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What is the MOST irritating thing on Mumsnet?

411 replies

5YearsLeft · 13/04/2024 04:43

I saw someone mention that something was “high on the list of most irritating Mumsnet things,” but I couldn’t find a post discussing that list. And now we have polls, I thought it might be interesting, especially “other” stuff.

OP posts:
YeahComeOnThen · 13/04/2024 08:16

ChessieFL · 13/04/2024 05:45

People reanimating zombie threads.

@ChessieFL

its very annoying!!

however, I have been guilty of it a few time since MN started that stupid 'Similar threads' I've had to train myself to ignore them!!

5YearsLeft · 13/04/2024 08:17

Revelatio · 13/04/2024 08:07

When people say things like, ‘I just can’t understand why you don’t want to spend every minute with your children’, or ‘I can’t understand why anyone doesn’t wash their towels after every use’. Either they’re so completely lacking in empathy they can’t put themselves in someone else’s shoes for a second, or, and I would mostly, they’re a judging bastard.

@Revelatio I can completely see this one. It’s a “faux misunderstanding” like the “faux apology” (“well, I’m sorry you feel that way”). They understand exactly why someone would/wouldn’t ___. They just think it’s wrong, possibly stupid.

OP posts:
MyBrownEyedHandsomeBoy · 13/04/2024 08:17

More than irritating, I actually hate threads where people are mocking or sneering at children's names. The thread may start out innocently, like "most unusual name you've heard"
But it turns quite nasty. Especially when people start describing what the name reminds them of. It's not nice

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

YeahComeOnThen · 13/04/2024 08:19

scoobs321 · 13/04/2024 08:13

When the whole OP is quoted in a reply so you have to scroll and scroll just to get to their comment.

@scoobs321

especially when their comment is then banal!!

flutterby1 · 13/04/2024 08:24

@MuffinCrumbs oh yeah , the D is probably darling... nauseating 😂🙄

RosesAndHellebores · 13/04/2024 08:24

It has lost its humour and many of the witty comebacks have disappeared, or when they do people take offence.

When I first joined, close to the beginning there were so many of us in our mid 30s/early 40s with small children. I think some of us are still here but the site seems so young now.

There are times when I feel it has got more like NetMums which seemed more prissy and prescriptive.

Willmafrockfit · 13/04/2024 08:27

YeahComeOnThen · 13/04/2024 08:16

@ChessieFL

its very annoying!!

however, I have been guilty of it a few time since MN started that stupid 'Similar threads' I've had to train myself to ignore them!!

agree, it is the similar threads down below!

catchingclouds · 13/04/2024 08:28

People who click on a 'woo' thread solely to announce they don't believe in anything spooky, then eye roll and patronise those who do. Plenty of posters give well thought out reasons why they believe in some things paranormal. It's interesting for these people to share and read others. Then the woo police barge in and no one feels like having their beliefs or experiences ridiculed so the thread fades away. It clearly says it's a woo thread, if it's not your bag then stay out.

Saintmariesleuth · 13/04/2024 08:29

The drip feeders wind me up. The OP outlines a problem or issue. Some posters reply giving (usually) sensible advice. Then OP then returns to give more information, which changes the entire context of the original issue and renders most of the thread irrelevant.

Then you get a mix of posters replying with new advice following the update, plus posters advising based on the original premise who haven't seen the update.

Sunlitshadow · 13/04/2024 08:40

The “it’s sex not gender” brigade.

Mrttyl · 13/04/2024 08:46

Frumpyfrau · 13/04/2024 05:09

I can just about cope with the spelling, grammar, lack of comprehension, etc., but find most advice about teens on here atrocious.

I really agree with this. I am so shocked at how unforgiving people are on teens. They seem to forget that they are still very young and that their brains are still developing.

Toddler parenting advice: gentle thoughtful responses about parenting.
Teen parenting advice: harsh consequences and kick them out. They should be grateful that you feed them and let them exist in your house followed by ‘my DS/DD would never dare do that, you are far too weak’.

I assume most of the posters don’t have teens or have teens that live an entirely secret life from their parents.

Ocadoshoppingjustarrived · 13/04/2024 08:47

Self-congratulation of the 'my DH would NEVER do that variety'

Man hating and double standards - I am thinking of a thread a few weeks ago when posters were saying it was perfectly OK to hide a pension from your husband.

Hyperbole - my DH told our daughter off - Is he always so abusive OP? My DH has a can of beer four times a week - I could not live with an alcoholic OP (see also self-congratulaton above)

The assumption that a baby is 'my baby' with the father playing a bit role as and when the mother allows it.

The constant drama about MILs feeding the baby, talking to the baby, looking at the baby

The narrative that not allowing anyone else to hold, feed or in any way interact with a baby is entirely normal behavior. It isn't. See also banning visitors.

Self-congratulation again, this time about voting preference. 'I vote for Labour because I care. You clearly don't'

The refusal to accept that, for most voters, the trans issue does not even come onto their radar when deciding how to vote

The shouting down if any criticism of the NHS whatsoever.

