Page 7 | Is Mumsnet an English forum?

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 09/05/2025 13:41

Surely you post from your own perspective so if you’re seeing a lot of posts from people based on England - it just means there are….. a lot of mumsnet users based in England?!

quantumbutterfly · 09/05/2025 13:36

Arina22 · 09/05/2025 13:23

I definitely think that the UK is very isolated.

Something came to my mind, it was a comment about a much more extreme country, but the sentiment can be used for isolated countries

A North Korean escapee once said,

"If you know you're isolated, then you are not isolated".

She means that to make true isolation, leaders make people think that heir country is the centre of the world, and cuts them off from other countries.

They dont know much about other countries, so they don't know how isolated they are.

She said that she used to think that North Korea was the centre of the universe. As she didnt know much about what went on in other countries

Edited

I can lend you a spade if you want to keep digging.

Klozza · 09/05/2025 13:29

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.

I assumed it was a mainly British (not specifically English) forum purely because it’s “mumsnet” and not “momsnet”, as I think Americans would call it. I’m terrible with Geography and a bit sheltered so I’m not sure what other English speaking countries call ‘mums’ 😂

Darkgreendarkbark · 09/05/2025 13:28

Goditsmemargaret · 09/05/2025 13:23

I'm in Ireland. I've had UK legal facts shoved down my throat by English people. I've explained the law is different here. It's irrelevant apparently.

This may not apply to you, but I've definitely seen posters start a thread wanting advice on something that the law might have a bearing on (e.g. marriage breakdown, property issue, inheritance) and not explain upfront that they live in Ireland, Canada or wherever it may be. Then, many posts later, they say "I'm not in England" and maybe even be quite cagey about where they do live. Frustrating for everyone, really. I hope if you're very clear upfront that you live in Ireland and are not seeking any legal opinion from anyone who's not Irish/very familiar with Irish law, you might get less of that?

Coffeeishot · 09/05/2025 13:27

I agree subforums for education would be helpful,

DontTellMeWhat2Do · 09/05/2025 13:24

we've got scotnet and craicnet for those outside of England so do a search and join those!

I personally find it really annoying that the education threads are all about English education. There should really be sub forums for Scottish Education which is completely different. We don't do A Levels, GCSEs or sixth form and not as many kids go to private schools as down south.

Also in the Higher Education forums there's so much focus on Oxbridge and gap years which isn't so much a thing in Scotland and not as many kids move away.

Mumsnet does feel snobby in some places.

FiveBarGate · 09/05/2025 13:24

Purpleturtle43 · 09/05/2025 11:30

But Britain is not just England.

I'm Scottish but don't really object.

If I want specific Scottish advice I'd post on the Scotsnet section as most people do for school advice etc.

seaelephant · 09/05/2025 13:23

I get what you're saying OP. I don't think's necessarily the worst thing to assume posters are likely to be English based on probability. Having said that, it always annoys me when a poster clearly states that they're in Scotland and asks something to do with, say, property and you inevitably get people asking 'is it freehold or leasehold?' or 'when does your current lease run out?' over and over. She already answered that by being in Scotland!!!!

Arina22 · 09/05/2025 13:23

I definitely think that the UK is very isolated.

Something came to my mind, it was a comment about a much more extreme country, but the sentiment can be used for isolated countries

A North Korean escapee once said,

"If you know you're isolated, then you are not isolated".

She means that to make true isolation, leaders make people think that heir country is the centre of the world, and cuts them off from other countries.

They dont know much about other countries, so they don't know how isolated they are.

She said that she used to think that North Korea was the centre of the universe. As she didnt know much about what went on in other countries

Goditsmemargaret · 09/05/2025 13:23

I'm in Ireland. I've had UK legal facts shoved down my throat by English people. I've explained the law is different here. It's irrelevant apparently.

quantumbutterfly · 09/05/2025 13:18

Arina22 · 09/05/2025 12:40

I think some of it might also be due to the fact that the UK is quite isolated after Brexit.

Isolation leads to people just thinking about their country, and not thinking sbout the rest of the world

I moved to the UK six months ago for work. I'm in a small city in the U.K. I went to a local hobby group and I was chatting to the locals. As a new face, they were asking me about myself. I said that i had done this particular hobby in a lot of different places, and that i really liked the hobby. They asked me where had I done it

I mentioned that in the last ten years, I had lived and worked in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy , France, Germany and Portugal.

They said "wow".

Not one of them had ever lived or worked outside of the UK. They had always lived in the UK
.
It made me realise how difficult it is for people in the UK to live in other countries. And how that can lead to an isolated way of living.

That's not really been my experience, most people I know have lived and worked in many countries. It depends on the demographic you're hanging out with I suppose.

JudgeJ · 09/05/2025 13:17

Purplebunnie · 09/05/2025 12:04

Yeah we haven't had one for a while

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But it's allowed on MN, start an 'I hate the ???' thread and the naughty step looms large!

Coffeeishot · 09/05/2025 13:16

JudgeJ · 09/05/2025 13:15

There are parts of England for which Ocado recommendations are useless too!

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I'd love ocado but I don't think it goes past Surrey !

user0707106 · 09/05/2025 13:15

Seagullsandsausagerolls · 09/05/2025 12:27

I'm in.Northern Ireland but only four miles from Scotland. Only time I had any issues here was around the upcoming death (expected in hours) of a relative and me completely stressing about getting clothes for the body asap. I had several brutal responses including I'd weeks to get it sorted, well no, I didn't she was buried four days later. When it's a cultural thing it's easy to forget our normal is not the same for anyone especially when we are a few miles apart.

