what the actual is that facebook like button doing there?

[CarolCervix]

has it always been there? or has it moved? and does that mean if someone 'likes' that thread it will be posted to their fb page?

Helen's finger is quivering over the big red delete button. I can tell. Go on Helen. Go On! You know you want to.

How about just simply suspending the button for the time being

and holding a MN poll with 'want' 'don't want' 'not fussed' answers and eac poster only being able to vote once

this will then give an overall view of what actually is what here. Whatever the outcome will be the answer?

I have to go out for a while. Probably just as well.

Has anyone from MNHQ said why they've added this button yet? Or have they been side-stepping that particular quastion?

^"OK, there is a delicate symbiosis going on here. We all like MN because it gives us a social outlet and allows us to remain relatively anonymous. MN needs posters who generate interesting or relevant threads to generate traffic and advertising revenue. think Nemo and anenome

Up until today, the two parties have co-existed relatively happily. But suddenly the symbiotic balance changes! One party provides a forum foc in exchange for hosting advertising. The other party provides the content. Suddenl nor party that they are going to get a better share of the deal - i.e. greater publicity - at the expense of the other party, who suddenly becomes more vulnerable.

Well, maybe it's time to shift the balance. I'm often a thread starter in Chat and Aibu. I'm one of MN's content providers who help to generate traffic. But, seriously, if my chat is a commodity that MN want to use to "go viral" and generate revenue, then I'm not sure I can be arsed."^

I was thinking I will be careful not to post on the first page of a thread, as the fuckwits less tenacious FB readers won't bother to read past the first page.

The only possible reason for not polling us about this is because MNHQ knew what the answer would be. Then they would not have been able to pull the "Oh, but this functionality has been there all along, so we didn't think you would mind if we put AN OBVIOUS FB LIKE SYMBOL RIGHT AT THE TOP OF POSTS, rather than tucked away at the top where hardly anyone notices it " crap.

It's bullshit and I'm getting tired of being lied to. I wish MNHQ (not necessarily Helen, but as has been mentioned, perhaps someone who actually does have the authority/ability to implement changes) would just be honest about their motivations here. This is not for our benefit.

@MistleTobyLeWolef

The only possible reason for not polling us about this is because MNHQ knew what the answer would be. Then they would not have been able to pull the "Oh, but this functionality has been there all along, so we didn't think you would mind if we put AN OBVIOUS FB LIKE SYMBOL RIGHT AT THE TOP OF POSTS, rather than tucked away at the top where hardly anyone notices it " crap.

It's bullshit and I'm getting tired of being lied to. I wish MNHQ (not necessarily Helen, but as has been mentioned, perhaps someone who actually does have the authority/ability to implement changes) would just be honest about their motivations here. This is not for our benefit.

It's not bullshit and you're not being lied to.

How about suspending it until you have decided which topics are sensitive enough for it to be a bad idea?

I'm also a bit by anyone saying they have never hit the wrong button or clicked on a link they didn't mean to.

There was a huge outcry when linking was first introduced and it was hidden.

There was a huge outcry when the dangly thingy was introduced, and so we were allowed to hide it.

There was a huge outcry when the "bullying by Facebook friends" accusations were first made, and we were discouraged from going to Facebook and Twitter to get people to come and pile in.

Mumsnet HQ (as a whole, not just the poor sod who has been left here to field this) should be considering and answering questions, not just saying "calm down, it won't hurt you" .

Ok. So what is the reason for doing this, then? Honestly?

Well maybe Mardy has a very valid way of demonstrating her distaste at the decision, and her and other thread starters should "have a break" from starting threads for a bit.

So let me get this straight, people are worried about/don't like the "like" button because there is a possibility of accidentally clicking on it and it going to your facebook page without you realising (until you look at facebook)?

I can see why this would concern people to be honest.. it's not just the sensitive subjects, it's people you know knowing you have a MN presence at all and being able to somehow work out what your username is from this "liked" thread and being able to see all your other posts..

It's a small possibility but it's there.

