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AIBU?

To wonder why someone who isn't a parent would want to use Mumsnet?

123 replies

create · 17/08/2011 16:44

I'm not saying I mind, or that they shouldn't, I just wonder why?

I get it if they're about to become a parent or TTC, but there do seem to be a few who post along the lines of I don't have DC, but..... Why is this site of interest to them?

OP posts:

Report

WannaBeMarryPoppins · 17/08/2011 20:14

LadyOfTheManor, I didn't think I was justifying myself, more explaining the OP's question. She wondered why childless people would be on here so I explained my reasons, just like many others

SnapesMistress · 17/08/2011 20:15

I'm childless but intend to have DC in the next 5 years or so and see a lot of MN as research. I'm also training to be a teacher so find the education boards helpful.

Also its too goddamn funny here for me to up sticks to elsewhere in the interwebs.

LadyOfTheManor · 17/08/2011 20:16

cervical mucus. Christ.

AbsDuCroissant · 17/08/2011 20:16

Lady - why? I'm not justifying I'm just explaining why I'm here for someone who's curious.

Anyways, I do stay away from attempting to give parenting advice, as it's just not cricket.

LadyOfTheManor · 17/08/2011 20:19

There's been a billion of these threads-usually not so nice, where people creep out of the woodwork to defend themselves;

"I'm a nanny".

"I'm a social worker".

My response would probably be; "So I can gloat that I have perfect abs and no stretch marks or porridge in my hair". But I have a child and one en route, so I can't do that.

Just admit it, we're an amazing bunch of people (cervical mucus and all).

Scuttlebutter · 17/08/2011 20:19

Like many women here, I got sucked in by the delights of AIBU, found the Doghouse and never left. Women without children still do things like wear clothes, read books, do crafts, cook meals, clean homes, breed goats or any of the other myriad sub forums that are here. Naturally, I steer clear of the Weaning/Nappies/ type stuff (shudder). This type of thread crops up routinely every month or so - leaves me feeling a bit to be honest, but then I think of all the great people who are on here, and don't mind so much. At least they don't come up as often as anti dog threads, children at weddings or P & T parking.

I actually think it's really important that a parenting forum does have the views of non parents on it. Children don't exist in a vacuum and many of the threads on here are often specifically about how children and parents interact with the wider world, be that colleagues, fellow diners in a restaurant or thank you letters to uncles and aunts. Non parents are often the ones who are expected to suck up the cover for parents dashing off out of the office, working over Christmas (one thread last year claimed that parents should have an automatic right to preferential treatment over booking holidays) etc. Having a view from the other side of the fence can sometimes be a useful counter balance.

And no, I didn't know you could use a toothbrush as a vibrator. But now I do! Fab.

Thistledew · 17/08/2011 20:20

I started lurking when I hit a broody patch. I probably won't actually have children for another 2-3 years but I haven't ever really been around people with babies, and before I started lurking, could have written the entirety of my child - related knowledge on a postcard. Now I do feel that i could at least make a fair stab at raising a small person.

I suppose I could have done an intensive 9 months of cramming if I had waited until I was pregnant to learn about babies and children, but surely that is leaving it a bit late?

Besides, I would have missed out on years of relationship advice, random humour, and exposure to all sorts of ideas and experience along the way.

kitya · 17/08/2011 20:21

None of us are justifying it, just answering the question. I think I originally got directed here through googling Boden discounts and stayed, I hope this is ok.

LadyOfTheManor · 17/08/2011 20:22

I'm afraid not. Sling 'yer hook.

It's not as if there's a vagina inspection to see if one has had children.

Greensleeves · 17/08/2011 20:23

Oh, not this shit again

I often wonder why people who are as thick as mince would want to use MN. Do you have a death wish or something?

LadyOfTheManor · 17/08/2011 20:25

Maybe they were typing NetMums and got confused...?

YaMaYaMa · 17/08/2011 20:25

I think it's because there isnt another large, popular website which caters (generally) for women and doesnt patronise us.

fit2drop · 17/08/2011 20:34

Maybe its so mums are not defined by purely being a mum.
labels suck
maybe here mums can realise/sense that its ok to still be yourself and that "ME" still exists and didnt get thrown out with the placenta.

im gonna get a loads of come backs now from people who ate the placenta aren't I

fit2drop · 17/08/2011 20:55

oh just bloody ignore me, ^thats would be IF you was a mum ...op did not mean that

muppet/overtired/ imatwat disclaimer sorry

TheSmallClanger · 17/08/2011 21:21

It's about the only forum around that isn't centred around the needs and wants of males aged 14-25. It's probably one of the fastest-moving forums on the net, and it has lots of useful, funny and sometimes thought-provoking stuff.

HellonHeels · 17/08/2011 21:32

I don't have children. I like MN because it's a forum for women and I like being in a women-majority space. I like the style and beauty forum, animal advice, relationships, feminism, the book club.

Also it does give me an insight into the inner life of friends who are parents.

A1980 · 17/08/2011 22:09

99% of the stuff on this section has nothing to do with kids anyway.

How many threads starts: AIBU to be fucking pissed at this and you look at it and it's about pavement rage, work rage, road rage, air rage, someone looked at you the wrong way on public transport, .......

If you want it to be the preserve of mums fucking make it about motherhood and children then.

kidsscareme · 17/08/2011 22:16

YABVU

Ive no DC and havent any intention of having any. I love it on here

I love the range of topics and find it very informative on all types of things including parenting. (just cause I dont have any of my own doesnt mean Im not interested and also doesnt mean that my input isnt valid)

My DH doesnt get why I come on here either but I dont care im never leaving!

confuseddotcodotuk · 17/08/2011 22:23

Because it's brilliant? My best mate (a bloke) is actually planning on joining as he loves the threads I send him all of the time!

exoticfruits · 17/08/2011 22:48

It is open to anyone. Sooner or later someone says 'why are you posting if you have no DCs' as if it is some sort of club. In the same way they get upset on HE if you don't HE, or feminists threads if you don't follow the majority view etc. I think they all need an outsiders view-and I welcome anyone. I remember Ian Hislop on 'Have I Got News for You', dismissing it as 'young mums' when young mums are only part of it-there are old mums, grandmothers and people who aren't mums and men-and it is much better for it!

PixiePrincess · 17/08/2011 23:02

Hi I'm only a teenager and I don't have any children, I just love the Mumsnet forum, it's better than any other forum I've been on :)

BaronessBomburst · 17/08/2011 23:22

Can someone link to the toothbrush/ vibrator thread, please? This is the second thread it's been mentioned on this evening and now I want to get some tips read it and judge.

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Pan · 17/08/2011 23:23

Pixie - teenagers are fab, so don't use the 'only' pre-fix? You sound like a lovely teenager.

PixiePrincess · 17/08/2011 23:25

Sorry Pan :D I thought I'd get flamed for being so young and not having children!

CarnivalBizarre · 17/08/2011 23:30

I'm a mum and I avoided this site for years thinking it was a twee knitting and crochet circle full of herbal tea drinking do gooders ( like netmums )

How wrong was I!!!!

I have learned some stuff since joining here - believe me ....and sometimes not in a good way - felching and blue waffles

Flip

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