How have MN threads changed over the years…?

[Conniebygaslight]

Despite being a mum of 4 young adult children I only stumbled MN last year when I typed a rather desperate question into Google. I work with young people and I’ve noticed a huge change in their issues over the years so I wondered what the original MNetters have noticed as a change in threads and responses about anything by anyone…is there a noticeable shift in attitudes?

Mmmm I’d say that it was really bloody funny. I’m not trying to be all nostalgic but there aren’t many threads at the moment that don’t include

‘you sound nice’
‘judgey, much?’

etc. and yeah we always had that but there are a lot of professionally offended on here nowadays. Also I think we are more tolerant of something’s now… which is good. Lots of threads now include ‘what if xxx is ND?’ whereas 15 yrs ago it would have been ‘tell xxx to get to fuck’ - both can be correct BTW.

But yeah. It was funnier.

There seem to be a lot of threads featuring people who live very rigid lives.. not sure how to describe it, but their lives seem to be an endless round of housework, batch cooking making packed lunches ( no UPF!) ferrying to activities and getting into pyjamas by 8 pm. There’s also a horror of credit cards, and obsession with amassing a huge pension.
Sometimes I come home from work, and do basically fuck all. Read a book. Buy something I don’t need on my credit card and drink a massive glass of wine cos it’s Monday, and I feel like a right slattern by current Mumsnet standards.
It used to be a lot more laid back round here!

Odfod etc were acceptable responses.
People had a sense of humour.
You'd get your arse handed to you on a plate if you were a twat.
People were also kinder, there was brilliant advice and support when needed.
There weren't as many boards so it felt like a community. You can still get that on here, but with all the name changes it's harder. The long running threads can provide a sense of this.
It was funny.

I thought it was hilarious when I joined about a year ago… I do wonder if it’s more serious now, the world is too I guess although maybe that’s just an age thing. I can’t imagine people needing as much reassurance years ago though, people seem to need reassurance from 20 people to boil an egg nowadays.

You could call someone a dickhead, because they were being a dickhead, and no one would cry about it. It was vastly more witty and intelligent conversation, no having to explain the obvious. I'd constantly be involved in interesting general chat. Genuinely funny. Rarely seen now. We all had "the scarf" and some of us had pictures on our profiles. We'd meet up IRL.

However, it remains the source of all knowledge like no other on tinterweb. Want to know the best gravy? How to deal with the teething baby? Legal advice? Divorce support? How to deal with dry rot? It's all here.

Me? I'm here for the Christmas boards. It's my safe happy space.

It was wittier and funnier and there were lots of atrocious cunts.

Haaaaaaa. This.

Maybe because there were less boards we felt closer. We had to share experiences. Now we have 8,000,000 boards and everyone’s experiences are fragmented. Also god help you now if you post in the wrong category.

The demographic has changed somewhat - I think penis beaker was the sliding doors moment because then it became mainstream.

MNers used to be warm
but strident women with a somewhat robust air… now it’s indecisive wet lettuces, the rude and abrasive and the professionally offended. It’s too big.

We used to have hilarious threads by brilliant writers.

Unfortunately for some reason mn mods let that be stamped out by joyless fun suckers.
So any thread written in a teeny slightly amusing way "" trooooollll" and a deep dive search on your posting history.
Utter fucking fuckers.

I've been here for over 15 years (numerous name changes and rarely post now) and back then it felt like more of a community. We'd have random chats which completely derailed threads but no one minded, people would 'wave' to each other and tell them about another thread about something or other and then we might all head over to it. There was more mischief, more real friendships, there was an annual meet up. It was good. I think some of that still exists within certain boards/long running threads but not across the whole site. I dont 'know' anyone in here anymore whereas 10 years ago I'd chat regularly to people across the site on different threads.

Completely agree. Also we all swore all of the fucking time. It was fucking great.

@ChevyCamaro I would agree with that- far more people expecting you to live a show home life , a lot more 'Americanisation' ie obsessions with family time , Halloween, making memory's etc - shock horror if you express that you actually like breaks away without kids in tow and aren't remotely interested in elf on the shelf or matching PJs etc and no it doesn't mean that you don't love your kids

I've been around for best part of fifteen years. It's got less funny, less kind (and not in that modern be kind bullshit way) less empathetic and more argumentative. My username (one of several )is because people were being vile in relationships board and chat and all sorts of places, where as aibu was where you went for a bunfight.

I think MN gets a lot of press now so there are the trolls and TRA and men and loads of people who are not what the core demographic used to be. There are some good blokes on here but a fair few who aren't popping up too.

I also think there are bots and weird ai shenanigans where right wingers are here to influence and cause trouble. What was a scandal via Cambridge analytica a few years ago now just seems to be the modern propaganda machine and it's a fact of modern politics. MN is influential so it has attracted provocateurs not just genuine posters. Plus the sodding lazy journos.

I never used to think it was a political place, a bit leftie if anything but I feel in the last year especially it has really got RW. I haven't felt like I belong lately. There are some hugely rich and entitled people here. But I am still here. I miss some of the old posters.

It used to be waaaay funnier and there were a lot of "in" jokes.

Felt more like an extended friendship group than an advice board.

Style and Beauty was much much more on trend!

@SheilaWilde yep it's a shame as I still see some brilliant posts ( I joined 8 years ago and have used several names ) and always think 'oh I would love you as a friend'

Waves at @@SheilaWilde . You are my generation of mn

Yes! Where did the funny threads go and the in jokes! And not sodding mentioning penis beaker.

@SodOffbacktoaibu - love your user name !! There's some really harsh views on that board and hence I rarely post on it !!

It is my alter ego. I'm more polite under my other usernames. I blame menopause

I've been here on and off for over 15 years. It was a lot more witty and funny. Also, lots of people
Ahead of the curve in parenting, BLW etc.

Have a flick through some of the Classics thread. Amazing reading .

I’ve made some brilliant RL friends on here, have been on holiday with Mumsnetters, a MN wedding, (and a remote funeral) been out on the piss with some, out to dinner. It’s been great for me.

@SodOffbacktoaibu agree about the politics too - I am I would say left of centre but not a real leftie! I do feel though that many posts are started purely for agitation purposes , particularly by those on the right- it feels like Tufton st have a 'your shift on mumsnet ' time. The main reason is certain posters post on nothing on the site but politics - I haven't seen many left of centre posters that 'only' post purely about politics to be fair-

@SodOffbacktoaibu lol!!! I like your style

I also think the active threads has a lot to answer for. People use that more than anything and then treat all of the boards. The same.

15 years ago I’d have MN as my default Friday night entertainment. Laptop, wine, and I’d laugh my ass off at daft meandering threads.
Agree that it was more left wing back then too. Also the SPAG was better. Not so much “how can I loose 10 pounds”.