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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Country flag next to username?

30 replies

PolarCub · 30/11/2020 16:02

Is there any chance we can have an option of a Country flag next to our username? I'm thinking that this might help some of the conflicts to do with different rules (Covid, education, law etc) particularly in the UK (England, Wales, Scotland Northern Ireland), so people stop assuming UK = England.
So obviously it wouldn't be a UK Flag, but would be a devolved nations flag.
OR
you could have UK AND the devolved nations flag?

OP posts:
MNHQ
LilyMumsnet · 30/11/2020 17:55

Hi OP

Thanks so much for the suggestion - it's a really good idea and we are happy to pass it over to the development team.

That being said, we're sure that many people wouldn't want or use this feature and it may seem off putting to some, (we like to think things simple with just usernames) so it might not be something we're keen on doing at the moment.

Original poster
PolarCub · 30/11/2020 17:58

@LilyMumsnet
Thanks for your reply.
Some people might not want to use it - but it doesn't have to be compulsory?
Thanks for passing over to the development team.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 30/11/2020 18:00

I don't think it's necessary. If it was optional and I could opt out but others want to do it then fine though.

AuntieStella · 30/11/2020 18:03

I think it would just be unnecessary clutter, but probably harmless if it was optional.

People would need to remember that posters would be self-identifying for their flag - so a Scottish person currentoymstaying in England might still go for a Saltire

Sparklingbrook · 30/11/2020 18:08

Presumably you could choose any flag you wished even if it's not your 'correct' one? So if you were born in the US but lived in Glasgow you would want the American flag? Could be confusing. Unless it's the flag of where you live now?

MissConductUS · 30/11/2020 18:16

I like this idea. I added US to my username to make it clear that I'm not in the UK. A flag would have been a better option.

Sparklingbrook · 30/11/2020 18:19

@MissConductUS

I like this idea. I added US to my username to make it clear that I'm not in the UK. A flag would have been a better option.
I wouldn't think that the US in your username meant anything referring to your location, and people claim to not notice usernames. It would certainly make the threads look colourful though. Grin
user1825894133270 · 30/11/2020 18:21

I see where you're coming from, but I would hate this. This kind of thing always seems to tend towards the jingoistic in how it is used.

Diverseduvet · 30/11/2020 18:23

Yuck

SlopesOff · 30/11/2020 18:30

At first I thought it would be a good idea, then I thought about it.

The posters who are not bright enough to realise that not everyone is in the UK would not realise why there were flags.

People would use their own flag of origin and not the one where they reside which would cause more confusion.

I wouldn't use one if they were optional. There is enough clutter on the site already, ads all over the place, videos, polls (which I have switched off).

Sparklingbrook · 30/11/2020 18:32

The posters who are not bright enough to realise that not everyone is in the UK would not realise why there were flags

The flags would appear then there would immediately be 15 threads asking about why there are flags...

Original poster
PolarCub · 01/12/2020 14:50

@Sparklingbrook

The posters who are not bright enough to realise that not everyone is in the UK would not realise why there were flags

The flags would appear then there would immediately be 15 threads asking about why there are flags...

Grin Yes that's true!

I also understand about the site being cluttered - there are things bloody moving all over the place (not good for my pc, which is struggling to cope, or for my migraines!)

The flag thing was just an idea, which I thought would help, especially with the particularly daft answers i.e "what are your kids doing out of school on a Thursday, it's a school day" when it's school holidays for Scotland etc
but you're right, the people who answer like that probably wouldn't bother to look at a flag anyway.

I also remember back in the early days of the internet and message boards that at one point it was common to have a country flag or country of where you were located - I used to find it helpful

OP posts:
TheGlitteringGlodhareofPenlee · 01/12/2020 14:55

Surely anyone could say they're from anywhere though......

Sparklingbrook · 01/12/2020 14:56

I would change my flag weekly to look as if I was an international jet setter. Grin

kennelmaid · 01/12/2020 15:00

No, too easy to make a judgement about a poster based on where they're from, or on where they live.

