war topic

[Samcro]

any chance of a covid style war topic for all the "are we going to war " threads please.

I do also realise I can't personally stop anyone doing anything on MN. As has always been the case.

@Sparklingbrook

I do also realise I can't personally stop anyone doing anything on MN. As has always been the case.

Well, that applies to all of us!

However, MNHQ have the power to decide how they want to manage and moderate the boards. Hopefully they will come back and tell us soon how they propose to proceed.

@AlexaShutUp

Thanks for clarifying. As I've said above, I can live with the threads getting moved to a specific board, a)if MNHQ makes its policy on this really explicit and b)if strong action is taken to address the issue of people derailing threads by complaining about where they have been posted. That seems like a fair compromise to me.

I feel that's unlikely to happen. I've never seen the policy about moving threads to the Covid board actually in print. Nobody would see it if it were. People know because they've seen the threads being moved presumably when MNHQ comment on the thread. That said, MNHQ would have to have a report to even see the threads to move, and derailing isn't against TGs unless throwing in a personal attack at the same time presumably.

Well, that applies to all of us!

Exactly. Which is why there's no point us getting too bothered thinking anyone on here can just by stating their opinion.

No, you're right that derailing isn't currently against talk guidelines, but if we're going ahead with censoring the miscellaneous boards, then I would like it to be. The stupid comments are so tiresome otherwise.

If the miscellaneous boards are going to be censored, I do think that MNHQ should at least make that policy clear. A sticky note at the top of each board would do it, with a list of any topics that are currently considered to be taboo. MNHQ needs to own its decision on this instead of doing it surreptitiously behind the scenes.

with a list of any topics that are currently considered to be taboo.

Assigning a topic doesn’t make topics taboo. It just makes it easier to find and/or filter.

@merrymouse

with a list of any topics that are currently considered to be taboo.

Assigning a topic doesn’t make topics taboo. It just makes it easier to find and/or filter.

Yes, but the whole idea is that it will be taboo to post about those topics on the miscellaneous boards, no? Unlike the many other subjects that people post about on AIBU which also have their own topics.

If this is just about creating a separate topic for the Ukraine war, just like we have separate topics for health, education, relationships etc, then I really have no issue with it.

My understanding is that it is not simply about assigning a topic, though. My understanding is that this topic will be different from the other topics like health, education and relationships because discussions on the subject will be restricted to that specific board and removed from the miscellaneous boards. The miscellaneous boards will effectively be censored, in other words.

If MNHQ decides that there are valid reasons for this censorship, then so be it. All I am asking is that they are explicit about which subjects are going to be considered taboo on the miscellaneous boards. And to take action against the posters who will inevitably get overzealous about policing that censorship.

So would you describe the Covid threads as ‘censored’ (which is an odd word to use because censoring to me implies deletion rather than just shifting topic).

@Sparklingbrook

So would you describe the Covid threads as ‘censored’ (which is an odd word to use because censoring to me implies deletion rather than just shifting topic).

Yes, I would say that the miscellaneous boards were being censored if the policy is to remove threads about covid from those boards. I am still not very clear on MN's stance on this though.

As far as I am aware, there is currently no specific guidance on whether covid threads are "allowed" on AIBU or Chat, and it seems that some are moved and some are left where they are. Things are often moved when the thread police take it on themselves to complain loudly about where a thread has been posted, even though no explicit guidelines have been broken. This is intensely irritating for other posters. If it is policy to move the covid threads, then it seems to be fairly haphazardly applied at present.

I certainly think that some posters want the miscellaneous boards to be censored, which is why they come out in force to police the threads when they feel that some unwritten rule has been broken.

However we move forward, I want MNHQ to be honest and transparent about what they're doing. So if the plan is to dumb down certain boards to exclude discussions on serious topics, just tell us.

To be clear, I would not describe the covid board as censored, but I would regard it as censorship of the busier miscellaneous boards.

If MNHQ wants to do that, and a majority of MN users support that, then fair enough. I would just prefer that it's done openly and honestly, rather that surreptitiously.

but I would regard it as censorship of the busier miscellaneous boards.

It depends how you view the boards.

I think AIBU and chat by default promote the most click baity threads, so it’s only possible to see things that are trending today, which makes it difficult to browse threads that are more than a couple of days old.

