A change to the reports system

[RebeccaMumsnet]

Hi all,

As you know, we rely on MNers to use the 'report' link if they spot anything untoward on the boards - and we very much appreciate it when you do. We want to be able to be more responsive to these reports generally, so we're going to stop sending individual acknowledgment mails for now; we think this will free up a fair bit of time which could be better spent elsewhere.

When you report a post, you'll now see this message:

Thanks very much for reporting this - we rely on your reports to make sure Mumsnet is a brilliant place to come for support and advice.

In order to best focus our efforts, we tend not to respond to reports individually - but be assured that we read every single one, and that we'll look into the problem as soon as possible.

And we'll be highlighting a few links to places you might want to go next.

We'll continue to mail folks directly as and when the need arises - and as mentioned, we'll be reading each and every report, come what may. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please do ask!

[OlennasWimple]

"Emerge fence" = "emergency"

[OlennasWimple]

Though: MNHQ has always been clear MN is not an emerge fence service. Posters should suggest alternative sources of support, such as the Samaritans, rather than trying to help pp directly (as hard as that seems)

[MrsHathaway]

That said, categorising reports would sort of automatically prioritise them.

Eg suicide threat v bunfight kicking off v hate speech v advertising.

[MrsHathaway]

The Facebook moderator post I read was about a missed plea for help from a child - sitting in inbox for several hours as moderator was busy sorting our request like 'I don't like this photo, looks like penis and not fish'.

I remember that too, vividly. The missed message war something along the lines of "help me, my abuser is going to be home in two hours, what can I do?" and the person at Facebook was looking at it literally hours too late after a load of basically bullshit reports all day long.

[OlennasWimple]

I can confirm MNHQ are still emailing as well (o just got one explaining why a reported post is being left up despite being disablist).

It does bring me back to my earlier point, though, about having a record of what o have reported. Unless I get an email from MNHQ I don't think there is anything, right?

[cozietoesie]

Fair enough.

[KatharinaRosalie]

I would also hope most people would be sensible and would not report matter as urgent, if the request is simply to move a thread, or delete a fake handbag sales link.

The Facebook moderator post I read was about a missed plea for help from a child - sitting in inbox for several hours as moderator was busy sorting our request like 'I don't like this photo, looks like penis and not fish'.

[paxillin]

I would certainly not have used "urgent" for Conifer Bob or similar. I would also not have used "urgent" for the school uniform troll or the tights perv. I could imagine it working.

[FutureBoardingParent]

If people did all tick Urgent, at least MNHQ's task would be no harder than it is now :-) I think most people would be sensible, though obviously not everyone would calibrate exactly the same way. Our IT problem reporting form has a box to tick for really urgent issues, and it doesn't seem to be abused, fwiw.

[cozietoesie]

Do you not think it possible, though, that people would persuade themselves that their report was critical for some reason and would all use the 'Urgent'?

[PurpleDaisies]

So there could be some kind of options to choose between 'Urgent, this needs attention NOW' and 'not really that important, whenever you have time'.

Yes I think this is a really good idea-there are occasionally really disturbing ones that need to go immediately, and there are the others that are just a bit "off" that could do with someone investigating at some point.

[KatharinaRosalie]

I remember a Facebook report checker's article about how they had missed serious issues due to checking silly reports about someone being offended by kittens and rainbows. Or somesuch. Stuck with me and whenever someone on MN says 'report the thread and ask it to be moved' I always think there should be some kind of priority/triage system.

MN responds fast, but some more important issues might be stuck in the queque while you're checking all the minor things that can wait a bit, right? So I have sometimes not reported things that I think should be, but are not really that significant

So there could be some kind of options to choose between 'Urgent, this needs attention NOW' and 'not really that important, whenever you have time'.

[paxillin]

I quite like the emails, but understand it isn't doable. Communication on dodgy threads will need to be really good though, otherwise people will troll hunt.

I'm thinking of threads like Conifer Bob. The OP's lies had to become grotesque before it got pulled. I know some people found it thigh slappingly hilarious. We don't have a "trolling allowed if enough people are entertained by it" clause though, or else we'd need a voting function on the hilarity of troll threads.

[ExtraHotLatteToGo]

Hi ExtraHotLatteToGo, It's not gone, we will still reply sometimes and on threads too.We are not doing this in attempt to stop communication, it's actually to improve it by replying out on the boards a bit more rather than individually. Although we will still be sending some mails

Thanks Rebecca, I do understand, it's just a bit, I dunno, sad I guess. Like BIWI, I preferred it when it was all fields. I miss how it used to be here, a lot. This is just slicing off another bit of that.

