Mumsnet local sites - have you checked out yours yet? What do you think?

[JustineMumsnet]

Hi all,
It's been a wee while since we our launched our new, improved Mumsnet local sites. Some of you will have already found yours and are hopefully finding it useful, others have yet have that particular pleasure - if so please do have a butchers now.

Aside from listings, local Talk and information there many Local Ambassadors organising regular group meet-ups, so do have a look to see if there's an active group Meet-up near you and join up to get news of the latest get togethers.

Most of all we'd like to know what you think of it so far. Nb it's still a work in progress

Thanks for clarifying. It wasn't quite clear who was doing what to the lay person.

I confess i'm a little baffled by the bit about discussing things on an open thread? I thought this thread was for feedback on our experiences of new MN local? So I have fed back my experiences. Apologies if I have misunderstood

Any way it's way past my bedtime and i have a night feed to do soon so I'll leave you all to it

Sorry, K8 - of course this thread is for feedback but if there is a specific issue needing addressed, with a misunderstanding between you and the LE (I assume) then I think it's perhaps better to ask MNHQ directly.

I had a look a while back, I had to make a different nickname for the local board Im sure? but I don't remember what it was or the password [if it was different from my usual one?]

It seemed a faff swapping between the two, I do get why a different name on local is a good idea, but it just isn't particularly fluid IYSWIM.

May have another look as there wasn't much there last time.

ok Ive looked again, can use my usual name if I want to [I dont] but it hasn't saved the alternative name I made last time?

Hello,

I am a local editor for Richmond and do 8 hours per day. Do I need to say that 6 of them are after my DC's bed time and after all house chores? But I believe in this and seeing some local people printing out all the info I have put in and planning their Easter activities was the biggest reward so far.

Can you say I am easily pleased. If I would be on an hourly paid job, I would be earning a lot But as I always say best things are free in this life. I had such a great support from MN community when I had a newborn at hand, hence feel the need to help others too.
So far I am trying to put as much listings as I can and when out and about discuss discounts for MN users. Shall I tell a little secret, ask a special MN discount as some of them are not active yet but you would be pleasantly surprised

K8, first of all, I am glad you are back in MN. You never followed up my tweets, so I though that was a lost case

I only remember erasing couple of listings because the lady who posted them said that they no longer run them and are looking for another venue.
Another one I deleted, the one who asked to help her to find a blue Teddy, once helped and found she thanked and asked to delete. This is about it.

And you told so many things that I didn't know and honestly would be of a great help to have. And by the looks of it you know my e-mail, please do send them to me. I did not erase your discussions, as fellow LE above mentioned I do not have power to do so. But if you feel that the info is not going through in there, FB or tweet me, as you see I am pretty responsive there too.

We could always discuss in person, if you want of course and bring all the ideas, criticisms to the table. This could only help to improve the site. And we would know where to concentrate more time.

Anyway, it is too late now. I had a long day and tired after hosting and clearing up a dinner party (after which I came). And may be you are sleeping or feeding by now. But do let me know. I will be in touch, as I always kept my identity open in local talk boards as well.

Have a lovely weekend all. The weather promises to be sunny and we have lots going on in Richmond. St' George's parade, National Trust free entry to Ham House and Osterley park to name a few.

If you are from London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (yes we cover the whole borough) come and like us, follow us for daily news and updates.

Mumsnet Richmond Mumsnet Richmond Facebook
Mumsnet Richmond Twitter
Mumsnet Richmond local site

And I am off to bed. Finishing my - -- work time. Yawn! Good night and keep the comments flowing we want to know and improve

Hi Jonquille just finishing the night feed and popped back. Yes please to meeting up (it's the only way I can get anything done these days with the baby!) because I want to help. You're doing a brilliant job on the social media and without saying too much because I might as well post my full name and address I'll be so out! I'm not the usual social media person so I'd only dipped in because I had a specific thing to do. If you didn't get a reply I'll chase that up because it means there's a volunteer somewhere struggling. Apologies that's a bit cryptic. I will email you again - I'm juggling my diary around tomorrow so I'll add it to my to-do list. If my email doesn't get to you I'll PM you because that might indicate a problem somewhere and you could be missing out on lots of lovely advertising from someone else! I know that sometimes emails go into a black hole if tech puts the sprogget back in the wrong place or something.

