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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:
IAmFuckingPissedOff · 19/12/2011 23:17

I don't think it's unfair.

People who don't mind it, don't mind it. That's fine for them. But does it really add to their mumsnetting experience in any way at all? Enough for them to say "I don't care if it bothers other people"?

It is selfish to tell people to shut up and stop whinging (which a lot of people have done), without actually considering whether those people have a reason to whinge (iyswim)?

BobbinRobin · 19/12/2011 23:17

Lissie - having read this thread do you really have no understanding of the privacy issues involved Confused Even if you don't feel that the issues apply to you personally?

Incidentally, deleting all your MN friends from FB doesn't solve the problem of accidentally Liking a bumsex (or whatever) thread yourself - it would still shared with on FB with your non-MN friends and family...

McPhee · 19/12/2011 23:19

Jesus Christ, I've just read what's going on and all I can say Is, What a fucking cheek!!! How dare someone take it upon themselves to even add this ridiculous fb like button. I don't give a flying monkeys if they set this site up or not, it's not their place to choose this option for the rest of us. I certainly don't want my thoughts spread across FB without my knowing......this bleeding world has lost the plot!!

Very pissed off McPhee Angry

LoremIpsum · 19/12/2011 23:22

There are more than two. How fucking rude a lot of you are being in your flap about this. The snobbery about FB and 'others' has put me off MN for the first time ever. I use FB on and off, sometimes to share things, often to follow interesting links friends have posted. That, apparently, makes me all kinds of wrong. Here I am bringing the tone down. Charming.

BobbinRobin · 19/12/2011 23:25

It's not about FB snobbery. I use FB to keep up with family and friends.

I just don't think FB is remotely compatible with MN. FB friends tend to be made up of family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, people from school - all distinct but overlapping groups.

Threads from MN are often of a pretty personal nature and encompass things such as family problems, employment problems, health problems - few of which are appropriate to share with your entire FB 'audience'.

McPhee · 19/12/2011 23:29

It certainly is not about FB snobbery. I'm on FB, and am far from a snob thanks.
It's about someone sat behind a desk choosing what's good for us without so much as an ask Hmm And I thought we lived in a democracy.

baubleybobbityhat · 19/12/2011 23:32

Got it in a nutshell Noddy at 22:17. Also, Bobbin's post at 20:23 re. people who don't use facebook having their own anonymity compromised by being "liked" by the people who do. I have recognised people on Mumsnet purely from what they have posted on the day, without looking back at old posts or anything like that. Liking a thread simply widens the audience. Besides which, facebook truly is inane.

baubleybobbityhat · 19/12/2011 23:39

I also fail to see what benefit it gives to the average mumsnetter who also uses facebook.

Do you really want all your rl friends/family to see what you get up to on mumsnet? Don't you want any privacy at all?

I am sure that links are made to facebook fairly regularly but aren't those mainly for the benefit of Mumsnetters who are linked up with each other on fb to discuss threads off board?

BobbinRobin · 19/12/2011 23:40

I do think though that people use FB in a weird way sometimes - they post links and things probably thinking 'oh my sister would like to see that', conveniently forgetting that their mum / boss / everyone else will also see it.

BobbinRobin · 19/12/2011 23:45

"I also fail to see what benefit it gives to the average mumsnetter who also uses facebook."

Agree. Also, FB isn't really the best place to discuss MN threads unless you have super-sophisticated privacy settings which only include the MNers you want to 'discuss' things with.

noddyholder · 19/12/2011 23:46

I agree they are incompatible.

thefroggy · 20/12/2011 03:01

Well, as an example. I can see a thread in aibu right now which is of a pretty sensitive nature. I'm sure that poster would be delighted to accidentally link that to her fb wall so that possibly her work colleagues, nursery friends, school friends and extended family could all have a good look at it.

The button doesn't work as it should mn, you have admitted that. Be that the fault of mn or fb, it matters not. I am not a techy person, but surely if you know it doesn't work for whatever reason, it shouldn't be live until it does what it says on the tin?

LovesBloominChristmas · 20/12/2011 06:34

McPhee Mon 19-Dec-11 23:19:53
Jesus Christ, I've just read what's going on and all I can say Is, What a fucking cheek!!! How dare someone take it upon themselves to even add this ridiculous fb like button. I don't give a flying monkeys if they set this site up or not, it's not their place to choose this option for the rest of us. I certainly don't want my thoughts spread across FB without my knowing......this bleeding world has lost the plot!!

Very pissed off McPhee

Then you need to understand how a site like this works, once you've posted they can repeat what you've put anywhere they like eg tge Mumsnet books. So can anyone else eg newspapers. This button doesn't mean that this is a new issue it's always been there and it cones up every few months.

