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

I remember the Christmas gifts and I think that's when it changed because some people started to come in just so that they could complain they had no money and hopefully get presents.

That's actually amazing! I might have saved myself some painful mistakes with men if I had discovered MN as a teenager! 🙌

Well I started on the teen boards (probably to get an idea of what was the going thing to be allowed or not allowed to do at that age by other parents!) - then digressed into pregnancy and early babyhood once I was pregnant with my first DC.

I actually met a group of Vipers in person, in a pub in Victoria a few years back, probably autumn 2018? Not sure anyone does meet ups anymore though.

Also formed a WhatsApp group off the back of a thread and did meet one of the women on there in real life too.

I've been here since I was 14 though so something of an outlier, 16 years on.

She still posts and hasn't namechanged. I think she said she'd sold it.

I've been here on and off for about that length of time as well. Was away for a long time, but re-discovered it about 3-4 years ago.

I've read the most batshit things on here over the years. Threads I still think about quite often!

It reassures me how quiet and easy my life is compared to some peoples. Some people seem to have incredibly complicated, difficult lives, and I'm always so sorry for them.
I'm fairly low income myself, but have never really struggled for money. I have a steady job in an industry that'll never go out of fashion. My DH is the most placid, easy-going, steady chap out there, and my 2DCs are completely bog-standard!

I'm touching wood over here!

The problem with Classics is that so much of it is now made up. Fatballs being more or less the starting point.

Due to the fact it was so much smaller regular posters were far more prominent, you could literally come on in the evening and know what posters would be on. Some posters also seemed to spend their lives on MN. they commented 24/7.
There was a def hierarchy, certain posters thought they were in charge and took it upon themselves to think they ran the site, it was a bit like mean girls at school, everyone fawned over them which allowed them to get away with it as nobody would dare voice a different opinion to them or they would get torn to pieces. This is the part I'm glad has changed.
The fun element has also gone now too unfortunately though

I find it funny that at least two of the names people are fawning over were absolute cunts to newbies (I'm here 14 or 15 years) but I won't single them out as the thread will get pulled.

I never go more than a year with the same name and often have two in a year. It's essential now. I quite like seeing my vast list of old names when I namechange I've forgotten most of them!

I actually liked it when some of the MN royalty started to get deposed because conversation started to flow more freely. Then Penis Beaker happened and things started to slide downhill.

Professionally offended types have killed the site off to be honest. I can read a funny, irreverent post here that makes me laugh but I already know at least 5 posters will be creaming their knickers with excitement that they can then get the boot in about how offended they are 🙄 MN should have stamped on that behaviour years ago and invited those posters to leave.

Been here since 2005/6 had same username for than 10 years but now name change regularly.
I've mentioned before when I joined you could upload photos and write a bit of a bio of sorts. Im so glad didn't to that.
I still pop in regularly but it has changed, some things, ie it's not so cliquey but now we have the professionally offended on every post, it's far less fun now

There were definitely trolls then, but they were more like sort of high profile trolls who kept coming back over and over with the same story. Usually (I'm sorry to say) with a story about losing a child/ often twins or domestic abuse.

16 years here. Posted lots when youngest DC was little then he went to school and I went awol for a while. Now he's a teen and I lurk and sometimes post.

It's changed for sure but doesn't everything? Be very boring if it hadn't.

I've made lifelong friends in RL from my early days and our children have all grown into teens knowing each other. For that I love MN.

Been here since the very early days, the year it started, 2000, having read about it in an article in The Times.
Many names changes, hardly ever post but do lurk. There was far less trolling/fakery before and a definite sense of community because it was so small. It's different now, not worse, just different.

I joined 21 years ago after the birth of my second son.
Have name changed a few times.
I remember ' the bar' would open on a Friday evening and we'd 'order a drink' and chat shit.
I always remember the user name
'BoysAreLikeDogs' aka BALD as having 2 boys was oh so true.
I have done a few meet ups, the secret santas and donated to too many blankets (sadly) over the years

What I find interesting, apart from how things change because of growth, commercialisation etc and usually get less good, is how there is a collective ageing. Like when I lived in a European capital, part of the city was hip punks and now they are all middle aged parents - being a rent control place, they didn't move. And the vibe changed. So I guess menopause boards and so on or Gransnet, will be livelier than they were at the start. Maybe Gransnet has snark going on. Maybe I'll go there, except my DD will likely be like me and wait another 20 years to make ne a granny!

I have been here since my youngest was born he's nearly 26! Years ago I posted but now I just read.
I think there still a lot of intelligent articulate women here you just have to look a bit harder to find them, and I still enjoy reading their points of view.

Stories, you say? Care to share any?

12 years on and off with many name changes, and I agree it's a very different place hence the on and off. Some very nasty posters, a couple of patronising, mansplaining men, it's changed a lot and not for the better

18 years here. I remember Cod, ormirion and Riven in particular, for some reason. One thread had me crying with laughter; a woman found her husband getting frisky with a spatula and other kitchen implements.

20 years for me too. Loved Hullygully and Dog and also remember Bonsoir who often posted. Was much more silly back then. I feel old!

I8 years for me. I still read most days but don't post as often. I've had about 6 or 7 names over the years plus some emergency name changes.

In recent years I've found myself really shocked at the derailing and infighting that seems to go on on every thread I open.

And as I recall, she authored what remains my number one all time favorite MN thread about someone planning an "OAP-free" wedding. It was so funny and clever. Sadly MN is now a satire-free site.

Was it her who said her DH had parked a car somewhere and never found it again?

Not just any car. A BMW.

🙄