Mumsnet is 25 years old this week! Happy Birthday Mumsnet! :) So how long have you been here? (POLL.)

[LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway]

Just that really! I know people have come and gone, but how long have you been here? :)

Oh sorry. If you have access to a laptop, maybe go on later.

I joined first when thinking about TTC DD1 who is now almost 11. Have been here fairly consistently since.

I know the vibe well enough now that I can predict what the overall response will be to most threads- I do love a good “sharp intake of breath” thread 😂

Love it here- great advice and support, good laughs, and outstanding education from some incredibly knowledgeable posters on a whole host of different topics.

Yes you might occasional risk losing a limb, but overall it’s a great place. Thanks to all at MNHQ for keeping the show on the road

Me, too. That's when it was all fields and everyone knew their neighbours! Nobody ever locked their doors, we were in & out of each other's houses all the time ... I remember when [rambles into extended village mythology]

I did make some RL friends on here. Can't imagine building that amount of trust between MN usernames any more. I keep changing mine now, but still get excited to see names I recognise from way back!

I found MN when ds was a newborn and I was navigating the breakdown of my first marriage. He's 22 this year and I'm very happily remarried, thank god!

I've left and re-registered many times over the years, sometimes with quite long breaks. I find MN (and MNers) infuriating at times and should probably knock it on the head, really, but somehow it always pulls me back in. But I've also learned a lot and I made some good friends in the early days.

I’m sure I used to be able to see how long I’ve been a member but can’t find it now. Can anyone guide me please?

Joined in 2011, I never see any of the regular names that were around then, why do they change their names?

I’ve used mumsnet on and off for about 15 years.

I used Netmums before that, Lord forgive me. 🙏 😂

Also a very long standing member - nearly 22 years with many name changes along the way. There were few websites around when Dd was born in 2003 so it was either MN or Netmums but I realised quickly Netmums wasn't for me! 🤣

Well oldest is 24yo so guess 24 years. It’s changed a lot….it was very quiet in the early days. Justine and Carrie used to post quite a bit, you recognised everyone’s names. Not only that but you probably knew their kids ages and their husbands name! You could “click on new posts since my last visit” and there sometimes wouldn’t have been any new threads/posts in a couple of hours.

Over 20. I had concerns about dd's sleep when she was just a babe in arms, and came here. I couldn't register thanks to antiquated equipment so lurked for years before I could actually join. DD will be 26 soon.

I am LOVING all this reminiscing!

THIS made me LOL, and smile! 😁

@GarlicStyle

When it was all fields and everyone knew their neighbours! Nobody ever locked their doors, we were in & out of each other's houses all the time ... I remember when [rambles into extended village mythology]

@SargeMimpson I don't think there is any definitive way to see how long it's been since you first came here. I don't know my exact date. I just know it was around 10-11 years ago (mid 2010s.) I used to be on ivillage. Anyone remember that?! When that shut down, I had to find somewhere else! And then it was hello Mumsnet!

@Flatbellyfella · Today 14:48

Joined in 2011, I never see any of the regular names that were around then, why do they change their names?

I think people change usernames quite often, because there has been a spate (over the last few years) of 'new' posters who drag stuff up from poster's threads and throw it in their face, and/or have personal grudges against people and hound them/stalk them. Shame it got like that, but I can see why people do it (and quite often use a namechange to post a new thread.)

I reckon most of the oldies are still here, but under new usernames. 😀

Wow, almost 330 votes now, thank you!

17 years? I know I lurked for a long time but decided to start posting after the Elderly Korean Lady thread.
I’m increasingly intolerant of the chat bots, questions based on Reddit threads and the disingenuous bad grammar posters.
And the “I just don’t understand whyyyyy…” whiners.

Maybe I’ve outgrown it but I keep coming back. Force of habit.

Edit: I’ve always had this user name but there is an alter ego who posts on Arts and Crafts threads…

I'm in the 16-20 bracket with hardly a name change to my name! There was a time that I posted multiple times a day (and per thread!) but a lifestyle and job change put paid to that. It's weird, when I think back that one of my first posts would have been panicking about my baby refusing water, and now that baby is in Uni and giving me grey hairs worrying about her going travelling!

Old timer here! It’s been so helpful to me - I’ve learned lots. And hopefully helped a few stressed mums along the way.

i reckon the younger age have got their hands full looking after young kids post school and working to be on here right now to do the poll. They do exist going by the things people post about - baby names etc

@Sgtmajormummy You have JUST reminded me. It was the 'penis beaker' thread that brought me here! 😆 As I said, ivillage was closing up, and I was on the look for another forum. Tootled around a bit on the Digital Spy, and MSE forums for a few months, but then came here to see the penis beaker thread after seeing on the internet - trending on Twitter maybe - and I got hooked on Mumsnet quite quickly!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_classics/1875847-Do-you-dunk-your-penis

You may be right! I think there are more newer people than the poll suggests. Also, (dare I say this!) I think 'older' people - middle aged and older, are more likely to be posting on a laptop, whilst the younger ones (under 40) are more likely to be posting from a smartphone, and I don't think some people can see the poll on a smartphone.

I miss ‘recognising’ posters and knowing whose opinions you valued, particularly on the SN boards.
I got some great support through DS’s ASD diagnosis; he’s 28 now!

Incredibly 17 years, I was reading on the teen boards as a 13yo to see if my parents were being unreasonable, then made an account with my 1st DC to ask all the important questions.

2004...my kids were 6 and 3.

I've not been permanently here. There have been a few gaps.
Name changed lots especially after all the security breaches.

15 years! I was pregnant and single and found others who had experienced the same.

Yes, I remember when the weekends were much slower on here 😂

Yes I thought that - I joined around 2008 and that came into the highest category. It would explain why there are more people than I would have expected within my age group .

I've been here since before 9/11 - that's how I can remember. An oldie but on a phone (I've never used the app). I wonder how many of us oldies "knew" each other in the olden days and now have no idea we're all still here 😁

The App has been updated and the poll is now available for people using this - only for a couple of weeks mind. Not sure why the over 40s would be more likely to use a laptop than a phone though - seems an odd assumption!

Think I joined around 2008?