Why did you start using mumsnet?

[BexR]

For me it was pregnancy advice and support. It was one of many forums I visited but I soon found it was the most active and more on my wavelength.

Then I stuck around for breastfeeding advice. Then the relationship board was a huge support to me during an awful separation.

Lately it's more general interest, getting a dose of company during this shitty lonely time.

Interested to know if my mumsnet journey is typical!

When my husband left me out of the blue. I had 3 very long threads as the saga unfolded and got an awful lot of support from some amazing people! Some remain very good friends and always will I hope. A lot of good came out of a shitty situation and I love this place!

@GinandGingerBeer I'm curious as to what you've just said about the Hush threads . I used to lurk on those sometimes just to see what people had been buying . I noticed they weren't there anymore but seemed to have been replaced by 'Toast'. I assumed that you had all
Stopped shopping at Hush. So you still do your chit-chat but not on MN

I fell in after Googling something and never left! Was a long-time lurker. Read AIBU for entertainment and have found the pregnancy boards a good resource and source of support. I've lost a few afternoons to the Classics boards, some are hilarious!

I was a bounty mum for years then nothing when that tailed off until I found mumsnet around 2 years ago whilst looking for something to replace bounty. I'm on mumsnet daily.

Education board. Teachers and parents there are fab. I really had so much help over the years.

I wanted to make a costume for my DD for some Tudor visit and one of the google searches led me to Mumsnet. This was 2007 and I have been hooked ever since!

Young mum needing pregnancy and new baby advice 13 years ago!!! Oh how things have changed. I've stuck around though 😁

2007 probably looking for info about weaning or sleep for Ds1 who is a strapping 14 year old. Been with mumsnet through many parenting bumps along the road ...still love it probably always will and be here when I'm 80 (hopefully!!!!).

[quote shinynewapple2020]@GinandGingerBeer I'm curious as to what you've just said about the Hush threads . I used to lurk on those sometimes just to see what people had been buying . I noticed they weren't there anymore but seemed to have been replaced by 'Toast'. I assumed that you had all
Stopped shopping at Hush. So you still do your chit-chat but not on MN [/quote]
Yes, I'd say we've moved away from Hush a bit (although I am sat here typing this message wearing the hush Meryl jumper 😬) A fair few from the hush threads are into toast but it's outside of my budget!

I'm genuinely wondering after what I said, arent the same reasons as why I'm here...
Is anyone lonely? Prehaps its where I am in life and my situation, but I genuinely have joined up because im "loney" and dont feel heard IRL.
I have changed UN a few times due to being 'outing' ..and im actaully quite rubbish at contributing to threads, but I like to 'lurk' and when I due contribute to thread I feel, like my opinion might matter, or might be heard, or acknowledged.
It sounds sad, but I honestly wish I had found MN years ago - I think I would have made better life choices for sure.

And this comes from a past light user of ivillage, and a longterm user of "babycenter" - where I think a PP said, were more places where people wouldn't tell you the honest truth about situations - I value the brutality of MN now, rather than when PP or older members talk about MN being fun in the past tense (although this is only my opinion based on what I have read from older members)

The only thing I dont like about MN is the trolls and the deletions of threads, I understand why people may delete a thread, but it disheartening when youre left with a generic MN note, and you've taken the time to write a detailed post in response, and I've had to wise up to the many MN trolls or journalists... I had no idea random stories were lifted from the likes on MN to put into papers!

Google lead me here. I didn’t know anyone in rl who bleed during the first trimester of pregnancy so I searched for people in a similar situation. I haven’t left since, that morning.

In my previous incarnation it was due to domestic abuse from my partner and not much out there for men in that situation. But I stayed as I've had some good advice on things and pray I've given some as well.

Penis beaker was linked on another forum I use and that was it.

For gardening advice.

It's been a tough few years with my health, work and relationships. Touch wood, i'm coming out the other side of the hard bit but it has been quite lonely at times and has led me to finally process some difficult-to-talk-about events from my earlier life.

I don't like putting on my (amazing) friends too much and have felt a bit isolated from my family at times, particularly when my mental health was most affected by my long term condition and made work unbearable.

I joined MN as I value the mature, intelligent advice and support and the varying perspectives, including being challenged at times when I put out questions about whatever is happening in my life.

I try to contribute back by commenting on other people's queries to hopefully offer them some help too.

I'm not a mum (hopefully one day) but really value this space which is obviously anonymous but feels more of a community than say, reddit. It's just such a help to be able to mull things over on here.

It's a bit annoying when a thread you've offered genuine advice on turns out to be a troll but maybe they're working through personal issues in their own funny way, who knows.

The aussie parenting forum I was on closed down and the new one is an echo chamber of deep cleaning toilets and coupons doesn't really appeal to me. I'm after a place where one can have a robust conversation and somewhere to sink my teeth without being muzzled. Have been a long time lurker and thought it was time to bite the bullet.