Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Has MN changed?

265 replies

Hichic · 07/08/2021 20:12

Do you think MN had changed since you joined? How did it used to be?

I have been here several years. A few years back it seemed quite nasty In places .but it seems better now. Does not seem to be so many attacks on posters or bun fights . Seems to be better debates without it getting overly nasty.

OP posts:
Geamhradh · 08/08/2021 09:06

@echt

Bonsoir, that's the one.
I believe she stopped posting when she became ill. I often wonder if she's OK.
Geamhradh · 08/08/2021 09:12

Something else I notice is how quickly posters believe the OP and start speaking on their behalf. I was on one the other day, OP writes a couple of posts and very quickly some right snippy arse starts with the "the OP wasn't saying/doing this" and answering/dissecting every other person's post. By the end "thanks to everyone who has answered in good faith but this is a troll" the OP had about 5 posts and her gullible mate about 40.

NoWordForFluffy · 08/08/2021 09:21

It used to be much funnier. There just aren't the same number of genuine laugh out loud threads that there used to be. In fact, there are some posters who actively seem to discourage funny / lighthearted threads. This is illustrated in the recent use of (lighthearted) in titles. Back in the day people just accepted funny threads without them having to be labelled for fear of offending the po-faced element of MN (which is increasingly large).

I rarely laugh out loud at MN these days.

I think there are more trolls and AIBU is more vitriolic. There were always people who'd be firm / talk straight, but it goes way beyond that now, IMO.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 08/08/2021 09:37

You never get a ‘Who is your favourite MNetter’ thread anymore.

My proudest moment was being name checked on one.

Sparklingbrook · 08/08/2021 09:39

Yes there must be absolutely no mention of possibly thinking another member of MN is great. Not in the spirit. Grin

Geamhradh · 08/08/2021 09:40

@JayAlfredPrufrock

You never get a ‘Who is your favourite MNetter’ thread anymore.

My proudest moment was being name checked on one.

Getorf said I was one of hers Grin I also had quote of the week on the homepage about getting my mooncup out being like doing a home hysterectomy. Now any comment like that would have the Herberts asking for a detailed description. I made the RoundUp twice but I can't remember what for. (MP round up)
mafted · 08/08/2021 09:50

I've been around under various names since 2001, although didn't post very often until 2004 as we didn't have a PC at home. Prior to that I used an Internet cafe. Yes really!

It used to be funnier and more relaxed but also it was so cliquey. Lots of in jokes, back slapping, bringing up stuff from behind the scenes onto threads. Who's you favourite Mumsnetter threads for example. The day after a meet up was pretty unbearable.

Sparklingbrook · 08/08/2021 10:03

I think the meet ups were fizzling out as I joined. I remember thinking I’d never be in the in crowd enough to be invited to one. But knowing even if I was I’d never dream of going.

Lanique · 08/08/2021 10:17

I've always been an unknown (because I've nc'ed regularly it's not really surprising Grin) and I remember once or twice posting something on a thread for it to be completely ignored, but if a well-known poster then posted something similar a few posts later there would be a round of applause and three cheers with much arse-lickery and back-slapping thrown in for good measure.

I would often observe as a 'hapless newbie' would come along and unknowingly post something against MN code such as whether to follow a GF sleep routine or sign their baby into 'mogelling' and it was like watching a baby impala being mauled to death by a pack of hyenas.

Fun times.

Lanique · 08/08/2021 10:23

Having said that, there's been a thread this weekend where the op has been utterly (and totally unfairly IMO) roasted by a bunch of self-righteous huns who were probably in primary school when I first joined MN. I think the thread has now been pulled, unsurprisingly.

It's making me wonder whether I want to stick around here anymore. Hmm

NanaPorsche · 08/08/2021 10:25

Still loads of nastiness.

Bryonyshcmyony · 08/08/2021 10:28

AIBU is like a training ground for wannabe sociopaths.

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 08/08/2021 10:33

@Sparklingbrook
the only in crowd you need is Woolly Hugs!
we had 2 meet ups (in 2017 & 2018), open invite.
I had met a small bunch of Woolly Huggers before that and all the way up to March '19. They are the very best.❤
See you at the next one?

Mummy194 · 08/08/2021 10:46

I joined years ago, back when MN had a reputation of being Boded/Laura Ashley housewives. Been posting on and off since.

