To not understand 90% of what anyone is on about in the Health and Beauty section

[Ryoko]

And to also find it depressing that H&B gets way more threads/replies a day then anything in the news or politics sections. it's like the stereotypes are true, woman are all shallow.

I've never been hairdressers, I wear T-shirts and jeans, I buy skirts and shoes if I like them I have no idea about all the different types and the different names, I've no idea why anyone in their right mind would want to curl their eyelashes (those things look like torture tools to me).

It's all greek to me.

No, another one who had no idea there was a Style and Beauty section, and what's been posted so far doesn't inspire me to go and look.

I get really miserable at how little traffic there is on the politics section too -the Euro was close to collapse, Greece was within hours of potentially going under, possibly dragging down the euro and by extension the global economy ... and mumsnet had NOTHING. No thread (about a day later one appeared - still under 80 posts though. Whereas some trivial shit gets hundreds.) I try not to mind, but I do sympathise with the OP, in that the relentless triviality sometimes makes me fume.

By the way, what the hell is wrong with linen trousers? (Bar the cost/creasing.) I think they look rather nice. I'm clearly not cut out for Style and Beauty, so shall continue to ignore it, now I know it exists.

Just because something doesn't get posted on much here at MN doesn't mean it's not being discussed IRL.

For instance, I post on another closed forum and we discuss these sorts of issues a lot. I certainly discuss them IRL with DH and friends over a glass or two of wine, putting the world to rights. I mean, don't most people?

People use MN for different reasons, and I'd guess that the main one is for a bit of escapism, therefore it stands to reason that the lighter topics see more traffic.

I honestly don't think you can draw any robust conclusions about MNers - and by extension, women - by which subjects in a discussion forum have the most traffic.

Let's take heart that the feminism section has actually expanded - there's loads of active threads in there with a range of varying, interesting and thought-provoking topics from some extremely informed and knowledgable posters.

I too talk a lot about politics in real life so I don't often post on there.

Same with relationships as in real life I'm a therapist - so if I do post it's just to say 'leave'.

Most of my life is filled with fairly serious stuff so I go on style and beauty to banter about Boden and chat and aibu to argue and talk shite.

It doesn't make me shallow, it makes me selective.

I like S and B because the posters are often polite, kind, witty and friendly. I have been known to also post in politics.

I think one of the issues with politics is that AIBU has taken over some of the territory - to the loss, perhaps of politics - and I guess quite a bit of politics is also in chat: hence less traffic in the "pure" politics section. Oh - and "feminism" has pinched a lot of the traffic, too.

For some reason, style and beauty stuff tends to stay in S and B.

You should check it out, Ryoko - it really is one of the really polite, non-AIBU-ish bits of mn.

OP you are rather tiresome - all 'I am considerably cleverer than you'

I post a lot on style and beauty, but also prolifically in the feminist topic, and have been very involved in long-running political threads on here over the years.

Just because you spend a load of money on make up doesn't mean you are brainless and shallow. Don't be so absurd. The statements/judgements in your OP are something a narrow-minded and rather unintelligent person would say

Why go to the hairdressers?

To get rid of your split ends!

what is a maxi skirt?

There is a clue in the name.

I have an MA and am sent around the world as an examiner, I like make up and clothes and I wear what I like and suit.

Go and get a trim and stop being so narrow minded.