to wonder why people without children are on this website...?

[HuskyBlueEyes]

It doesn't bother me, it really doesn't as a forums a forum.
But I've noticed people who have commented saying they don't have children to compare and give answers for, and people saying "do you have children?"

I'm just curious I guess as to what they can find to relate too if they do not have children.

(Not including people trying, I'm talking about those on this website despite not even wanting children)

I originally joined when I qualified as a teacher. I had wanted to get an insight into what parents were saying about education and their experiences with schools. I found it helped me understand their POV a bit better as I was young and had no children of my own. I think it's good that people who aren't mums (or who aren't even women) feel they can be here too.

I don't mean to alarm you, but there's probably men on here too!

I have children now, but for a long time I didn't think I was going to. I just come on here for the entertainment and because I get to talk argue with a lot of interesting people.

I have often wondered that, OP. Good thread. I really think you do have to be a Mum to really appreciate MN

I think that the appeal lies in that it has such a wide range of posters. It would lose a lot if it had a narrower base.

No children but love the forums, have cried laughing on some aibu posts over the last few years. Understandable why you'd ask if you were new to mumsnet but most people on here would realise why I'm sure. I rarely read anything about children really on here, just stuff relevant to me or funny, of which there is plenty.

Found the site by chance a couple of years ago, through another forum, I think. I stumbled into AIBU, and became hooked. I hang around AIBU and Chat mostly, and just generally find the site very entertaining and informative. I'm not a mum, and know that I never will be.

I came for penisbeaker, and stayed ever since. :)

LRD completely agree.

This thread reminds me of when my SIL said innocently, "Gosh, I never considered the possibility of infertility when we ttc".

OP some people who are not parents work with children. Some people have children and they die. Some people, like me, start ttc....and months or years later they are still at it.

I find it surprising that none of these things occurred to you before you posted, but then one of the great things about MN which you might benefit from if you stick around is that it teaches you to be empathetic towards other people.

Hope you are ok, RP, and well said.

I popped in when I was sent a link to the penisbeaker thread, I came back looking for info about age vs fertility (which actually I didn't find) but got hooked. I tend to mainly post on AIBU and the diet forums but I do read threads regarding having children because I'm curious as to what it is like and I'm trying to make my own decision about if/when I might want them.

Hiding this thread. TTC for a long time, had one M/C and love the support I've had so far, and general chitchat. Dislike being sneered at for not managing it yet.

Well, everyone has/had parents so everyone has experience of parenting and this is a parenting site.

.

It could just be called womansnet from what I read!

I have children but regularly go on the Childfree Life website because it makes me laugh and gives me perspective on people who are nice but just don't get children/like them/want them.

I actually think they are the sane ones with lives and a lie in at the weekend and trips around art galleries and trips abroad at a moments notice.

I would never in a million years have gone on a parenting forum before children it just would not have entered my heard. I really wish I had though. Not least to know what I might be letting myself in for.

I really wish I'd discovered this site years ago, pre-children. Because there's so much more here than baby stuff. I may have got my correct bra size figured out sooner, anyway. not at all bitter at M&S

I don't have children and have no intention of having any. (What do I get first, the ducking stool or a witch trial or the scolds bridle ?)

However it's very entertaining, and frankly hilarious at times !

I commented on a thread about a film I saw. I commented on recipes. I've read about people's lives going to hell because their relationship is breaking down. I read a thread about someone who had been ripped off and was trying everything they could think of to track down the shyster that was responsible. Other people were saying how they had got ripped off or nearly ripped off in other circumstances.

There's no strict entry criteria i.e. parents are not expected to prove the names and ages of their children.

As I read upthread a parent remarking that there is more to their life than just their children, thank you. They have other cares/considerations/concerns in their life.

I don't contribute to the baby or child threads. However, I do read them. Oh the bitching about fussy eaters whether they are born or made !

I am here childless but ttc. I agree it is a bit upsetting to see thread titles like this over and over as they always crop up but I can see you didn't mean harm and at least you did recognise those ttc!

In any case even if I wasn't ttc I think I would get a lot out of this site. I like it because it is a lively and interesting corner of the web and it's nice to have a lot of opinionated women in one place to have a laugh and discuss serious topics too.

There aren't any rabbits posting on Mums net either, and they have lots of children. For God's sake, don't be so precious about reproduction, It doesn't imbue you with wisdom and profundity just a massive sense of your own entitlement. Mums net is not a good advertisement for parenthood.

Ah ok. Being pretty new it's a topic I've not come across before and didn't realise that it was one that came up a lot. I can see why it could get irritating for the older longer serving members, and of course if losses are involved. I just thought a few of the posts came across as slightly passive- aggressive to what seemed to me to be a totally innocent question.
I do resent the implication that thinking 'oh, that person isn't a parent, how'd they come across a parenting forum and decide to join' is the same as being a thinly veiled racist however!

I have children but they are adults. I discovered MN while researching an aspect of feminism for work. I joined for FWR, which remains my favorite, but love many of the other topics as well, especially adult fiction, and the language threads (where I play Bash Americanisms Bingo or its variation, Americans Wrongly Accused of Fucking Up The English Language Bingo).