Were you ever on a site with a strong community feel

[Liz1tummypain]

Just interested to know what people have to say about this. I was on a questions and answers site, not that I imparted much knowledge, it was mainly the music and chat areas I liked. But there were a lot of friendly regulars who I was friends with over tinternet. Mostly Americans, and I think about them now and then. No particular single other user but I miss the community, the atmosphere, if that's the word. I suppose my kids were no longer needing me and it filled a bit of space in my head, my life. Killed odd bits of time and was nice seeing a side of other users lives.

Plenty to be dealing with now and even if it came back I've moved on from that kind of site, I think.

Can other people relate to this ?

BabyBump! Met some lovely women in there when I was pregnant with my daughter in 2011 - am still in contact with some of them now. We moved over to Instagram when it was brand new 🙂

Was on a site called Charlotte Street once and it was fabulous!

Definitely Mumsnet in the 00s. It was a completely different place from what it is now. A very strong community vibe, lots of real-life friendships were formed, and almost every thread was like walking into a cosy cafe where you knew half the other people there

Yes, a hobby site I joined in about 2008. We had to pay £35 a year. Several of us became really close friends and met up irl and still do to this day. Two of them are very close friends now who I see often.

Im with @Comefromaway babyword antenatal groups. I still have several of the december 01 mums on facebook. 1 of the boys has just got engaged. I cant wait for the photos of the wedding.

I was also part of a site called 4 or more. That was an amazing place to be .

h2g2

Badmothersclub for me too, very fond memories

The Thorntree. The forums for Lonely Planet travel related stuff but the women's forum and the anything goes (I think it was called!) were great. I've met up with people in a few countries, and from all over the world - in real life - over the years.

Amazing community. When the forums were culled it was just awful. A few people set up some other communities to greater or lesser success and many of us stay in touch via other social media as well.

I absolutely adore International Secret Santa and have partaken for over two decades.

Back when these sites were banned I was in a most wonderful pro-Ana community. It was life changing for me (not necessarily in good ways). 20 years on we’re still friends.

Girland - never see anyone mention it!

BGH?

Was that You and Your Wedding? I was on that too! I remember the spin off site as well, which followed some very strange goings-on on the main site.
I loved that forum!

Double posted!

Yes, babygreenhouse. Was such a support.

Also wanted to add that Mumsnet, as others have said, in the early - mid 2000's, was very different to the mumsnet of today.

I used to be in the Hogwarts Running Club on Facebook.
It was a virtual running club for (obvs) HP fans. Any money raised went to children's charities.
It was global. There were meet ups. There were medals. T shirts. Merch!
We all used to chat, share things, stories, photos, one lady was a (famous) professional cartoonist and drew some amazing artwork for us all.

We shared stuff, I sent some HP merch with an American lady who couldn't get it there, I think some magazine that was limited edition.
And she sent me a pen and pencil (which I still have).

Then Warner Bros sued them - they changed their name to Potterheads and now it's just shit and a shadow of what it used to be.

I also used to be in Run Bitch Run which was a sweary, boozy virtual running club also on Facebook. They used to shared gratuitous photos of running injuries.
Then new FB mods meant we couldn't swear anymore and now it's just RBR and we can't swear or be cunts anymore.

So annoying.

I also went to some London MN meet ups in 2016ish and everyone was very lovely. Made FB friends with some of them.

😂😂 I had a few names on the website, obviously my own on Facebook. I joined in 2005 when my middle child had colic. A Scottish ( well lancs but moved to Scotland) sent me a gorgeous little care pack when my eldest was in hospital. I met one of the mums a couple of times who was fairly local, and my all time fave thread has to be the left handed popcorn scoop 😂😂.

One of my names was mumcanIhavearabbit and until recently I had my BMC pin badge!

ukparents

I had a blog there during a tricky time and people were so kind and helpful.

I remember someone by the name Sparkles which is pretty close to your current user name..

I loved my antenatal group ion Babyworld, a bunch of us are still friends and our babies are 20.

Ooooo I came here to say this, wonder if it's the same.

Garstang and elegance per chance???

Twitter! I had a bit of a sideline business going and I met a few people from there, quite a few times. I don't do the sideline anymore and I don't know them anymore. But it was fun while it lasted.

People of 2025 are amazed when I tell them that. They seem to think only nutters use Twitter now. But yes, they were real professionals from that line of work on there and we really had a laugh when we met up - as well as it being useful for the work.

it must happen now though, still? Otherwise the word "oomfchella" would not exist. or is that all people hanging out on other sites?

Lexxfans, until a big falling out and a split into two forums.

The Dolls House Emporium forum was good but the owner sold the business and the new owners just folded it.

Women travellers on the thorn tree, lonelyplanet’s message board. Hilarious lovely people. Stopped posting there in about 2007ish? Maybe earlier
Also student midwife sanctuary but that was a bit weird.