A couple of questions and ideas

[DistinguishedSocialCommenator]

Good morning

This post is aimed at MNHQ but not exclusively.

As you are aware, I do not own the site, nor run it and I am aware you must have thought about many times how to deliver this site and what works for you.

About the 'THANKS' that I and others give. I'm aware others other than the forum name we thank can see who thanked them. I had dozens of thanks on one thread and I guess other posters get many more, is there a way of seeing how many unnamed posters have thanked a particular post? IMO, this aids better posting to an extent IE I post stuff within the T&Cs as or others do and read posts with many thanks, this indicates it may be the right way to go about something

Usrnames. I've never been on a site where you can change your username so many times. It gets so confusing as at times I'm sure posters start to like, trust certain usernames as far as it can go on a forum like this, but I'm often tempted to change my username. I'm aware when starting a thread if you repost and have changed your name, you can only post with the name you created the thread.

Is there a forum on this site for general, tongue-in-the-cheek banter, please?

Like most, I've found this site helpful and had read it many times before joining.

Wishing you a lovely Sunday.

BTW: Could there be an easier method of 'unwatching' threads? I think you get alerts on every thread you've read and certain you get alerts if you have contributed. I get so many alerts that at times messages aimed at me are missed. It is hard work going back to threads to click the 'unwatch' box.

Sorry if I sound ungrateful as I'm not just trying to make things easier for all, hopefully.

Update: Just noted the notifications options and I have adjusted them.

You can remove watched threads from your Watching page.

Thank you

Hi there @DistinguishedSocialCommenator.

Thanks for getting in touch.

Regarding the thanks button, there is no way for anyone other than the 'thankee' to know who thanked them. We feel that keeping it private, as well as keeping the number of 'thanks' given, keeps it more genuine. We see your point and will have a think about, but we do feel it's working well at the moment.

Usrnames. I've never been on a site where you can change your username so many times. It gets so confusing as at times I'm sure posters start to like, trust certain usernames as far as it can go on a forum like this, but I'm often tempted to change my username. I'm aware when starting a thread if you repost and have changed your name, you can only post with the name you created the thread.

On the usernames, again, we feel it works well for us and we know a lot of our users value being able to change name not only for general privacy reasons, but also to talk about different issues. The forums cover a wide range of topics so lots of people like to keep their posts about dog ownership, for example, separate to their posts about breastfeeding. And lots of people want to keep their relationship posts under a different username just so those threads aren't clouded by, for example, other posters being able to see posts about their health issues or financial worries, which may feed into their relationship issues, but they perhaps don't want considered alongside them.

Re the tongue-in-cheek banter, there is plenty of that all over the boards, but maybe you're suggesting something more specific? If you have an idea for a new board you would like to see, we're always willing to consider new ideas, so do drop us a line or start a thread so we can see if others' would also find it useful.

Hope that's answered everything. Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts and ideas.

@HebeMumsnet

Many thanks. It all makes sense when you put it like that, especially the thanks bit. As I read your post, the thanks bit, you are spot on and on another forum, longstanding cliques will beat down even a reasonable argument if one or more of them feels it's not to their liking.

The change of names, again I now get it.

I am now of the view that your system here is better than every other forum I have been on.
Thanks for you time and a very informative response.

@DistinguishedSocialCommenator I think you might be on to something about a 'banter-style' new thread section.
I think it would be a really good idea. Then when people post in it, hopefully there will be just like minded replies, rather than some of the fun sponges!
Are you going to start a poll?

Thank you but in hindsight it may be more difficult to mange by MNHQ.

EG, people putting stuff in there like tongues-in-the=cheeks and some that are offended by the sun rising report it again and again.

What you post in that forum if it was up and running?

I think people would post their petty gripes, or observations, for solidarity. Without needing the 'how very dare you?', or LTB replies 😂.
Maybe people could have a bit of fun.

Cheers, But they could also gang up, build on their clique and then feel they own the place, lol😂

In hindsight, we are better off without it. Sorry.