The aggression was kept strictly on AIBU. More compassion and funny posts everywhere else. Nowadays, I see aggressive posts even to those posting on MH, Edu, New mums etc. Chat section was mostly whimsical. In general people used to be helpful. You knew certain posters with thorough knowledge on a certain forum as the go to, but nowadays, I was dissapointed to find many of them have departed. People will DM you or name change a lot now, because they fear attacks.

All that being said, there seems to be more posters over the years.

EarringsandLipstick · 08/08/2021 10:54

@Lanique

Having said that, there's been a thread this weekend where the op has been utterly (and totally unfairly IMO) roasted by a bunch of self-righteous huns who were probably in primary school when I first joined MN. I think the thread has now been pulled, unsurprisingly.

It's making me wonder whether I want to stick around here anymore. Hmm

I often have that thought too.

If we are thinking about the same thread, it utterly disintegrated by some unhinged posters but the overall thread had really made me think & I am disappointed it got completely pulled.

Lanique · 08/08/2021 11:48

It made me think too, earringsandlipstick. The op had a very valid line of reasoning and argument and to her credit seemed to handle the scorn that was poured upon her with far more dignity than whole of the sorry pitchfork-waving mob could ever muster.

It's this type of uncontrolled, hysterical, pearl-clutching vigilante-ism that's making me think about leaving MN because it's starting to descend into a bigger and deeper cesspit than Twitter.

IAmNotAClownfish · 08/08/2021 11:53

The thing is that Mumsnet is not unique with the "uncontrolled, hysterical, pearl-clutching vigilante-ism". It is literally everywhere online and spilling over into real life too. It'll be interesting to see where it ends.

Bryonyshcmyony · 08/08/2021 11:56

@IAmNotAClownfish

The thing is that Mumsnet is not unique with the "uncontrolled, hysterical, pearl-clutching vigilante-ism". It is literally everywhere online and spilling over into real life too. It'll be interesting to see where it ends.
Yes. I feel sorry for my dds tbh
Bryonyshcmyony · 08/08/2021 11:56

@IAmNotAClownfish

The thing is that Mumsnet is not unique with the "uncontrolled, hysterical, pearl-clutching vigilante-ism". It is literally everywhere online and spilling over into real life too. It'll be interesting to see where it ends.
It's much worse when anonymous though.
mylovelydd · 08/08/2021 12:03

Since lockdown there are so many male posters posing as women and telling women to STFU and tolerate shit behaviour from their H. On every thread about cheating, porn or just general shit behaviour. They always say how cool they would be with it and how the OP is dramatic or hard work. Hmm

It's so painfully obvious too.

GCAcademic · 08/08/2021 12:05

@mylovelydd

Since lockdown there are so many male posters posing as women and telling women to STFU and tolerate shit behaviour from their H. On every thread about cheating, porn or just general shit behaviour. They always say how cool they would be with it and how the OP is dramatic or hard work. Hmm

It's so painfully obvious too.

Yep. There's several of them who only ever seem to post to tell women that any complaint about shitty behaviour is misandry and man hate.
Lanique · 08/08/2021 12:05

@IAmNotAClownfish

The thing is that Mumsnet is not unique with the "uncontrolled, hysterical, pearl-clutching vigilante-ism". It is literally everywhere online and spilling over into real life too. It'll be interesting to see where it ends.
No I'm in complete agreement with you. It's all a bit of a blood bath which is why apart from Insta (which for me is all country living, interiors and dogs Grin) MN is my only SM outlet. But I'm feeling more and more these days that it's not one I want to be a part of. Shame!
Lanique · 08/08/2021 12:07

@mylovelydd

Since lockdown there are so many male posters posing as women and telling women to STFU and tolerate shit behaviour from their H. On every thread about cheating, porn or just general shit behaviour. They always say how cool they would be with it and how the OP is dramatic or hard work. Hmm

It's so painfully obvious too.

This is awful Sad
BIWI · 08/08/2021 12:08

I think posters engage a lot less too - just bitchplop on to a thread without bothering to read anything that's gone before their pearls of wisdom. You can see it on this thread - how many people have asked about the New Year's Eve debacle, even though it's been explained at least 3 or 4 times!

iwannabelikeyouhoohoo · 08/08/2021 12:23

@BIWI

I think posters engage a lot less too - just bitchplop on to a thread without bothering to read anything that's gone before their pearls of wisdom. You can see it on this thread - how many people have asked about the New Year's Eve debacle, even though it's been explained at least 3 or 4 times!
This frustrates me no end, particularly when they can’t even be arsed to click “see all” on the OP’s posts. Sheer laziness and self importance to think they can offer advice without even knowing the full story.