Thinks I only read about on MN

[Wishimaywishimight]

I know this has been done a million times before, I think I may have even started a thread about it some time ago but I'm feeling irritable this morning so here we go;

"Put on your big girl pants" - I really truly fucking hate this saying. Does anyone else picture Bridget Jones with her big pants? It's such a stupid saying. Can you imagine anyone saying to a man "put on your big y-fronts"? No, of course not. It's utter meaningless. Just give whatever advice you are giving, if you have any, no need to preface it with stupid shit.

"He/She is an adult" - sometimes referring to an 18 year old (so just about, legally, an adult), sometimes referring to a person who is or may be upset by a situation. Surely we are all upset by things at times, not always reasonably but we are just human, most of us struggle at times, doesn't mean we are not adults.

"Man-child" - FFS, another daft one.

One that really and truly grates on me - "He/She is being manipulative" again referring to someone being upset by a person or situation. I have read this in relation to a parent being upset by their (adult) child moving overseas. In my world certainly, it would be acceptable for the parent to be upset, to cry even, at the loss of their child / grandchildren. Even to say "I wish you wouldn't go", it's not being manipulative, it's just being human.

"It makes my teeth itch" - it doesn't..

Also, and I know I'm a cow, but my inner response to many AIBU's is just "For fuck's sake, of course you are not being unreasonable, you know you're not. If you just want support or for people to agree with you then just say that."

There, that's helped. A little.

Exactly been said I am a man now which I am not

Yes, unfortunately. I fear I started it and I’m sorry.

Oh and when it comes to knowing whether your unborn baby - ‘Why do you want to know?’ ‘You just want to dress it in pink frilly dresses’ closely followed by ‘my son is a ballerina and my daughter is a rugby player so don’t get your hopes up if you want one or the other’

😆

to which finger you use to pick your nose is a signifier of what class you are

My butler picks my nose for me.

Oh, is that what it is. Thank you.

*whether your unborn baby is a boy or a girl

I don’t think you should be sorry. I feel that everyone should be able to put their views on mumsnet its for parents etc so why shouldn’t we. What about women who have trans kids maybe they feel like how can I post when you get jumped on by some on here

Most of the things above come up in normal conversation for me, not just on MN. Certainly GC/women's rights and discussions around the different types of university are pretty normal. There's a couple of phrases I don't hear in RL, like LTB, but you definitely get the same sentiment (discussion around whether x thing is a deal-breaker in a relationship).

The only thing I can really think of that's unique to MN compared to my lived experienced is toilet brushes. Every house where I've any memory of the bathroom has had one. I don't know where these millions of non-toilet brush households are hiding, maybe in the poo stick ghetto! But all the bigger discussion items are things that I would normally talk about in life.

Do people IRL wave multiple negative pregnancy tests around and ask if people can see a line?

Oh and everyone has a story of a 50 year old they know falling naturally pregnant

Oh dear, clearly you’re new money. The PROPER upper class people simply tear a strip from their hair covered old Barbour jacket and twist it into a little pipe to pick their noses with. How embarrassing.

Ooh I sense a man lurking!

Specific bowls for vomit which live in their own special cupboard.

How much and how often are people vomiting to need a special receptacle
(toilet anyone?)

Have you never heard of washing/sterilising things?

It isn’t just mn though. The whole internet has its own language that people wouldn’t necessarily use in real life.

I also hate the saying of put your big girl pants on... it is so patronising.

Not a saying but the word ...incredibly ... is used so much on here.

Dry socket. I don't know anyone in real life who's had dry socket but I seem to read about it on here pretty regularly

Please let me know which gods you and your people offer sacrifices to.

I often tell myself to 'put my big girl pants on' when I'm procrastinating about doing something - in my head I have the image of Les Dawson dressed as 'Ada' hoiking up his/her skirt and boobs!! Usually gets me moving but I wouldn't dream of telling anyone else (other than possibly my daughter) to do it! 😁

Absolutely. I've discussed it in real life maybe twice, and both cases the conversation was "Christ MN is a bit awful isn't it".

@TheYearOfSmallThings - it was just meant as a bit of a light hearted grump on my part 😉

Of course! If that's what will get us somewhere women absolutely should counter the TW's inadequate (wrong) solutions. If you want to fight for your rights, do proactively and strategically; do not just spread hatred specifically aimed at one group i.e. T people (who imo already live hard + unhappy lives).

This is such bullshit, in so many ways

@Georgyporky This resonated with me. I emailed my GP a while back to ask for a note for a couple of weeks off work. My darling dad had just died and I (understandably I think) was not eating or sleeping and was feeling very low. By email he diagnosed me with clinical depression (by email) and invited me in for an appointment. I declined and instead had a video consultation with another doctor who was very understanding (I wept throughout) and gave me a cert for a few weeks off work.

As you say, sad or upset or worried or even angry feelings are quite normal throughout life and do not necessarily point to a mental health concern. I now feel much better a number of months later. I still feel terribly sadness often but I can eat, sleep and work perfectly well and strongly feel that the diagnosis of clinical depression was wide of the mark.

If only those words weren't necessary...

"Get a higher paid job" - this was trotted out to someone recently who was struggling financially. Great advice I thought to myself, hopefully she went straight out and did just that. As you do.