To ask the best advice 'old' mums netters have for a newbie AIBU poster?

[liketochat1]

I'm new here so wondered what are the top tips and advice for newcomers posting on this board? For instance, is it best to tread with caution (find your posting feet slowly) or leap straight in?!

Don't ever post here

I've been here half of the year and I still haven't posted a thread here!

Welcome. Have you got an AIBU to ask or did you want to join in with answering?

Run run like the wind!

Dive straight in... start as you mean to go on. If you have good advice for others, share it!

DON'T however mention 'MN Royalty'... always ends badly.

Remember... if it all goes tits up, namechange and start again!

Captitalise and denumber your name.

Tread with caution = you will be accused of drip feeding

Jump right in = you will probably be being unreasonable

Be prepared to be told (and accept) that you are being unreasonable. Nothing worse than someone who asks for opinion and then totally ignores it. If you really think you are right, don't ask!

Coming from a MNer both long standing and very very old...

accept that you are wrong no matter what you do and take your beating with humour and good grace.

Go for it. Just don't ask if it's ok to leave your four month old with a fruit shoot while you pop to the shops to buy yourself a beer.

Be prepared for your post to be ignored or have so few replies that it soon disappears. It's obviously of no interest to anyone.

Listen to the comments, even if you're being roasted, and if you realise you're U, admit it. MNers respect that.

You may want to steer clear of anything involving dog poo, cat poo, P&C parking spaces, and private v state school, oh an SAHM v WOHMs. Just until you feel ready.

QuintessentialS- I thought someone might suggest something similar! Close your lap top and never, ever look back!
Taggie- I tried it without the number as I wanted this username but it wouldn't accept it.
Knowitall- I'm more likely to jump right in, I know what I'm like! I hope it doesn't make me too unreasonable.
Hecate- I'm used to being wrong no matter what I do so I will try and smile during any 'whippings'.

don't

some threads have been done to death, parent and child parking, disabled loos, pushchairs on buses...

Go on then. Start an AIBU thread!

Don't take anything personally

If you need help with anything from gardening to cat grooming to tents to employment issues the relevant topics are full of people who really know their stuff and you always get great advice.

AIBU is for (virtual) bare knuckle fighting

If it wouldn't let you have that username it means someone else already has it. And it's considered pretty poor form (harrumph!) to number 1 it as you could easily be confused with the original poster.

I'd add another word (maybe put what you'd like to chat about?) to personalise it a bit more.

Having said that, the original poster may never come here any more so might not really be an issue. But I have seen threads about this!

Oh yeah and welcome to fucking mumsnet

Take it on the chin!

Don't look at usernames, just take each post on face value, some people can be a total cunt on one subject and wonderfully kind on another.

Don't say anything you wouldn't say in RL. Some people act very different towards people when they can't see their face (twattery of the first order IMO).

That said, don't be afraid to say what you think. Your opinion is just as valid as everyone else's.

Most importantly, always be open to having that opinion changed - even if you have to be stubborn for a day and a half before the realisation dawns that you were, in fact, being an arse - always come back with your tail between your legs and sheepishly admit it.

Enjoy

Avoid the word "Disingenuous" at all costs.

Only ask AIBU if you are OK with being told either YABU or YANBU.

Do NOT take it personally. If the consensus is that YABU, accept it gracefully and learn from it. If the consensus is that YANBU, crack open the and share it round as it rarely happens.

Try 'Chat' for general threads, and find a NN without a number in apparently.

Never comment on a thread if you've only read the first post. Things could have changed completely 200 posts in and you could end up looking a right twunt. If you don't have time to read it all, at least read the last 2 pages.

I have been here well over a year and I have yet to post in AIBU

Be as outrageously controversial as you can, it attracts all the good kind of attention.

Best topics for beginners are parent and child parking bays, and benefits claimants. These always go well.

And last but not least ignore my advice!

I've had nothing but support and good advice from replies on the two serious AIBUs I've posted, but having seen some, shall we say robust responses on other threads, you need a thick skin, an open mind and a sense of humour.

I'm an oldie but name change a lot.

Just come on here and be yourself. Don't be overly nice if that's not who you are, but don't use the lack of identity an excuse to be a twat either.

Leave an argument in the topic you're arguing in. I've had vicious arguments with some people in topic A and then had dead good chats with said people in topic B