LovesBloominChristmas · 20/12/2011 07:21

Mnhq - I think it's a real shame that you've allowed this change to go tits up in the way it has. You know the strength of feeling about this subject, and have had to deal with it before. By doing it this way it looks like you are sneaking it in, and with the confusion about the number of clicks etc it just makes you look like you don't even understand how it works.

By being better prepared it would have reduced the fallout, I do understand that nothing would have prevented it but at least you would have looked in control.

Unless of course this is all a way for Justine to prove mnhq can't cope without her by pressing tge live button before she went away Xmas Wink

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 20/12/2011 07:36

"I don't give a flying monkeys if they set this site up or not, it's not their place to choose this option for the rest of us."

Well, yes, actually it is. They can do what ever they damn well please. Of course they can - and pretty much every single other site out there 8would8 do whatever they damn well please.

However, MNHQ are unusual in the fact that they do give the users a good deal of flexibility and input into what happens on the site.

Which makes this all the more strange.

MmeLindor. · 20/12/2011 07:43

Oh dear.

I was defending this yesterday, but must admit that the lack of a failsafe two click option is really bad, MNHQ.

It does not really bother me too much but I can see that it has implications for others. And it is actually quite easy to click on something by mistake on iPhone or iPad - I have almost reported or PMed posters several times.

At the same time, I find that the level of rage directed at MNHQ is simply not on.

Jesus Christ, I've just read what's going on and all I can say Is, What a fucking cheek!!! How dare someone take it upon themselves to even add this ridiculous fb like button. I don't give a flying monkeys if they set this site up or not, it's not their place to choose this option for the rest of us. I certainly don't want my thoughts spread across FB without my knowing......this bleeding world has lost the plot!!

Erm. Excuse me? How dare they?

They can do whatever the fuck they want, cause it is their website. It is not their place to choose this option for the rest of us - that really made me laugh.

You know what. You set up a website that is used by millions of parents, earn nothing for the first few years, have to be on call at all hours of the day and night just in case a thread kicks off or someone wants a post deleted, have to spend £££ on legal fees if a poster libels a public figure...

Olivia is probably in France right now, drinking vin chaud and thinking "well, fuck the lot of them" and I would not blame her.

If you don't like it, then present your case openly and politely. Don't resort to name-calling.

Furball · 20/12/2011 07:56

are the 22 fb 'likes' to this thread genuine?

or is it folk testing the button and cancelling thinking it is a 2 step process?

and not realising it is actually splattered on their FB wall Confused

MmeLindor. · 20/12/2011 08:02

Furball
I would imagine that they are genuine, because anyone reading this thread would have checked their FB after posting on here.

CrispLeCrisp · 20/12/2011 08:14

Mme, some people tested it, then deleted it from their fb walk rather than unliking, so some will reflect those people.

McPhee, you are really not helping the arguments put forward here Hmm

CrispLeCrisp · 20/12/2011 08:17

Wall even!

Oh and there is no like button on the mn mobile site but is there on iPads and for anyone using the main site on their mobile

LissTheSeasonLouBeJollie · 20/12/2011 08:21

Lissie - having read this thread do you really have no understanding of the privacy issues involved ? Even if you don't feel that the issues apply to you personally?

Bobbin, its not that I don't understand the issues, its that they aren't new. Not by a long shot. And if people are only just realising that byt posting on the internet they are leaving themselves open, how is that mnhq's fault? While I agree that the 2 step process needs to be implemented and that the button doesn't belong on certain topics, you have never been able to stop other posters linking to your posts/threads on fb.

The vitriol aimed at mnhq is unfair and pretty ridiculous. We don't own the website, they do. We don't make the final decisions, they do. This whole thing stinks of paranoia and petulance imho.

LissTheSeasonLouBeJollie · 20/12/2011 08:21

Lissie - having read this thread do you really have no understanding of the privacy issues involved ? Even if you don't feel that the issues apply to you personally?

Bobbin, its not that I don't understand the issues, its that they aren't new. Not by a long shot. And if people are only just realising that byt posting on the internet they are leaving themselves open, how is that mnhq's fault? While I agree that the 2 step process needs to be implemented and that the button doesn't belong on certain topics, you have never been able to stop other posters linking to your posts/threads on fb.

The vitriol aimed at mnhq is unfair and pretty ridiculous. We don't own the website, they do. We don't make the final decisions, they do. This whole thing stinks of paranoia and petulance imho.

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 20/12/2011 08:23

"you have never been able to stop other posters linking to your posts/threads on fb."

Except before the like/share buttons it was not a simple "click here" process to do so. The button(s) positively encourage it as well as being easy enough to do accidentally and to the wrong FB account.

McPhee · 20/12/2011 08:23

Maybe not, but it's my opinion, just like anyone else Hmm

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 20/12/2011 08:25

The bottom line is that the button actually benefits no posters at all but causes worry/distress/problems for other posters.