How? Are you on a boat?

JudgeJ · 09/05/2025 13:15

EverythingIsComputer · 09/05/2025 11:19

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

There are parts of England for which Ocado recommendations are useless too!

WhoDatDen · 09/05/2025 13:13

I would love it to list your country then it would disclose where those who whinge about Brexit are actually living.

fiveIsNewOne · 09/05/2025 13:07

Purpleturtle43 · 09/05/2025 11:54

I wasn't sure if it was a British website as it's .com not .co.uk. Assuming people are correct and it is a UK or British website I would think it would make sense for people to state which country they live in in the UK or Britain if the answers to the question will be influenced by it e.g. schooling, tenancy etc.

I am on a few Facebook forums for tenancy/landlords and posts are only approved if they state the country which makes sense to me.

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But why?

I am not in the UK at all, but understanding that majority are people from England and therefore it becomes the default region unless stated otherwise took me five minutes.

You seem personally offended by the very existence of implicit/default option.

Justforthisoneithink · 09/05/2025 13:07

Purpleturtle43 · 09/05/2025 11:34

So it's a British Website but everyone should assume we are talking about England unless stated otherwise? 🤷🏼‍♀️🤣

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Well that would make sense seeing as c80% of the UK population is in England.

xanthomelana · 09/05/2025 13:06

I’m Welsh and assume that most people here are English and there’s not as many people here from countries outside of the UK. It’s not ignorant it’s just because MN is a British made forum and England has the most people living there. Even people living abroad tend to be ex pats from the UK. As someone pointed out unless it’s a question asking legal advice I don’t think it matters, if it’s a should I LTB thread then the same advice would stand no matter where you are from.

quantumbutterfly · 09/05/2025 13:04

PuppiesProzacProsecco · 09/05/2025 12:15

I'm from NI and I honestly can't get het up about this. As PPs have said, the majority of the UK is English so it's no surprise it's the default.

I don't mind qualifying my posts with "I'm in Northern Ireland" when it's relevant - for example, school entry criteria or public transport threads. I think it would be a bit daft if I posted a thread about DH being a dick but qualified it with "I'm from NI though, so maybe that's relevant to me marrying a twat".

Plus I'm proud of where I come from so quite happy to tell people!

and tbf the mix of puppies, prozac and prosecco is going to influence your chill factor.

BrainWontWorkAnymore · 09/05/2025 13:04

B1indEye · 09/05/2025 11:39

The PP said British, I extended to the wider whole UK, I'm not stupid

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But what about the British Isles? The UK is not whole…

Seagullsandsausagerolls · 09/05/2025 13:04

latetothefisting · 09/05/2025 12:43

where in NI is only 4 miles from Scotland? Not being pedantic, I genuinely find it interesting, I know there are parts that are very close but didn't realise it was that close!
Google says the smallest gap is 12 miles between Torr Head and Mull of Kintyre

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Whoops I'm just under 12 miles. It comes up as local on Facebook buy and sell sites and on Google chip shops near you etc. I have a brilliant view on a lovely day. I'm also close to Isle of Man too

Darkgreendarkbark · 09/05/2025 13:03

Arina22 · 09/05/2025 13:01

Definitely more people move around in the EU and live in other countries, then people in the UK do.

Because people in the EU have more freedom of movement. Thats a fact. I'm not saying that Brexit is right or wrong, but we can all agree that Brexit has limited the freedom of movement of people in the UK. That was part of the deal.

That is what people agreed to as terms of Brexit.

When I was working in Germany, all of my colleagues had lived and worked abroad.

In my workplace in the UK, none of my colleagues have lived or worked abroad.

It is a more isolated culture here.

Edited

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I think you are vastly overestimating how much UK citizens lived abroad before Brexit.

Goldenbear · 09/05/2025 13:03

Arina22 · 09/05/2025 12:40

I think some of it might also be due to the fact that the UK is quite isolated after Brexit.

Isolation leads to people just thinking about their country, and not thinking sbout the rest of the world

I moved to the UK six months ago for work. I'm in a small city in the U.K. I went to a local hobby group and I was chatting to the locals. As a new face, they were asking me about myself. I said that i had done this particular hobby in a lot of different places, and that i really liked the hobby. They asked me where had I done it

I mentioned that in the last ten years, I had lived and worked in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy , France, Germany and Portugal.

They said "wow".

Not one of them had ever lived or worked outside of the UK. They had always lived in the UK
.
It made me realise how difficult it is for people in the UK to live in other countries. And how that can lead to an isolated way of living.

You haven't said what 'small city' you moved to but being in the south east and originally a Londoner, this isn't my or my DH'S or friends experience. I grew up in West and South London and even then it was very, very, multicultural. Most of out friends have worked in Hong Kong and returned. I have Danish family and visit their quite a bit, in fact everybody I know travels for work including DH and this Island outlook is not something we can relate to at all, it wasn't a feature of youth even, let alone now!

Justforthisoneithink · 09/05/2025 13:02

It’s uk based. I wouldn’t go on an American based or French based forum and expect them to explain that they’re in the USA/France for the benefit of the few who aren’t. If you don’t like the UK-centric references then don’t use a UK forum.