How important are MNers?

[bejeezus]

Manatee

I found MN maybe a year ago. I think it is amaaaazing. For all sorts of different reasons.

The Relationship section and the posters there have been invaluable in getting me through a horrible time and helping me find clarity and strength. And I have thanked them for that.

I love AIBU. Sometimes I spend days ruminating on differences of opinions/ senarios

MN has altered my views on somethings; reinforced other views. My reading list has become huge. I learnt ALOT about a lot of different subjects. And it makes me laugh.

Ive read some posters comments such as;
'its just words on a screen'
'when I switch off, I switch OFF'

What is it to you? is it just to waste some time? trivial? what do you enjoy about it? why do you come here?

To judge and be mean

oh yeah- thats fun an 'all

To socialise mainly - DH works shifts and I'm often home alone with sleeping children.

It's great for advice and perspective.
It acts as a magazine during long night feeds.

I got huge amounts of support when struggling with a colicky PFB, and when trying to sort feeding problems out.

I come and go depending on what else is going on in my life but I reckon I'll always be back!

I love it for the same reasons you do Manatee. I do worry that I spend far too much time on here though!

yeah me too lollilou especially when I am at work!! its addictive

I came for the great discussions on the Relationships and Women's rights forums. I stayed for all the humour :)

How important are MNers?

terribly self-important

YABU

I've been here for a while now and have a bit of a love/hate thing going on! Love it for all the things I've learnt and hate it because sometimes it eats into the time I should be doing stuff that hasn't been done because I've been working, but that's more my problem.

YANBU

I love MN unashamedy

There was a woman on Radio 4 yesterday who is a specialist in helping procrastinators. I am not a procrasinator, I cba and would rather MNet.

When I switch off, I do actually just switch off, I think some people do take it all quite seriously though.

I need to practice the unashamedly bit!

I came because I work from home and get bored and lonely and there's always someone to have a bunfight rational discussion with here through the day. I stayed because of the life-changing support in the Special Needs section and the mind-changing discussions in Feminism.

But most of it is words on a screen and when I find myself wanting to really rant at someone, I switch it off!

For me it's for socialising, getting advice and having a laugh.

I think its been/is a bit of a life line to some though berta to be fair -thats the impression I get.

I've also been suprised to learn that so many people have no RL friends

I like to exchange opinions with other people without my opinion automatically being seen as less important/informed purely on the basis that I have a vagina.

I like to be able to get het up and angry about things without being seen as hysterical.

I like to be able to chunter on about silly things (stupid things my cat does/ what a prat I?ve made of myself) without it automatically disqualifying me from the serious discussions.

I like that in the most part things like domestic violence/ rape/ sexism are given the importance and support that deserve. That there are people out there that have got through to the ?other? side and still are strong enough to help and advise others.
That again for the most part no blame is assigned to the victims/ sufferers and those who do go in for victim blaming are educated. (And occasionally told to fuck off when they are clearly trying to get a rise)

That tea/sympathy/ handholding is available, but on the occasions that an OP is being ridiculous it?s not dismissed as being silly women, you are told firm to get over yourself.

That I can always find something to smile at and usually to laugh at.

That it is one of the few places particularly on line where women are in the majority and that more and more we/it is being seen as a fore to be reckoned with.
That we are part of a quiet revolution that is gently forcing people to take women/ women views/women?s rights seriously.

Yes I know there are male posters, and propely a lot more lurkers than posters, but that give me hope. Hope that one day there won?t be a need for ?Mumsnet? that if you post on a forum with a female/feminine name you won?t automatically be dismissed/ignored/ bombed with sexual innuendo/ insults/ aggression.

Sorry if I?ve gone a bit deep on what maybe was meant to be a light hearted thread, but in a few months I have got so much from this site, and it really really pisses me off when it?s dismissed as a bunch of women bitching; a comment recently from a work colleague discussing the appearance of that women from the apprentice what?s her name I know it?s Hopkins.

Phew; anyway I think this site is more important that a lot of people realise.
Its support; humour; education. . .

i socialise here too.
I don't have many customers, and it fills my day.
great advice too, esp now i've got dd.

Oh no, I didn't mean that in a snarky way at all...bejeezus, I understand it's a lifeline for some.

I guess I meant when all the hoohaa-ing kicks off and people start hurling insults, that sort of taking it too seriously.

I feel really defensive of MN too catspee