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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Heads up - Improvements to watched threads coming

868 replies

BeccaMumsnet · 04/08/2015 12:52

Hullo everyone,

Just a heads-up: we wanted to let you know we've been working on some changes to improve the way our 'watched threads' option works, and we’re going to be releasing them today.

As you know, at the minute, if you want to receive an email notification when someone posts on a thread you yourself have posted on, you have to check the ‘watch this thread’ box when you post your message. From today, the box will be automatically checked.

Our thinking was that because, in the immortal words of Ferris Bueller, , it can be easy to miss replies to threads you’ve posted on, so it’d be useful to keep you updated as a matter of course.

Some crucial points:

  • Fear not: we absolutely won’t email every time someone posts after you have - and if you’re still looking at the thread, we won’t mail you at all.
  • You’ll only get ONE email after you’ve left the thread, to say it’s been updated.
  • If the idea of receiving any such emails makes you want to weep/tear out your hair/throw a toddler-style tantrum on the kitchen floor, DON’T PANIC: you can do a one-time-only opt out, by clicking on customise at the top of any thread, and unchecking ‘Auto-watch threads I start’ and/or ‘Auto-watch threads I post on’.
  • If you’d like to adopt a mix-and-match policy and be alerted to replies on some threads but not others, simply uncheck the auto-watch options in customise, and check the ‘watch this thread’ box underneath the message box on the thread you’re interested in.

Hope all of this makes sense, and sounds useful. Do shout if you've any questions (we know we can rely on you Wink)

Thank you all Flowers
MNHQ

OP posts:
Thread gallery
31
BertieBotts · 04/08/2015 19:24

Honestly I don't care WHAT colour the OP or my own posts are highlighted (so long as it's easy to read obv) but PLEASE bring it back.

You keep saying it shouldn't have changed/disappeared, but it HAS disappeared, for LOTS of us, and it's unfair not to allow that for new users, that and the bookmark feature are the two most useful features of the site!

And yes. Before you removed options, there was an option for how many preview replies to show in TIO. It was always useless as it never worked, it stubbornly showed you up to five replies. Consequently, nobody ever touched it. But now it's showing anything up to 18 replies, and I have no way of reducing that number. It's really pointless for it to show 18 mini-replies as they are character limited and it's all stuff like "I think that you should..." "Well in my opinion..." "WHAT, how outrageously..." etc.

I know us folk have a bit of a reputation for complaining at every little change, and I do normally do a bit of a chuckle in the corner while understanding the reasoning but I'm really astounded at this one. It sounds as though you just wanted an excuse to remove the older themes, which is fair, I mean they haven't been standard for almost seven years now. But why not be upfront about that rather than claiming to be improving a feature that most people won't want to use anyway, and then removing options almost as an afterthought? The removal of highlighting - even if only intended to affect new users - absolutely baffles me. Do you even read your own threads? This is extolled virtually weekly. It's invaluable on long, fast running threads. By all means, cut the option to customise colours but KEEP the highlighting!

Bakeoffcake · 04/08/2015 19:35

God I agree with Bertie- why the heck would you remove the highlighting option- it's the best blooming feature and should be automatic IMO.

And NO I don't want to watch this thread, and I don't want to opt out in customise as opting out seems to create other problems!

MrsDeVere · 04/08/2015 19:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GGabcd · 04/08/2015 19:37

I have to reiterate:

Why would I want to watch a thread I've posted on?

Is it just clumsy wording and it should be 'subscribe to this thread and receive notifications'?

Is that too many letters for the servers to handle?

Why on earth would you remove colour choices?

WTABF

HarlotOTara · 04/08/2015 19:47

Agree with all - please bring op colours back at least

Tiptops · 04/08/2015 19:51

My colours have gone too Sad

Please bring them back HQ! Trawling long threads for the OP is really tedious without them.

cashewnutty · 04/08/2015 20:17

I turned off auto watch and all my colours have gone too. I cannot be arsed trawling through threads to see the OP's responses and my posts without them being colour coded. I am for sure leaving here if it isn't sorted.

