Thoughts on tweaking MN

[MsAmerica]

Since the mods very cordially expressed a willingness to read suggestions, I put something together for you. I tried to think this through to cover as much as possible, although I admit I'm not an experienced poster here. So these are things I've noticed that you might want to re-think, but overall the main suggestion is just to tidy up the layout for clarity, and re-organize and re-name some forums, to make the posting process more user-friendly. Please excuse a bit of repetition, as the categories overlap. (Also, some small additions since my original failed attempt to post, with apologies to mods who were already kind enough to read the initial version.)

I haven’t been able to post this, possibly because it’s so long, but I’m now going to try it in sections, as suggested, and see if that works.

I admit I'm not an experienced poster here.

Christ on a bike, what kinds of suggestions do you make for forums you do post on?

Works really well for me, and a lot of the forum names and titles come from long standing MN traditions such as AIBU and pedants corner, and are known by those names with affection. They're hallmarks of MN.

Goodness! .

So, when and where did Mumsnet express their "willingness to read suggestions" ?

Actually, I think it’s a good thing that people take the time to look at a website and think about how it could be made better.

User experience is an important part of website development. Unfortunately, a lot of website owners ignore UX in favour of what they want to do which is invariably more about commercial requirements.

But I guess we’re going to have a pathetic sniggering schoolgirl pile on instead because it’s Friday night.

OP, I applaud you for giving this so much thought and for going to the trouble of writing it all up. Ignore those giving you a hard time. I don't think they have grasped the spirit in which you posted.

@SixQuidGames

But I guess we’re going to have a pathetic sniggering schoolgirl pile on instead because it’s Friday night.

I don't think that disagreeing with the OP constitutes a pile on. The OP is entitled to make suggestions. Other MNetters are entitled to explain why they wouldn't support the suggestions.

I think where the OP has misfired is that she's trying to make MN more like other forums, whereas most of us are on here because it's different. Also (possibly as a new poster) the OP hasn't tuned into the MN self-deprecating style of humour (Telly Addicts, Pedants' Corner).

Knew it was going to be a wordy thing just to ask for a ruddy like button.

No thank you.

It's fine the way it is. There are other boards out there, like a zillion of them if you're not happy.

Just an edit button please and the ability to read only the op posts without having to be a premium member. All doable on your phone.

@WildFlowerBees

Just an edit button please and the ability to read only the op posts without having to be a premium member. All doable on your phone.

You can read just the OPs posts without being a premium member.

Well, I love how thorough you have been with this!
But I like MN just how it is, thanks. It's like that because it's grown piecemeal.
Sort of like the difference between UK city streets and US gridiron streets.
Each to his/her own!

I think it should be impossible to quote the full text of the opening to a thread. I also think that when you are on the phone you should be able to see any messages and respond to them.

Hi OP

We're quite busy tonight, so can't give this one the response it deserves... but we didn't want to leave it!

We do welcome feedback, always. It's something we use to improve the site for users and without it, we wouldn't be where we are.

We're quite aware that when making changes to the site, we need bear in mind the people that are comfortable with and enjoy the format. We have actually got something in the pipeline for improving usability - but won't go into that too much now.

Please do bear with us - these changes take time and resources but it's something we're working really, really hard on.

In the meantime, you can always flag feedback to us - but don't forget the good feedback, too...

We'll read this and respond in more detail when we're a bit calmer.

I can see messages on my phone?

I agree with a lot of those. I've been on Mumsnet since threads showed newest to oldest the improvements in that time have been pretty minimal. For Books forum I agree; I had no idea where to post about books on the mobile site. On the desktop it's ok because it's the one I didn't need to click on more to reach (and I agree with your point on more, especially for the more niche boards. Who would have guessed Weddings was in Fun and Games?!). I think the subforums need pruning and the remaining ones to be highlighted. At the moments so many post in AIBU or Chat just because that's where the traffic is, and ultimately that results in AIBU being watered down with posts where AIBU isn't even a question being asked. I would also support stricter moderation to move posts to the correct sections, which has the dual advantage of moving posts to where people are better placed to respond and also not posting rubbish people aren't interested in in the high traffic areas.

