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Original poster

To think Mumsnet is more vitriolic than it used to be?

134 replies

knowifIcando · 11/06/2025 20:41

Or has it always been really bad and my tolerance levels are decreasing?

I must have been using the site for almost 20 years. There have always been trolls and disagreements but it’s getting mad. You see a post asking if anyone can recommend a good white gloss paint and you are asked if your DH will be doing the painting, why you’re not married, accused of not protecting your financial future and offered contraception advice.

Or you post to say that you’re sick of the same packed lunches and what healthy options can you make instead. You’re asked why you weren’t making healthy choices to this point, quizzed over your BMI and it ends with being accused of neglecting your kids,

Is it actually getting worse or is it me?

OP posts:
Poynsettia · 11/06/2025 21:24

I think there is so much bad news in the world and the U.K. is in a mess and everybody is more arsey and less tolerant -and it’s the same here.

TY78910 · 11/06/2025 21:20

knowifIcando · 11/06/2025 21:04

No, but it did tend to at least be replies relating to the topic being raised. Now everything is twisted just so people can have a go.

Show quote history

agreed. I also see that there is the type of poster that just wants to come on for an argument. They won’t actually contribute to the OPs question, it’ll be a singled out reply that they want to scrutinise and get in to a private back and forth on

BlueyNeedsToFuckOff · 11/06/2025 21:20

pictoosh · 11/06/2025 21:02

I think mumsnet has taken a puritanical turn though. So much disapproval these days. So haughty.

This. And so many people taking everything incredibly seriously. I agree with @JaneJeffer that some people weren’t ever as funny as they thought they were, but there seems to be a lot less general humour now.

PizzaSophiaLoren · 11/06/2025 21:18

There are still some real goodies on here though.

Also, there is nuance. I’ve typed replies on the hop and looked later to see that I’ve come across as abrupt when I didn’t mean to be.

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 11/06/2025 21:17

I think that there are more spats now than there used to be but the quality of argument has dramatically reduced.

Years back when posters got into it there was none of this not in the spirit of the site stuff, just ... was it Olivia who used to come on suggesting love and peace ? 😁

Years back a row on here was really something. I'd sit there like a sad bastard clicking refresh and reading it all.

Now the arguments are dull and the insults weak.

Even the trolls are low quality.

JaneJeffer · 11/06/2025 21:17

Persephoknee · 11/06/2025 21:16

Ooh, here we go!

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😜

Persephoknee · 11/06/2025 21:16

JaneJeffer · 11/06/2025 21:15

They weren’t as funny as they thought they were

Show quote history

Ooh, here we go!

WorriedMillie · 11/06/2025 21:16

Yep, the atmosphere is incredibly toxic overall and that seems to be the consensus amongst people I’ve spoken to IRL, who don’t bother coming on here any more, for that reason.
I wonder whether MNHQ will pay attention to the poll ^^. It maybe needs an anon survey of members to capture everyone’s thoughts?

JaneJeffer · 11/06/2025 21:15

Persephoknee · 11/06/2025 21:11

Gosh, what a rapid decline. It’s sad! Where did all the funny people go? Is there a secret forum somewhere that is still jovial?

They weren’t as funny as they thought they were

JaneJeffer · 11/06/2025 21:14

It’s always been like this

EmeraldShamrock000 · 11/06/2025 21:13

I think that there has been one of these thread's created weekly since mumsnet started.. Nothing new.

Guavafish1 · 11/06/2025 21:13

It’s always been high… it’s like the daily mail

GLC789 · 11/06/2025 21:11

I've only been using mumsnet since 2023. Thankfully no one has been mean to me. But I have witnessed some horrible responses to peoples threads!

The ones that get me are (not that mean but hilarious) "do we really need another thread about this" - girl, if you don't want to see another thread like this shut your eyes or keep scrolling! Why respond only to bump it and have it saved in your "im on" tab 😭🤣. Its like going into Tesco and being angry that there are bananas for sale when you didn't want to but bananas today.

Persephoknee · 11/06/2025 21:11

Gosh, what a rapid decline. It’s sad! Where did all the funny people go? Is there a secret forum somewhere that is still jovial?

CorrosiveSubstance · 11/06/2025 21:09

A few years ago I made a point of going back to read the tweets from June 2008 onwards …… omg the style of the Tweets from them is SO SO different

Original poster
knowifIcando · 11/06/2025 21:08

pictoosh · 11/06/2025 21:02

I think mumsnet has taken a puritanical turn though. So much disapproval these days. So haughty.

Yes! This is what it is.

OP posts:
Original poster
knowifIcando · 11/06/2025 21:04

ThePhantomoftheEcobubbleOpera · 11/06/2025 20:54

It didn't get the moniker of a viper's nest when it was in its infancy because it was all rainbows and lollipops.

No, but it did tend to at least be replies relating to the topic being raised. Now everything is twisted just so people can have a go.

OP posts:
chocolatelover91 · 11/06/2025 21:03

Absolutely agree with you OP. There are some nasty people on here!

GreenLeavesInJuly · 11/06/2025 21:02

It got notably less empathetic around the pandemic.

pictoosh · 11/06/2025 21:02

I think mumsnet has taken a puritanical turn though. So much disapproval these days. So haughty.

Persephoknee · 11/06/2025 21:01

ThePhantomoftheEcobubbleOpera · 11/06/2025 20:54

It didn't get the moniker of a viper's nest when it was in its infancy because it was all rainbows and lollipops.

No that’s absolutely true. But the name vipers nest carried humour and self awareness.. nowadays it’d be offensive to vipers and we should be grateful for the preservation of nests…

funinthesun19 · 11/06/2025 21:00

I think there were some vile posters about 10 years ago.

DeedlessIndeed · 11/06/2025 20:58

FruityCider · 11/06/2025 20:56

I think the world is more vitriolic than it used to be! The government and media is doing a really good job in convincing the general populace that marginalised communities of all sorts are the causes of problems.

Agree with this. Everything online is sowing discord and promoting division.

Anti-america Vs Anti-Europe/UK, Men Vs Women, Child-free Vs Parents. It's miserable.

HiRen · 11/06/2025 20:58

I think MN is reflecting what’s happening elsewhere in social media. It all goes back to Twitter and Instagram.

Back in the day, there would be a thread every three or four months that would make me actually (really!) cry with laughter. Such pithy humour, singularly and uniquely British (I live abroad). Loved it. Hasn’t happened in years now.

Namechange87654321 · 11/06/2025 20:57

It’s definitely changed for the worse.. Sometimes I google specifically to find Mumsnet threads on certain issues, eg “Mumsnet Coach handbag quality” and that quite often brings up threads from, say, the early 2010s. You can almost immediately tell it’s an old thread because the tone is much more friendly and forgiving of others’ mistakes or differing opinions. It had a much nicer feel to it back then.

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