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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Reply to Justine

776 replies

TheOriginalFAB · 18/12/2011 18:46

The first objection I'm afraid I can't really buy - Most of the UK population uses Facebook. Most Mumsnetters use facebook. It's a bit mad to object to facebook on principle - it's like objecting to people.

This is just daft and is irrelevant whether you buy it or not. Just because "most of ths population" use FB doesn't mean everyone on MN is going to like it. It is like saying you don't buy that some people won't eat meat as the majority of the population are not vegetarian/vegan. And it is nothing like objecting to people Hmm

The second objection I just think is misguided, as I've explained. Users' privacy is no more compromised by this button than it ever was.

It might not be "no more compromised" than before but the point is it is much more visable now and before people might not have been aware of the link button but now they are and they don't like it.

So should we change something because some people on this thread dislike it even if we think they are mistaken to dislike it? Even though what they are objecting to is already in place?

You may think we are mistaken not to like it but we are part of MN and without posters you just have a website with adverts no one sees. And the fact that it is already in place is not the issue. Before lots of posters weren't aware of it so couldn't object.

I've been doing this long enough to know that new things are never well-received - but it doesn't always mean they are bad.

That comes across as patronising and lots of posters are telling you this is a "bad" idea and lots of people don't like it.

For me this is a huge loss as I feel unable to discuss something I would have appreciated help with and that makes me feel sad. And namechanging doesn't work for me as someone always guesses who I am and outs me.

OP posts:
BobbinRobin · 19/12/2011 16:17

Trills - I was thinking that too. FB are not known for taking active steps to protect people's privacy [understatement]

BobbinRobin · 19/12/2011 16:28

"So, what you are saying is that if you click it, whether on accident or on purpose, it posts immediately to your FB page? Thats pretty crap isn't it?"

That's REALLY REALLY crap, sorry. And if people can't see why, then as I said before, they are somewhat limited in imagination.

BobbinRobin · 19/12/2011 16:32

And horribly compounded by the fact that you can not only post accidentally to your own FB page, but to the FB of other people who use your computer AS IF YOU WERE THEM.

frankie3 · 19/12/2011 16:49

Also, I know which of my rl friends are on mn, and obviously which or me rl friends are on Facebook. There are many people who would never go on mn but are on Facebook. I am careful what I post on some topics as i have a good idea of which of my rl friends are on mn. But if they were to like a thread that I have posted on then some of my rl friends who have never been on mn and have no interest in mn will be encouraged to read the thread. This is what worries me.

frankie3 · 19/12/2011 16:53

And mn has such a different purpose to Facebook. I hate the thought that someone can like a thread I have been on as most of the stuff on Facebook is quite crude and shallow. I know that there is a lot here that is also crude and shallow! But there is also such a different emphasis to most threads and I hate the thought of them being mocked on Facebook.

MNHQ
HarktheHelenMumsnetAngelsSing · 19/12/2011 16:54

@BobbinRobin

And horribly compounded by the fact that you can not only post accidentally to your own FB page, but to the FB of other people who use your computer AS IF YOU WERE THEM.

This won't happen, BobbinRobin, if people using your computer log out of their FB page before you use the computer - and disable their cookies (see my previous post).

MNHQ
HarktheHelenMumsnetAngelsSing · 19/12/2011 16:56

@DoesntChristmasDragOn

So, what you are saying is that if you click it, whether on accident or on purpose, it posts immediately to your FB page? Thats pretty crap isn't it?

Yes, it's not ideal

But that's how it's been since our FB link in the Viewport bar went live nearly a year ago - and it's only been noticed now.

Granted, it something we should have been aware of from the get-go. But, now that we do know, we're working on ways to get round/fix it.

IAmFuckingPissedOff · 19/12/2011 17:13

So, now that you have admitted that it isn't a glitch, it's a design fault, and unfixable (so it isn't a two-step process and accidentally hovering could cause it to link inadvertently), can you consider my other questions please:

Are you considering being able to customise our profiles, so that we can each individually hide the like button (as we can hide the dangly thing)?

Are you going to remove it from old posts?

Is there anywhere we can ask for topics to be excluded? Since you weren't particularly careful about the list of topics to be excluded and have since widened it, can you widen it some more?

BobbinRobin · 19/12/2011 17:15

Thanks Helen. Re the FB link in the Viewport bar, has that always done a 'Like' to the thread on that page at the time? I really never knew that, I always assumed it was just a general 'Like Mumsnet' button.

MNHQ
HarktheHelenMumsnetAngelsSing · 19/12/2011 17:30

@IAmFuckingPissedOff

So, now that you have admitted that it isn't a glitch, it's a design fault, and unfixable (so it isn't a two-step process and accidentally hovering could cause it to link inadvertently), can you consider my other questions please:

Are you considering being able to customise our profiles, so that we can each individually hide the like button (as we can hide the dangly thing)?

Are you going to remove it from old posts?

Is there anywhere we can ask for topics to be excluded? Since you weren't particularly careful about the list of topics to be excluded and have since widened it, can you widen it some more?

No, we're not considering either of those at the moment, IAmFuckingPissedOff.

MNHQ
HarktheHelenMumsnetAngelsSing · 19/12/2011 17:31

@BobbinRobin

Thanks Helen. Re the FB link in the Viewport bar, has that always done a 'Like' to the thread on that page at the time? I really never knew that, I always assumed it was just a general 'Like Mumsnet' button.

Yes, it has BobbinRobbin. The general link to our Mumsnet page on FB is right up at the very top, to the right of your PM inbox.

