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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:
KouklaMoo · 19/12/2011 11:34

This needs to be something you can opt out of - I'm sure when Justine talked about the 'like' button 'trial' she said it would be.

If you accidentally click on 'like', but then select 'close' it will still post on your FB wall. You have to actively 'unlike' it to get it off your wall. Or go into FB and delete it there. If someone else has FB on the same pc and has clicked the 'keep me logged in' option, it does post on their wall. So an accidental click on 'like' (the sort of thing I do all the time) could easily lead to it being posted on someone elses FB wall - unless you remember to actively 'unlike' the thread. Just saying 'oops' and selecting 'close' on the MN box will not do it!

On my pc anyway (apple mac). Me and dh have just tested it out.

What people may not realise is that if you are logged into FB, or even if you log out after use, then FB is still tracking you whether or not you press 'like' button on MN. You don't even need to 'like' the thread for FB to be tracking your use of the internet. The only way to prevent this is to delete all FB cookies after logging out.

My dh is a techie and he has just tested this out for me. He has moved my FB to an 'incognito' page so that this cannot happen (to me) now. If I click 'like' now I just get the 'do you want to log in to FB' message box.

If you google 'FB tracking cookie' it will tell you all about it.

I haven't time to read the whole thread either, so this may have already been covered - but I think it's important that people realise this. I wouldn't have known without dh explaining it.

BobbinRobin · 19/12/2011 11:37

I don't think anyone who uses MN on a regular basis would be happy for all their FB friends to have a good rootle through anything they have ever posted, no matter how circumspect they have been about personal details. It's actually incredibly difficult not to post anything that would ever identify you, even if you namechange regularly.

Yes obviously it's a public forum, but the likelihood of people twigging your RL identity from your posts has in the past been limited by a) how much detail you post and b) the fact that there are so many posts that it's fairly unlikely someone you know will just happen to stumble on one, so a 'safety in numbers' thing.

But linking individual threads to FB makes it MUCH more likely that people will twig, and there's just too much potential for things to go wrong imo. Eg:

  1. even if you intentionally 'Like' something, it could accidentally post to the wall of another FB user on your computer

  2. another person could (intentionally or accidentally) hit the Like thread button when you are logged in - without your consent. And I'm sorry, I don't believe anyone is careful enough NEVER to leave their computer unattended without logging out first.

  3. you yourself could hit it by accident.

  4. you yourself could think it's a jolly good idea to hit Like after a few large glasses of Wine without really thinking it through .

And for the hard of imagination, would you really welcome FB wallposts like these below, whether you have personally posted on them or not?

'Bobbin Likes the thread 'My 7 year son's old's problem with their nightmare classmate' on Mumsnet' [link]
'Bobbin Likes the thread "Worried about my DH's erectile problems' on Mumsnet' [link]
'Bobbin Likes the thread 'I'm plotting to kill my MIL as she's such a facist old bat' on Mumsnet [link]
'Bobbin Likes the thread 'Bumsex on a Friday Night' on Mumsnet [link]

LissTheSeasonLouBeJollie · 19/12/2011 11:39

I really dont get the big deal. I have a lot of mners on my FB and all will post links or refer to threads. and I often forget who they are on here, despite mn and FB overlapping. if you dont agree with it, dont use it. its not hard Xmas Hmm

scottishmummy · 19/12/2011 11:43

mnetters have been traipsing threads over to fb and twitter for donkey years
that's what last big hoo haa was,some stuff about a partner porn use got c&p onto fb and twitter.everyone piled in,big how very dare you ensued.threats of deregulation and mn banning folks.few weeks later.....nowt.same as usual

LissTheSeasonLouBeJollie · 19/12/2011 11:47

exactly. I am very open about my mn abuse usage in rl, and as a result am careful not to post anything I wouldnt say in rl without a namechange. I discuss mn threads on FB, for all to see (although my FB settings are high) liking a thread on here and posting it to FB is no different to liking a newspaper article, or retweeting.

bluegnueboo · 19/12/2011 11:49

It's all a bit rich women's problem now, this wailing and weeping that hq didn't ask and have hurt our feelings.