I don’t think the Westminstenders threads were less visible in the Brexit topic because they still appeared in active convos when people were posting regularly.

It's not censorship.

The post is still published on the site.

Having a topic is a reflection of the importance and volume of traffic, and it makes it easier to find posts on that subject

@EdithWeston

It's not censorship.

The post is still published on the site.

Having a topic is a reflection of the importance and volume of traffic, and it makes it easier to find posts on that subject

I agree, censorship would be the thread being removed altogether from the site. As in you are just not allowed to say that, it's being removed. Moving it to a different topic is just a bit of 'housekeeping'.

AIBU will promote a thread asking ‘AIBU to build a bomb shelter if it blocks my neighbour’s driveway and can I ask people not to wear shoes?’ because anyone can have an opinion on that, but ‘has anyone had experience of applying for a U.K. visa?’ will drift off the front pages if people don’t feel able to reply at the time of the post.

No. I think Ukraine should have it's own topic and threads posted elsewhere should be moved to it as they are with the Covid topic now. I was talking about topics other than Ukraine not being moved because there just isn't the amount of them so they aren't cluttering up Active in the same way

How is this materially different from using the words "censoring" or "banning" certain topics from the miscellaneous boards? That is exactly what you are describing - a separate topic with threads actively removed from those boards.

I agree with Alexa that if that happens it needs to be clearly signposted with a sticky and in the talk guidelines.

The kind of fuzzy solution you seem to want where nothing is defined properly is exactly what leads to complaints about inconsistency in modding because it inevitably creates inconsistencies.

How is this materially different from using the words "censoring" or "banning" certain topics from the miscellaneous boards? That is exactly what you are describing - a separate topic with threads actively removed from those boards.

Threads are removed from sight on those boards everyday by the volume of newer posts.

Threads are removed from sight on those boards everyday by the volume of newer posts

I know that. How is this different from banning/censoring certain topics from the miscellaneous boards? That is exactly what we are talking about (and did with Covid).

There may well be enough sustained discussion over time to have a separate topic but if you are then also going to ban those topics from the miscellaneous boards you need a sticky or modification to the talk guidelines which makes the rules clear for everyone.

Its very easy to say "I don't want to see this stuff and I want someone else to manage that for me" but people need clear guidelines to work to otherwise it becomes "mod inconsistency" immediately.

Exactly @C8H10N4O2. Why should posters have to deal with a pile-on from people telling them that they're on the wrong board if there are no explicit guidelines that would tell them where to post?

This, from one of the many threads, this one entitled "would you want to survive a nuclear war":

No. I've actually thought about how I could euthanase us all if it came to it and I could heartbreakingly let go of the kids in their sleep. Would rather that than the fallout. We have medication at home that could do that

Can you imagine reading this if you have anxiety? Nonsense like this could actually drive people to suicidal thoughts.
It's been a week now @LilyMumsnet do you think a decision should be made because in all honesty leaving this stuff to fester is irresponsible.

I know that. How is this different from banning/censoring certain topics from the miscellaneous boards?

Because current threads still appear in active convos and older threads (i.e. more than a day old) can be easily browsed in the topic.

It would be easier if "hide thread" could be accessed without the need to click on the thread in the desktop site.

Absolutely agree. MNHQ, if you don’t want a separate board for this Feb we at least have a way of hiding threads without needing to open them? I can’t open a thread without reading at least part of the OP and the scaremongering is awful on the site at the moment.

Can you imagine reading this if you have anxiety? Nonsense like this could actually drive people to suicidal thoughts.

And yet you thought it appropriate to reproduce it here @AdobeWanKenobi?

We should all be reporting posts where we feel that they are inappropriate. However, I think there is also an onus on people to take some responsibility for managing their own activities online. If you have a tendency to suffer from anxiety, for example, it's probably best to scroll on past the threads discussing nuclear war. You don't have to click on them.

@HamsterTrumpet

It would be easier if "hide thread" could be accessed without the need to click on the thread in the desktop site.

Absolutely agree. MNHQ, if you don’t want a separate board for this Feb we at least have a way of hiding threads without needing to open them? I can’t open a thread without reading at least part of the OP and the scaremongering is awful on the site at the moment.

That sounds like a good suggestion.

i can hide treads without opening them, just hidden about 5 more. although saying that its harder when not on the pc.
why do people see having a topic as censoring`? its just putting it in a topic.