Sparklingbrook · 01/12/2020 15:02

@kennelmaid

No, too easy to make a judgement about a poster based on where they're from, or on where they live.
But there's a thread running at the moment saying that where posters are is massively relevant. Mainly in relation to COVID and the UK.
NotAnActualSheep · 01/12/2020 15:15

I can see where you're coming from polarcub. However I'm not sure now these flags would be seen in the same way as back in the early days of message boards etc. Definitely in terms of the Saltire and St George's Flag, these have different "meanings" than simply "I live in Scotland/ England". As a person born in England who now lives in Scotland I'd feel a bit of a fraud identifying myself with a saltire, which is definitely a symbol for "I support Scottish Independence" on social media these days. And in Scotland someone with the union flag would also be seen to be making a point that they aren't necessarily making!

I'm willing to put up with people asking why my children are at school in August to avoid that extra assumption on my political leanings Grin.

Fine if it's voluntary, anyone who wants to can have a flag. But if you can have any flag or none, it probably takes away from your original intention of flagging (pun intended) your location to avoid confusion. And leaves even more opportunities for judging.

Original poster
PolarCub · 01/12/2020 15:21

@TheGlitteringGlodhareofPenlee

Surely anyone could say they're from anywhere though......
They can and some people do - a flag (or whatever) wouldn't change that. People online can say they are female, married with 3 kids, but in real life they are a hairy bloke no kids - online we have to trust what is being told to us. People saying where they are located is no different.

Kennelmaid No, too easy to make a judgement about a poster based on where they're from, or on where they live.
People can and will judge where you're from, many folk get judged already, especially when they say they are from one of the devolved nations

Sparklingbrook But there's a thread running at the moment saying that where posters are is massively relevant. Mainly in relation to COVID and the UK.
Yep I would agree it is relevant - folk from the smaller nations and other Countries are so fed up with being told they are doing things wrong - just because it's not the same as England

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 01/12/2020 15:25

I think it may be relevant in very occasional situations, but if someone is whining about others breaking Covid rules I assume that they are talking about the rules where they are so I don't need to know their exact location.

Original poster
PolarCub · 01/12/2020 15:51

@NotAnActualSheep

I can see where you're coming from polarcub. However I'm not sure now these flags would be seen in the same way as back in the early days of message boards etc. Definitely in terms of the Saltire and St George's Flag, these have different "meanings" than simply "I live in Scotland/ England". As a person born in England who now lives in Scotland I'd feel a bit of a fraud identifying myself with a saltire, which is definitely a symbol for "I support Scottish Independence" on social media these days. And in Scotland someone with the union flag would also be seen to be making a point that they aren't necessarily making!

I'm willing to put up with people asking why my children are at school in August to avoid that extra assumption on my political leanings Grin.

Fine if it's voluntary, anyone who wants to can have a flag. But if you can have any flag or none, it probably takes away from your original intention of flagging (pun intended) your location to avoid confusion. And leaves even more opportunities for judging.

Yes I hadn't thought of the political statements that are flags now mean!

It's funny because my family is all Scottish, but I was born in England, and have lived in Scotland for more years than I lived in England. I'm very used to 'translating' between the different countries i.e the different legal systems, different education, different holidays, different Covid restrictions etc

Do you know what - I just find it very sad, in this day and age, that we judge so much on where a person lives. I also find it very sad that as the UK, we can't find some common ground between our devolved nations - everything is just so politicalised and I'm sick fed up of it!

OP posts:
JaneJeffer · 01/12/2020 17:01

Can't you just say "I'm in wherever" at the beginning of a post. It takes seconds to type. I can imagine all sorts of xenophobic problems with flags.

Sparklingbrook · 01/12/2020 17:07

@JaneJeffer

Can't you just say "I'm in wherever" at the beginning of a post. It takes seconds to type. I can imagine all sorts of xenophobic problems with flags.
I CBA to do that, and really in 9 years on here it's never been an issue to my knowledge. Plus it's not great for the people that really want to stay anonymous.
JaneJeffer · 01/12/2020 17:12

Well you can't expect people to know where you are if you won't say so a flag is not going to be any use.

Sparklingbrook · 01/12/2020 17:13

@JaneJeffer

Well you can't expect people to know where you are if you won't say so a flag is not going to be any use.
I think just mention it if you think it's in any way relevant. really for most threads it's not.
JaneJeffer · 01/12/2020 17:15

That's what I meant! I don't mean every time you post. If it's about Covid or schools or whatever just state your general location.

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