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Original poster

Any oldtimer MNetters out there feel like they are outgrowing Mumsnet?

176 replies

WelliesAndPyjamas · 06/04/2019 13:10

I might be feeling maudlin and incoherent (chesty cold, stomach bug, and exhausted after several months of 50 hour working weeks) but having put myself to bed this morning and allowing myself the treat of browsing Mumsnet properly for the first in ages...I feel like I have outgrown Mumsnet 😱😱 I can’t seem to find that many threads of interest to read any more. I think I joined MN about 13 or 14 years ago and I used to love it, finding it a constant source of laughter, advice, and kindness between people in similar siutaions or just seeking advice. These days the threads seem a bit samey, people very quickly and easily turn against each other, and you rarely if ever come across anyone you ‘know’ for a laugh and a catch up.

Any oldtimers out there - am I rosetinting the old days or have I actually outgrown MN?

Fair chance I am just too ill and should just shut up and put away the ipad though 😂

OP posts:
LordPickle · 11/04/2019 19:33

Oh these threads are always a treat. Nothing brings women together more than separating them. Hmm

Enjoy your reminiscing. It's 2019.

HaventGotAllDay · 11/04/2019 19:51

WeBuilt- one of the first threads I ever saw DP start was a faux-innocent "should I be worried about my child going to a school with lots of SN children"
She would just throw in a goady fucker trolling lighted touchpaper and sit back and laugh
What I could never understand was how other prolific MNers at the time would happily engage with her. "Hey Dafty" after she'd posted another one of her trolling threads.

PineapplePatty · 11/04/2019 20:56

I couldn't agree more. I miss the humour and wit.

Every time someone says their favourite moment on here is snapped and farted or penis beaker, a viper dies.

It's a pity but I suppose inevitable.

chaosisaladder · 11/04/2019 21:24

Though one of my favourite moments was not too long ago when an MNer posted a thread asking for two witnesses at her wedding and two lovely MNers volunteered. Very sweet thread and the site at its best imo

bsc · 11/04/2019 23:33

I think my all-time favourite was the wedding ring bearer sister, who insisted on a hobbit costume. That was just wonderful.

And Angela Hernandez!

LimeKiwi · 11/04/2019 23:36

I still have a massive MN crush on AnyFucker. I think I could live my life by WWAFD. What would AnyFucker do.

Why? Never got that mindset. Remember a thread on here where some were piling in blindly cheerleading "cos Anyfucker!" even though clearly a majority were like WTF.
Anyways yes I've been here since around 7 or so as a regular poster and contributor. It does seem to have changed over past couple of years. More right wing a lot too

LimeKiwi · 11/04/2019 23:37

7 or so years that should say

TheGodmother · 11/04/2019 23:49

@PineapplePatty Hahahaha at "another viper dies"

Now that was a great thread! We all signed up to the "other" parenting group to read the best comments, in fact if I remember rightly the site got overwhelmed with new members and stopped any new ones for a week or so.

I was both totally delighted and appalled to manage to get signed in! Didn't post there though! All those banners!

TheGodmother · 11/04/2019 23:50

Also don't get the snap and farted thread, though the OP sounded like a nasty bully. Not funny in the slightest.

Neome · 11/04/2019 23:52

Hello, I've been other people. Sometimes lurk, sometimes wander off into the distraction of RL for a while. I remember the times of which you speak with a little glow of mumstalgia.

Just waving really, Glitterball

LimeKiwi · 11/04/2019 23:58

@TheGodmother
don't get the snap and farted thread, though the OP sounded like a nasty bully. Not funny in the slightest

I was there for the snap and farted thread, I don't get what it's all about! Totally mundane thread where someone said they snapped, farted and it's made its way into some kind of MN history Confused

It's no punching lemon drizzle cake or pigeon painting that's for sure.

HaventGotAllDay · 12/04/2019 06:11

I think it's the word "fart"
Because it's so hilarious. Doing something natural, but disgusting, in public.
Apparently.

And God yes, heaven forbid a poster like AF should take time (time after time) to help abused women realise what's been happening to them (often for years)

Undoubtedly she'd be more popular if she made stories up about farters or CF neighbours. Or both, then she'd end up in classics. Hmm

HaventGotAllDay · 12/04/2019 06:21

How long ago was PB, out of curiosity?
Because that, the relentless self promotion via the FB linking, the ill-fated collaboration with (was it actually the Daily Mail?) a newspaper etc all definitely turned the tides.

