Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think MN posts should show the age bracket of the poster?

214 replies

WhiteNoiseBlur · 03/09/2025 06:05

I think it would be really useful if the age bracket of each poster was included next to their username, e.g. WhiteNoiseBlur (35-45). Just so people’s opinions could be put slightly into context! What do you think?

OP posts:
ImAPreMadonna · 03/09/2025 07:53

Your example of the ‘frumpy’ shoes OP demonstrates how the ageism would be weaponised. Awful attitude and idea.

Original poster
WhiteNoiseBlur · 03/09/2025 07:53

Joystir59 · 03/09/2025 07:44

Im 67 and avoid 'frumpy' in my clothing choices. I think you are just stereotyping people.

Show quote history

I knew that would be a terrible example. I’m just saying if you are asking for advice on weaning, say, or sleep training, or something - it might be helpful to know which decade a person’s experience was coming from.

OP posts:
nomas · 03/09/2025 07:50

sundayfundayclub · 03/09/2025 07:40

@nomas I suppose if you have that in mind it puts a lot of the posts & responses in context.

I think so too.

Original poster
WhiteNoiseBlur · 03/09/2025 07:50

Digdongdoo · 03/09/2025 07:40

Absolutely not. Would be weaponised.
Would be interesting though. I would guess that most of the more prolific posters are 55+.

This is all I’m trying to say. It would be super interesting!

OP posts:
sundayfundayclub · 03/09/2025 07:48

@ILoveWhales do you think it has absolutely no relevance to some threads?

sundayfundayclub · 03/09/2025 07:46

Would it be ageist to have a board for the under 30s or under 40s?

@WhiteNoiseBlur what about that as a solution.

ILoveWhales · 03/09/2025 07:44

It's so open to abuse though. It would be so easy to put a different age bracket in

Joystir59 · 03/09/2025 07:44

WhiteNoiseBlur · 03/09/2025 06:21

i just think it would be interesting! When I read a post, more often than not I wonder how old that poster is. I don’t tend to wonder about their ethnicity or location or anything like that. For example there was a post the other day about some shoes - the poster was wondering if they were ugly/frumpy etc. For a 20 year old, they were pretty frumpy. For a 65 year old, not so much. That’s just a silly for instance that I’ll get piled on for but..I’m just interested!

Im 67 and avoid 'frumpy' in my clothing choices. I think you are just stereotyping people.

ILoveWhales · 03/09/2025 07:44

WhiteNoiseBlur · 03/09/2025 06:05

I think it would be really useful if the age bracket of each poster was included next to their username, e.g. WhiteNoiseBlur (35-45). Just so people’s opinions could be put slightly into context! What do you think?

So you can be ageist and judge the older and younger women?

Needspaceforlego · 03/09/2025 07:44

Yes there are times its relevant.
Like someone unexpectedly pregnant in their teens or early 20s would probably get different advice to someone in their late 30s or early 40s.

But generally its not relevant.
Even within the relationships board if a relationship is abusive its time to leave it regardless of the length of the relationship or the age of the person posting.

sundayfundayclub · 03/09/2025 07:43

But I do get what you mean.Particularly when it comes to things like how easy someone found it to save up to buy a house (or what their mortgage costs are now). My dad was horrified the other day because his council tax is now "higher than a mortgage payment would be" . I nearly died laughing.

I agree, a lot of the threads about mortgages, salaries, childcare aren't that realistic which sometimes feeds into threads discussing politics etc

So many posters think £500 a month is a massive mortgage 😆

TammyJones · 03/09/2025 07:42

Aweekoffwork · 03/09/2025 06:12

A nice idea, I tend to have a lot more in common with much older contributors ☺️

Me too.
At 30 you have totally different live experiences than at 60.
And some of the LTB advice is going ti be different.

sundayfundayclub · 03/09/2025 07:41

@Digdongdoo That's what I guessed

sundayfundayclub · 03/09/2025 07:40

@nomas I suppose if you have that in mind it puts a lot of the posts & responses in context.

Digdongdoo · 03/09/2025 07:40

Absolutely not. Would be weaponised.
Would be interesting though. I would guess that most of the more prolific posters are 55+.

whimsicallyprickly · 03/09/2025 07:40

PamIsAVolleyballChamp · 03/09/2025 07:32

Only philistines display their toaster... Ye gads!! 😬😬

Show quote history

BlushConfused

allusernamesaretakennow · 03/09/2025 07:39

cryinglaughing · 03/09/2025 06:08

No.
Surely everyone's opinion is valid, regardless of age.

Do you think we should have ethnicity as well?

This.

Age not required.

sundayfundayclub · 03/09/2025 07:37

Yes, personally I think the average age is a lot higher than the media image exists eg it's not a mum in her in 30s with small dc but a late 50s women with older dc.

Nothing particularly wrong with that but I think it does explain some of the threads/posts.

Why the ageism? It's good to have opinions from a wide spectrum.

Isn't that the point of the OP? How many young people are on here?

GarlicPint · 03/09/2025 07:36

ARandomWomanAge45to55 · 03/09/2025 07:09

Nah ... 😄

Hearty applause for your namechange ✅💯😂

Wildfairy · 03/09/2025 07:36

I think it would be helpful on the style and beauty board, as some of the recommendations do make me wonder what sort of person would recommend that snd what their age range is. I’m in my 50s and some of the stuff recommended even my nan wouldn’t wear.

Pigtailsandall · 03/09/2025 07:34

Fizbosshoes · 03/09/2025 07:21

What about do you have a toilet brush?

Show quote history

And how often you wash your teatowels, and change bedsheets

PamIsAVolleyballChamp · 03/09/2025 07:32

whimsicallyprickly · 03/09/2025 07:10

Oh my! Is the toaster storage place controversial?

Show quote history

Only philistines display their toaster... Ye gads!! 😬😬

nomas · 03/09/2025 07:30

It would be interesting. I’d guess that 80% of AIBU posters are 65+.

Bogpinkbear · 03/09/2025 07:27

I’ve had to wear “frumpy” shoes since an accident in my 20s.

i hate the word frumpy. It’s horrible. Sexist and ageist.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 03/09/2025 07:27

WhiteNoiseBlur · 03/09/2025 06:21

i just think it would be interesting! When I read a post, more often than not I wonder how old that poster is. I don’t tend to wonder about their ethnicity or location or anything like that. For example there was a post the other day about some shoes - the poster was wondering if they were ugly/frumpy etc. For a 20 year old, they were pretty frumpy. For a 65 year old, not so much. That’s just a silly for instance that I’ll get piled on for but..I’m just interested!

Oh it’s because you don’t want to talk to frumpy old people? Of course!

I fucking hate the word frumpy. It’s ageist and misogynistic in one fell swoop.