And people can say "well it's a public forum, don't put up anything that you're uncomfortable with others finding out about".. but lots of people come here because they can get support for things they're not comfortable talking about in "real life"..

If there was no chance of anyone clicking on it by mistake and it going direct to facebook then it would fine.. but that's not the case at the moment.

*As we posted earlier on, Mardy, no we didn't. Because we already had the Facebook linking on the Viewport bar. So it's not anything new; just an extra widget doing the same thing.

We knew a lot of people didn't like the idea of liking posts (see 5000 Site Stuff threads of yore) but that's different*

I don't think it's different...and I don't remember any thread that specified "Oh we won't like THREADS...only POSTS!" at all and I also think that this comment above is bull....MNHQ KNEW that the reaction would be this...why the eff would it be different just because it was a post rather than a thread???

Maybe there should be a "Chat - No FB Like button" topic

I absolutely do not believe that MNHQ did not think there would be a fuss about this, on some level.

I also cannot believe that they have not thought through the sensitive topics angle fully. They paid lipservice to it, by way of excluding SN, relationships, etc - but to leave adoption and fostering? that is a truly bizarre decision/oversight, and one that should not have been made. same with child/adolescent mental health - I mean, it doesn't really take much thought to exclude those, does it?

the lack of attention to detail when bringing about major site changes is appalling, tbh.

No Snuff people are worried about much more than that...you've simplified things too much but I can't be arsed to explain the whole thead where many posters have outlined various different concerns.

I can quite see why MNHQ would assume there wouldn't be all this kerfuffle. With the new like button, once you've scrolled down to post 6 or 7, it's disappeared off the top of the thread and can no longer be seen for accidental or otherwise clicking.

The one that was already there, on the viewport thingummy, remains fully in view all the way down any thread.

Bearing that in mind, I think it's perfectly reasonable to think the introduction of this new one wouldn't involve this level of drama.

Well surely the reason for doing it is to generate traffic to the site? That's got to be the reason for most changes to the site, they're not employing Techs for the fun of it.

The idea being that people will read something funny / interesting and click to share it (just as I often see people sharing news stories on facebook). Thus getting other people who don't normally look at mumsnet coming over to have a look = increased hits = more money.

Somehow, I don't think they added it to help people bitch about threads / troll more effectively. I've not seen anyone do that on my facebook feed, but I have noticed people 'piling in' on quite innocuous threads, so some siren must be going off somewhere, but this button isn't really going to increase that behaviour, is it, just make it a tiny bit easier for those sorts of people.

I don't have a FB button that stays as I scroll down the page.

there is one next to my inbox symbol at the top of the page, but that is it.

Frothing exactly....all this "But we never new you'd mind as there's already a widget" stuff is laughable. And they keep bleating on about all the posts of the past "But you all said you wouldn't want a like button for POSTS! Nobody said anything about THREADS!" is awfully silly too. It makes MNH look like they think we're a load of thickos.

(that was in answer to Toby)

And no, I don't think they should have expected this much fuss, as we've already said, the facebook link / like was already there, it's just been added to the top of the page as well as on the scrolly bar thing. There is nothing new here.

It's still not fine if it was harder to link. Better but not fine at all.

FB is 'real' real names, photos, real family, real work colleagues.

MN is annonymous.

If the 2 get linked somehow I could be completely fucked at work. 'Unprofessional behaviour'. There are big rules about internet stuff.

Obviously anything on the internet is open and namechanging for sensitive (or work) rants is needed but I still feel this FB linking business is crossing a line. It just appears to be making it too easy for real and annonymity to merge.

also, the positioning of it, next to thread title is absolutely prime positioning for it to be hit accidentally when eg browsing on a smartphone or ipad, near the next page button/show all messages.

and why am i incapable of spelling anonymous?

It goes in the same circular motion though every few years from what i can see - newbies become well known become a clique (shineys, wolefs, many many more) think they're all there is to the chat forums become outraged when something changes or lots of new folk appear become despondent when they realise Mn doesn't 'care' as such about them / is a business then the new lot become newbies and so it goes on....bit like Dr Who's regenerations really....