The whataboutery. A car blocked my drive - maybe there was a medical emergency? Someone walked past me when I fell - maybe they were rushing to pick up a sick child? A woman pushed me out if the way to pick up the last pint of milk - maybe it is the only thing their terminally-ill child can drink? All of the above might be true but it's much more likely they were just being arses. I always wonder if the OP would not be annoyed in the above circumstances in real life.

Teenagers - my teen won't tidy his room. 'That's ridiculous OP - even my two-year-old helps me with the tidying. I know this will never be an issue in this house because my child actually enjoys helping me' See self-congratulation above.

Picky eaters - my two-year-old will eat ANYTHING because hecqas introduced to a wide range of foods from the beginning. He point blank refuses to eat anything from a children's menu because we are superior parents'

The assumption that women know everything about parenting from the moment they give birth, yet their mums and in-laws, who have been through it at least once, know absolutely nothing, leading to the need to initially 'gently explain' where they are going wrong and ultimately go nc because giving food on a green plate just isn't acceptable now. It might have been when they were bringing up their children, but research moves on.

I think maybe I need to find another site!

Snugglemonkey · 13/04/2024 08:47

Dustyblue · 13/04/2024 05:41

Not RTFT and posting away merrily. At least read all the OP's posts before going in all guns blazing 🙄

It us sometimes too hard to do that on the mobile app. If there are hundreds of replies.

porridgecake · 13/04/2024 08:48

Sunlitshadow · 13/04/2024 08:40

The “it’s sex not gender” brigade.

Not read the Cass report? Not concerned about the NHS sterilising children? Thank goodness some people cared enough to try and raise awareness.

Covetthee · 13/04/2024 08:48

Moonshine5 · 13/04/2024 07:23

When the OP responds to every single comment.

And its usually on the threads where they have most likely posted saying my husband is having a heart attack shall I call the hospital!?

  1. who the hell posts on a forum during a medical emergency?
  2. then sits and replies in paragraphs to every poster
Saltpepperpaprika · 13/04/2024 08:50

Taking the "D" stuff too far like DSis just say sister, it reads better and is only two extra letters. DDog is the stupidest.

Agreeing with something by quoting it and then saying "quite".

Putting (tw) in the title or at the top without saying what it's a trigger warning OF. Or putting it in the middle of a sentence like "and then (tw) he died"

AutumnBride · 13/04/2024 08:51

Posters who think everyone lives in London or the Home Counties.

SuziQuinto · 13/04/2024 08:52

porridgecake · 13/04/2024 08:48

Not read the Cass report? Not concerned about the NHS sterilising children? Thank goodness some people cared enough to try and raise awareness.

Exactly. Very disturbing.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 13/04/2024 08:53

Twiglets1 · 13/04/2024 07:56

That grinds my gears too. I hate the casual ageism on Mumsnet that goes unacknowledged by the mods.

On the property threads there is so much vitriol against “boomers” and the word is definitely used as an insult.

I’d agree re Boomers (I am one) - except for those who so tediously bang on about young people only being unable to afford to buy a home because of their addiction to smartphones and avocados.

So stupid and clueless (or wilfully ignorant) about how much prices, relative to incomes, have changed.

Sux2buthen · 13/04/2024 08:53

The man hate.

Rainraindontgoaway · 13/04/2024 08:54

the common use of LTB when the fella has been totally unreasonable for silly things like going out with mates, not putting a sock in the washing basket … yadda yadda

dsan · 13/04/2024 08:54

People who have no idea how to deal with a situation but chime in anyway with useless advice, I've seen:

Parent of a 3 year old telling a parent of a 15 year old they have failed as a parent because the teenager was caught with a vape and they should call the police to find out who the child had bought the vape from.

Parent of 15 year old telling parent of a 4 month old to 'give them a bit of porridge to sleep' because they did it and they have a strapping boy who wasn't harmed.

Someone suggested a poster who was working multiple NMW jobs and struggling 'just retrain and get a better job'

A single mother in temp accommodation find a work from home job to do while the kids are in bed and she will have a deposit for a house in no time.

There are many more, but these are the ones that spring to mind.

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 13/04/2024 08:55

People who respond unthinkingly to others' posts. I find that people who post asking for advice on a situation / relationship that is very hard for them (hence why they have posted) sometimes receive a joke/ blunt/ sarcastic response when it's quite clear that they need someone to listen and support.

There are many brilliant and empathetic posters too thankfully but every so often there is not. I can't get too wound up about grammar. I did used to though which I now feel bad about.

SuziQuinto · 13/04/2024 08:56

I think there have been some really brilliant and informative AMAs, but recently, it's just turned into a space to brag (and be unpleasant about it) which is a shame.

GobbolinoCat · 13/04/2024 08:57

People with low comprehsion skills or those that don't understand the nuances of a particular situation and therefore a vulnerable op doesn't get the support they need and have to field awful comments.

One comment turned and picked on that's not relevant.

Swipe left for the next trending thread