To think there are a lot of nasty people on Mumsnet?

The guess my age threads should not be allowed to stand.

There’s no proof that those posters arent using a photo of someone and posting them on here maliciously for people to comment on their appearance.

YANBU but unfortunately all chat forums are the same. The majority of people come on to debate, get advice, give advice or just enjoy an interesting conversation with other people. But there are always a vocal minority who just want to sneer, pick fights, undermine people or form pile ons. It's a bit like real life workplaces, clubs or social groups - most people are fine but there's always a couple of annoying prats with a misplaced superiority complex. In real life you can do your best to avoid these people, but on line it's more difficult.

Mumsnet is worse for this than most social media sites. Much worse.

@Wytchy

Are you expected to simper and #bekind in real life?

I'm not.

It's not about simpering and being falsely nice to people. It's about treating people the same as you would in real life, for example in a workplace you may not like someone but you would be civil to them .

Sometimes I've followed links on memory threads or looked in classics and in general there was a different vibe if you go back around 10-15 years . There was a lot more friendliness and respect. Perhaps it was because MN was a lot smaller then, perhaps it's a reflection of society, I don't know.

I don't think that MN should allow the 'guess my age' threads as while someone posting should have an idea of what to expect, there is no guarantee they are posting a picture of themselves .

@NonPlayerCharacter of course they are/ can be. But women are another kettle of fish.
(I am also a woman.. I just cannot stand the bitchiness of other women, personally)

@Brefugee , thanks. I do too if I think a line has been crossed.

@SerafinasGoose on some threads I’d understand, but not general posting. I have seen umpteen posters accused of being men on here for simply not having the herd opinion.

it’s a little pathetic really

Yes, of course. More than ever. Patently.

Where have all these people who think men are never pricks online, and certainly never to women, been living? How on earth have you missed it?

Come on, that’s a bit harsh.
Suggesting there is a “type of person” who uses an online forum really isn’t accurate for a website like Mumsnet, where you’ve got thousands upon thousands of members from all walks of life. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a forum with such a diverse range of members.
More importantly, suggesting that people who might struggle in real life to make friends are “not going to be that great a person” is ridiculous. So many factors contribute from women and men being unable to forge many friendships in their every day life - anxiety, depression, mental health, child commitments, work commitments, shyness, illness, and so many more.

These types of replies piss me off and are unnecessarily shitty:

"I'm a bit worried I've had a pain for weeks in my chest and am scared it's something serious, has anyone had this?"

Cue shitty replies either telling op they need help with health anxiety (when nothing at all suggests they have actual health anxiety), accusing op of being insensitive because they have an incurable illness, OR obvious bullshit "my uncle had a similar tiny pain just once in his arm and he had a heart attack 4 months later best get checked out op" clearly designed to frighten the op.

People can be twats online. Twas ever thus.

Well being a bit rude to someone asking about curtains is hardly kicking somebody when they’re down - unless they wanted to know how to wrap a body in them.

the guess my age posts are just tedious attention seeking and people will take the piss.

there are many supportive threads as well.

the site is moderated so just report posts and let MN judge if they break guidelines 🤷‍♀️

The men that come here not in good faith tend to be perverts or mra with an agenda rather than here to be randomly spiteful.

Yeah you're so right, men are never dicks online.

Oh, yes. Not men per se, but this site is like a magnet for MRAs on occasion. And it's always threads on a specific handful of topics that attracts them like swarming locusts.

No idea why. You wouldn't catch me trolling an incel forum, mainly because I CBA with that nonsense and their views don't interest me. But for some reason, women talking, sharing experiences and resisting male dominance and abuse really appears to trigger the poor, fragile souls.

Easily spotted, and their motives are transparent.

I kinda just take it how it is. There are some crazy answers but also there are very many good, thoughtful and intelligent answers so that's why I stick with it.

I agree. The ones who quote you because you have said something slightly not right in relation to the original post are the worst

Reddit? Oh believe me, it's on there.

No, it’s MN…it must be a man🙄 Women are sugar and spice all things nice….

Honestly I don't agree. I have been on here for years, and see many threads like yours, but honestly don't see the actual evidence to what you are referring. I suppose it goes to show that it's all about interpretation of events.
On threads such as guess my age you will get truthful answers from a proportion, enthusiastic and positive vibe answers from others and intentionally hurtful from others. That's to be expected. We are all different and are not being paid to fulfil the role of guidance counsellors.

No seriously, it's women. I would never imagine a man to behave how some of the grown women behave on here. It's comical

I think we're all capable of being nasty at times.

What you see online is people at their most unguarded.

In real life or online where you are known eg Facebook there are consequences so are people nice because they are nice or because they pretend to be but are secretly rolling their eyes and thinking oh FFS shut up/strap on a set/stop being ridiculous?

We may think the face to face person is nicer but are they just presenting a socially acceptable face?

Is that better than honesty? I'd rather know the truth of someone than the friendly face that hides the judgemental eye rolling tbh.

@auntyElle do you honestly think men are sat on mumsnet pretending to be women just to snark?

laughable

Well, it's the internet, so yeah, there's all sorts out there. Mumsnet isn't a private club it's visited by millions of people all over the world. Imagine if you just shouted out your question or woes to massive room full of strangers you'd get all kinds of replies. It's kinda the same here, except no one can see your face, and people can be anything they want to be.

sorry that happened, i try, if i do end up on a Relationships thread, to report the nasty replies

I think people who spend a lot of time on the Relationships board can get very impatient with posters if they don't take their advice. And in double quick time. They just bark out orders and expect them to be followed.