The deleting stuff was a different issue - I didn't think local eds had been given access to that and it's clear from this thread you do not, so I'll just leave my comments on here because they may indicate a more general issue across the local boards. It might be that a lighter touch is needed in the early days to encourage a bit of traffic and help find a natural settling point. I would like to make it clear that I have never spammed and I have no commercial interests, nor am I in anyone's employ (not least because I'm on maternity allowance so that would be benefit fraud) so if it's an issue for an old poster like me then it may be indicative of a wider issue.

I have deliberately just posted my experiences and issues and not solutions because I don't know if the bits that have fallen down are by accident or design, who's responsible or what's possible so my feedback is not meant to be attacking but a factual account of my experiences. As requested

Oh and good to know about Ham House :)

Didn't mean to imply that you were spamming, K8. I know you are a long term MNetter.

I think that MNHQ has set new rules for the local sites and we will all take a while to get used to them. We LEs often have to ask MNHQ to check cause we are unsure if the post is ok or not.

All I can advise is that if you have a thread or a listing deleted, that you drop MNHQ a line and ask them to take another look.

Sounds like there is an awful lot going on in your area anyway, which is really great.

What can the local editor see about you? I know mine as do a few of my local MN friends and unfortunately she is reknown for her gossiping nature. A couple of friends have told me they have avoided local site because of this.

I'm presuming MN local editors can't see anymore about posters than anyone else, is that right?

Amberleaf Great point.

When the new Local launched, a new username was obligatory, as early feedback suggested that being "outed" was a major concern for Mumsnetters. (I share this concern - I have posted many personal stories on Mumsnet over the years, and running a meet-up under the same username would have made me uncomfortable.) It's a nifty feature; the site recognises whether you're in Local or main, and allocates the appropriate username without you having to do anything.

Over time it became clear that some Mumsnetters prefer to keep their regular posting name, so that's now possible, too. Another nice example of how Local responds to user feedback.

Amberleaf If you're still a bit worried about what's happening with your username, why not visit a Local site somewhere else in the country and post a comment on a random thread, just to test it out?

Exeter has a thread dedicated to testing your local username, so people can have a twirl in front of the mirror with their new togs on before entering the fray.

Bearandcub you are right. We can't see anything about you that you don't put into a profile or say on the site, just like any other poster. We have no access to user information that MNHQ might have about you.

BearandCub Another good question, and I was wondering whether to address that in my last post!

As a Local Editor, I can see nothing about site users. Zip, zilch, nothing - and that's just how I like it. It would be a data protection nightmare for starters.

I have some amazing Local Ambassadors, but again I have no insider info about them. Hand on heart, I have no idea what their regular posting names on Mumsnet might be, and again I don't really want to, as I think Mumsnet's enlightened approach to user anonymity is one of its best features.

The only thing I can do as an LE that other users can't is edit listings. If I see a thread that worries me, I have to report it to MNHQ in the usual way.

Devon and I have cross posted. All of us LE's actually share one brain. It's a new thing HQ are trying out.

Like Giraffe I also cant access Local via the app (Samsung Galaxy S3)

Tee Don't forget it's my turn with the eye today

Is it, Devon? Darn...

one brain.

Ok so if I post I think my LE is smelly on my local site she won't know it's me?

Good to know

She will not. She may report you to HQ for a personal attack, however.

The Bristol local site is coming together very nicely, there's loads of great content up there.

I cannot believe that I'm the only MNer in my entire suburb, so I'm looking forward to more people joining in with my local area group so we can get on with some gin drinking meet-ups.

Ewan Please clone yourself immediately

Bear glad we helped with the powers of our hivemind (but please don't call your poor LE smelly - oh dear, that rhymes...)

Yes, can confirm that I don't know the usual posting name of those using the Local site, or even the LAs.

I might ask MNHQ to change my posting name on Local to this one, cause I am so outed already, it doesn't really bother me.

Please be patient and give us a hand!

Thanks DevonCiderPunk, yes I read last night about the auto username switch, I will have to make another alternative name.

My local board is very quiet though, will have to think if there is anything I can add to it.

You know how you guys can help - by popping over to the site and leaving a review on the listings that are there. Only takes a minute and means the next person has an idea if the cafe or business is any good.

Dundee Cafes