Has there been an uptick of male posters on MN?

[whitefiligree]

Just something I’ve noticed recently. I know MN is not just for women (the About Us states it’s for parents, but I haven’t watched the video as it’s pretty long so maybe more is said there).

I was wondering how other women feel about this? And as for men, are you here to gain a perspective from a female-dominated space? Is there even an equivalent space for men?

Back when internet forums started, I was on a forum which had a password protected women only page. The password was given to women by the moderators once they had verified that they were a woman. Various methods used.
Obviously much smaller than Mumsnet but very good. It was called Loosechat , if anyone remembers it.

I have noticed an uptick in non sequiturs. Usually on threads about the government - this one seems to have escaped.

If I realise the post is written by a man, I skip it and usually hide the thread because where one man is, more men then follow. The whole 0h-I-just-want-a-woman's-opinion is bullshit. I read most threads and don't comment because I have learned what I needed by quietly reading, not by barging into every thread.

I've definitely noticed more men posting on MN, also more are starting their own threads about their DW’s & DP’s. There have always been some men who posted on the relationships board, in an appropriate and not incelly way, but things have changed. TBH, I’ve thought about leaving MN due to the increasing male presence on threads.

@Heedthaball posting history, on the main site, other accounts online. Private messages. It was very successful in keeping men out of private women's chat.

Chap here ...
The message boards here are a fantastic resource I guess principally for women and as my name suggests I mainly read them to get a better insight into what makes relationships work. Perhaps more importantly it shows me how many women suffer at the hands of abusive men and them being helped by other women.

Keep up the great work helping each other

Well today I have discovered that ‘uptick’ really offends some people. I thought the reason was that it was not a usual British word, as in maybe it’s an American word. I’m certainly not trying to look smart or something by using it, it’s what came to my mind first so that’s what I used. My English is a big jumble because I was raised with different versions of English. This is really hard to keep track of how to speak without accidentally offending people 😵‍💫

I wouldn't worry, OP. You're doing fine.

I've recognised a male acquaintance posting on here and although he doesn't outright say he's a woman, he very much tries to give that impression. I'm not sure what he's getting from it - he has no children and is single, but is often offering relationship advice. A bit cringey to say the least.

I like the word 'uptick' it should be used more.

Keep up the great work helping each other

See, this is such a male poster thing to say. Patronising - akin to the whole 'mansplaining' thing. Denotes a sense of superiority over other posters.

Yeah, wot BIWI said!

@whitefiligree don't worry about 'uptick' - we all understand what that means.

Shame youve also said "Mumsnet is a bit of a bubble for women who've had bad experiences. Not all men are like this".
But thanks for the manly permission to be ever helpmeets.

This response is exactly why I post very little...
Sums all the bad side of Mumsnet

I don't engage with men on here at all. Not knowingly anyway. This thread has been helpful in identifying a few more usernames to watch out for (if the mansplaining and patronising didn't give them away already).

The bad side of Mumsnet @Longlurker1? Then you're really not listening are you?

When will you - and your fellow men - understand that women don't need your approbation or 'encouragement'? We're quite good at talking amongst ourselves without needing men to reward or praise us.

If you think this is 'bad', then you need to ask yourself why you're here. What is it you want from a bunch women?

Wot @BIWI said and is saying.

I know, it's funny - they act like wounded animals or something when we don't automatically fawn over them.

We don't need their input, but they act like they're doing us a favour by just being here - imagine me going to a male dominated forum and saying 'well done guys, I think you're doing great', I'd probably get told rightly to fuck off with my sanctimonious bullshit.

It's a shame forums like Giggle can no longer be exclusively female. There's nowhere you can go to get just female spaces these days 💐

@BIWI 👏

So many men here than mansplain and patronise and I wish they would fuck off. Then there are the pervs, so many pervs, hanging around the sex board or the relationship board to comment on any sex related threads. It's often not relevant, they just want to overshare or get stories. Then there are the ones that come here for advice, start off ok but the mask so often slips.

I know men can post here, but I haven't seen many posters who say they're men who seem to post without being a problem.

i remember the days of when the vipers that used to roam the boards

plus most threads other than relationships can use view points from both sides etc and considering the amount of threads that mumsnet themselves put on facebook then its no wonder the user base has increased

You don't have to post at all if you don't like it

A while ago, I was reading a thread on relationships from an obviously traumatised and self doubting woman. She was questioning her feelings about a probably abusive relationship.
A man posted on her thread under the guise of being a woman, to undermine her gut response and to tell her to give the partner another chance.
I called him out, but I think it happens more than some posters realise.