Two Minute Warning

[TwoStepsBack]

Dear MNHQ,

I greatly admire the job that you do and understand that you must need to go offline for a few minutes whilst possibly putting the kettle on or visiting the bathroom. However, is it possible that you could give us some kind of warning (think Thunderbirds countdown, siren or flashing lights) so we could possibly copy & save any ramblings interesting posts that we are constructing?

I always seem to hit the "post" button just as you go offline and lose everything.

Hey.....hang on a minute!

It's just me isn't it?

No TwoSteps it's me too. Just when I have written the post and pressed the button.
By the time it's back, my post is gone and I can't remember what I wanted to say.

It is rather discourteous.

It wouldn't happen in Japan.

Exactly Sparkling. It wouldn't be so bad if I actually had any kind of useful short term memory.

Agreed. In Japan they would politely ask posters if it would be okay to go offline for a few minutes. Possibly, maybe, if it's not too much trouble.

I'd quite like them to give me a warning too!

Seriously, though, many apols if we went offline in the middle of you posting a fascinating post. We honestly don't do it on purpose.

Sometimes, we choose to go offline for a few seconds - usually when we release a new code ? but we always aim to do that in "off-peak periods", so to speak. Sometimes, however, we go offline for a couple of seconds without choosing to - often it's just sheer volume of traffic. We always aim to kick the server quickly get everything back up as rapidly as possible.

Do you turn it on and off again Helen?

What is this 'new code' you speak of Helen?

@TwoStepsBack

Do you turn it on and off again Helen?

I can tell

Yes, we do. Although kicking it tends to work better, we find.

@NickNacks

What is this 'new code' you speak of Helen?

Oh, we strive to constantly evolve and improve the user interface

Oh I see!

I don't really

Thanks!

You always go offline when I have done housework then come back to have a cuppa....moral of story is skip the housework and just MN cos you never know when it will go off!

I clicked on Two Minute Warning in Most Active - having no idea what the thread was about - and MN went offline!

There is a way to save things which works about 60% of the time.

If it goes offline when you post, first, don't panic and hit back or refresh. Remain calm and DON'T touch the page.

Then, open a new tab or window onto any mumsnet talk page, which will of course also show offline. Then, DO SOMETHING ELSE. You must resist temptation to check the page. Make a cup of tea or read damn you autocorrect or something else suitably distracting.

After a few minutes check the second page by refreshing it. If it's still offline, continue with distractions, but if it's back online, then go back to your original page and hit "back" - your post may well be saved. This only works once mumsnet is back online again.

@HelenMumsnet

[quote NickNacks] What is this 'new code' you speak of Helen?

Oh, we strive to constantly evolve and improve the user interface