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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is Mumsnet an English forum?

289 replies

Purpleturtle43 · 09/05/2025 11:16

Seems like pretty much every poster and responder assumes everyone on here is from England.

When asking questions regarding schools, health care, tenancy etc surely it would be useful to say what country you live in since the rules and laws are different all over the UK/world.

OP posts:
Gwenhwyfar · 09/05/2025 11:33

Yes, it's an English forum. Probably referred to by management as British, but is mainly English.
I remember a Scottish thread where MN management intervened to point out the poster was based in Scotland and the situation was x,y,z. That doesn't happen on English threads.

Purpleturtle43 · 09/05/2025 11:33

dnadiscoveryquery · 09/05/2025 11:28

Yes, it’s a British website. so that’s why it’s assumed that’s where people are talking about if hey don’t say otherwise.

People don't assume they are talking about Britain, they assume they are talking about England.

OP posts:
Laiste · 09/05/2025 11:32

Why ignorant?

Purpleturtle43 · 09/05/2025 11:31

Yellowhammer09 · 09/05/2025 11:25

It's mostly UK, but is it surprising that the majority of people are talking about England when it has roughly ten times the population of Scotland?

Not surprising, but a bit ignorant.

OP posts:
TheShiningHostess · 09/05/2025 11:31

It's an English language forum. There are people from all over the world.

I definitely agree that posters should give some indication of where they are to prevent any irrelevant advice.

I posted during Covid -we lived in France at the time (yes I did specify this) and I was sternly reprimanded by one poster who felt I shouldn't have an opinion as I wasn't a UK tax payer!

Purpleturtle43 · 09/05/2025 11:30

But Britain is not just England.

OP posts:
Mareleine · 09/05/2025 11:29

I don't think we need a blanket rule for the terminally dense. If you're in one of the smaller devolved nations, or abroad, or one of the islands that are British Overseas Territory, or Antarctica, and it's relevant to your post, you should put it. Half the time though when people ask what country someone lives in, they've picked up on wording differences in the OP and are just being nosey and it's totally irrelevant to the post.

dnadiscoveryquery · 09/05/2025 11:28

Yes, it’s a British website. so that’s why it’s assumed that’s where people are talking about if hey don’t say otherwise.

Banmooo · 09/05/2025 11:27

Doggymummar · 09/05/2025 11:24

It's British, yes

Is it?

fiveIsNewOne · 09/05/2025 11:27

Yes, if you don't specify, it's assumed UK/England.
If you do specify, part of the posters ignore it and answer about UK/England anyway.
If you do specify at later post then the opening one, the real fun starts as noone will know which answer reflects it.

Nothing to do with it, just be aware when you read responses.

Many forums have some default, in my country (distinctive language) it is if not specified, it is assumed the capital city and surrounding region.

Yellowhammer09 · 09/05/2025 11:25

It's mostly UK, but is it surprising that the majority of people are talking about England when it has roughly ten times the population of Scotland?

Doggymummar · 09/05/2025 11:24

It's British, yes

CheeseDreamsTonight · 09/05/2025 11:22

I thought it was mostly UK

EverythingIsComputer · 09/05/2025 11:19

Add to this Ocado recommendations are useless outside of England and a little bit of Wales!