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Original poster

To think that the mumsnet "advanced" search is shit?

71 replies

Illgetmycoat · 03/07/2013 22:53

You select a subject and then a completely random list of posts come up. Some dating back to 1542. What the heck?

OP posts:
yamsareyammy · 04/07/2013 10:16

Yes, mumsnet is free is a silly thing to say.
It may weel be free to use, but they make £2 mill quid off us annually.

So if many posters think the ops point is valid, then it is valid.

lougle · 04/07/2013 10:26

How much other people may pay MNHQ to advertise, etc., and the total that they turn over as a result of other revenue streams is irrelevant. MN is free to use. Free. You can't claim that we 'pay' in any sense. We don't.

Valid points are invalidated by the wrong approach to the issue. If anyone has a serious issue with the search function, they can raise it with MNHQ properly, or vote with their feet. Simple.

Original poster
Illgetmycoat · 04/07/2013 10:37

If you look through aibu lougle, you'll see that the subject matter ranges from relationships to education to television to breastfeeding, all of which have their own section. By your logic, none of those should be there. So what subjects are OK to put in aibu?

AIBU is used to canvas opinion and that is what I am doing. If mumsnet followed your 'like it or get lost' approach to their users, it wouldn't be as good as it is.

OP posts:
lougle · 04/07/2013 10:39

I'm sharing my opinion, which you asked for by starting the thread.

You asked if you were being unreasonable. I think you are. I think it was rude to phrase it as you did.

So there you go.

Original poster
Illgetmycoat · 04/07/2013 10:41

You have every right to your opinion and I have every right to disagree with it. We'll agree to disagree.

OP posts:
greenhill · 04/07/2013 10:57

Why not report your own post and ask for the thread to be put into "site stuff" which is the correct category for complaints/ requests for MNHQ. If they think you have a valid reason for complaint, they will add it to the long list of tech stuff to be done....

Otherwise YABU to merely complain, and not in the right category either, and are a whinger Smile

LilacPeony · 04/07/2013 11:01

Agreed. Come on Mumsnet, sort it out!

Original poster
Illgetmycoat · 04/07/2013 11:02

I can only repeat the point I made to lougle:

If you look through aibu, you'll see that the subject matter ranges from relationships to education to television to breastfeeding, all of which have their own section. So what subjects are OK to put in aibu? By your logic, none.

I didn't know MN had self-appointed filing clerks.

OP posts:
greenhill · 04/07/2013 11:07

My point is that MNHQ do not pre-moderate the boards, either you or somebody else reports a post if it is against talk guidelines, or if, like yours, you want an answer from MNHQ, you have to put it in the correct category, otherwise they will not see it.

Site stuff is the right category if you want something done about advanced search.

AIBU is a yes or no board, canvassing opinion.

Original poster
Illgetmycoat · 04/07/2013 11:10

Greenhill I don't want a yes or no answer from mumsnet. I could be wrong, I could be right - I want to know what other mumsnetters think. I AM canvasing opinion. That's what aibu is for.

OP posts:
greenhill · 04/07/2013 11:13

Ok, I thought you felt strongly enough to want something done about it. But you want group consensus. Fair enough. Smile

MNHQ
HelenMumsnet · 04/07/2013 11:14

Morning. We're going to move this thread to Site Stuff now, as that's the best place for threads discussing this sort of thing.

You're all still free to post up your opinions, of course.

Site Stuff isn't restricted to threads asking for tech help etc; it's a topic where everyone is welcome to pile in with their thoughts about Mumsnet and how it works.

ShowOfHands · 04/07/2013 11:19

It's perfectly possible to canvass opinion within the correct topic. In fact, it's better to. On AIBU, you just get a bunfight.

Site stuff is well used and the correct place for this thread.

And just because other people also have a bung it in AIBU mentality, it isn't an excuse for doing the same thing. I've said it before but you are not above using the board in a tidy fashion. Say ooh I don't know, I want to search for existing suggestions on how to improve MN. I would do this using advanced search and I would look specifically in site stuff. This would work if people would only use MN properly. Grin

I like advanced search. All you're asking for is a slight modification to be able to see results in a chronological order. You're asking the wrong people though.

Original poster
Illgetmycoat · 04/07/2013 11:19

Blimey - that's a bit harsh.

