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Original poster

I would like an option to "opt out" of advanced search

56 replies

IAmFuckingPissedOff · 15/12/2011 22:17

I think that might solve the privacy issues.

I would like to be able, on my customise, make my name unsearchable under posts "posted by X".

Is that feasible?

I know it seems recently that the so-called "active" posters are unnecessary on here - in fact on another thread I have just noticed that we are apparently a minority Hmm and therefore have no right to dictate how the site is run.

However, in my opinion (and correct me if I'm wrong) the site would be very much less helpful to parents if the regulars stopped offering advice. There are many active posters on here who post in niche places, giving advice on things as far apart as legal, infertility, mental health, parenting, etc etc. For me, certainly, I'm no longer as happy to post about my life, and thus support others, when it is so easy with one click to post the whole thread straight to Facebook. Where I might be recognised because of my unusual circumstances, and someone can come straight here and read about my life, and my children's life, for the last ten years.

So I'm left with options: I can dereg and not post at all, I can post only on innane threads or I can lurk only.

In all of those choices I won't be giving advice and sympathy because I'm going to be bloody careful what I post.

Or you could make my user-name unsearchable.

OP posts:
Llareggub · 15/12/2011 22:19

Good idea, I like it a lot.

LEttletownofBOFlehem · 15/12/2011 22:19

How are people going to find helpful advice the remember you giving if they can't search your name?

winterfox · 15/12/2011 22:20

fgs get over youself and just name change - it's not rocket science

Llareggub · 15/12/2011 22:20

They don't need to remember a name, just a particular set of keywords to get the answer. It will stop people searching a whole posting history though.

winterfox · 15/12/2011 22:21

and btw i joined mn in 2005 and knew then the site was public

usualsuspect · 15/12/2011 22:22

No one has the right to dictate how the site is run ,only mnhq

No one is so special that mnhq would care if they left tbh

LEttletownofBOFlehem · 15/12/2011 22:22

Also, it is perfectly possible to give reasonable help and support on any thread without vomiting your entire personal life over the keyboard. MN has never been private. If you don't want to share too much, just don't.

Original poster
IAmFuckingPissedOff · 15/12/2011 22:22

I don't care any more about useful advice. I'm not going to bother giving it any more, since apparently lurkers are more important to the site (due to their numbers) than posters Hmm.

I'm cross.

winterfox, I can of course name-change. Shall I also get all my posts deleted under my old name.

The site will look very odd if we all do that.

OP posts:
savoycabbage · 15/12/2011 22:23

I think it's a good idea.

LEttletownofBOFlehem · 15/12/2011 22:26

You are having a bit of a hissy fit over nothing new, you know. Maybe you're just outgrowing the place or getting bored and jaded? Lots of people do after a while, and take a break or drift off. It's a shame when the shine has worn off for you, but I think to some degree it does for everyone, eventually. Which is partly why MN needs new posters to keep going.

SanTEEClaus · 15/12/2011 22:27

FFS get over it!!! What a lot of drama over absolutely fucking nothing.

Guess what? Most of the world doesn't know who you are or care.

It's the internet. It has never been private and never will be.

Don't like it? Bye. Because you're right. MNHQ doesn't care if you leave as you are 1 in, literally, a million.

IdoNOTlike · 15/12/2011 22:31

I can see where you are coming from op, but I'm going to take a different tack.
I'm a longtime mnetter that mostly lurks so nit recognisable to anybody I font think - but everytime MNHQ do something stoopid I scuttle under a stone.

The newspaper roundup caused me to shed my original and well known name and post far less often. Now I have shed another fairly recognisable name.
I post hardly any details but the vague possibilty of being outed os horribly scary to me (I suspect I have aspergers-possibly part of that? certainly would be for my son who deffo has)

IdoNOTlike · 15/12/2011 22:35

phone cut my post- grrr
my final point was, to those of you who are saying "get over yourself and stop making such a fuss" - lucky you!
But I don't feel that way about it

This incident will definately change my usage of MN

And the like button is seriously naff
Might as well have tickers and glitter

LeninGrad · 15/12/2011 22:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ImpOfThePerverse · 15/12/2011 22:40

MN and the advanced search existed long before you joined and they will continue to exist long after you dereg (if you do).

