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Original poster

The "thanks" facility and name changes

13 replies

endofthelinefinally · 17/04/2024 18:21

I have noticed that when I get an email telling me that I have been thanked on a thread, the email includes a list of names that does not necessarily match the names shown when I click on the icon on the thread.
It seems to me that MN is therefore outing MNers who have name changed for a particular thread.
IMO this is not acceptable.
Sometimes posters name change for personal/appropriate reasons, therefore, the fact that their other username will be revealed to the poster they thank should be made clear, so that they can choose not to use the facility.

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MNHQ

LilyMumsnet · 17/04/2024 19:19

Hi OP

We've looked into it and that there isn't anything outing here - we'll post a more thorough explanation tomorrow.

Just a note - the name you use when thanking a post is the name that will show on the notification.

MNHQ

MattTech · 18/04/2024 09:14

@AromanticSpices You're absolutely correct.

When you receive the email notification the list of usernames can include usernames from multiple posts on the thread where you've been thanked.

So, if you do only check a single post on site, the usernames in the email might not match. But if you check all posts where you've received thanks they will.

Hope that helps to clarify!

Thanks

MNHQ

MattTech · 18/04/2024 09:48

RoseAndRose · 18/04/2024 09:31

Is the name "you use" in this context the one in which you are posting on the thread or the one which you are logged in under?

And what happens if you thank on a post on a thread you have not yet posted on - and then NC in order to post on the thread further down?

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@RoseAndRose The name that is used is the one that is currently active for your account. You can see that here: https://www.mumsnet.com/settings/account

When you give thanks, that username is recorded with the thanks. If you change your name after that the name attached to the thanks that has already been given does not change.

Hope that helps to clarify.

Thanks

MNHQ

MattTech · 18/04/2024 09:59

Lougle · 18/04/2024 09:54

That is what can be outing @MattTech . If someone habituates a thread, then goes to another thread and changes name to post, that becomes their active name. If they then read a post they have already posted on with a different name, and click 'thanks' it is the name changed name that will show as the thanks, not the name they previously posted on the thread as.

I am on a long running thread that doesn't appear in active conversions. I regularly see 'thanks' from people who haven't posted on the thread. They are posters who have posted on the thread under one name, changed name for another thread, then thanked a post back on the initial thread.

Show quote history

When you change your name directly on a thread (in either the "Create Thread" page or the reply box), it doesn't change the active username for your account.

The active username for your account only changes if you change it in your settings.

MNHQ

MattTech · 18/04/2024 10:14

RoseAndRose · 18/04/2024 10:08

So does that mean that whatever name you are using on a thread is disregarded and thanks always appear under your logged-in name?

So it'll always look like a lurker is thanking, even for thanks given after you started posting in your thread-name?

Thanks are always given with the name that is currently active in your account settings - even if you've posted on the thread with a different username.

Hope that helps to clarify.

Thanks

MNHQ

MattTech · 18/04/2024 10:49

I've just discussed this internally and we agree that this isn't as obvious as it could be.

With that being said, here's what we're going to do:

  1. Later today we'll add a tooltip to the Thanks button that shows which username a thanks will appear from.
  2. Next week the thanks button will be changed so that it gives thanks from the username that you're using on the thread.
These changes should address the problems raised in this thread.

Thanks for the feedback on this - it's really helpful for us to address these things in the best way that we can.

MNHQ

MattTech · 18/04/2024 14:17

We've just added the tooltip that shows the username that will be used for thanking when you hover over the Thanks icon.

At the moment it's only on Desktop but we wanted to make sure that we got it released today as promised.

I'll update this thread as we make progress on the other changes next week.

Thanks

MNHQ

MattTech · 18/04/2024 15:34

MaggieFS · 18/04/2024 14:44

@MattTech I've just seen you've been incredibly responsive on this thread. Are you aware of this other one? Banner advert in the app www.mumsnet.com/Talk/site_stuff/5031542-banner-advert-in-the-app

Those of us on it have been largely ignored for over four weeks, and I wonder if you can help?

Sorry, not wishing to derail this thread but completely out of ideas.

Hi @MaggieFS

I am aware of that thread but I don't have any update I'm afraid. As soon as there is someone will update you.

MNHQ

MattTech · 18/04/2024 15:37

Lougle · 18/04/2024 11:15

Thank you. Even better, would be the option to choose which username (of your already registered names) you can give thanks from, so you don't have to already have posted on a thread, or changed name specifically, to give thanks on a thread you haven't yet posted on.

Example:

I am logged in as 'TVchat'. I post on a thread in Childcare as 'Childcareuser'. Under your current proposals, if I was to navigate to a thread I hadn't yet posted on, I would thank as 'TVchat'. But I might see a thread on the relationships board and want to thank someone posting about domestic violence, and I might not want that linked to my light hearted 'TVchat' persona. I have a user name 'relationshipsthreads'. The only way to thank as that user, under your proposal, would be to either change name in account settings to 'relationshipsthreads', or to post on the thread as 'relationshipsthreads'.

It would be better to be able to press the thanks button, then choose from 'Tvchat', 'Childcareuser' or 'relationshipsthreads'.

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Hi @Lougle

That is indeed a good idea and something that I'll suggest to the team once we've made the other changes.

We'd need to look carefully at how the username selection works because there are some users with a lot of usernames!

MNHQ

MattTech · 18/04/2024 15:40

RoseAndRose · 18/04/2024 14:46

I'm on desktop and it has indeed appeared.

My tuppence worth of caution is that when you're working on this, you don't inadvertently do something that could could compromise a NC. Changes to how and where names appear always leave me feeling a little nervous!

Hi @RoseAndRose

You don't need to worry 😃

We have a really strict process with any changes and every time anything is changed we run a suite of automated tests to ensure that things are working as they should be.

All new functionality is also backed up with new tests to prevent any regressions!

MNHQ

MattTech · 18/04/2024 15:51

Rummikub · 18/04/2024 15:09

Another question. Sometimes I press thanks by accident and press it again to unthank. Does a thanks notification go to the poster?

@Rummikub The user won't get a notification about a thanks that you've revoked.

Thanks are read live when the email is sent, so as long as it's removed at the time the email is sent it won't be included.

Hope that helps!

MNHQ

MattTech · 02/05/2024 13:01

@BertieBotts When you get a thanks from an anonymous user it's a user that hasn't chosen a username yet.

We're still working on making the change to which username the thanks comes from and it should be released next week.

MNHQ

MattTech · 02/05/2024 13:06

@SevenSeasOfRhye It's when someone has an account and they have registered but haven't chosen a username yet.

Hope that helps to clarify!

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