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.

And you don't want anyone new to join it?

That's a bit of a leap. Clearly it isn't a problem given how many do manage to join and contribute. They aren't all Mensa members or top university graduates either so it can't be that difficult.

Not wanting changes doesn't mean we don't want new members. What a bizarre conclusion.

But why do people come here and say "you should make it do xyz like reddit" or "netmums does abc its so much better". If you like the way Reddit works then use reddit. If you like the way netmums works then use net mums. If all chat forums were the same format then those of us who don't like them won't have anywhere to go.

Personally I use Mumsnet, in part, because of how it works. It's simple, it's not full of nested replies. (Plus it's full of witty and intelligent women.)

I really dislike nested replies. It's such a pain going back and forth reading them. It's one of MN's huge plusses that it doesn't have them.

I like the way mumsnet is set up. I find Reddit with its nested posts and up down likes very cold.

The only feature I would like is one you haven't mentioned OP.

I am always bookmarking threads on my phone and then losing them as I haven't scrolled back to the top of the page in order to click on 'watch this thread'. I would like bookmarking a thread to automatically also add it to your 'watch' list the same way commenting on a thread does.

What a strange post! Why would you come on to a forum you don't normally use and then write pages in criticism? Didn't bother to read most of it - but what I did read - those things are different if you use the app anyway- and surely more people use that nowadays?

Hmmm

@CircleofWillis

I like the way mumsnet is set up. I find Reddit with its nested posts and up down likes very cold.

The only feature I would like is one you haven't mentioned OP.

I am always bookmarking threads on my phone and then losing them as I haven't scrolled back to the top of the page in order to click on 'watch this thread'. I would like bookmarking a thread to automatically also add it to your 'watch' list the same way commenting on a thread does.

I find it is automatically added to my Watchlist.

If it isn't then there is a little box you can tick when replying.

Quoting posts ruins a conversation imo. If you're talking to people you don't play back a recording of chunks of the conversation before you reply. Quoting feels like that. Just c&p the salient point like you might do in a conversation.
If you're on a phone you end up scrolling through reams of quotes to get to the comment. Tedious.
MN was always less sparkly and simpler than other sites. Homogenising the site might attract new traffic but companies shouldn't neglect their longstanding cheap to retain customers.

I like Mumsnet as it is, I really don't want changes. Please don't change it HQ!

Wow, I thought I was over invested 😂

Other than the crap search function I like how it works, simple and easy to use. I also find it very clear. I’m not a fan of how it goes down regularly though.

I can’t actually believe someone took th time to come up with basically a whole site redesign.

I don't like indenting as you end up having to read
One
Word
Lines
At
The
Edge
Of the
Page!

I use MN on a desk top, tablet, laptop and phone I don't have any problems with the site. I'm not tech savvy either and i love MN as it is thanks. It's a place online with a massive gathering of (mainly) women of all ages from all across the globe and it's the best site there is, in my humble opinion.

If you design a website, you should be ensuring that people who come to it for the first time CAN navigate it. It should be intuitive, not quirky to use. Otherwise they lose interest and leave.

That doesn't seem to be the case, I don't believe members are leaving in their droves. Everyone finds their way around it in the end and probably embraces the quirkiness.

I just don't understand why people want MN to be the same as all other sites really.

What the hell is indenting when it's at home?

This
Is
Indenting
Gamerchick

Oh bollocks. It lost it during posting

No - this is indenting:

Line 1 of conversation
..........Line 2 of conversation
....................Line 3 of conversation
..............................Line 4 of conversation

(Just imagine it without the dots)

This
----Is
----Indenting
----Gamerchick

If the - was replaced with spaces

Yep BIWI I'd done it with spaces but it trimmed the spaces rendering it wrong

Thank you.

No, don't think I'd like that.

For the app to update the posts and active threads without having to switch off and restart my iPad. ( recently purchased pro iPad).

I read about 4 paragraphs and gave up.

I'd like an edit function and the search to be less sporadic.

That's all.

Good suggestions OP. Agree forum names are ridiculous. Why isn't there a general politics forum instead of having brexit, feminism etc siphoned off?

What a bunch of sad sack responses on this thread though. Do people really hang around on the MN site specific forum waiting to pounce on anyone who dares to criticise their "safe space"? Guys, it's a business. Businesses change. Move on and dont bring a woman down for having ideas of how to improve it.

Blimey I haven’t had to scroll down that fast and furiously for a while! Got a sore thumb now!

@topseyt
"I find it is automatically added to my Watchlist.

If it isn't then there is a little box you can tick when replying."

Are you talking about when you are bookmarking in the app or when you are commenting? My app certainly doesn't let you click a box to 'watch this thread' when I bookmark. It does watch the thread automatically when I comment.