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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:
MNHQ
Tech · 19/12/2011 21:35

Which is not to say that it's not regrettable that we gave the wrong info. Clearly out internal communications failed, and we will work on how we ensure that doesn't happen again.

Anyway, I'd better sign off as I'm getting out of pure tech stuff and the shed might indeed get locked and/or flooded with irate MNHQers.

FrothingBeserker · 19/12/2011 21:36

um, you were fund out very quickly. but it was denied, again and again (mostly, to be fair, by other MN users).

it is only today - 5 days after it was introduced that the issues were acknowledged, and MNHQ seemed to finally understand how the button works (or not). An odd way to run a business - intorduce new things willy nilly, which a substantial proportion of your regular users do not actually want, without actually knowing what they do or how they work.

agree with IAFPO - this will probably further alter how many use the site. more natter and gossip, much less proper support - which was always the thing that MN was famed for. oh well. no skin off MNHQ's nose. but devastating to those who did actually use it for the support, not the gossip.

MNHQ
Tech · 19/12/2011 21:36

OUR internal communications even....

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 19/12/2011 21:39

two tin cans and a length of string.

noddyholder · 19/12/2011 22:09

Once the thread is linked to and is on FB is it possible to link the comments back to here?

CrispLeCrisp · 19/12/2011 22:10

The link is a link back to the MN thread noddy

noddyholder · 19/12/2011 22:13

I think its totally daft to have your comments on facebook when you haven't put them there. Then a load of people can pass comment. There is a link on my FB page atm about this with lots of comments yet those comments can't be posted here. Seems unfair and a bit silly!

CalatalieSisters · 19/12/2011 22:13

Thanks tech. The FB abandonment of sharing in favour of liking sounds intriguing.

CrispLeCrisp · 19/12/2011 22:15

But on my news feed thingummy on the right of the screen i can see if a friend has commented on their friends status (not a friend of mine). So theoretically a friend of mine can see if another of my friends is commenting on MN posts. Most of my friends do not know i MN. This would give them a clue that i am friends with a fair few MNetters and go and have a snoop.

I know this can happen now, but few threads are C&P'd. As a result i have already culled a number of MN friends from my FB to try and limit the risk of me being outed as a Mnetter.

noddyholder · 19/12/2011 22:17

I can see that. It means people can then comment and say ooh thats interesting or what a bunch of tossers yet the people on the thread can't see this. It is a one way street really.

CrispLeCrisp · 19/12/2011 22:19

Yes, you are right Noddy.

ElfOfThePerverse · 19/12/2011 22:21

Hmmm, I was originally of the view that people were a bit dense thinking a link on a fb wall (normally ignored by less than 100 people) was a larger loss of privacy than posting on a public forum read by millions.

I do stand by that bit of my original attitude, however I have come round to the idea that actually the 'like' button is a crap feature for all users and a 'one click like' is a disaster waiting to happen for some individuals.

CalatalieSisters · 19/12/2011 22:29

Blimey, I see what people mean about the one-click like. I clicked on 'like' hours ago to see what it was all about, but didn't then make the second step of sending the "like" to Facebook so I thought it wasn't on Facebook. I even cancelled my "like". But I've now just checked on my cobwebbed and unused FB page and there it is, splashing my dirty MN habit to the handful of people I friended when I made an abortive exploration of FB a while ago. That is rather scary. I certainly won't click anywhere near it again.

BobbinRobin · 19/12/2011 22:31

"a 'one click like' is a disaster waiting to happen for some individuals."

It really is. And a two-click Like isn't a whole lot better. There must be so few threads which are appropriate for any MN user to share with their entire FB family and friends.

CrispLeCrisp · 19/12/2011 22:33

Sisters - you don't even need one click on some pooters apparently - just a hover over the button and you have shared.......

CalatalieSisters · 19/12/2011 22:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IAmFuckingPissedOff · 19/12/2011 22:41

Exactly, it's a one-hover-like Hmm.

Or even a one-don't move your mouse away quickly enough-like.

And even if they (allegedly) fix it, does anyone believe anything about it any more? We have been told it is a Facebook button, not a mumsnet one. So how can anyone be sure that Facebook won't change its meaning or its use at any time?

With the number of times they seem to change everyone's privacy settings with little if any warning, I don't think Facebook is in any way trustworthy not to fiddle with their like/share/whatever buttons Hmm.

CrispLeCrisp · 19/12/2011 22:42

I don't mind FB, i use it for social stuff. I use MN for parenting stuff (and a few laughs/debates). They have different functions. Why do they all want to morph into one? Xmas Angry

IAmFuckingPissedOff · 19/12/2011 22:43

I don't have a Facebook account, Calatalie, but my dh and kids have, on this computer Hmm.

BowlOfWorms · 19/12/2011 22:55

Xmas Angry I hate that there is a facebook like button above my thread in Health.

I am not happy.

MrsChristmasDB · 19/12/2011 23:01

I don't like that it's there on any thread.

But then if it was up to me, I would click a 'make facebook extinct' button. Xmas Grin

IAmFuckingPissedOff · 19/12/2011 23:03

Sorry, I just posted this on another thread by mistake, instead of here, but I'll repeat it (why not).

"I think there are two types of people on here.

One type live their lives on Facebook, they are happy for friends/family/acquaintences to have a blow-by-blow account of their lives, to share photos and to keep everyone updated every day. They don't care about a Facebook button - why would they, most of their life is there for all to see anyway.

The other type doesn't use Facebook (except possibly for keeping up with a few friends, sharing photographs, in which case they have very high security on Facebook). They don't tell everyone their everyday business. They like being anonymous online.

Some of the latter have very real and valid reasons for being anonymous (DV, SN, difficult family/ex-partners/children/jobs with security risk, etc etc).

Those people really do mind.

Unfortunately the first group don't seem to be able to put themselves in the position of the second group. They say "Who cares?" but what they really mean is "I don't care and I don't give a shit about you" Hmm."

noddyholder · 19/12/2011 23:07

IAFPO That is it in a nut shell

LissTheSeasonLouBeJollie · 19/12/2011 23:08

Unfortunately the first group don't seem to be able to put themselves in the position of the second group. They say "Who cares?" but what they really mean is "I don't care and I don't give a shit about you"

bit unfair, and not true. if you want to preserve you anonymity, you still can. the share button was there before, and if you hid it, other people could still link to it themselves. I could share a thread that you started. it would be on my wall for all my friends to read and you wouldnt know a thing about it. the moral is, dont write anything you wouldnt say, and be aware of what details you share. I genuinely dont get what the problem is.

noddyholder · 19/12/2011 23:11

I think most people have written things here they wouldn't say! For me it just means I have to delete all the people on my FB who are from here which is fine I suppose.