Why aren’t we allowed to post plain text links any more?

[Slothtoes]

Why can’t I just post a plain text link any more without a massive preview image?
I really value Mumsnet for its clear, plain text, and clean looking posted links. It’s not Facebook or Twitter and I really appreciate that.

MN threads will get way too long, way too quickly when they’re full of links with images and for me it really breaks up the conversation flow. Much harder to reply to specific posts anything more than one or two posts back if you have to scroll way back. It just creates visual clutter. The new feature is even mandatory when just posting an internal MN link onto another MN thread. And I wonder what happens if anyone has the gall to post two or more links into the same post, as references?

This new feature will really negatively impact the quality of discussion on factual and resource type threads where posters share information. Off the top of my head- FWR, politics, health topics, parenting topics, recipes, F&B, Telly addicts….. or any support or discussion thread with a factual, informing, or evolving/updated evidence type of basis.

Decreased quality of discussion can equal decreased quality of support for parents which is the aim of the site. Please MN- stop trying to shape our conversations. Please could you remove this new feature.

I’d agree but actually if posters don’t want to click on links- that’s fine and probably quite sensible. Why do we need to clutter the whole site up with giant previews to solve that problem for people. It’s bringing a mandatory hammer to crack a completely voluntary nut.

@JanineMumsnet - when I click on the rubbish bin icon, it not only removes the preview, it removes the whole link from my post too (but it doesn't look like it's been removed from the "Message" box before I click on the Post button. Then when I do click to post my hyperlink suggestion, it makes me look idiotic as there is no link any longer in my message.

I've just tried to replicate this issue, but I don't get the same thing. Do you have a link to where you posted this so I can pass on to our developers so we can look into it?

Thanks

Hi @JanineMumsnet - This is the thread where I tried to post the link but without the preview:

Same thing has just happened here! I tried posting this link without the preview and clicked on the bin icon and it deleted not just the preview but the link as well.
Where can I find a nice dress for a wedding ? | Mumsnet

Either get the bin to remove the preview only or ditch the preview idea completely until it works first time, every time.

I'm not sure what you mean as both the link and the preview are there on the post for me. The linked text says "Where can I find a nice dress for a wedding ? | Mumsnet" immediately below your post and that links directly to the thread.

Are you saying you tried to link another part of the copy in your post, and when you deleted the preview the linked text was no longer a link?

What I'm trying to say (not very clearly it appears 😁) is that when I tried, in this thread, to post the link to the thread about looking for a nice dress to a wedding, I pasted in the URL to the thread in the message box.
In the "Preview" window (that now appears following another update by MN), there is a bin image which I was lead to understand if someone clicked on it would delete the preview but not the hyperlink or link in the message box. When I tried posting the link in this thread and then clicked on the bin to remove the preview and only the preview, it removed the link in the message box as well, not just deleting the preview.

Did I explain that any clearer (I really not sure I did 😆)

In this very thread, my post at 17:00, I had pasted the URL to the wedding dress thread but tried to remove only the preview. When I clicked on the bin image in the preview to delete only the preview, the link appeared to stay in the message until I clicked on the post button and then the link disappeared too.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/4769539-where-can-i-find-a-nice-dress-for-a-wedding?latest=1

It's really weird because the link posted at 18:07 (I was trying to test something myself) but if there is already text in the message box, it doesn't seem to keep the link
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/4769539-where-can-i-find-a-nice-dress-for-a-wedding?latest=1

Ah here....you are messing with me now MN 😆😆😆

It appears to be working now...it really really wasn't working when I posted originally. It was stripping out the URL from the message box as well as the preview.

Don't worry, I believe you, and think I understand now. Can you just let me know what device and browser you were using to post?

I am on a laptop and I'm using Edge Chromium.

@JanineMumsnet

Can this be an option please?

So its the person posting who gets to decide whether everyone has to see the preview or not? That seems a bit unfair.

Seems like it, which seems a little backwards.

Hopefully @JanineMumsnet will clarify soon.

MN default decision is the massive preview!

Hello,

Yes, that's correct. The person posting the link chooses whether the link shows a preview or not.

So, it does not, in fact give us "more visibility over links being shared before you decide to click them" because it is all decided by the person posting the link...?

I'll be doing my best to remember to turn them off. I'm aware that often people are viewing on small screens and don't want to have to scroll past large images to read what people are saying on a thread.

All the links I've seen have 'goskimresources' in them and wifi automatically blocks it, so I keep having to switch to mobile data so I can view it! Bit annoying.

@JanineMumsnet can you please answer me?

Can we have the option to control this as the reader please? I would like to be able to turn link previews off as the viewer, not the poster. Is this something that has been considered?

@JanineMumsnet

Why do all the links I follow go to goskimresources first? What data are mumsnet harvesting?