I might have to be really naughty so I get done personal emails!

Chanelling my inner 2 year old, any attention is good attention
😂😂😂

[RebeccaMumsnet]

@FutureBoardingParent

Problem: you've deleted a whole, generally unobjectionable, thread where I had reported a single post. This is presumably a mistake, but since I don't have an email from you under the new system, it's not clear how to get you to correct it. Perhaps if I now report this post to try to tell you which thread?

Generally, I think it would be good to get an email even if it's boilerplate, so there's something to reply to if further communication is needed.

Apologies Future, we've reinstated that thread now. Thanks for your reports.

[FutureBoardingParent]

Problem: you've deleted a whole, generally unobjectionable, thread where I had reported a single post. This is presumably a mistake, but since I don't have an email from you under the new system, it's not clear how to get you to correct it. Perhaps if I now report this post to try to tell you which thread?

Generally, I think it would be good to get an email even if it's boilerplate, so there's something to reply to if further communication is needed.

[MrsHathaway]

Wow.

I saw enough from you this week talking about your previous ban that your username stuck in my head, that's all. I didn't advanced search you. In addition, the issue that you've had isn't really related to the issues on this thread. Hence I said "there's more to it". Not "this is a PBP, ignore her" or anything else that you might have found unkind or unhelpful.

There are proper procedures for finding out from MNHQ why you were banned (which don't include posting on unrelated threads). Try emailing them directly.

As for the f-word, it's extremely common here because swearing is unrestricted. If that's offensive to you then Mumsnet is not a good fit. Best of luck on your FB antenatal group - I'm still in touch with some of mine after nearly nine years!

[babycraic]

MrsHathaway.... This is exactly the attitude that has turned me off this app... I did join a secret Facebook group for my month, at least people aren't just hiding behind a name... You haven't seen me post (recently) on more than one thread, as I was blocked, and only recently contacted mumsnet who reinstated me.
I don't know what more behind me there might be, but it's your suspicious attitude, and other people's general nastiness (if you read the other 1 thread I posted on you'll have seen that someone chose to use the 'f' word to me.... That's hardly a welcoming community.
I don't need the drama, finding support to deal with my GD, having been hospitalised with a BP of 199/125 a few weeks back... I'm having a hard enough time. I'll stick with the Facebook group.
I can certainly see why Mumsnet keeps capturing Daily Mail headlines!!!

[sleeponeday]

I've reported when people have been really horrible about disability and had truly lovely responses. I'm sad about losing that personal touch, but the reality is obvious: fewer responses means swifter action, which has to be more important.

[Passmethecrisps]

Oh dear. Thanks mrsgathaway

Well, I Can only speak as I find at the moment and will wait to be proven otherwise.

[MrsHathaway]

I have seen babycraic's remarks on other threads and suspect there's rather more to it than she's letting on, tbh.

[Passmethecrisps]

I am sorry to hear of the experience of babycraic

It is really important that reports are managed well and that time is given to working out do threads are real or not.

Much as I like a personal message from MN (rarely received as I am often last to the thread) a stock response would leave more time for posters like baby above.

[babycraic]

I'd love to know if you plan to communicate to those you bar?
I was blocked from mumsnet, I found out when I tried to post on a thread where a poor woman was being bullied for suggesting she might have experienced something to do with a spirit... The responses were that of gang culture. I was unable to log in due to being blocked... I asked mumsnet what the problem was and they wouldn't elaborate further than me 'advertising'. I had indeed mentioned on a thread that I am involved with network marketing, no mention of what company, no link to my website (the response was made to someone looking for work to do from home).... Other than that I have no recollection, I asked mumsnet to elaborate but they couldn't..... I'm a woman who is 14 weeks pregnant, I've had 1mmc 4mc and even lost the twin of this baby at 6 weeks, and so far have found that it feels like being at the mercy of baying wolves!!! Mumsnet scared me more than pregnancy... Do these new changes mean I'll learn even less if I dare to say anything? (which in fact since my reinstatement I've lurked and not felt welcome to this community).

[cozietoesie]

Thanks YetAnotherHelen and Rebecca. Can I confirm that there will be the same arrangements on the app, though?

[Just5minswithDacre]

We are not doing this in attempt to stop communication, it's actually to improve it by replying out on the boards a bit more rather than individually. Although we will still be sending some mails, just not 'Thanks, we'll take a look' sort of mails.

Oh you've answered my question already.

I'm doing really badly with reading comprehension this week