It's no harm for regular posters to be reminded they don't actually own the place.

scottishmummy · 19/12/2011 11:51

you're not hard of imagination,yours has ran away with itself,got legs and running round high on what ifs and wacky examples
mn,fb and twitter have had a fluid linkage for ages,except now mnhq have made it more apparent and easier to do

LissTheSeasonLouBeJollie · 19/12/2011 11:53

oh, and there is a board which is is totally private. it is not searchable, not googlable and threads disappear after 30 days. if you are desperate not to be outed, its a good place to post.

scottishmummy · 19/12/2011 11:54

it is a salutary message to the ole days crew
you don't define mn,you don't set the tempo or the vibe
and if you no likey any more you can trot off muttering it's gorn to the dogs and full of pram huns

Anonymousbosh · 19/12/2011 11:57

Bluegnueboo...rich womens problem?? How on earth do you come to THAT conclusion??? i'm not keen on it, and I can assure you rich is the LAST thing you could say about me!

Anonymousbosh · 19/12/2011 11:57

Liss, where is that board??

LissTheSeasonLouBeJollie · 19/12/2011 11:58

in other subjects, its called off the beaten track.

Trills · 19/12/2011 12:00

The linking of it to individual threads is a BIG difference

Not really, since it already did this.

I am just that 7 people have liked this thread.

FluffyMummy123 · 19/12/2011 12:03

why wont you link to twitter you old hags

Grin
LEttletownofBOFlehem · 19/12/2011 12:03

I don't even click on threads when mumsnet towers link them: I can't see my fairly sensible friends being remotely interest in reading message board witterings either, unless they already post here.

BobbinRobin · 19/12/2011 12:08

"mn,fb and twitter have had a fluid linkage for ages,except now mnhq have made it more apparent and easier to do"

Er, yes that's what people are worried about, isn't it? It's valid to have a good think through the implications of that, which is what is happening.

It's not something I'm personally hand-wringing about, and I'm not a regular poster. The Like button won't stop me going on MN if I feel like it, although I don't like it being there. MN is of course based on a business model, but I'm sure they are thoughtful and savvy enough to take feedback (both good and bad) about new features into account.

scottishmummy · 19/12/2011 12:08

didn't all the moldies and big heids traipse over to twitter?
it's a Xmas ritual someone dies in mn and big hoo haa on mn were some thinks it's like a catastrophe.

scottishmummy · 19/12/2011 12:10

mn xmas ritual someone dies in eastenders,a fight on mn
same ole same ole

LissTheSeasonLouBeJollie · 19/12/2011 12:13

Er, yes that's what people are worried about, isn't it? It's valid to have a good think through the implications of that, which is what is happening.

but surely the issue is only there if you actually USE the like button. much as I hate the "dont like it, dont click on it" argument when applied to threads, in this case the advice is valid. using mn doesnt oblige you to share your mn persona with others, or link threads, or even mention it to rl friends. and tbh, if you cant restrain yourself from clicking a like button when in your cups, you shouldnt be using the internet while drunk.

BobbinRobin · 19/12/2011 12:15

" you shouldnt be using the internet while drunk."

hahahahahahahaha

MN would be mightily quiet some nights if everyone adhered to that rule Xmas Grin

LissTheSeasonLouBeJollie · 19/12/2011 12:15
Xmas Grin
thisisyesterday · 19/12/2011 12:19

"If you accidentally click on 'like', but then select 'close' it will still post on your FB wall. You have to actively 'unlike' it to get it off your wall. Or go into FB and delete it there."

no. that is incorrect

if you accidentally click on it you have a prompt box appear. the ONLY way to get it on your FB wall is to click on "post to facebook"

there are only 2 other buttons "ulike"- which cancels the entire thing
or "cancel" which keeps the "like" but does not post to your wall

However, as I mentioned before, if you click it and the prompt comes up and you then click elsewhere on the page it will still post to FB. That does need to be addressed

scottishmummy · 19/12/2011 12:27

I have a mn fan who whenever I post pops up
is ye drunk scottishmummy o'er you're an unfit mother you is
any time,day or night,am or pm
it's a great game and shes deliciously unhinged, I love the inevitability of it all

LissTheSeasonLouBeJollie · 19/12/2011 12:30

Xmas Envy at fan/stalker.

I dont have any.

Im clearly not controversial enough.

scottishmummy · 19/12/2011 12:36

is you drunk liss?you're an unfit mother,why did you have children to leave them with strangers?

ahhhh there we are just for you,in style of my is you drunk sm? youre an unfit mutha sm fan