it's a fine balance and it's probably swung too far and that we at MNHQ need to be a bit more pro-active in discouraging the harshness.

We will look at intervening earlier and more often on AIBU threads - pulling folks up more when they are rude or unkind. (Any help you can give us on reporting things is much appreciated - special thanks to Bibbity for the sterling job she's been doing already on this front Thanks)

We will continue to move threads in which the OP is looking for support more than honest advice. We are also looking to bring in a newbies welcome area and/or giving clearer advice on newbies on where to post.

Do let us know if you have any other suggestions and many thanks for the input.

MNHQ

OliviaMumsnet · 30/10/2011 10:35

@RustyBear

MNHQ have moved a couple of threads out of AIBU to the Christmas topic. Trouble is, they haven't changed the titles, which both start 'to ask you x/ to do y' so now they just look silly without the implied AIBU at the beginning.

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

MNHQ

OliviaMumsnet · 30/10/2011 10:50

@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 Grin

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 Blush)

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

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 04/11/2011 20:20

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!

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