Why do people use MN for this?...

[handmadeclottedcreamfudge]

Ok almost certainly going to ruffle some feathers here but asking anyway..

Been using MN for well over a decade now but lately noticing more and more people taking to MN to announce they're "child free by choice". Why be on MN then? It's Mumsnet, I can't get why you'd be child free by choice and intentionally go to a parenting forum. If I were child free by choice I wouldn't be going on parenting forums because well, I wouldn't be a parent or have any interest in being a parent.

Because there are lots of threads on here that have nothing to do with parenting maybe? Property/ DIY/ travel/ pets/ exercise. Didn’t realise you had to me a mother to use the page? What about all the people going through IVF using the conception threads?

Because it’s the best gardening and allotment forum around.

We have this thread almost every week it seems. Surely you've noticed the hundreds of topics on here that don't relate to raising children?

Presumably, the folks going on the DIY threads and swapping recipes don’t feel the need to mention their family planning choices at all.

I think the OP is probably referring to folks on threads where parental status is relevant.

If you want advice about something would you rather go to a nichey site or one of the largest in the country to get more traffic?
Lots of people choose the latter. If I need an answer to something (non-parent related) a bit weird, quickly, MN is usually pretty damn good (if you can filter out the idiotic replies and get to the helpful ones...)

Another thing - maybe people want to validate their choice by reading about how hard parenting is....?!

I hide all the parenting threads, so boring and only engage on the others

I get why non-parents use MN - it has lots of interesting discussions on a wide range of topics. The "child free by choice" threads vary in tone though - I see why someone might post asking about how parents perceive them, or how their life might be different as a result of their choice, but I don't really see the point of the "I am child free by choice and you parents can all eff off" type threads.

Been using MN for well over a decade now

Then you'll be aware this question pops up about once a week on here, and you'll have read the numerous reasons why childfree women use it.

"I am child free by choice and you parents can all eff off" type threads.

Hmm, because there are so many of those threads, aren't there?

Child free from choice here. The boards from which I have learned a great deal that I wouldn't otherwise know

Feminism - the fight to save single spaces and the pushback against the removal of women's rights
Relationships - how to spot an abusive one (I was able to use this one at work) and to share with other women who might be in that situation my experience of being cheated on and coming out the other side in one piece
Gardening - what to put in a north facing site
Work - again, sharing my experience
Travel/holidays - plenty of ideas for when I start travelling again, what to do and where to go
London - despite having lived here pretty much all my life, I still have a lot to learn about the place. Where to go, what to eat and that board is full of ideas.
Property/DIY- about to start a complete redecoration of my flat and that has loads of help about ideas and costs and dealing with decorators.
What We're Reading - OMG. Books, books books and intelligent conversation about books.

Does that answer the question, OP? IMO this is the single best resource for women (whatever their maternal status) that I have EVER found in 30 years on the internet.

It staggers me that you have been on MN for 10 years and don't appreciate that the vast majority of discussions on here are not "parenting" centred.
You're not going to ruffle any feathers 🙄, just make yourself look really foolish.

Oh - and it has damned good bunfights over all sorts of topics, which are great to read even if you don't join in.

As above also you can post a thread saying can anyone tell me what this book I read 20 years ago and give the most vague description and someone will usually have the right answer in the first 10 posts.

How have you been on here for a decade and missed the other billion posts about this
People use it for other things
I used mn for ages before having dc

Oh goody another child free basher thread

Just to clarify- not bashing at all. I thought it was going to be clear I meant in relation to the parenting bits! (Purely because I only use it for the parenting bits)
Cheers for all the many valid points 💐💐💐

Well at least it isn't Brexit this time

Sometimes non-parents are good advisors. My BFF has none, she’s single too, but she’s wise and fair and has lived for forty two years and learned some stuff. She sees my chaotic attempts at motherhood from a fresh perspective🤣Also a lot of times parents feel competitive, there’s none of that.

Your first sentence said you knew you were going to ruffle feathers and now you say that wasn't your intention. Interesting choice of day to post as well.

I use MN to talk about books, travel, my job. I've hidden all the boring as fuck mammy things. Was never that interested in my own pushchair let alone some randoms.

It's very liberating. Hiding yawnsome shit about other people's kids means we get to avoid goady fuckers who think people who aren't mothers shouldn't be here.

(I am a mother btw)

I didn't namechange either. Unlike the OP.

Just to clarify- not bashing at all. I thought it was going to be clear I meant in relation to the parenting bits!
If that's what you meant why write Why be on MN then? .

I've got 4 kids, I very, very rarely comment on baby/parenting/child related threads. I often come on here to avoid all things children for 10 minutes!

I said I was probably going to, not that I hoped to 😄
Genuine curiosity rather than judgement.

Along with London bashing threads.

What if you come on here when you start trying to conceive then find out you can’t? Should you leave?