That "mumsnet bloggers" slur - what do people think?

[Glosswitch]

Some woman called Alice Vincent apparently insulted Giles Coren on Twitter with the following comment: "Columnists basing their opinions around their children. So yawn. Your column today is one step up from a mumsnet blogpost" The main fuss seems to be about Twitter and who was the rudest - Vincent or Coren in his (very rude and sexist) response. But what is it with the "mumsnet blogger" thing? Where does this come from? Is it because we boast about our kids too much (not that I've noticed) - or is it a little bit of "shut up, silly mummies - you've opted out of public discourse for now and ever more"? Or am I reading too much into it all? Interested to hear what others think! (Esp as I've not been wearing the shameful tag of "mumsnet blogger" for all that long myself)

oh, nice to see you here Glosswitch (I only discovered your blog a couple of days ago and it is brilliant, I absolutely love it.)

It's 'shut up silly mummies'. There's much wider hostility to Mumsnet than just to Mumsnet bloggers and it's closely related to misogyny.
The stereotype of Mumsnet is as silly, rich, spoiled, self-indulgent middle class women. People who want an excuse to slag off women seize on it because it allows them to be misogynist while also being self-righteous. Women buy into it because it positions them in opposition to those qualities.

Glad it's not just me - totally agree with you about the mumsnet stereotype, so beautifully put. It actually put me off joining mumsnet for a long time!
I'm actually writing a response post to Alice Vincent. She is an expert in the genre in which we write, but I'd like to see if I can bore her to death.

Go Glosswitch!

I'm an untypical Mumsnet blogger as I have no kids and no intention of having any. Maybe they'll throw me off now, but I have made no secret of my erm, 'incompatibily' with children.
Unsurprisingly, my blog has nothing to do with children.
Oh, and I like Giles very much, whether he is 'Mumsnetty' or not.
jackedinmyjob.blogspot.co.uk/

I wonder if Alice Vincent knows that Mrs Giles Coren is one of the Mumsnet Featured Bloggers? ;)

Unlikely, I'd say.

Being new here with my blog I don't know that I'm qualified to offer an opinion, but I can say that in my pre-blogging days I found Mumsnet intimidating and somewhat aggressive. Not everyone, obviously, but every time I came looking for advice and support, in amongst the genuinely helpful comments, were some which left me feeling demoralised, and so I drifted away. I think there is a little bit of a reputation around Mumsnet that sees some people wanting to take it down a peg or two, through distaste or even envy in some cases - eg "what's all the fuss over there, I can do better" type of thinking. I'd be interested to know what people think of that,
In any case, I'm very happy to be back here :)