to expect some old timers of MN to be twirling & scuttling around still

I feel like you could honestly read every new thread on an evening. It was so small, we didn't have a million different boards dividing it all down. There were also in real life meets up in London, people had their photos on their profile pages and you had to pay a annual fee to direct message anyone.

More than 2 decades and it's definitely not the supportive place it was.

It's HUGE now and seems to be infiltrated with posters that have agendas.

I have been on here 18 years as I needed help with breastfeeding Ds2. He has just finished his A levels. There have been a lot of changes but I tend to avoid AIBU because it just seems to feature the absolute worst of people on there. I name change a lot but try to post helpful comments where I can. I agree it used to be incredibly funny, less so now.

Genuine question as someone who has young children so wasn’t around “back in the day” - how on earth did posters “rule the roost” or there been an “in crowd” on a forum? Genuinely trying to imagine how that would have worked?!

I prefer it now. Fewer Sloane Rangers and in-group out-group mentality. And yes, I’m afraid the price for diversity is more muggles. Which means it’s a bit rougher and no jolly hockey sticks and hilarious boarding school vernacular. That suits me.

It's a city now, not a village.

I used to name change for fun. Now it's an essential part of being on here.

Some posts used to make me laugh so much but that's rare now. People seem much more argumentative and take themselves too seriously.

Or maybe I'm boring. Perhaps I should spend more time making my own entertainment, setting fire to my own farts or something

Very different these days. Still good to be found but not in the same way. More people, everything moves faster, you don't have conversations in the same way we used to. Some of the long time prayers are still around. But when someone asks about memorable threads it is more likely to be about penis peakers or t rexing than Pink Peter, Maude or "Your Minge!"

Must have been here over 18 years now going by the ages of my DC.

It definitely seemed more of a laugh 20 years ago. I can remember people asking who lived nearby to meet up and things like that. I was more of a lurker back then. There seems to be more bashing and kicking posters when they are down these days. I never felt like it was a bad place back then and I wanted to read the threads. Now I can take it or leave it.

Been on about ten years since my first baby.

I was a regular 15 years ago but these days I name change all the time as people get so huffy about shit

15yrs and a few name changes. God it used to be a scream. Not so much now!!

Joined when mine were small. Grandmother now! Agree it was such a laugh back then, now all a bit serious and woke sadly. But I still bob in and out.

I recently returned.
For many years I was kreecherlivesupstairs.
My life has changed immeasurably since I left and rejoined.
I seldom post, I read more

I've been here about 17.5 years. It's not what it was but I still enjoy it.

I agree with you op! I’ve been on here forever! I prefer the anonymity nowadays. A few posters used to rule the roost back in the old days and not always in a good way! I do miss the humour though. And detest the inane trolling.

There were some threads that just used to have me in hysterical laughter- I've not seen one of those for a while.
There was a domestic chores gone wrong one I remember in particular.
I've been on MN for maybe 15 years (lots of name changes) - miss the real funnies.

There was a poster called something like fabby. She sounded lovely but had had a really difficult life but shared posters of herself and sons. Also a single lady who’d adopted a child from overseas who posted photos of him. And someone else who didn’t know they were pregnant and posted loads about herself and toddler daughter. I think people weren’t so aware of online privacy

Sadly the rationing thread has gone...😞

One poster I really miss is/was LaQueen, I don’t know if half the stuff she posted was real but she was highly entertaining.
Also a poster called Reality, she was inspirational, she had been through terrible abuse but was very positive and caring.

I’ve been around for twenty years. I agree, was thinking the other day about people on here would make me laugh. Mostly I shake my head now.
Can’t seem to leave though.

Many name changes later (since the security breaches, had original name for over 10 years), I'm still here. It's a VERY. Different place these days. There's not a day goes by I don't miss MN as it was all those years ago.

It's bigger and smaller both at the same time.

I reckon I've been here since about 2008 but name change regularly these days.

There's lots of posters who do the same so you don't really get to 'know' people in the same way, but equally people are just posting less.

It's all been done before

I started 14 yrs ago. I think it’s changed a lot. Posters used to be happy to identify themselves much more - photos of themselves on profiles etc. talk of ‘mumsnet royalty’ now much more anonymous and name changing - I prefer it