Introducing AIBU voting

[TomMumsnet]

Hi all,

We're testing out a new feature on AIBU. From today, a few randomly selected Mumsnet users will be able to access a voting function on AIBU posts.

We're testing the vote function because in user feedback lots of you asked for a quick way to answer an AIBU post (essentially; YABU or YANBU).
The general thinking was that this would encourage more interaction - so we're trying it out from today, let's see how it goes.

It won't show on all AIBU posts but you should see it on a few - and importantly, the OP will be able to turn on (or off) the voting function themselves.

Hopefully you'll find it useful - and as ever, we'd love to hear your feedback - so please give it a try, and let us know what you think in the comments below.

Oh, and if you really aren't a fan then no problem, just head over to your Talk preferences and you'll be able to switch off (and back on) the voting feature.

Thanks
MNHQ

@NerrSnerr

It's Mumsnet Am I being unreasonable. A bit of entertainment on the internet. I don't really get the talk of 'dumbing down', it it's never been the place for intellectual discussion which is why I like it.

That makes me very sad. Is this what MN has now come to? Dumbed down 'entertainment'?

A quick way? It takes 2 second to type yanbu or yabu!

Those of you who think certain threads shouldn't have the voting option - please remember that the feature has to be switched ON by the OP, it's not on by default.

It's not just 'entertainment', people's lives and problems don't exist for our entertainment. Yes, MN can provide entertainment, but it is so much richer and more powerful than that.

MN is a place for discussion, debate, support, solidarity and education too. And some people bring things here that are deeply personal and upsetting. They may not do that in the wisest of ways sometimes - that's part of presenting a struggle. Clickbait monetizing of their issues for 'entertainment' is rather revolting.

Is this what MN has now come to? Dumbed down 'entertainment'?

It always has been. That's what the Chat section and many others were for.

You are free to use it as you like. I think it's an entertaining way to kill time when stuck in commute or waiting for someone.

What's wrong with entertainment anyway?

Of course it's about entertainment, @EarlGreyOfTwinings. Sorry I wasn't clear enough - what makes me sad is that the drive (or desire) seems to be just dumbed down entertainment, and a rejection of the fact that MN is a place for intellectual discussion.

The level of insight, knowledge and intelligence displayed by many MNetters has always been something that sets the site apart from other communities.

But this seems to be a move away from that.

That makes me very sad. Is this what MN has now come to? Dumbed down 'entertainment'?

Just AIBU. If people post things for support on AIBU and it's clear that a pasting would be detrimental to their mental health people always helpfully suggest they get it moved to the appropriate section.

Voting or not AIBU has always been about entertainment and not support.

BIWI

I don't think so, many non-parent land on the site when googling something. It's still used as a resource as well as entertainement.

I have voted on a few and added comments to 2 of them.

Yayyy an actual way to make people posting for help in aibu to feel even shitter.

This is fine for lighthearted threads but people post complex problems and mostly people are looking for help or confirmation that they have been treated badly.

Doesn't sit well with me at all

@BIWI I agree.

I do use mumsnet as a resource too but the focus has definitely changed over the years.

AIBU does dominate the site.

AIBU is for opinions, though surely? If it's support you're after you usually go to a more sympathetic board where people will help.
If you're asking if you're being U, surely you shouldn't be upset if you're told yes, you are actually!
I'm on my first of the threads at the moment where OP seems to be on the sangria, it's very entertaining lol

Limekiwi i often post on aibu for support as the other boards can be quiet, however this feature would make me reconsider doing so and i simply wouldn't post. .

But quite a few discussions/debates/topics arise from some of the AIBUs. Also, interesting to see why some think OP is BU, and some don't.

So running it like an opinion poll shuts that down.

It says you can only vote once.

What happens if someone NameChanges?

A name change is still the same account.

@TheoriginalLEM

i often post on aibu for support as the other boards can be quiet

Then this is the only advantage I can see of this move. That people will be encouraged to post in the appropriate place. The more people post in AIBU 'for the traffic' the quieter the other topics/threads become.

And tbh, you would get much better support away from the mire that AIBU can become.

”people post complex problems and mostly people are looking for help or confirmation that they have been treated badly.”

People posting complex problems for help should really not post them in AIBU!

Yes, we all know it's the same account when you name change.

What I don't know is whether this specific new feature is running off the name you are logged in on at the time, or the name you might choose to use on a particular thread. And whether tech are sure that there is no possibility of exposing a NameChange if you both vote and post on the thread

I don't see the point of it. I am guessing a Like button will be just around the corner.

Doesn't enhance the MN experience for me. If you read an AIBU thread you get the idea of how many YANBU and YABUs the poster gets without having the exact figure.

It would enhance things if there was an extra vote for 'This is made up old cobblers ' though.

I think this is one of the worst ideas I have seen in all my many years on MN. No one will bother to engage, will just click on a vote and move on, the OP won't get any useful suggestions or be able to provide useful updates and it could be really crushing. If someone is BU they really need to be told why.

What's the point of all these features on the web version if they're not on the app? There's loads of these features (unless I'm being spectacularly dim!) eg trending, private messages, changing usernames, advanced searches etc. Not fair (stamps foot and tries to slam the door but fails )

I'm agin it.

Human life is so much more complicated than Yes or No. To be truly representative of the most frequent responses, and taking on board the comments on this thread, I conclude you'd need the following buttons as a bare minimum:

1. YABU
2. YANBU
3. TINAAIBU (this is not an AIBU)
4. TAAT
5. TL:DR
6. LTB
7. Please use paragraphs
8. More information needed
9. Cancel the cheque
10. Reported to MNHQ because I don't believe a word of it

Feel free to add any I've forgotten...

@Anniegetyourgun don't forget the WTF button for some posts, we need one of those

Oh yeah, and a couple of really important ones: