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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not get consent to post in AIBU?

38 replies

username2345678901 · 23/09/2025 08:10

A while back, I posted something on AIBU about my DH. It came up again in conversation recently and he said he's really not happy that it's out there forever on the internet and that I shouldn't post things about him. He asked me not to do it again.

I said I couldn't promise that and he said that the least I could do was ask his consent.

I said I might not want to do that as the thing I am posting about might be something I would prefer not to discuss with him.

I am not sure what the issue is. I said I would never give any identifying details but he said what if Mumsnet was hacked and my posts became identifiable.

So AIBU to post things about him without his consent?

(And before anyone points it out, I am aware of the irony here that i am posting this...without his consent!)

OP posts:
Brightbluesomething · 23/09/2025 08:26

I agree. You don’t need his permission to post on an anonymous forum predominantly of women to seek advice. If he behaved better you wouldn’t need to.
Interesting that instead of taking on board your unhappiness or concerns, his problem is his privacy? It’s unlikely to be outing unless he goes searching for it and then only he’d know.
Just anonymise more in the future. I suspect you’ll need further advice if this was his reaction.

username2345678901 · 23/09/2025 08:26

I personally think it is the lesser of two evils when compared to discussing him with my friends who he would then have to face in person. This is something I would never do, and so I occasionally turn to MN when I feel I need some perspective on things.

OP posts:
Spyship · 23/09/2025 08:24

If women had to ask consent from the people in their lives to post about them on MN then there would be an awful lot less threads on the forums.
I thought the whole idea in boards such as Relationships, AIBU and Divorce and Seperation was for posters to be able to discuss problems in their lives which often involve talking about their H, partner, boyfriend . And also both male and female relatives.
On the proviso that it is posted without identifying details it is totally unreasonable to expect to get permission to post anout someone. It would be cutting off what is a valuable source if advice and support. And sometimes the only source of help for some OP's.

So no. OP shouldn't need to ask permission to post about her H.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 23/09/2025 08:22

He has a point, if you're sharing very personally information, there is sluths or trolls that will try to out your RL info.
I believe the there is a sub reddit for slating MN and users.
Haven't seen it.

beready2025 · 23/09/2025 08:20

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This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

dontcomeatme · 23/09/2025 08:20

Sorry I don't agree with other PP, unless you've identified him or slandered his name etc, he has zero right to tell you what you can and can't talk about in an anonymous forum asking for advice. What if you went to an AA/NA meeting? Do you have to ask permission before you mention anything relating to him? What about good posts, do you need permission then? What about FB posts? He can't pick and choose what you need consent for. You can write about whatever you want, obviously without slander, defamation, naming etc. He's just upset because it was a negative post.

ProfoundlyPeculiarAndWeird · 23/09/2025 08:20

I think that now he has expressed his discomfort about you doing this, it would be unreasonable to continue posting about him without consent.

Lots of people are anxious about the security of online privacy. For ourselves, we take the small-but not-zero risk of being outed by posting on MN. But we aren't entitled to do it for other people once they have made it plain that the risk isn't one that they would take for themselves.

Also lots of people feel really upset and embarrassed about the thought of being discussed critically on a forum. If someone says 'don't do this to me' then you should stop doing it -- unless of course the person has done something really bad, like behaving abusively.

beready2025 · 23/09/2025 08:14

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

CopperWhite · 23/09/2025 08:14

If it’s details about him and he’s asked you not to post publicly, then you should respect that. If you want to post about yourself or any effects he has on you, that’s your business.

Tunacheesequesadilla · 23/09/2025 08:14

I think that's fair enough, if he's specifically asked you not to post about him without his consent. His privacy and hacking fears are very valid.

PollyBell · 23/09/2025 08:13

Well i am sure women are perfectly fine with men putting their lives on the internet with no thought to privacy or it being out there identifying or not

username2345678901 · 23/09/2025 08:12

We discussed it at the time.

OP posts:
FamilyPhoto · 23/09/2025 08:11

How did he know you posted about him ?

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