Feature request - continuation threads

[AmnesiacDream]

You may have had this request before, but I would love to see an feature that would make facilitate continuation threads. At the least having the link to the next thread at the bottom of the preceding thread and the link to the preceding thread at the top of the last thread. Potentially copying the initial post from the first thread or allowing some form of editable pinned post with a summary or the like. Also, potentially, allowing the same poster to remain highlighted as thread starter even if they aren't the one who triggers the next thread, particularly useful for threads about a posters life changing journey when they turn to MN for emotional support and ideas.

There may be other ideas other posters have.

There may not be that many of them in the big scheme of things, but long running threads have a big place in a lot of posters MN lives and they draw people back time and time again. However they are work to set up and maintain well and it would be lovely if MN could help with that.

This is a good idea.

It might actually be a genuinely useful application of AI if an ai agent could create an OP for thread 2 which gave a link to the actual opening post on the previous thread and then created a 2 paragraph summary of the discussion of the next 1000 posts. Like the ai that is used in amazon priduct reviews which gives a broad overview of frequently cited issues, an AI bot could say stuff like "the overwhelming consensus was that OP should leave the bastard and in updates on 25-30th march OP described leaving and arriving safe at a women's shelter, following posts continuing for support and advice"

There would have to be a mechanism to disable this though. There are some threads that should be allowed to die - when it's a contentious topic and people are never going to agree, sometimes it's right to just let people fume and rage for 1000 posts and then stop.

It would be particularly useful for some of the long running support threads to actually not have a named and highlighted OP. In some of the mutual support topics that flow for 30+ renewals (30,000 posts) and are still going strong, the identity of the OP is unimportant and it might be better if the OP was an AI.

Can AI also be relied on to categorise threads as they reach 900 posts to decide which of these applies, or should there be a a poll to ask active contributors to the thread to vote at the 900 post mark whether :
a) the mumsnet community wishes to continue to support OP and a new thread should be auto-generated (AI creates thread 2 with auto links between threads, and a summary of the story so far, original OP is highlighted as OP in new thread despite the first post being AI authored)
b) this is a long running mutual support thread which should always be auto-renewed (alcoholism support, stately homes, some weightloss threads) - AI generates new thread with links but doesn't need to summarise the whole story so far, just generates a short description of the purpose of the thread, AI bot remains the OP so no ones posts are highlighted
(c) we're never going to agree on this, let the thread die - if everyone arguing has said everything that can be said and people are still being wrong - keeping the argument going is just fanning the flames and the topic will continue in different threads without links to old versions being needed

Thanks so much for the suggestion, @AmnesiacDream - we'll have a chat about this and get back to you.

This would be such a helpful feature. Most long running threads have a few very conscientious people on them that post links to old threads and next thread, but often you've still got to look for them. Some automatic flagging of the links on continuous threads would be really great!
Thanks for considering it @BeckyAMumsnet and the rest of mumsnet. Long running threads are definitely a big feature of my mumsnet usage.

Can AI also be relied on to categorise threads as they reach 900 posts

An easier way to distinguish might be to enable this feature only in certain topics - not AIBU, for example - that are likely to have and benefit from long running threads. TV, radio and books, for example, and health-related/addiction topics where threads are more likely to turn into support threads.

It's a good idea!