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Original poster

Is your Mumsnet personality the same as in real life?

68 replies

Rainbowheart1 · 19/09/2021 14:52

Mumsnet is known for how harsh/forward/rude posters can be, or known for posters being offended easily, or all piling in etc, so I was wondering if, how you are on Mumsnet, are you like that in real life? Or different?

Do you write posts and talk on them, about situations or to other posters how you would talk to someone face to face?

Is your “mumsnet personality” the same in real life?

OP posts:
InnPain · 19/09/2021 15:35

For example - I was scrolling through a thread about pregnancy and covid vaccine where a poster had asked the opinion of getting/not getting it during pregnancy. One cheeky person responded with “do your research rather than ask people with no knowledge online” or something along those lines. Had that person been asked the same question in real life I don’t think they’d have spoken to someone like that.

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 19/09/2021 15:35

Pretty much the same, although rather more horrifying full length than the few pics on here. Personality wise, probably sharper irl because it's hard to do Resting Bastard Face on here.

DramaAlpaca · 19/09/2021 15:35

Pretty much the same, I think.

IHaveBeenOnMNLongerThanYou · 19/09/2021 15:40

@evilharpy

I don't think I have a mumsnet personality! But I don't get into arguments on the internet or in real life, I try not to be a dick to people and I don't really post anything I'd be upset about if someone worked out who I am. So probably the same really.
You've actually been a dick to me once or twice so guess you didn't try hard enough then.

To the OP, I think writing can be like thoughts or thinking out loud. Most of us wouldn't dare say some things we think about and on an anonymous forum, it's sort of the same because no one knows who you are. You can say it as you really think it and there'll be no consequences (bar the extreme) besides being deleted, if it goes against talk guidelines.

I rarely believe what most people say online anyway, including those who claim to be all great here and in rl or the same person in real life.

I believe some posters like the pp who said she's the same person logic-wise/personality-wise but don't talk the same way due to not being a native English speaker. Something about the detail in such posts ring true to me. I could be wrong.

Mossstitch · 19/09/2021 15:40

Same, except I'm very quiet in real life, more of a listener and people watcher. But, at least here I can get a word in edgeways! In real life I find people are so used to me being quiet that when I try to say something in a group conversation I get talked over, although, in fairness I do have a quiet voice too🤐

EspressoDoubleShot · 19/09/2021 16:25

@IHaveBeenOnMNLongerThanYou it’s a bit gripey and grudgey to recall you had an online spat with someone and then bring it up to them.

ParkheadParadise · 19/09/2021 16:30

Think I'm the same.
I would never deliberately hurt someone with words in RL or here.

NoMeEscuchan · 19/09/2021 16:31

Yeh, I overshare but I'm good humoured, aim to to do no harm and working on the taking no shit.

IHaveBeenOnMNLongerThanYou · 19/09/2021 16:33

@EspressoDoubleShot And I find your post to be quite rude, judgey, nosy, and quite weird to post it to someone who didn't address you.

EspressoDoubleShot · 19/09/2021 16:35

Well you posted in an open forum,for all to comment. Bang on cue here I am
Commenting
You could have let it slide, could have posted without bringing up a historical gripe

LightDrizzle · 19/09/2021 16:35

I’m more of a fanny and less confrontational than I often advocate people be on here. However I honestly believe the advice is better than my own track record and that it would be better if the reality were closer to my Mumsnet alter ego. As I grow older the gap lessens.

EspressoDoubleShot · 19/09/2021 16:36

I love fanny as a word, it’s like punctuation. Love it’s just right there. Fanny

IHaveBeenOnMNLongerThanYou · 19/09/2021 16:38

Are you the person I addressed? Very odd how you seem to have a bee in your bonnet about it for some reason? What's it to you if I still have a problem with it and choose to bring it up to them on an open forum when they mentioned they try not to do what they did? Talk about being hypocritical.

Post away.

EspressoDoubleShot · 19/09/2021 16:40

I don’t need your permission and you’re way too worked up

IHaveBeenOnMNLongerThanYou · 19/09/2021 16:44

This is funny. You got worked up over my comment to someone else and somehow I'm the one who's worked up? You stuck your nose in and said I shouldn't have posted my comment to someone else and somehow I'm the one stopping you from posting?
Okay.

Like I said, very odd. Post away. You called me and bang on cue, here I am. I answered.Wink

EspressoDoubleShot · 19/09/2021 16:45

Happy to oblige

Poppins2016 · 19/09/2021 16:50

I think my MN and IRL personalities are the same, I express the same opinions and thoughts here as I would IRL. I wouldn't say anything here that I wouldn't be happy to admit to saying to friends/family.

Having said that, there have been occasions where I've been slightly more forthright online than I might be IRL due to concern about my own safety or about sticking my oar in where it's not wanted, for example.

EspressoDoubleShot · 19/09/2021 16:53

The advantage of mn is yiu will get an answer that’s not bound up in social niceties and rl repercussions because no one actually knows each other. So that presents the ability to actually be honest without having to worry about real life repercussions such as a fall out or huff

AnxiousAbi · 19/09/2021 16:56

My views are the same IRL but I maybe wouldn’t be as honest in my views IRL because people don’t always want that. Sometimes people just want a listening ear. On MN they are asking for your honest views.

EspressoDoubleShot · 19/09/2021 17:02

Yes I agree, there is a refreshing honesty online. Sure it has an ouch factor but that’s outweighed by the candid responses
Plus the anonymity of mn means I don’t know anyone,and I don’t want to Know anyone from MN in real life. Someone asked me do you ever go on mn? I said no, I wasn’t familiar with mn,what about you? They replied they’re on a lot. I left it at that and didn’t ask their mn name

Tangledtresses · 19/09/2021 17:06

I'm the same just less swearing on here....

All advice given from the heart just as I would talk to my friends

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 19/09/2021 17:09

I'm the same. Sometimes a dick,sometimes awesome, sometimes "this is really not worth it".

EspressoDoubleShot · 19/09/2021 17:12

It’s evident from mn that people aren’t always candid or direct in RL
The multiple threads
I don’t want to spend £x on a hen do but can’t tell the bride
We have been invited to a wedding but it’s too expensive
granny is buying baby gifts we don’t like don’t want to hurt her feelings

evilharpy · 19/09/2021 17:57

@IHaveBeenOnMNLongerThanYou

Are you the person I addressed? Very odd how you seem to have a bee in your bonnet about it for some reason? What's it to you if I still have a problem with it and choose to bring it up to them on an open forum when they mentioned they try not to do what they did? Talk about being hypocritical.

Post away.

I don't actually remember being a dick to anyone on MN and am not deliberately inflammatory but there you go.
Sparklingbrook · 19/09/2021 18:21

there is a refreshing honesty online

But also free rein to make up anything you like and state it as fact. Because nobody will ever know...