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 04/07/2013 11:20

Helen! Oi Helen!

Can I ask you a question.

You're my favourite after all...

Original poster
Illgetmycoat · 04/07/2013 11:32

Right - so I'm trying to find out what other mumsnetters think of the advanced search and my thread is moved to the back end of nowhere and then hijacked.

Helen - if you look through aibu, you'll see that the subject matter ranges from relationships to education to television to breastfeeding, all of which have their own section. Are you going to move those too?

OP posts:
MNHQ
HelenMumsnet · 04/07/2013 11:39

@Illgetmycoat

Right - so I'm trying to find out what other mumsnetters think of the advanced search and my thread is moved to the back end of nowhere and then hijacked.

Helen - if you look through aibu, you'll see that the subject matter ranges from relationships to education to television to breastfeeding, all of which have their own section. Are you going to move those too?

It's not the back end of nowhere, Illgetmycoat. Site stuff a pretty busy topic.

And yes, we would - and do - move an AIBU thread into a more appropriate topic, if it's not really an AIBU: eg "AIBU to need some advice on a good pushchair please"

To be fair, your OP is all about how 'shit' you find our Advanced Search. You're not asking folk if that's unreasonable of you; you're wanting to know if other folks also find Advanced Search 'shit' or not - and, presumably, if they do, you'd then like us to look at 'de-shitting' it?

In which case, Site Stuff is the best topic for this sort of conversation.

Original poster
Illgetmycoat · 04/07/2013 11:54

I'm sorry if you have taken offence at the word 'shit' in the title. It is really very mild compared to the level of swearing you often see on Mumsnet.

If you read my posts, you'll see that I love mumsnet and all I was putting up for discussion is that MN order the advanced search chronologically within topics. I don't think that's so very wrong.

I wanted to know if other mumsnetters felt the same way. I might be wrong or I might be right. I WAS canvasing opinion.

It feels a bit, I don't know, Stalinist, to have moved the thread like this. We'll wait and see if anyone comes along to comment.

OP posts:
MNHQ
HelenMumsnet · 04/07/2013 12:01

@Illgetmycoat

I'm sorry if you have taken offence at the word 'shit' in the title. It is really very mild compared to the level of swearing you often see on Mumsnet.

If you read my posts, you'll see that I love mumsnet and all I was putting up for discussion is that MN order the advanced search chronologically within topics. I don't think that's so very wrong.

I wanted to know if other mumsnetters felt the same way. I might be wrong or I might be right. I WAS canvasing opinion.

It feels a bit, I don't know, Stalinist, to have moved the thread like this. We'll wait and see if anyone comes along to comment.

Grin at Stalinist. We've never been called that before!

And nope, there's nothing wrong with putting this up for discussion - of course not. We really appreciate feedback - of all sorts - and we'd totally be up for sorting out Advanced Search so that it works better for folks.

But obviously we can't sort it if we don't know about it. And the only topic we actively monitor is Site Stuff.

Also, we'd much rather that folks focus on discussing their view of Advanced Search and how it could be improved than on telling you YANBU or YABU - and we hope you would, too.

(And no offence taking at 'shit'. Really.)

Original poster
Illgetmycoat · 04/07/2013 12:05

OK taken on board. Thank you Helen.

OP posts:
LilacPeony · 04/07/2013 12:05

Dear Mumsnet, Please can you de-shit Advanced Search. Thank you. Grin

MNHQ
HelenMumsnet · 04/07/2013 12:08

@Illgetmycoat

OK taken on board. Thank you Helen.

Our pleasure.

So, would a "show me results alphabetically" or "show me results chronologically" tickbox be an improvement?

Mintyy · 04/07/2013 12:14

Op, if you don't want Mumsnet to improve advanced search in the ways you have suggested then you really are just out for a bitch-fest. What is the bloody point of that?

You also seem to have difficulty accepting that some people think yabu.

Try having a word with yourself.

nenevomito · 04/07/2013 12:14

Advanced Search isn't rocket science.

Set a date range. Choose a topic. Choose a key-word.

An option to show chronologically would be a nice addition, but it doesn't take that much effort to get it working now.

LaQueef · 04/07/2013 12:48

I only use adv search to stalk people and it works just fine and dandy for me.