Tides turn. It's what they do. But I bet even Justine rues the day the above tsunami decisions were taken. Revenue is one thing, credibility another. There's certainly not going to be another "Mumsnet General Election" any time soon.

You can see the difference when it's mentioned on TV or in books. Ten or more years ago it was fairly well respected, now panel show comedians just take the piss.

Shahlalala · 12/04/2019 06:29

I still find MN good for advice, but I find it quite mean now.
If I post I’m so aware that someone will likely take it the wrong way or pick at it, trying to get a fightresponse. Obviously if it’s constructive or relevant I get it... Makes it a bit tense!

chaosisaladder · 12/04/2019 08:18

shah totally agree. There can never be a thread without some snarking. I do see the same names being a bit knobby again and again and they are always one of the first to post, which makes me wonder if they just sit refreshing Active threads ready to unleash their anger Grin

DolceNow · 12/04/2019 08:38

'There can never be a thread without some snarking'

Tbh though it is just the internet in general now, not just MN. Twitter used to be light-hearted and fun, now it's just full of angry snarling people. In MN's early days social media wasn't such a thing, now it is and sadly I think it just reflects the mindset of a large proportion of the internet using public. Look at those posters upthread desperately trying to antagonise someone about another site, why bother?!

chaosisaladder · 12/04/2019 08:51

Yep, it’s bleak. I’m not brave enough for Twitter!

Original poster
Welliesandpyjamas · 12/04/2019 15:46

What the fuck happened on here while I was in work?! I turn my back for a few days on some gentle reminiscing with some other oldies and the thread spirals in to exactly what I was whinging about. Mindboggling. Proves my point. 😂

@pineapplepatty a viper dies 😄😄😄

OP posts:
Rock4please · 17/04/2019 19:08

Sorry to be thick, but what is S & B please?

Yalltroll · 17/04/2019 19:19

Style & Beauty section I think?

Batsypatsy · 17/04/2019 19:25

Me too. I don't like the tone anymore. Every thread just seems to be an opportunity to goad. I used to come here for genuine advice. Gransnet isn't as busy and can't really find much to interest me there (last time I looked anyway) and there doesn't seem to be an alternative to mn.

Rock4please · 18/04/2019 08:26

ok, thanks Yall.

notacooldad · 18/04/2019 09:49

I've been on a lot recently as I've been recover6from an illness and I'm at that stage of not being ill enough to sleep all day but not well enough for work.
I think I've overdone it and got bored with other peoples outrage over relatively minor things.
It often seems that people think that every thing is identical to what they have and there can't possibly be other options. An example would be people commenting on how could a teenager possibly have a double bed as modern bedrooms are small! Well, not everyone lives in a small modern house.
Some posts,for example airplane seats ,just go around in circles with people getting increasingly rude and quite frankly unbelievable (well, I would just sit on you! Or 'I would tell you you would have to look after my autistic child' as if you would distress your already anxious kid!) After the first few posts nothing new is put forward and it goes crazy and boring.

I like posts that suggest new things, eg the podcast topic. The travel section is good and style and beauty can be helpful.

TheGodmother · 18/04/2019 22:51

Yeah @notacooldad that bloody bed one annoyed me too!

A few years ago when my just teenage dc wanted a double bed I was aghast! Never heard the like! But looked at the prices, saw that they were very similar price and thought actually he could take it when he leaves and in the mean time when I have guests he can sleep on the sofa! Win win.

I was genuinely interested in the thread because I thought maybe it's a regional thing. Maybe us northerners don't "do" double beds for kids! Maybe it's a southern thing.

So was gonna post to ask where everyone was based in the UK, but it had turned all goady and argumentative! Wasn't gonna be long before someone got "offended" so hid the thread!

🙄

notacooldad · 19/04/2019 08:33

TheGodmother
The bed debate still rages on!
I'm from the North West of England.
When we bought the bed there wasnt any overthinking in loved. Ds1cdudnt want bunk beds any more, he was getting a sore back and had shot up in height. We have a mate who worked at Prestige beds so hot us one at a good price.
By the time Ds2 needed a new bed we were looking in IKEA and thought " oh that's decent' it'll fit nicely in the loft.
I never thought about extra washing! Sex wasnt and still isn't an issue ( well not for me, they have sex now) nobody demanded anything and I font live in a mansion, just a regular 1930s semi!
So much fuss!!!