To think that it's a shame that some of the other topics on MN aren't used more?

[Dollslikeyouandme]

Does anyone else think this?

I've been wandering over to other topics to ask for advice/ideas on certain things, general type stuff. But I've noticed that some are completely dead. Which then makes me think perhaps there's no point posting.

I've noticed people turn things into an aibu just for traffic.

I agree.

There are too many topics

Some are really really obscure.

Perhaps that's what it is Worra, in fact you're right. Although this probably even belongs in site stuff.

I wanted to ask a question about curtains, home decor was just empty, then I actually started contemplating how I could word it as an aibu! But just not going to go there.

Even behaviour/development etc seem underused compared to aibu & relationships.

I guess it would be good just to have a 'health', 'parenting', without dividing that up again.

I was thinking this the other day.
There are a ridiculous number of topics here that just don't get any traffic.

Do MN ever cull them?

Dollslikeyouandme you could try property/ DIY that tends to be a bit busier and has loads of other decorating type questions.

There is a need for different topics but there are way too many on here.

There are OTHER topics? Really?

YANBU - I agree that there are far too many topics on this site.

But, YABU for not posting this in site stuff - which is quite active & which MNHQ always read.

I thought this would be HoneyDragon on another takeover bid

I'll ask about getting it moved to site stuff.

Didn't think when I initially posted.

not only do they cull them, there was once an Unused Names Auction

Any name that never posted was deleted and given to someone who had always wanted it - for a small charitable fee

I think if they had a cull, chat would be far busier.

There's even a topic for Ford ffs (the car...not Gina!)

I think of chat as like a little pub or something, where it would be perfectly acceptable to ask a car question...whether it's a Ford or a bloody Skoda

Now you've got our attention, you may as well fire away re: your curtains....

the FOrd thing was the sponsorship deal they had last year

I think MN would work better if people used Active Convos more. The you get to see whatever is active regardless of the topic it is posted in. I like the serendipity factor of coming across a thread which you may not have actively sought out, but is actually quite interesting.

If you take a couple of minute to hide the topics of no interest to you, then it works even better. (In my case, most things to do with early years parenting, pets and camping.)

I agree that there are too many topics. For instance Credit Crunch and Money Matters are two separate topics. But I don't see the difference.

Agree MardyBra this site is definitely more interesting once you start using the Active button, although I didn't discover this (along with threads I'm On and Watching) until I'd been using the site about 2 years.

Agree to all the above - way too many topics.

I only come across a variety of stuff as Active Convos is my home page.

There are a lot of ridiculously convoluted into AIBUs that would actually get better quality but fewer quantity replies if they went in the right area, but because AIBU is high traffic, most posters default to there.

I saw a school application thread where the poster got ripped to shreds on lots of minor irrelevant points cos it was in AIBU, whereas if they'd gone to the education bit then they would have got spot on answers from admission and phrbridge (with some numbers in)

I think it has made a difference too since they shortened the list at the bottom of the page. I used to go onto good housekeeping a lot when it was there, but don't now i have to go to the "effort" (not much I admit, but more than it was) of finding it.

Active convos is all well and good, but the most active threads are usually aibu/chat anyway!

I do think that people would be more inclined to post and reply if there were less topics as there's naturally be more traffic and less to look through.

Never thought to use active convos, will start.

I give you swine flu.
Last posted on in June 2013.

I use active covos & have blocked chat & AIBU from it as they fill it up & I look at them anyhow. I've learnt a lot from some threads I've seen that way & enjoyed many I otherwise might not have come across.

But I still agree that the topics need a major cull.

doesnt everyone use active convos?

Yanbu.

Its one of those long running issues that many of us have moaned and whinged about for years and hq just ignore.

There are so many topics now. I'm only on my 5th year here, but I guess over many many years MNers have asked for a specific topic, which MNHQ agreed to. It's possibly got out of hand now.

I am constantly surprised that many MNers don't know about Site Stuff though - it's my first port of call every time I log on, just in case anything 'glitchy' has been going on.

I've only ever used active convos and sort of muddled my way through to finding out about I'm on buttons and bookmarking buttons

MNHQ Couldn't there be a little welcome email when people join up? Set out for laptops, mobiles and apps? Even if each section only had 5 major points on it, ie; these are the buttons, you can use them for this this and this, surely that would help newbies me out when they first join?

Admittedly wouldn't help those who just lurk though...

< toads great plan needs more thinking through >