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?

[chichichien]

I'm cubicle for everything.

But I put on a brave show if I have to go communal

[Flamesparrow]

Both are fairly true....

[Flamesparrow]

ooh I prefer Kathy's explanation

[thedailyfemale]

I cubicle all the way. Crappy confidence, body and underwear

If theres people who sin against mn can we chuck them in an oubliette?

[DottyDot]

Tut. I'm fed up of the private party let's all eat quiche rooms already I'll never get invited and I'll never know who's where and it's all very stress invoking...

[BitOfFun]

Can we have an AIBU room? And only acknowledge people who agree with us? Oh, hang on...

[seeker]

I want a carrell too. I had one at University - I loved it!

[chichichien]

I want a tongue and groove shed right at the bottom of the garden

[idranktheteaatwork]

I think the private rooms thing is bollocks. To be honest, I think that is me done with this site.

I originally lurked a little then joined up because I liked the fact that you have lots of different areas that are for lots of different subjects so if i don't want to talk about prams I don't have to.
It's the accessibility that appealed to me, I've been on forums/chatrooms before where there were private areas and it absolutely always led to a shitstorm where someone wanted an invite, didn't get one and got upset about it.

I feel it will restrict the feel of the site. I won't feel that I am free to dip into whatever I feel like because now I have to have A Special Interest and an invite for stuff.

Also, I do think that there are a few members who seem to have slipped back into their old not particularly nice ways since their return to regular posting.
I'm not just talking about one person in particular, there are a few of you.
It leaves a nasty taste in my mouth whenever I see it happening on here, almost like I'm witnessing someone being bullied and not doing anything about it.

So, in essence, I am flouncing. Cheers to all those who have given some very lovely advice over the last couple of years. Much appreciated. x x

[SoupDragon]

I can't see the private rooms working.

Would you have to prove you were worthy of membership?

Personally, I think the Arse is right - it will be like Moldies if you're not deemed worthy of entry somewhere. Someone deciding whether you are in or out...? I can see that going wrong.

Also, what if you want to read about something without outing yourself as needing that sort of advice? You can't ask for entry under a namechange as no one will recognise you as an existing poster.

[SoupDragon]

you're flouncing over something that only may happen and, if it does, you don't know in what form?

[DottyDot]

Soupy - I agree - no point flouncing until we know what these private ridiculous rooms are going to look like.

[idranktheteaatwork]

Nope, I'm flouncing over a few things, one of which is the fact that it is an idea which is being discussed and is very likely to happen.
Mumsnet is just not what I want from a forum anymore.

Anyway, this is my last post otherwise it wouldn't be a flounce.

Best wishes. x

[kathyis6incheshigh]

If private rooms completely took over MN so that nearly all the discussions ended up in private spaces, it wouldn't work, I agree. I just don't think that would happen though. For most subjects there is no possible reason to go into a private room because that would just limit the number of posts you were likely to get. Surely there would only be a tiny minority of MN activity taking place in the private rooms because most subjects just aren't that sensitive?

The people who are opposed (ie everybody except me ) would you really care if groups of people who do a particular job and wanted to moan about it without risking being outed and getting the sack wanted to discuss it in private? Most of the conversations would be pretty boring to outsiders.

[SoupDragon]

But that's not the only thing it's about is it Kathy? I don't care if you want to discuss your pole dancing techniques privately with other performers but there could easily be a "private" topic I want to read about without outing myself.

[kathyis6incheshigh]

Yes there could Soupy, and sometimes you learn a lot from topics you aren't directly involved in (eg learning about how to treat people with a particular type of SN from reading posts about it even if you have no personal experience of it yourself). There would be a loss there. However if the alternative is conversations not happening at all then surely it's better to enable them to take place on MN?

[lou031205]

It's all cliquey, though, already. Even this thread. Clues & initials for namechangers. Cloaked references to past events. Private rooms just add to it & the thought of it makes some posters feel insecure, rightly.

[chichichien]

People will go off into private rooms all the time because that is human nature.

Posters are forever forming fridnship groups on here. That would continue at a greater rate and they would all go and huddle in private rooms for certian conversations. No doubt.

[thedailyfemale]

Lou I am so oblivious I haven't noticed any of the things you talk of

[scottishmummy]

find idea of private room,abhorrent.cliquey and stifling dabate and fluidity of ideas

the potential subjective nature of the group being able to gang up on someone who didn't toe majority line

i think the quality of discussion/debate on MN is high and overall most posters are adults and can tolerate some riposte. and if it get cantankerous i do remember it is only words on a screen. you can dislike a post for its content/pov but i don't know anyone on MN so don't dislike anyone

private rooms is just a big ole clique,and maybe all the sycophantic banter will be dull - the appeal of MN is that anyone can post,a liberating ability to have huge amount of posts.often divergent,sometimes lol,sometimes plain ole what the fuck

[mummylin2495]

I am on a couple of threads where during the last three years i have chatted to the same people.Over time we have all learnt things about each others families,have shared the good times and the not so good.However we all at sometime or another go on to other threads,either to post or just to read about whatever the subject may be.I love the freedom of being able to join in on different types of threads and chat to different people either to offer advice,lend an ear or just have a laugh.I think the private rooms would take away a lot of things from a lot of people.I dont know what the answer is to be honest but feel that private rooms would be a disaster for many of us.

[scottishmummy]

private threads and known posters=moldies.that was decried at the time as exclusionary etc

cant see why now it is better idea

[QuintessentialShadows]

So in essence mn is trying to develop something that already exist: msn.

??

I am wondering, will mumsnet be able to sell more targeted advertising in these private rooms? If people are "vetted" prior to joining, mumsnet might get more information about the user, beyond "parent", and sell advertising space accordingly?

Or, maybe Mumsnet already sell advertising depending on Topic posting in?

Like, I reckon the pushchair shed is getting shedloads of puschair advertisements?

[kathyis6incheshigh]

Isn't MSN instant messaging? I don't think that's what's being proposed here.