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Heads up - Improvements to watched threads coming

16 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

SarahMumsnet · 04/08/2015 13:30

BanditoShipman speaks the truth; you can do an all-encompassing opt out (with the option to opt back in again on any particular thread should you choose).

whatsagoodusername - good question. We'll pass it on to tech and let you know what they say Smile

SarahMumsnet · 04/08/2015 13:32

X-post with Queenbean - you don't actually need us here, do you? Grin

SarahMumsnet · 04/08/2015 15:21

Hey songbird and Seeline - sorry about that; I'll get tech on the case now.

JessicaMumsnet · 04/08/2015 16:08

Hello,
We've been trying to reduce the number of items in customise and have a clear out of some of the rarely used options.

As part of that we have removed the option to choose different colours. It shouldn't have changed the choice you had already though.

Seeline, when you're logged in can you let us know what you expect to see and what you are seeing?
songbird, can you confirm what you're seeing at the mo too?

Thanks!

JessicaMumsnet · 04/08/2015 16:11

Ta Allthequeenshorses! We've sorted that now and non-logged in users should be back to as they were.

JessicaMumsnet · 04/08/2015 16:40

Hello ouryve sorry that definitely doesn't sound right! We'll dig deeper for you.

Would you mind posting a screenshot please?

Also could you let us know what colours you had previously set and are expecting to see and what you're actually seeing?

JessicaMumsnet · 04/08/2015 16:45

Hello BertieBotts,

We're having a look but can't replicate the switched off option not working for you. Can you confirm that it remains checked on new pages (i.e. ones you don't navigate back to using your browser back button)?

We haven't changed anything on Threads I'm on so think that's a different issue entirely.

We'll look at that separately. Would you mind emailing us the details of what threads you were on that seemed to have changed? Screenshots would be really helpful too if possible.

Thanks

JessicaMumsnet · 04/08/2015 18:07

Hello,

Thanks for the updates and extra detail/screenshots, Tech will continue to look into any unwanted colour changing.

We do completely agree that the highlighting does make scanning threads easier and we didn't intend to force any colour changes for existing users so we'll investigate that more asap.

Part of our motivation for making this change is that it's very difficult for us to maintain lots of different options so we're trying to retire ones that are less well used - including multiple colour highlighting options and older styles.

On a separate note, you should only ever receive one email about a watched thread in your absence not every time someone posts and this can be opted out of completely if you don't want to hear from us.

Darkevilmoon/Sparklingbrook you can also turn off the autowatch via customise.

Thanks again all
Flowers

JessicaMumsnet · 04/08/2015 18:27

Darkevilmoon - it shouldn't change your colours but we understand your reluctance! We'll keep you posted on updates from Tech.

GoooRooo - It is standard for new users and supposed not to have changed for existing users.

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

RebeccaMumsnet · 05/08/2015 10:40

Hi all,

HUGE apologies, the highlight options should be back for you all now Blush

Let us know if you have any further issues

RebeccaMumsnet · 05/08/2015 10:57

Hi all,

The custom colour option has gone as it was only used by a very small number of posters (around 8%) and it wasn't available on the mobile version at all. The removal of highlight from customise was an error on our part, apologies for that.

The default colours are green on desktop and grey on mobile (as ever).

We hope that helps to clear it up a little.

BeccaMumsnet · 05/08/2015 17:25

Hi all. Thank you for all your feedback and we apologise for the late update.

Our Tech team are currently working on the colour issues - this will mean that your own posts and the OPs posts will be different colours again.

They will also be changing the colours so they will be more accessible for visually impaired users.

Thanks again everyone.

BeccaMumsnet · 07/08/2015 11:51

Hi everyone - thank you so much for your feedback; we have very much heard you and apologies that you haven't liked the recent changes.

We are going to revert back to allow you to pick a colour and you will see the options to change colours of OP and own posts in the customise section shortly.

WRT TIO and TIW, by default you'll still automatically watch threads you post on and receive email notifications but you can turn it off in customise (which will be safe to go into once more - we PROMISE).

Apologies again for springing these changes on you, the last thing we want is to upset anyone. Most of the changes happen to simplify MN as the vast majority of traffic now comes from mobile or tablets and we are trying to streamline things to make them more accessible and easier to use all round. However, please do keep feeding back your thoughts and we will take a look.

Thanks all.

IonaMumsnet · 09/08/2015 20:04

Hi all, really sorry we've kept you waiting. It's been really busy here this weekend, and as you might be aware, we run a skeleton staff at weekends. We have flagged this up, however, and will be looking into it and getting answers to you as soon as we can this coming week. Thanks for bearing with us in the meantime.

AmyGMumsnet · 10/08/2015 14:07

Hi all

Thanks for bearing with us over the weekend Flowers

We can clarify that Tech have not only reduced TIO back down to the most recent five threads rather than the previous 18, but you also now have the option to switch TIO replies on or off in Customise if you want to.

Bogeyface, are you still receiving TIW notifications into your email inbox?

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