Also agree with an edit function. Happy to have the full history for the post displayed, but when I see a typo as soon as I click send and I know there is a solution for that on pretty much every other web forum it's pretty infuriating.

I'll add a few:

Improvement to Quote Function
It seems utterly bonkers that I will get altered when I am tagged, but if someone quotes my post (usually trying to initiate a dialogue with me) there is no alert. And then when I do finally see the post, I can’t quote the post which quoted me to reply, so I'm left with the old fashioned way of manually bolding the post and tagging the poster (at least they'll see that I suppose).

Archiving
Many other websites won’t let you post on threads which haven’t been active for six months or a year, and that really makes sense. Earlier this week in Baby Names someone posted on about seven threads from around ten years ago saying Charlotte is a garbage name. The posts were deleted and the user was banned but that still means so many bumped threads which people are still responding to giving advice about naming a child who is about to start secondary school. I haven’t met a single poster who is happy to have a zombie thread revived on any board.

Responses from MN and Transparency
When issues are raised on Site Stuff people just get a stack “thanks for the feedback, we’ll pass it on”. Personally I’ve been translating that as “don’t care, bye”. I asked several times on a thread of mine if there was any feedback to my question which was apparently raised with no response. If we could have updates on what Mumsnet are working on then that would give some insight, for those who are interested. Otherwise it seems the site is happy just where it is, which is ok if you at least acknowledge you aren’t interested in feedback!

I also really dislike the stock photographs on the home page (I am always logged in and didn't realise I could avoid the home page - is that by bookmarking a subsite?). I think you're right about the odd "shells" in topics. I also agree that it's awkward that Talk shows the most frequently-used forums, and the thing about the cursor getting in the way that you mention. Didn't realise Politics is in Other Stuff as I've never visited Politics - that may be why! Hadn't come across History Club either though it's a forum I would be interested in using. I am a low-frequency poster so haven't experienced all the issues you mention about posting.

@TheChippendenSpook

That's a long few minutes of my life I won't get back

😂

@UnderTheSkyInsideTheSea

I admit I'm not an experienced poster here.

Christ on a bike, what kinds of suggestions do you make for forums you do post on?

Unlike the OP, I am an experienced poster here.
I like the quirky names such as Body and Soul, Other Stuff and What We’re Reading, and that there is even a place for Flouncers!

Until recently, we did have a feature with the names of posters showing in Active convos, which I felt did help foster community spirit, but as it’s been removed as an “improvement”, I can’t see it being brought back in the near future.

I would be against having a “like” button, as it would significantly reduce debate and the exchange of ideas, the very life blood of Mumsnet.

😂😂😂🤣

Why don't you go and creat your own site given you clearly hate this one so much?

I like it as it is but wouldn't mind a timed edit function and sort the Zombie thread stuff out.

No idea why posters want MN to be the same as all other sites?

And a big no to a Like button, very Daily mail website plus it's MN Talk-the clue is in the name.

I like it the way it is 🤷‍♀️

Yes please to a edit and a like button
The search function is maddening, no ability to link search terms so if I'm searching for a thread about a red boys jumper I will get a list of every thread that mentions red or boys or jumper, and results are not in date order ( most recent first would help), also out of date ( eg 30 days only threads from prior years are returned in the search results but you can't read them

I actually like almost everything about Mumsnet (even the weird topic organisation), but the search function is definitely frustrating. It would really help to have the option to choose to sort results in reverse date order (ie most recent first).
A slightly less important but still irritating issue is that the sub groups aren’t at the top of a thread, so you can’t go back to a sub topic. For eg if you’re looking at a thread under Secondary Education, you only have Talk and Secondary Education at the top so no Education go back to. Not a huge issue, but a minor irritation while we’re feeding back