OPs who don’t return

[JemimaTiggywinkles]

Over the last few years there’s been an increasing number of people who start a thread and never return. It’s annoying to spend a while reading and then realise it’s going nowhere. Could you look at highlighting those threads in a different colour to make it easy to see which ones have an active OP and those which a drop-and-run?

I agree that it is really annoying, but it is easy to see if they have returned by looking for a "see next" button on the opening post - or by clicking the drop down funnel thingy on the app.

I think it would be easier if you just read threads for what they are rather than as stories for your own entertainment

Agreed but I'd rather see a 3 strikes and you're out rule.

Posters like that bring absolutely nothing to Mumsnet.

🤯🤯🤯

There was one the other day who - when asked why she kept starting threads and not returning to them - exceptionally popped back to let us know that she “cba”.

According to MNHQ, this does not break talk guidelines.

@GCAcademic Is that the "inheritance" one? They've started yet another thread about the same thing today. I've reported it, but it's still there.

Most memorable for me was the OP who said friends were coming to Spain to help with the swimming pool, and asked for ideas about looking after them. Then there was an abrupt ending and we never found out what happened. I do hope there wasn’t a disaster, buts it’s so frustrating not to know the outcome !

If it's a big thread I will do the 'see all' on the OPs post to see if they've entered the discussion or whether it's just everyone else holding a conversation about the situation with no further information or input from the OP.

No, it's a different one.

I still read them if it’s a generic ‘ways to be less stressed’ etc type of thread in which everyone’s input is valuable, but if it’s ’here’s my incredibly specific scenario, what should I do?’ then a lot of the time the answer is obvious (leave, block, apologise, pay, blah blah) and after about five answers you’ve had those things suggested and it turns into posters saying ‘stop answering me’ and then ‘no you stop answering me’ and ‘I’m ignoring you now’ and ‘I’m reporting you because you keep answering me’ and unless the OP returns to say what the actual result was then it just gets tedious.

Some threads don't warrant a reply. If i ask a question and get a number of satisfactory replies with no follow up questions, why post again? Some OPs (especially in AIBU) don't get the response they want so they are unlikely to reply unless they want to continue to fight their corner.

If you get ‘satisfactory’ replies you could perhaps do everyone the courtesy of saying thanks and maybe indicating you’ve learned what you want from the answers so far.

Otoh, how long do you think it’s ok for an OP to leave a thread before posting on it again? Quite often there are snide remarks about the non return of a poster after a relatively short time (imo) who fairly obviously has stuff going on IRL and may not yet have had time to read let alone respond.

I mean, you’ve not yet been back after hours, OP!

I mean, you’ve not yet been back after hours, OP!

Ooooohhhhhh 👀

Ah yes the irony.

On the other hand, OPs who don't come back are way less irritating than ones who won't bloody well go away!

IYKYK

I just click to see all the OP’s posts. I think it’s bad manners to post and then not come back (given time, obviously- I don’t expect anyone to be glued to it). If it’s clear they aren’t coming back, I don’t bother.

Totally agree @bardabunga

Yes!