Things I have learnt solely due to Mumsnet

[isabellerossignol]

I was having a think today about various things that I had never heard of until I read about them on Mumsnet. Trivial stuff, 'general knowledge' type stuff, language stuff, history, all sorts really.

I had never heard of an Eleanor Cross.

Had never heard of the term 'wedding breakfast'.

Didn't know about how funerals differ around the UK.

Have learnt so much about feminism and how things that I had never previously considered actually have an impact on my life. I don't know where I would ever have come across that information if it weren't for Mumsnet.

There are so many more, but those popped into my head.

What's yours?

Is this a Mn survey you’re talking about, @roisinagusniamh ?

As I said in my post, I’m not talking about any individual survey. No surveys have ever shown an equitable division of housework between sexes.

I do agree with you on marrying an evolved man. So did I. Dividing things fairly has never been an issue, before or after we had DS. But I think the kind of joky ‘Ah, bless, men can’t see dirt!’ Or ‘Well, DH offers, but he doesn’t stack the dishwasher to my standards, bless’ stuff you get so often here is really damaging.

shadow I agree. It is enabling behaviour.
My Mum used write a list of chores for myself and my siblings to do while she was working. She rotated the rota so that my brothers and I took turns cooking, lighting the fire, looking after the younger ones, etc. She never assigned gender specific jobs. It served us well.

I learned that through very funny and random threads about boybanders (long deleted) you can make friends for life.

Hah

That Peter Andre really loves his kids

That Larry is real

That Giovanni from Strictly is a curtain wiper

That Tom Hiddlestone really will do anything for a bit of cash and name recognition

That the above may or may not be true

Definitely all true

The LTB brigade over the slightest thing.

If a man cheats,the wife should leave.If the woman cheats,she shouldnt admit to anything and it was only a "blip".

Or how many people love putting the boot it.Or how many MN dont have a clue about Irish history.

potnoodle....so true.

I've known about Eleanor Crosses for years because I'm passionate about history

I've no time for Edward I (I'm Scottish) but the Crosses are wonderfully romantic.

I didn't know washing could get darked on, or that loo brushes were bad.

I didn't know that everything pink and "girly" was frowned upon

My two daughters both loved pink (and one still does, as do I) and they've both grown into happy, successful young women

I first heard of Mooncups on MoneySavingExpert. That's a long time ago!

I first heard of them in a public toilet in Brighton via a sticker in 1999!

I’ve learnt that it is often possible to spot a man through their writing style.

Or how many MN dont have a clue about Irish history.

God, yes. And by 'history', I mean, 'things that happened in the 1990s.'

I’ve learnt that it is often possible to spot a man through their writing style.

In fairness, they also often begin their posts with 'As a man...' before delivering whatever precious nugget of insight they're prepared to share with 'the mums'.

On the other hand, I don't think people say LTB anywhere near often enough, and the complete lack of equal partnership as regards domestic chores and childcare on Mn to me is a far bigger 'cheat' than infidelity. And, had it ever occurred to me to become a SAHP, the Relationships forum here would have quickly cured me of any leanings in that direction.

I learnt that the immaculate conception refers to the conception of 'The Virgin Mary being free from original sin' rather than referring to the conception of Jesus!......I'm a Catholic.....my mind was blown 😂🙈

Joyfulincolour
The most memorable thing I heard on MN was on a post asking which men everyone fancied. The phrase "David Gandy always gives me the fanny gallops" still makes me laugh now grin

Don't mock, David Gandy saved my life. Five years ago I had a fall and ended up in hospital with my leg in traction for eight weeks.

One of the magazines a friend brought in to me contained a double page spread of Gandy modelling underwear (M&S I think). Those two pages kept me happy as I whiled away the hours/days/weeks

MN has pretty much set my 'trans' stance in stone. Anyone should be allowed to be anything they want but not at the expense of other people, predominantly women.

I'm horrified how many women on here believe it's better to have any man rather than no man. They drift from arsehole to arsehole, having babies as they go. So depressing.

Also horrified how many women have settled for a man child who appears incapable of doing their share of housework/childcare. There are far too many professional incompetents out there.

I've met some wonderful real life friends on here. And then one died (all documented on here too) and I shall never forget her bloody fabulousness. Massive happy and massive sad things both due to MN.

That toilet brushes are totally taboo.

Ive leaned that @roisinagusniamh is perfect and has never once ever had a disagreement on any level with her choice of husband, they clearly never get grumpy with one another or any such negative thing. Because she chose to marry an "evolved" man.

That the sistine chapel is such an emotional place

Who said anything about never arguing 001?
What a silly, bitter post!

I'm not bitter, you just come across as being a bit if a dick by saying that you made better choices.

Some people struggle to see their partner's flaws, for various reasons. And then struggle to leave them.

By saying basically they should have made a better choice, like you did, is just...not helpfuk or considerate. And comes across as a bit..." I'm better than you"

That women put on their back hook bras by hooking in front and then swivelling them round.

Wow, roisinagusniamh, has it ever occurred to you that people's relationship choices are often not really free choices, but massively influenced (or even determined) by their upbringing and the examples set to them by the relationships they were surrounded by as children and young adults? I had a very fortunate upbringing and married a good man, but oddly enough I'm able to understand that not everybody is that fortunate.

I didn't know that everything pink and "girly" was frowned upon

It isn't. Assuming that girls will like pink and girly things is frowned upon. Quite rightly so.

I think MN has made me realise how very lucky I am - some women on here are living through such hardships, be it financial, abuse, health worries, dreadful family situations, divorce etc. It's made me count my blessings on more than a few occasions. We all get caught in the grindstone and think your life is crap but it really isn't in comparison.

I have also taken much consolation from the realisation that I'm not the only woman out there married to a hypochondriac...........

I never realised it was not possible to discuss a parking issue without providing a diagram. Or, in the event of a really CF parking issue - photos! I’m sure it is only a matter of time before live drone footage will be demanded . . .

I am not better that anyone but I was very careful about choosing a lifelong partner because my mother had instilled feminist values in me and my Dad was a strong role model so, I was lucky.
However, I do find the posts complains about 'useless partners' tedious because, most women in the Western world get to chose their partner and a lot of them actually enable this lazy behaviour.

"most women in the Western world get to chose their partner and a lot of them actually enable this lazy behaviour."

Yes, it's the same as most people get to choose how much food they eat. But many people are overweight. That's because of a plethora of socioeconomic reasons, mental health reasons etc.
If someone who is perfectly health weight strolls round telling everyone else how they just need to make the right choices, and they were raised in a healthy household with healthy attitudes to food.

How would that be helpful? Or showing that you understand the reasons why people are overweight isn't as simple as the amount of food they eat. It's to do with why they make those choices.... Which is never simple.

Just like most people in destructive relationships didn't just "choose" to marry an arsehole/abuser/lazy twat. They didn't wake up one day and go " I know, im going to find a prize winning tosser, have them treat me like shit for years, then marry them and then complain about how awful they are"

I’ve learned that whatever the thread subject, posters will find something to argue about

I also discovered the wonder that is the robot vacuum, that people start prepping for Christmas as soon as it’s over and the best banana bread recipe.