To think Mumsnet has changed me?? (or Mumsnet vs The Real World)

[Proudnscary]

Mumsnet has changed my thoughts and attitudes in the four years I've been prowling these 'ere boards.

I have a big group of friends in RL and a lively, jokey social life blah de blah but my hackles get raised so much more quickly now. My attitude and knowledge about feminism, porn, domestic abuse, is much more evolved than it was pre Mumsnet (I didn't really think about these things to be honest). Now I speak up and challenge dodgy views - (hopefully) in a good natured/bantery way.

BUT it's weird when you get a RL vs Mumsnet jolt! When a group of intelligent, fab real life women talk dismissively about things that people would go nuts about on here. It's like a parallel universe in some ways. So sometimes I think it's made me go slightly insania.

Anyone else remotely know what I mean?!

imo,mn differs from a book.a book has thematic story by one author
and requires an investment of time to follow the gist as story unfolds
mn is different posts different people and I don't follow particular individual or story on thread

I chose authors by name and recognition of work
that's not available on mn,too big
too many posters and I don't recall who said what
I like dipping in/out mn like a fave magazine

ok,that makes a bit more sense.
I realise you work most days,and that has to impact how you use MN.
I also see a lot of posters post on baby names,I presume partly because it can be lighthearted,after a busy working day.

I am doing couch to 5k and can run 28 minutes. I would never have heard about it if it wasn't for mn.

i do question your credibility
you say you dont read my posts.too much yadda? only if you don't read posts dr crane analysis,of my presumed sadness.you seem somewhat nuanced about my posts

Well done Hallelouja I am just below 48 minutes now, so I've still got a way to go to catch you! I've lost 2 stone with mfp too, which also I would not have heard of without mn.

I do read your posts,but skim the ones and the parts of one that are repetitive. Any brand new stuff I read and try to understand.

didnt understand the rest of your post 21.21pm

you do lack credibility.you say dont read or skim read and opine as you wish
but I'm not inclined assign any credibility to your posts on that basis
a basic given online,read the posts before opining or guessing about motives

eh? I say I do read them.
oh dear.

I think I will leave you alone.

I tend to ignore posts which cause a mild headache when trying to decipher them.

i observe the online norm of read the post.
if you've half read or ignored content you're likely to be getting wrong end of stick
and if I read a post and don't get it or i think nah.I don't post.

MN has made me more feminist and egalitarian even than I thought I was before. I didn't realise before having them challenged that many of my views about mothers working etc were mired in my mother's 1950s views. It didn't cross my mind once to think that maybe working at a deficit for a few years was a sensible long term course of action. It's pretty much too late for me but at least I can advise my daughters how to have children without committing career suicide.

scottishmummy - who is dr crane & what is a dr crane analysis?

MN has unsettled me because i thought i was intelligent but now realise i'm not very educated at all... some threads just get too clever & too deep for me to understand. :(

BUT i have been inspired to buy a Dictionary & use it... & i've learnt to use Google & Wikipedia every time i hear a word, phrase or something else i don't understand - as a result i've gained more knowledge - actually a lot more knowledge, thanks to MN for that.

For example i now understand: the differences in between Catholics & Protestants; that there are Sectarian problems in Scotland (as well as Ireland); i've now heard of the 'Jim Crow' laws; i know what 'narcissist' means; & why my friend was letting her baby make a disgusting mess when eating (sorry baby led weaning advocates!); etc etc etc....

'Transubstantiation' - now there's a word & concept that i'd never heard of before MN (hope i spelled it right).

Latara - Dr Crane is just a character from a US TV show, you are not being thick!
I sometimes feel out of my depth but I just don't post if I've got nothing informed or interesting to say so I just read and learn. Unless I find it completely boring then I just stop reading!

I've made a new friend ' Lovingfreedom .. and we are going to New York in March to one of my other friend's wedding :)

I have learnt how to shop for clothes online, which is an essential skill if I am to wear clothes - I have neither the time nor the inclinations to go to the shops much these days.

I have learned alot about relationships in general and this has helped me improve my/our relationship and therefore family life overall. I credit MN for some of that.

I love having accessible feminist debates and ideas to browse through the day & fab links to feminist bloggers etc I would not have discovered otherwise.

I have leaned that cutting ones hair is possible, though I will only consider it 'stylish' whilst BF (something to do with the hormones surely).

I have learned not to mention/discuss BF in company unless said company has been "pre-screened for acceptance/tolerance/potentially neurotic views" etc.

Oil Cleansing Method is fab. I doubt I'll ever do anything else now.

I am slowly coming to grips with my slow cooker, I am slowly incorporating meal planning into our lives. I am inspired by MN vastly here.

DD1 is nearly 5 and just started school - I have so much more to learn. MN is a fantastic resource.

I took myself off to a flash mob via MN & it was fantastic. I also presented a petition to a Tory Minister with some other MN'ers - fantastic experience.

Fair enough scottishmummy. I guess my point was that I take issue with your 'words on a screen' statement. I think it sounds very dismissive (unfairly so in this case IMO) and usually when people make statements like that in RL they come across as aggressively stopping a line of conversation. Also I don't like blanket dismissive statements at the best of times. But that's just me.

I see that you've elaborated further, which is great; I much prefer it when people explain their opinion rather than just stopping at the title, as it were.

do take issue,that's the whole point.discursive forum.for me mn is words on screen
if it isn't for you fair enough.but that doesn't negate my pov.it's permissable to not concur
some seem slighted that mn doesn't have same significance for me as it has for them. why? no I don't luffs you all,have no favorites.so what?

I love the support groups. In my time here I have joined:

Antenatal group for excited mainly 1st time mums
The bereaved mums group
Ttc after stillbirth group
Shredding threads
Couch 2 5k (briefly)
Dukan Diet group (didn't work)
Antenatal group for those of us who are less innocent about ttc/pg/birth than first-timers
Postnatal group
BIWIs Bootcamp (did work)

to name a few. I love that no matter what you're going through, there are other people out there with the same problems ready to give great advice and hand-holding.

I don't 'luff' anyone on MN or remember many names (maybe about 15). I don't PM and I don't want to meet anyone on here in RL. I wasn't after a love in when I started this thread (though threads take on lives on their own and anyone can post what the fuck they like). What I personally meant was that it's changed my views on things. And awoken my views on issues I hadn't thought about for years or thought weren't relevant or didn't concern me. I'm more thoughtful and tolerant and knowledgeable. I like that.

we all engage on mn way suits.that's the rub.
and mn is big enough,busy enough to accommodate all preferences and styles
mn for me is recreational blether,and I enjoy it for that

A relative of mine has just started working in the Saudi Arabian City of Yanbu. I thought this was hilarious but nobody else did.
I had a moon cup for about a year.
I had 25 push chairs and a ton of fun with them. (not all at the same time)
I have rediscovered my feminist principles with renewed confidence.
I hardly ever judge the parents of unruly children anymore.
I am scared to use a disabled loo in case an MNetter is lurking to batter me with a greggs sausage roll.
I will Not renounce Greggs sausage rolls.

More thoughtful, tolerant and knowledgeable - well said. Snap!