to think that not every man on mumsnet must be "dodgy"

[OpinionSeeker]

A thread on mums net to settle an argument about mumsnet...
DH thinks that if a man is on mumsnet then he must have an ulterior motive, to chat up 'mums' - he wants me to add that he thinks they must be devious. I think, perhaps naively that there are probably some genuine male parents, aka dads, wishing to discuss parenting issues. DH believes men should be on dadsnet.
Genuinely looking for opinions.

PMs are poisonal < in my best Alberquque/New York accent>

for the record I wear my special MN-posting string vest with ketchup stains down the front and sandals with white sports socks. Just a tradition.

poysernal ?

not poison

well, maybe sometimes hehe

was it a green one, FBF ?

I am only interested in green ones

It was green originally but the kids wanted it blue , so they had their way with it, until I built a block of 3 garages ,one was a big workshop type shed.

Thing is, my lovely friends, this is the interweb. You cannot guarantee anyone. It is an open forum through which anyone can rampage. (Which is why I personally am (a) v open about who I am - quite a few mates of mine have recognised me, I send people stuff I've written, and so on (b) v careful not to post overly personal stuff.)

You could all be lumberjacks, or Surrendered Wives, or Samantha Cameron, for all I know.

yes, my accent's are shite.

apart from yesterday I was called in to interpret a v gutteral Glaswgian man's accent for a 'soft Southerner' colleague. ( I can speak gutteral Glaswegian.) Oh how we ( me and him) laughed.

and hello flatbelly. Nice to hear from you. tbh, the women at school gates aren't 'gangs' at all, just constantly-shifting sets of alliances. But yes, it can seem exclusive, from the outside looking in.

it's not compulsory to join in with the school gate gangs, even if you are a woman

I never have

yes m.i., we can all be dogs on the internet, if we so choose.. I wouldn't object to being 'outed' in rl - it's the 'authentic' thing that's okay with me and others, I think.

Hi Pan, they always seemed to be inviting each other to party's of one kind or another & out do each other in their big cars designer outfits etc:

Re : the school gate thing

one problem being a man with a child is that you there are problems going round to mums homes for a cup of tea and a play date for dc.

Husbands don't like coming home and finding another man sitting there chatting to their wife. Happened to me with the neighbours who have small kids. Husband got the hump and thought I was after his mrs. Which I definetly wasn't. Happened to a friend of mine who's a SAHD too.

OP just checked with my Mrs - she's confirmed I'm both dodgy and devious, so you've got one positive response to go back to your hubby with.

Not at our school gate, there isn't. There are some lovely blokes.

The only bloke generally avoided is the Goodlooking But Boring One who gave his wife personal training sessions for her birthday 'because she was a bit out of shape'. The others (including The Most Gorgeous Dad At The School) are v welcome in any quiche.

I also do get a sense of Mums at the school gate being somewhat suspicious of 'dodgy Dads' just wandering up to them for a chat. Its hard to put my finger on it but its definitely there and unless I specifically know a Mum because DW has introduced me I usually just stand on my own and don't talk to anyone.

yes, it's a bit of a minefield at the school gates. I happen to be a gregarious-innocent sort, so if I am frozen out or 'dismissed' I tend to not mind - I can bore anyone else senseless with my ramblings outwith them.

but flatbelly - consider it a let off to be NOT invited to the falsehoods of school mums. Iwent to one (years ago) at a home of dd's mum's friend's ( soo many apostraphes!) and it was awful to witness the small-mindedness of it.

I suffered this as The Most Gorgeous Dad At The School millstone, so I understand how all other dads don't stand a chance.

MotherInferiour

I talked to my SAHD friend about all this because I met a mum who knew him who said all the mums love him. But he kind of smiled and explained that he would rarely get invited to mums homes because of the husband issue.

If you're single I think you're seen as even more of a threat. Sadly.

That's why I think it's sad some women don't feel comfortable with men on MN.

Allo Gin

It doesn't bother me, men on MN. I rarely register them being men anyway, unless they are being blatantly irritating with it.

dont' bother me either I just like to know that's all.

Hello Sarah my lovely. < pulls trouser leg up exposing an ankle >

.... And then falls asleep :)

ok. So it's me, BelfastBloke, Nannynick, flatbelly, GiveMeSomeSpace, TiggyD, MrGin, MoreBeta, cestlavie, Networkguy, NiceGuy, AnyFucker, Eeyore, TechnoViking, and anyone with guy or dad/bloke/dangly bitsbetween legs in their handle. Anyone else, it's a jungle.

AnyFucker is a man ??????????????

Oh wait, no she's not, I know her name. That's not a man name.

As you were.

Been a twat.

FFS Gin, that always happens to me.

Pan, about 3 of those on your list had registered on my mandar.

AnyFucker's not a man. Any more.

Not since it fell off.