Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

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

The old days of Mumsnet when…

291 replies

Anon778833 · 21/09/2022 22:57

Back in 2003, there was a section entitled ‘introductions’ and people would post identifying photos of themselves and their dc. And a post about themselves.

How times change!

OP posts:
slo · 22/09/2022 07:25

kimchifox · 21/09/2022 23:18

Also when people could have simple three letter usernames like "Cod".

Some still exist!

Yumsnet · 22/09/2022 07:48

I can still see LaQueen’s wedding dress in my mind’s eye (I’m pretty sure it was her profile). I think it was from Ian Stuart.

Daisy38 · 22/09/2022 07:59

Manekinek0 · 21/09/2022 23:43

I used to regularly post on iVillage before I made my way over here. People would post full names along with the area they lived in!

That’s where I used to be too. So much personal information was given out on there 🤣 There was a fairly prolific poster who lived about an hour from me with kids with very unique names. I always remember thinking that any stalker using the site could have tracked her down no problem from all the details she gave about her family and the area she lived in!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
newtb · 22/09/2022 07:59

There used to be a brilliant poster in relationships, she was especially good about infidelity. Sadly, she was banned. Can't remember her name.

Original poster
Anon778833 · 22/09/2022 08:04

JangolinaPitt · 22/09/2022 05:56

This!!!
Mumsnet is now much less cliquey -it was awful then when Queen Bee with her deliberately mistyped posts ruled the roost and was a Mean Girl.
Much kinder place now with much wider population and better moderation.

Show quote history

I never knew the posts were deliberately mistyped!

OP posts:
ChannelIsland · 22/09/2022 08:08

I change name too often now to recognise any old names, and of course I never see my name pop up.

victorvictorious · 22/09/2022 08:08

Yup it's very different nowdays. Wasn't there a tab for "unanswered threads"? I seem to recall frequently going through those so people didn't feel left out, I can't imagine that now!

@GobbolinoTheWitchesCat if I recall, the bat was a kind of "Rick rolling" - someone would post something with a link in it which was the bat instead of useful information and you'd groan that you'd fallen for it.

I'm not sure when I joined, my eldest is 21 now, I know I left for a few years and later came back. Like PP I wouldn't dream of posting personal information like I did - in fact I change my username now as often as my pants...

CarpeVitam · 22/09/2022 08:10

FlibbertyGiblets · 21/09/2022 23:03

I know, we had a profile page, we could put photos (I can still recall the photo I used, it was a toddler jumpsplash type) Looking back we were LOONS for leaking personal info. Bonkers! But that was then; the past is a different country, they do things differently there...

@FlibbertyGiblets

Opening line of 'The Go-Between' - LO Hartley 👍

Wagsandclaws · 22/09/2022 08:13

I've only changed name once 🤣.

I've been here 14 years, seen some really sad and really wonderful things.

I remember several prolific posters some of whom have been mentioned above - I was mid 30's and pregnant with ds 13 when I joined.

CarpeVitam · 22/09/2022 08:13

*L P

watcherintherye · 22/09/2022 08:17

I remember Mumsnet Royalty being a thing. I’ve always been one of the plebs!

A580Hojas · 22/09/2022 08:19

I loved those profile pages because I'm really quite nosey.

Everyone had house envy for Pagwatch's house.

Wouldloveanother · 22/09/2022 08:24

Everydaywheniwakeup · 21/09/2022 23:09

I miss Birth Announcements when people would write 2000 word essays on their birth experience, ending with their child's full name, weight, time of birth and often a photo. It was very of its time and I was a new parent and used to like that shit.

I like that!

5zeds · 22/09/2022 08:33

@MondaysChild7 It was lucky for me that I found MN in the early days of discovering that my dd had a severe disability.

I don’t remember Queen B or MN royalty but the majority of my time was spent on the SN boards which I agree were fabulous when the children were young. There was a hen night, which was lovely, and so many kind words in dark moments. Sometimes I desperately want to know what happened to them all. “This is my child” tried to help with misunderstandings….it was all quite hopeful and ambitious.

SoupDragon · 22/09/2022 08:36

TheUnquestionedAnswer · 21/09/2022 23:43

When AIBU was just that and not people hopping on for traffic or making up daft reasons to be judged. When I first joined I thought that was the only section to the forum.

When there wasn't AIBU...

ThisUserNameIsAvailableOk · 22/09/2022 08:36

"This!!!
Mumsnet is now much less cliquey -it was awful then when Queen Bee with her deliberately mistyped posts ruled the roost and was a Mean Girl.
Much kinder place now with much wider population and better moderation"

Yup. It's funny how some pop up on these threads too 🤣. Must be sitting scouring MN and posting under different names. Sad and a good representation of what the Mean Girl of 15/20 years ago has now become

SoupDragon · 22/09/2022 08:41

Much kinder place now

it really isn't.

soupmaker · 22/09/2022 08:41

I've been here since 2007 I think. Only changed name once for a while to post about something I didn't want identified by.

The bat! I'd forgotten about the bat. The gifting was always lovely. And bumping for people with no replies.

soupmaker · 22/09/2022 08:42

*waves @SoupDragon This was the name I wanted when I joined! And I agree it absolutely is not a kinder place.

5zeds · 22/09/2022 08:43

What meanness was done to who??? I think I totally missed all of that. Was there a battle? (I have a vision of a Rap-battle but with frantic typing followed by hideously long pauses because your adversary had to change a nappy.)

SoupDragon · 22/09/2022 08:44

GobbolinoTheWitchesCat · 22/09/2022 00:05

For those of us not old enough to date in 2003...what's the deal with the bat??

The bat started out as a game where you had to find the most ridiculous photo that had someone's user name. That bat is called Spupy and was the mascot on an exploration/scientific ship (I think the ship was called something like the Mariana). The bat lingered and, like a PP said, it used to get posted a lot under the guise of a helpful link.

Rummikub · 22/09/2022 08:48

Not a cricket bat? But a bat 🦇?

Wowijustgiveup · 22/09/2022 08:50

I started coming on here about 2004/5 when my two oldest were born my eldest just turned 18 last week so i have been on and off mumsnet for her whole childhood.

i remember when i first came on ending posts with

thanks
*real name

which would be really odd now!

i have 4 younger children the youngest is 6 and i havent posted as much mainly because more recently people can be mean! Or just not answer posts so i tend to just browse now.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 22/09/2022 08:55

A580Hojas · 22/09/2022 08:19

I loved those profile pages because I'm really quite nosey.

Everyone had house envy for Pagwatch's house.

Yes 🤣 She was a nice poster.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 22/09/2022 08:57

SoupDragon · 22/09/2022 08:41

Much kinder place now

it really isn't.

No it isn't.

Swipe left for the next trending thread