Has Mumsnet dumbed down over the past couple of years IYO? Or, if you're new, what's your impression?

this reminds me of a conversation my gran had with the undertaker when we were organising my grandad's funeral.. funeral director was about 70, my gran is 85. funeral director was trying to cheer my gran up by saying things along the lines of 'we've seen the best years' 'it's all going down hill' 'this country's not what it used to be' 'young people today..' blah blah. he had no concern for the fact that my sister and i were there, both in our 20s with the rest of our lives ahead of us. my gran told him not to be so silly, the world changes, people change, stop being such an old fuddy duddy.

Do you think it might have something to do with the fact that years ago most people who posted didn't know each other? Now, after so many years of posting, meetups, MSN'ing, inviting RL friends to join etc many of the social niceties seem to have been disposed of - whether because of familiarity or various factions that could be classified as....dread to say it....cliques?

I have only been to one meetup 2 years ago. I have met only one or two posters in RL. I'm amazed at how many people here are friends offline, and think that maybe those friendships bring a different feeling (both positive and negative aspects) to the site.

There have always been people who make outrageous personal attacks on MN though. I was on the recieving end of one, about 4-5 years ago!

I do find the currect crop of 'outrage for the sheer hell of it, 'look at how hard an opinionated I am' style of posting, tiresome and dull.

Hmmm.

I came to MN to scoff and remained to post. I'd seen it mentioned, and I had a look in a rather snooty 'FFS I hate being called a mum' way, and then was absolutely rivetted by the bright, funny people posting on here. I wanted to get to know them and have my name recognised and all. I also wanted advice (I was about 30 weeks into my second pregnancy at the time and considering a home birth) but that definitely wasn't all. I do writing for a living, and was absolutely thrilled to find somewhere where people played around with writing in the same way.

Would I feel the same today? I don't know. Most of those posters are still here, but they are a bit swamped in other stuff. It's not, for me, the subject matter, it's the way people write about their subjects.

agree coppertop.

It does seem to me that it's the very posters who dislike all things judgmental who are the most judgmental of all!

Call me old fashioned but to be frank I think some of the posters have dumbed themselves down - 'fck off' or 'pss' off are used with gay abandon these days in a ruck and from people I wouldn't expect to hear it from. Some let rip in quite a nasty way because they think the person on the receiving end 'can take it' and 'they don't give a sh*t' and 'I'll say what I want'. To me these attitudes are a dumbing down of respect for other people and a dumbing down in well, just good manners.

Should also have said or you can embrace the changes and stay in the club.

It's probably like going to a club that you went to every week when you were younger then you go back a few years on the club seems to be full of kids, although they are the same age as you when you went there, doing and talking about the same things you did. The club just doesn't seem the same it's not full of the same faces who once went who you can say hello at every turn. You realise that maybe this club is not for you anymore it served it's purpose and you had a great time but now it's time to leave it to the next generation of clubbers.

This post isn't ageist btw just an analogy.

Thinking the same thing KS.

However, my reason is, is that I am sh1t scared my grammar will get a roasting.

Well put Coppertop. Nothing further to add.

www - mumsnet hasn't dumbed down you're just getting older - you'll soon be saying 'in my day, caligula already is!'

that your dd has had an op that you couldn't feel you could post about SueW

Hope she's ok, though

Answering the question that names this thread I would say, Mumsnet has not dumbed down its just that in all these years I have become wiser and far more tolerant so I find some of the threads increasingly boring or far too judgemental.

After 3+ years on MN I think it's a lot more judgemental than it used to be. I don't remember there being so many smug threads on here before either. I also think that the newbies get a hard time on here too. They used to be welcomed to MN but now people tend to be very quick to accuse them of being trolls.

There seems to be this argument in a wider context all over doesn't there? Sorry if this is been said elsewhere - have skim read the thread.
There are loads of books about dumbing down etc esp in the context of American culture.

I don't know tbh. I think in wider society yes, so maybe this inevitably has an effect on smaller things like MN. Been on here for 5 yrs on and off. I must admit to getting bored of the same arguments (which aren't the same for new pple I appreciate). I have to say I find it less tolerant. Its harder to have a good discussion without it descending into mud slinging.

I still think it gives fantastic support but I also maybe see some posters who need help sort of sink........

Sorry not making much sense. Broadly I suppose, yes I agree, but I think its the judgemental nature which gets me more - mainly because this gets in the way of having an honest discussion.

in that case www- i hope you had a lovely evening

I don't post nearly as much as I used to.

It was highlighted for me earlier this year when my DD had an op. 4 years ago when she underwent the same surgery, I got support from here and felt like I could talk about it 'with friends'. This time, I barely gave it a heads-up on here because it doesn't feel like the same place.

in other words, yes.

Pffft. Dinner parties - you just sit there and everyone nods at you and no-one really listens and it's all house prices and 4x4s and organic veggie boxes and 'my little darling is walking/sleeping through/tap-dancing already at 14 weeks' and...
Oh shit.

I am new to MN and new to internet forums in general - I obviously can't comment on dumbing down as I can't compare but I do know that after initial enthusiam I now find the MN experience depressing as people are everybit as cliquey and touchy/ defensive about their actions and opions as in 'real life'.OP's get defensive about posts that are not 100% in agreement with their own views which seems ridiculous - why post if you don't want anyone to disagree with you? I have found some very sympathetic threads as well and got some useful advice (I have changed my name a couple of times) but one particularly distressing thread made me want to leave and never come back - but here I am again - being able to post your thoughts instantly on the www is addictive - and a percentage of these thoughts are going to be stupid, rude aggressive or equally witty erudite and insightfull you pays yer money you takes yer chance!

i put the 'problem' down to publicity inadvertently caused by a threat to shut down MN. funny how things turned out.

(goingquietlymad that was not aimed at you but at this thread in general)