Is Mumsnet a net negative or positive in your life?

I've always been a bit of an anglophile, and my husband lived in London for a time before we met. He loved his time there and has loads of stories about how lovely the Brits were to him. People have been very welcoming to me here.

MN has mostly confirmed my positive views of the UK. We're very similar in many ways, with the same concerns about kids, work, relationships, etc. Parking seems much easier here. 😁

The only thing that threw me a bit was the glee with which so many people jump on the "let's rubbish the US" threads, whether it's about the food here, the educational system, American houses, etc. I can't imagine such a thread about the UK on a predominantly American social media site.

Ooh I didn't know this was a thing. I was a bit confused by it 🤣

I take it as light entertainment. Sometimes I find it interesting and I learn new things or new perspectives. It gives me some insight into lives of people that are very different from my own. But I am not invested in it emotionally in any way.

I find it fascinating. And really really helpful. And informative. Negative only a tiny tiny % ever. I find out the latest news, things that have happened it major court cases. The nice group I'm in guided me calmly through getting ds1 into uni. What's not to like?

It keeps me a positivity boost about being a single mother. It could be worse, I could be married to one of the awful mumsnet DHs.

For me, very positive. I’ve learned loads and feel I’ve done some good sometimes by giving advice.

I used to be a bit scared of other women tbh, especially opinionated people. I think it’s shown me that a lot of people are argumentative for the sake of it so if it happens in real life it’s water off a ducks back now. I think “ah, there’s always one!” like I do on here. It used to be very intimidating for me.

really a net negative impact
for the blanket gross oversimplification of everything on here
and the lack of thread policing
but when you're resting at home you start scrolling.....

Piqued?

I agree with you op, there's some horrible behaviour on here sometimes and really helpful advice and encouragement other times

Overall - positive. I have been here quite a while and had a lot of advice at different stages of my life - I first joined for advice around bed wetting when DS was around 6 - he's now 21. Have found non-parenting advice helpful when I got a puppy and the elderly parents thread . Have also got quite friendly with a couple of posters.

However - I waste far too much time trawling through arguments on threads that don't even interest me . I realise that is my lack of self discipline though.

Sometimes I find mumsnet really, really helpful. There are some excellent and knowledgeable posters who generously share their expertise.

Mostly, though, I find it very entertaining.

I didn't know this was a thing... That will help. Thanks

Positive and funny but then I don't take it that seriously especially aibu

Some of the worst are when a negative poster plops into a thread to present a very unreasonable opinion, is told so, and then replies to other posters saying "Careful! If you offer an opinion the meanies of AIBU will get the pitchforks out!" and I do just want to metaphorically smack them.

Positive. As an American, I've found it a fascinating window into British culture and society, and it's nice to have a non-US perspective on the news and world events.

There are lots of topics I have hidden, as not interested in them.

I also find the BF vs FF a bit negative tbh; although i have asked questions about feeding myself so perhaps a bit hypocritical. Also the SAHM vs Working always descends into a bitch fest. I don’t bother with those threads anymore as you just know how it’ll go! X

I've quit here before as I thought it was mentally doing me more harm than good. Watching pile ons or reading people slagging each other off or seeing how hard some people are finding life and even worse seeing posts by people saying they were ending their lives and just wanted to put it in writing can be really difficult.

Yes you can avoid those threads, but sometimes curiosity / nosiness/ morbid obsession gets the better of me. I also think it can be very time consuming if you're not careful and I've a busy enough life and need to use tech less and not more. If I think this place is tipping back over into a net negative (which most social media tends to be) then I'll bin it again.

Generally I like itand find it a source of entertainment

Probably averages out to neutral or possibly slightly positive.

Sometimes it is very negative - can waste far too much time and get over-invested in things. Then there is the disappointment/frustration of when a supportive thread turns sour when one poster turns up and saps all of the support/become draining and never offers any back (a bit like real life at times there!). I think I'm getting better at managing that though.

I've picked up some great tips/found out lots of interesting/useful stuff and it can be thought provoking.

Positive! I'm a really positive person in general though. It's hard to drag me down.

Overall positive, but I have hidden the boards that upset me, and often hide threads I'm on that have taken a nasty turn.

I take it all with a huge pinch of salt. Some people are here for advice, some are here for a row, some are here to troll. Some are good people who give good advice and some are just fucking annoying.

It's easy to turn MN off if it gets to you though.

It can be a really negative place. I see people asking for advice, people give their advice, and then because people disagree with each other (I don't mean the OP), there's murder going on within a thread and the OP had done one 3 days ago and hasn't been back on. Wheres the sense? Some people are so argumentative and don't seem to be able to accept that people have different opinions. Some people I'd gladly punch and I've never been violent in my life 🤣 but does it impact my mood? Never, I see it as entertainment watching people be such idiots towards each other. Is it what MN is supposed to be for? I'd say no.