How will the proposed private rooms work?

[LilyBolero]

In the light of the DM stuff, I imagine MNHQ will be looking to get the private rooms sorted out quickly. So I wondered how they would run? Will it be a case of a single user opening a room and then inviting people to join them? Or will it be possible to request an invite?

How will you avoid narnia type incidents?

[scottishmummy]

how does one ensure (self appointed) moderator impartiality

[blinks]

good idea but how do you invite people to discuss whatever the subject is with?

[LilyBolero]

Thanks for responding Justine! So basically, one member would set up a group, and then people could apply to join, and the member whose group it was would accept or decline them?

That's going to be a bit of a can of worms I think! But will be interested to see how it pans out!

Have a good holiday.

[blinks]

ahhhh you see the thread title as per usual and apply to join the conversation?

need time to think about this one.

[JustineMumsnet]

Well beanieb clearly it offers protection from Google - if it ain't indexed Google won't pick up on it - and I think it could well deter passing journos too - though I suspect a really determined Nick-Davies type would find a way through...

Ever since way back when there's been demand for this really - the Special Needs folk asked for a private place yonks ago, privacy the primary driving factor for the formation of Moldies.

If they turn into bitch-ridden vipers nests then clearly we'd need to get involved/ think again - but it's hard to argue against a private place for folks to discuss bereavement we think...

[LilyBolero]

I can definitely see the value in them, it's just that perennial problem of how to avoid people being upset at not being allowed in!

[hunkermunker]

Surely MNHQ will retain access to the private groups - and we're all adults here, aren't we? [hard stare]

Should be fine [optimistic]

[LilyBolero]

It would certainly work to keep journalists out (though not necessarily if they were a MN regular), and would protect against google searches.

[Flamesparrow]

"If they turn into bitch-ridden vipers nests"

how could you tell it apart from normal MN?

[muggglewump]

Surely Journos would just join, if they haven't already, post for a bit, get themselves known and then get into the private rooms?

I really only see them going to the way of causing divides.

[JustineMumsnet]

Well there would have to be a pretty good reason not to allow someone I think - with a right of appeal to MNHQ

[MamazontheDailyMailtakingadump]

so you post a problem and you lose out on the vast knowledge of MN because you have failed to invite the roight people?

im sorry but i dont like the sound of it.
if you want to talk only to those members you are in a quiche with then you can email privately off board.

honestly, if it turns into a quiche fest i'll be off

[LilyBolero]

My prediction is it would start off with everyone being very good and righteous, and 'everyone is welcome' and would end up with fragmented groups in private rooms rather than on active conversations.

A bit like when you start taking children to school - to start with all the parents hang round the playground together, but you form your own little groups, and then don't really talk to the others.

But properly managed (and I don't know HOW), it could be a real benefit, especially for things that really shouldn't be posted on a public board.

[1dilemma]

I'm with Mamazon
mumsnet seems to be crawling with journos

[sandcastles]

So as the admin of said groups, would they have the power to start deleting posts that they don't like/that don't agree with their POV?

Would they be able to kick people out of their groups?

I don't see this working!

Lots of closed groups, not alot else going on.

Lots of new cliques created.

Then you will get a thread where the sides are split, so off go the cliques into their little rooms to discuss it & bad mouth the other posters.

Maybe you will get threads where poster A argues with poster B. Poster A starts a group a few days later, poster B applies to join but A denies it as they argued about something completely different a few days previously!

Then lots of 'do you remember this & that' on the main forums, between posters who were in the same 'room'. Lots of 'in chat' to exclude other posters.

I can't see any good in it, tbh.

Sounds more like facebook groups, not private rooms!

[1dilemma]

oh hang on people just had a great idea those who are allready in the private rooms could vote on whether they'd let you in first that would def. make it allright!

[KingCanuteIAmAndTheDMCanFOff]

1dillema, that is norty you know

[1dilemma]

[pollywobbledoodle]

can i book a 4 poster room

[juneybean]

I think it could work, in that the bereaved mummies come together to just chat, they are in effect a "clique" but they're not bitching, they just have their own little corner to chat with one another. I don't think anyone can argue with that.

I think if it was a problem being posted, then it should be posted on the main boards so it can be answered appropriately.

[muggglewump]

By JustineMumsnet (from MNHQ) Sun 16-Aug-09 00:56:13 Add a message | Report post | Contact poster
Well there would have to be a pretty good reason not to allow someone I think - with a right of appeal to MNHQ

Sorry, I know C&P isn't liked, but really, who would want to go squealing to MNHQ that they weren't allowed in the group?

[KingCanuteIAmAndTheDMCanFOff]

Rather than using private rooms wouldn't it be more simple just to make the talk areas of the site non-googleable?

The private rooms will do nothing for journos (and they were never meant to - they came before all of this) the major benefit of them is not being googled. WRT bereved threads or SN threads, well our current system seems to work quite well doesn't it? We don't get many people blundering into berevement behaving badly that I am aware of.

TBH rooms would not stop that anyway - especially if the general expectation was to admit people. You would have to admit people - after all how would you know if someone is a newbie whos child has SN without letting them in? The same applies for any other area really!

I am failing to really see what they would do that is good at the moment - can someone give me a clue please? (I think I should have gone to bed hours ago really)!

[sandcastles]

muggglewump, they wouldn't appeal to MN, would they?

They will start their own room to 'bitch' about not being allowed to join. Then a bunfight would spill onto active convos, by way of it's own thread or on another where the 'admins' of each group stumble upon one another. Thus turning a totally inoccent thread into something else!

Then in the DM "this week on MN, bunfights between posters after rejection from private room fiasco"

[sandcastles]

If you did appeal & get let in to the room by MNHQ, would you feel comfortable there?

It's almost like not being allowed into the 'cool' gang at school but the principle tells them they must let you join.

They don't want you there, you know it, so how is that a good plan?

And what is to stop them starting a new group & refusing you entry to that one?