MNHQ here: removing the 90 day limit on _Chat threads

[KateMumsnet]

Hello all

Just a quick heads up that we're going to be removing the 90-day limit on the lifespan of threads started in the _Chat topic on Monday.

There are two reasons for this - firstly, people often don't clock that _Chat threads go pouf at a certain point; once they realise, they ask us to move their thread, and that can take a fair bit of time at our end.

The other is that, Mumsnet being the amazing resource that it is, MN _Chat threads show up in people's search results for anything and everything. When they click through, though, the thread's gone pouf - that's a pretty frustrating user experience and we'd really like to fix it.

Don't worry, though, if you don't want your thread to hang around - just post it in the 30 day's only topic, which does exactly what it says on the tin: posts go pouf after 30 days, and aren't crawled by Google at any point.

While everyone's getting used to it we're very happy to move threads out of _Chat and into 30 days' if you forget - so do give us a shout via contactus@ if that happens.

Cheers all,

MNHQ

I love how MN have posted to tell us what they’re doing and posters are still discussing it as though it’s a consultation

Glint historically MNHQ did care what existing users thought about changes. Some of us still hold out hope that our views still matter. That might be misguided or naive I suppose.

Historically there were far fewer posters. It’s far more difficult to canvass opinion and take it into account now.

@KateMumsnet what about special needs chat. It was a very specific request to have a forum where, given the sensitive nature of some of the threads, they did disappear so that they couldn't be found by people's children, years down the line. I think a lot of people will be angry if you take that away.

glintandglide, I doubt that any of us are expecting a last minute volte-face from MNHQ at this stage, given that they presented it to us as a fait accompli on Friday lunchtime - not long before they, presumably, buggered off for the weekend! But there's no harm in people weighing in with their opinions in the meantime!

Bad idea and who isn't this stickied at the top of Chat?

Ffs.

"Why isn't this stickied"

Yesterday afternoon, upthread at about 1.30, I suggested it should be 'stickied' in Chat.

Did they take any notice? Did they hell.

You know that a forum has gone to pot when you end up practically doing the HQ's job for it! Hope this works!

I started one in Chat yesterday too, yawning!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3338647-MNHQ-WANTS-TO-REMOVE-THE-90-DAY-LIMIT-ON-CHAT-THREADS-THEY-WILL-BE-HERE-FOR-PERPETUITY?msgid=80318504

And I shouted - much good it did me!

I thought I searched for an existing Chat thread... oops! Sorry Pan!

Don't worry, another one won't do any harm anyway!

Some interested responses on mine - who have since posted on here. But some "don't give a shiny shite" or "why are you so arsed about this?"

My thread in Chat was to subsequently point out that I thought it wasn't great that MNHQ hadn't publicised this change more openly. As you say, there are so many people either don't look at Site Stuff or they don't know it even exists!

They'll all be whinging in a few months time when their threads haven't disappeared, as anticipated!

And MNHQ will be running around like blue arsed flies having to either move or delete threads.

30 days only will become the new Chat eventually I think.

Chat will not go back to 90 day deletions. We have been told this unequivocally. They must be sweating in HQ with so much work to do!

Just an aside, if you look at the A-Z topics, honestly there are far too many. Most people seem to post in Chat and AIBU anyway. AIBU is open ended, but has the most traffic anyway I think.

Time for a bit of a cull of some very obscure topics I think!

I think it poof, actually.

*it's

Got to say that this one doesn't bother me at all. I suspect that all that will happen is that more stuff will go on 30 days only.

Every thread should have a cut off, after 10 days without a new post, it vanishes for ever.

The likelihood of HQ making all threads vanish forever is somewhere between zilch and bugger-all.

The reason for HQs Policy change about _Chat is that it increases the longevity and therefore the volume of thread in circulation, which is ultimately about spreading MN - as a brand - far wider. Let's be realistic, it can only be that, what other reason could there be?

Oh joy, even more zombie threads to be reactivated by hairy handeds, spammers and bored teenagers in the school holidays!

Mumsnet is about creating content. Why would they be interested in deleting it because a few users think that this place can't be seen by everyone if they wish to.

As for the deletions already made, they're all there somewhere. Nothing is ever really deleted.

I get it. From a business perspective it's all about gaining more traffic and clicks but maybe 30 day could turn into 90 day? Maybe rename it 90 day chat and just chat? So that people who have missed this announcement will at least have a chance to understand

I may be in the absolute minority here, but I'd rather the site worked completely the opposite way around

Every thread should have a cut off, after 10 days without a new post, it vanishes for ever. The only exception would be threads votes into classics, because they're funny, or a new topic called something like 'Wise words' for threads with good advice.

But that's just me.

No, not just you - another who agrees with you.
It's ridiculous when zombie thread get dragged up from different subjects.

The whole name "Chat" implies just that - a 'chat' you have with colleagues / neighbours / mates in the pub / other parents in the school playground. People don't carefully think through what they are going to say, but are relaxed enough to say what pops into your head at the time. Stuff that you are writing for a report that is to be kept, would be drafted, improved, and considered before publication - maybe even proof read by someone else. You can't call something 'Chat' if you are going to keep it forever.

People don't carefully think through what they are going to say, but are relaxed enough to say what pops into your head at the time

If only people didn't think this way!

It's the internet, it isn't just verbiage, chit chat over the garden fence, it's recorded digitally.

People haven't cottoned on but now HQ plan on increasing the lifespan of people's chit chat, they need to be even more wary about 'telling all" in written format for the whole world to read.

It isn't a good trend in my opinion.

Is it really THAT much work to move a thread from one topic to another on Mumsnet? Perhaps have a word with your tech team about that.

I have to remain sceptical that they are getting such a high volume of 'move' requests that this is the main reason they are making the change. They probably get one or two a week. It's easy to see, they always add a comment to say "we're moving this thread", it isn't a daily occurrence.

It needs to be clearly marked in a standard format at the top of these boards what the Retention Policy is.

This Board has a 30 Day retention period - your thread will be deleted after 30 days

This Board has a 90 Day retention period - your thread will be deleted after 90 days

Threads in this Board will never be deleted. Please post on 30 days Only if you want your thread to be deleted.