TheOnlyOliviaMumsnet · 04/08/2015 20:22

@cashewnutty

I turned off auto watch and all my colours have gone too. I cannot be arsed trawling through threads to see the OP's responses and my posts without them being colour coded. I am for sure leaving here if it isn't sorted.
Thanks all - not sure how many tech bods are around at this hour but keep the comments coming thanks MNHQ
BertieBotts · 04/08/2015 20:26

It's actually really impacting on my enjoyment of the site. I'm spending more time on other sites tonight. I hope it is sorted soon.

DarkEvilMoon · 04/08/2015 20:28

I actually am having to remind myself to bother to check. I am currently happier else where too. Sad

Sparklingbrook · 04/08/2015 20:28

Well these last 3 years and 10 months have been a slice of heaven but I am off to Pie & Bovril now.......

BertieBotts · 04/08/2015 20:30

I kid you not, I am about to read a chapter of an online story entitled "Robuttsex". It is preferable to scrolling the wall of white. Grin

GoooRooo · 04/08/2015 20:31

MNHQ can you send us all an email when you get the highlighting and watched threads thing fixed please? It's the only email I want.

On the bright side, I might actually got and get some housework done now.

ouryve · 04/08/2015 20:35

I came on to see if it had been put right, since this afternoon, but evidently not.

Off to chat with some bus spotters. Their forums work properly.

MissDemelzaCarne · 04/08/2015 20:37

I really don't like this, every bloody thread I post on goes onto my watch list and I'm just taking them all off.
Why not allow us to opt into this?

DarkEvilMoon · 04/08/2015 20:38

There is a little box under the posting box that says watch this thread. When did this appear and what is its purpose? Is it this that has caused the problems with watching all the threads?

BIWI · 04/08/2015 21:01

Why the bloody hell does a thread I've posted on now have to be a thread I'm watching? That's what 'Threads I'm On' is for!

I can't quite see how this change has been thought through, MNHQ! Thank fuck my colours haven't changed, otherwise it would be seriously irritating.

DoItTooJulia · 04/08/2015 21:09

I've lost my customised colours too. I was green, but now my posts are grey. Sad

DrHarleenFrancesQuinzel · 04/08/2015 21:51

As you know, at the minute, if you want to receive an email notification when someone posts on a thread you yourself have posted on, you have to check the ‘watch this thread’ box when you post your message.

No I didnt know that. I just go straight to threads Im on followed by active when Im MNing. I dont need an email. I come on everyday.

I wondered why everytime I posted on a thread today a box popped up. I did see this thread earlier, but as I never 'watch' threads I didn't bother to click into this one. Wish I had now.

fermentedvaper · 04/08/2015 22:00

Ok, I've had a really shit day (highlights included been stuck in traffic for 4 hours while desperately needing a wee, followed by a very angry young man throwing a table at me) and to top it off my colours have disappeared on mn Angry

GGabcd · 04/08/2015 22:04

Do you not beta test this changes? Or, you know, ask people if they want them?

Yes, I am aware we don't pay for the site. Except we do. You'd get no ad revenue if you had no hits, now would you?

What a farce.

thornrose · 04/08/2015 22:19

Never has a thread title been SO misleading!

DoItTooJulia · 04/08/2015 22:30

Correction, OPs first post is grey (not my chosen pink), even if I am OP. and then OPs posts aren't highlighted pink and mine aren't highlighted green.

Boo hiss.

GoooRooo · 04/08/2015 22:42

Strangely on the mobile site (not app) my posts are still highlighted as are MNHQs but OPs subsequent posts aren't. Lost all highlighting on laptop browser (it's a Mac and I use Chrome in case that makes any difference)

nickelbabe · 04/08/2015 23:13

Wait wait wait wait wait wait wait

You're telling me that the one thing I want i can't have if i also don't have the one thing I don't want ????

That's insane!!
That's like saying "you can't have ice cream unless you eat your peas"

I can't stand peas!
and I don't want to "watch" every friffing thread that I post on or start - because it's already in my TIO list

how is that so hard to understand?

OP is GREEN
Nickel is NICKEL
TIO has all the threads I'm looking at , I don't need TIW