Furball · 19/12/2011 17:33

Can I ask - If I was to say use the computer at the library to do a bit of MN'ing and FBing - which I have done in the past.

because I can't disable cookies on a public computer - where does that path lead?

Will I/someone else inadvertently post anonymously to someone elses FB page? and they maybe to mine? Shock

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 19/12/2011 17:34

"...This won't happen, BobbinRobin, if people using your computer log out of their FB page before you use the computer - and disable their cookies (see my previous post)."

So, you think people should change the way they use their own computer because of a change you've implemented? Confused

IAmFuckingPissedOff · 19/12/2011 17:41

Well at least I have my answers, thanks Helen.

So it's not going to be hideable.

It's not going to be removed from historic posts.

It's not going to be taken away from more topics (like lone parents, legal, employment, teenagers).

Does no-one think this is going to change the amount of advice people will give on those sensitive boards?

Or doesn't that matter?

I just don't get it.

MNHQ
HarktheHelenMumsnetAngelsSing · 19/12/2011 17:42

@DoesntChristmasDragOn

"...This won't happen, BobbinRobin, if people using your computer log out of their FB page before you use the computer - and disable their cookies (see my previous post)."

So, you think people should change the way they use their own computer because of a change you've implemented? Confused

Well no, not just because of a change we've implemented; if you're sharing a computer with others, you really should do it anyway - to safeguard yourself and the others.

IAmFuckingPissedOff · 19/12/2011 17:42

Actually, can I ask one more question.

The button you all are referring to on the "viewpoint bar" - is the viewpoint bar the dangly thing that we can disable? Or is there yet another button elsewhere?

MNHQ
HarktheHelenMumsnetAngelsSing · 19/12/2011 17:43

@IAmFuckingPissedOff

Actually, can I ask one more question.

The button you all are referring to on the "viewpoint bar" - is the viewpoint bar the dangly thing that we can disable? Or is there yet another button elsewhere?

Yes, it's the dangly thing - which you can hide (but not disable).

IAmFuckingPissedOff · 19/12/2011 17:45

I have just had a look.

The button you keep referring to as having been there for a couple of years (or however long). The reason I haven't seen it is because I hid the viewport bar.

So I didn't have a button.

You made it hideable, because there was hoo-ha at the time it was introduced.

Why were we allowed to hide the facebook link button in the viewport bar before Thursday, and today we aren't?

I really, really don't understand this Shock.

IAmFuckingPissedOff · 19/12/2011 17:46

Sorry, cross-posts.

Now at least I know why the Facebook like button was such a surprise to me.

I didn't have one before Thursday.

I don't want one.

Can I hide it please?

QuintessentiallyFestive · 19/12/2011 17:48

Helen, respectfully BOLLEAUX.

  1. Facebook provides numerous templates with code for buttons that businesses can use.
  2. Your own designer need to implement and TEST the code within the framework of your own code.
  3. A good coder will be able to add the code that you want, within the html of the button provided by FB (which I have studied myself as I have supplied relevant code to our own designers to tailor to our own needs)
  4. Facebook is more than happy to liaise. (Or maybe I am just lucky to have friends working for Fb)
  5. Many organizations have tailored html button code provided by FB to make a two step process. In these popups you can a) change your mind; b) add a comment; c) chose which wall to add it to, your own, other pages you administer, or a friends wall. It is perfectly possible, if you want it to be.
MNHQ
HarktheHelenMumsnetAngelsSing · 19/12/2011 17:50

@QuintessentiallyFestive

Helen, respectfully BOLLEAUX.
  1. Facebook provides numerous templates with code for buttons that businesses can use.
  2. Your own designer need to implement and TEST the code within the framework of your own code.
  3. A good coder will be able to add the code that you want, within the html of the button provided by FB (which I have studied myself as I have supplied relevant code to our own designers to tailor to our own needs)
  4. Facebook is more than happy to liaise. (Or maybe I am just lucky to have friends working for Fb)
  5. Many organizations have tailored html button code provided by FB to make a two step process. In these popups you can a) change your mind; b) add a comment; c) chose which wall to add it to, your own, other pages you administer, or a friends wall. It is perfectly possible, if you want it to be.

That is exactly what we're working on, Quint.

IAmFuckingPissedOff · 19/12/2011 17:50

This is just so disappointing Sad.

I presume you would like the half dozen or so of us who are really upset about this to just bugger off.

So far: you have said it isn't new, but it is (to me and many others). You have said it is a two step process, it isn't. You have said it can't be posted by accident, it can. You have said you left it off sensitive topics, you didn't.

It doesn't sound as though you really care about your users you know, and that was always the thing that I admired most about Mumsnet.

MNHQ
HarktheHelenMumsnetAngelsSing · 19/12/2011 17:51

@IAmFuckingPissedOff

I have just had a look.

The button you keep referring to as having been there for a couple of years (or however long). The reason I haven't seen it is because I hid the viewport bar.

So I didn't have a button.

You made it hideable, because there was hoo-ha at the time it was introduced.

Why were we allowed to hide the facebook link button in the viewport bar before Thursday, and today we aren't?

I really, really don't understand this Shock.

Yes, we made it hideable because some people complained that they didn't like it dangling down at the top of threads all the time. Afaik, no one complained about the FB Like button on it.

LEttletownofBOFlehem · 19/12/2011 17:53

I have never in my life seen this dangly thing of which you speak- what is it, and why have I never seen it?

MNHQ
HarktheHelenMumsnetAngelsSing · 19/12/2011 17:54

Ok, I'm aware there are still some questions we haven't answered but I'm sorry to say I have to go now.

I will try to look back in this evening. And I will make sure we update Justine on what's being said ? although I'm afraid I can't guarantee when she will read our update.