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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that if you're not a M, or D then MN is a weird place to be?

69 replies

Spermysextowel · 06/12/2011 05:08

This cannot be a first, so am expecting a lot of replies which require me to dodge bullets, but am seeing a fair few responses along the lines of 'this is what I would do if I had kids, but I don't'. It reminds me of the 40+s roaming bewildered at Legoland, never sure why they're there or what they're doing.

OP posts:
HughBastard · 06/12/2011 05:17

They could be ttc?
They could be very involved aunties / grandparents / siblings?
They could be in child care?
They could have joined when ttc but it never happened and they didn't want to leave?
They could have joined for the Femism / Politics / Chat / Relationships / company / larfs?
They might be thinking about having kids one day but not sure if and when?

I wish I had found Mumsnet before I ever had children. I would have made some different decisions along the way.

And yes, you will get a lot of Hmm faces and Biscuits I expect!

Wordsonapage · 06/12/2011 05:19

Ban em all

they should be putting them spermys somewhere other than the sex towel.

Ifancyashandy · 06/12/2011 05:19

Because I'm a daughter, aunt, sister, niece, granddaughter, cousin and friend. I have relationships and interact with people.

And because (mostly) MN is a welcoming, inclusive place that - last time I checked - didn't have a door or membership policy.

HTH.

Original poster
Spermysextowel · 06/12/2011 05:48

ShandyI am/do the above (except be an aunt) but so are/do my darling sisters, who would never even've heard of MN.

OP posts:
Original poster
Spermysextowel · 06/12/2011 05:51

Hugh, what would you have done differently? Would a website really have influenced your choices?

OP posts:
Original poster
Spermysextowel · 06/12/2011 05:53

I looked up shaving options for my 14yr old and can't give it up.

OP posts:
CoffeeBucks · 06/12/2011 06:05

I originally found MN through a Google result when I was searching how to clean mildew off window frames. I'm still here now for the same reasons as shandy. And also because I would like to have kids one day & MN gives an interesting angle on the everyday trials of parenting. Sometimes it puts me off.

Also AIBU is great.

SlinkingOutsideInSocks · 06/12/2011 06:06

I'm a Mum and I never, well, barely ever if I can possibly help it, discuss boring child/baby-related issues. I'm surrounded by it all day, why would I want to go online to discuss it? Confused

There are vast swathes of this place which are completely un-child-related. It is also a very busy forum with loads of traffic, so great for meaningless diversions when one should be doing other things. Big range of opinions, someone here no matter what the time of day or night.

Presumably non-parents come here for similar reasons to me.

Original poster
Spermysextowel · 06/12/2011 06:09

In a very small voice I admit that I may've stopped at 1.

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 06/12/2011 06:15

People come here to talk abour their children? Bugger me.

I joined 6/7 years ago. My eldest is 4. MNing was easier back then. And rumour has it that some people have things to say outside the topic of children.

ShowOfHands · 06/12/2011 06:17

In fact, aibu to not understand why you can't understand even one of the myriad and straightforward answers to your puzzle?

SlinkingOutsideInSocks · 06/12/2011 06:35

Actually, it was well after PFB was born that I even joined - I assumed it was like Nethuns going to be full of pink, sparkly tickers and a load of Mums talking in text-speak about nothing but children and babies and so stayed away.

I must have ended up here via a search or something and was delighted to be proved completely wrong. And never left.

Bucharest · 06/12/2011 06:53

What I love about MN compared to the huggyhunny parenting sites is that I reckon 75% of posts are talking abut something a lot more fucking interesting than their own kids. Somthing to do with defining themselves as more than just a mother or father perchance.

And those that do talk about nothing other than wee-man and ickly-princess are easy enough to avoid.

Re: the 40 somethings going to legoland. Tell me the difference between that and the wii/nintendo/gaming that so-called adults do? Or once we hit adulthood are we just supposed to wash the dishes and watch Eastenders? What is this,Stepford?

PS Your user name is repulsive.

Youllbewaiting · 06/12/2011 06:56

I think men being on here is just plain weird.

They should be fixing cars or putting up shelves.

giraffesCantDanceAtXmasParties · 06/12/2011 07:05

Mn is a fuckin weird place to be anyway, we have a fake pet bat, a zombie plan and a biscuit in a santa hat. I feel any weirdness at me being here despite having failed to produce a baby sucesfully is out done by MN itself.

ScarfOfSexualPreference · 06/12/2011 07:26

Xmas Biscuit oh wow we do have a biscuit in a santa hat! Sweet!

I'm not a mum and probably never will be (unless I adopt or something). I'm a nanny and originally came here to ask something about my charge at the time with SN. I care for 3 children for 12 hours plus a day, sometimes I need a bit of support. I also have been doing this a long time so try to offer support in return, in the childcarers and nursery sections. Then I ended up rolling round AIBU and chat, throwing things at people....

ThereIsNoSpoon · 06/12/2011 07:30

Maybe they're TTC or have children in their fam? Or they just like to wind you up?!

acumenin · 06/12/2011 07:34
Xmas Sad
LizzieRH · 06/12/2011 07:35

I'm a teenager who lurks in secondary education and places like chat. MN is much nicer than certain student forums. if MN was Mum only, I wouldn't enjoy it but it isn't and is much better for it with the Dads, the Aunts, the nannies/childminders and even just children like me.

AnyoneforTurps · 06/12/2011 07:37

I don't have kids. I mainly come on MN to bitch about Radio 4 progammes & discuss books. I'm not sure how having kids would affect my ability to do that (well except that I'd have less time to read, but I don't like to rub that in Xmas Wink).

randommoment · 06/12/2011 07:44

Can I be first to throw flames at youllbewaiting? I rather like the insights we get from the blokes! Although shelf creation and car fixing are useful too.

HoneydragonAteCliffRichard · 06/12/2011 07:48

The thing about google is that eventually all links end up at mumsnet. Then you are sucked into the matrix and can never leave. It is all encompassing.

We are the mumsnet. Prepare to be assimilated.

exoticfruits · 06/12/2011 07:54

I don't see why you need to have DCs-you can keep well away from boring stuff. There are interesting discussions that I haven't found elsewhere-or there are some places where you can post your point of view but that is is-no one comes back and furthers the discussion.
The wider the backgrounds the better-I never know why some people seem set on narrowing down the participants, as if it is some sort of club. It has been suggested when I have posted on HE that I have no right if I don't HE and I have pointed out that it is a public board and anyone can take part-it isn't a private club. MN is the same-open to all-and so it should be.

Original poster
Spermysextowel · 06/12/2011 07:57

What is HE?

OP posts:
randommoment · 06/12/2011 08:01

I once found a sort of dictionary of abbreviations, like DH and IMHO, but I've lost it again - HQ, could you resurrect it or put it somewhere easier to find?

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