The choices are: live with it, namechange or leave. Take your pick.

LeninGrad · 15/12/2011 22:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
IAmFuckingPissedOff · 15/12/2011 22:47

That's my point Lenin. Most of my posts have only given away information while trying to help others. I won't bother any more, I don't think.

To individuallly google every post would be very time-consuming. But a thread linked to Facebook, followed by an Advanced Search for every post I've ever made would be pretty horrible.

And when I joined, yes it was public, but Facebook hardly existed (if it did exist at all - when did it start?), mumsnet was very small, and the cross-over from mumsnet to real life was very, very unlikely.

This Facebook button is the last straw really, simply because as our children get old enough to use Facebook it becomes impossible to talk about them anonymously.

Which means being unable to give advice.

And as this site (or at least the Talk part of the site) started off as being a place to get advice and support, it is destroying it's own purpose. No-one will be able to talk about personal experience and help because of confidentiality issues.

Not being able to do an Advance Search would avoid a lot of that.

OP posts:
ImpOfThePerverse · 15/12/2011 22:56

Why would someone who saw a link on FB follow up with an advanced search on a poster's name though?

Most threads are very unlikely to be liked, the kind of threads which get liked are the kind which go in classics, they tend to have hundreds of posts and sod all identifying information.

I can't see anyone following the link on FB and then doing an advanced search on every poster on the thread, unless they had an axe to grind, in which case they'd already be a MNer.

LowRegNumber · 16/12/2011 07:00

A Google search for every post may be unlikely however it has always been possible to pull a post from.Google then come here and advanced search it. Nothing has changed from that p.o.v. Yes having more threads linked will increase exposure and up site traffic - but this is a business so increasing exposure and site traffic are pretty key aims for mnhq.

The site changed a long time ago and everyone had to learn to be careful, then it changes again and everyone learnt again. Some left of course but overall the site gets bigger and stronger like any good business. The place works fine without recognizable posters, it works fine if people de-reg in a huff. We have learnt the hard way that stamping our feet and demanding that HQ see how important we are dammit gets us nowhere and changes nothing.

It is an internet site, it is public and searchable either name change and limit posts or realise that you are going to get outed at some point. There is no point asking HQ to delete old posts, despite the fact they have promised several times in writing to delete posts from my original user name (in the dark ages) they ate still there. It is jot easy to do it even for people with a good reason like child endangerment so I can't imagine then leaping to do.it.for everyone who has just noticed the site.is public.

LovesBloominChristmas · 16/12/2011 07:20

Have I missed something? The link to Fb has been here a while Confused

LovesBloominChristmas · 16/12/2011 07:34

Ok caught up, it's not on the mobile version (shh)

RealLifeIsForWimps · 16/12/2011 07:48

Hmm. I can kind of see the OP's point. Occasionally I've been debating a point with a poster and they've clearly "advance searched" my name to get more background on me and then used these details in an unrelated debate. However, thats a bit annoying but not really a huge issue. I mainly post in the 90 day deletion sections anyway.

I have to agree that most people don't come on the forums for advice- they come on for entertainment/to watch or participate in the debates. Chat and AIBU get by far the most traffic. I think the people who spend a lot of time giving advice for nothing are great, but the forum wouldn't grind to a halt without them.

ShirleyKnot · 16/12/2011 11:21

I'm a bit non plussed by all of this TBH - and I'm finding it difficult to "pick a side"...

anyway - I do kind of think that taking away the nickname advanced search would be a GOOD IDEA. (and I use it quite a lot) I remember being very surprised when I first joined MN that you could, in a couple of keystrokes, look at every post written by a certain member - that's a bit mad really.

rubyrubyruby · 16/12/2011 11:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

baubleybobbityhat · 16/12/2011 11:28

The link to facebook and twitter has been here a couple of years hasn't it? There used to be buttons in the coloured band above every single post. I remember a similar hoo-ha at the time they were introduced when some posters who were inexperienced in the use of fb and twitter (some of them inexperienced because they choose not to subscribe) being shouted at and ridiculed for not quite understanding the anonymity thing. I see not much has changed.