If I say Mumsnet attracts a certain type of person?

[poptothetop]

Let me start of by saying that I've been on quite a few other forums and the opinion/views of them are a lot different/ diverse.

Things most MN members seem to agree on:

Ear piercing views

Schooling views

Baby showers (haven't actually come across a MNetter who hasn't labelled them grabby).

If I were to mention these subjects elsewhere, the comments would be a lot more diverse and lenient.

So, AIBU to say Mumsnet attracts a certain type of person (overall)?

Whether that's because of social class or personality, I can't decide. It's interesting to see what you all think

Sort of, but there's definitely a growing sub culture on mumsnet who like to flaunt their working-classless and are cheered on by others because they are different. Except there are now so many of them, they aren't really different any more.

A lot of the opinions on here I think are more what people would like to be, rather than who they are.

Absolutely. As the saying goes, humans tend to judge themselves by their intentions and others by their actions. Much easier to do this under safe cover of ether.

On the whole MN seems to attract quite intelligent posters I think. I used to frequent another parenting forum (not netmums) and it really was full of the hard of thinking.

Like attracts like I suppose. Plenty of people would probably hate the way MN isn't heavily moderated and how you can swear etc. Those who stay and post are bound to have more in common.

The 'what's for dinner' threads I believe are all lies Yes Derek. And all the meal planning and batch cooking.

'Surely the joy of social media is that it's not like RL . . .? '

Exactly, sadik

I discovered MN when we emigrated to the desert and I literally felt my brain cells dying one by one. It was such a joy to read and honestly saved my sanity. I have used MN as a reference point many 'o times and have changed my ways on certain things, like putting the pegs back in the peg basket instead of leaving them on the line lest the neighbours feel I am a slattern

There was a thread once about recreational drug use that had me seriously pearl clutching though, was a terrible shock.

When I first happened across mumsnet I liked that it was predominately clever women- most were educated, many had had interesting careers, everyone typed in full sentences! That does probably also mean it was middle aged middle class white women, as you say, that is who it was founded by. But there were also intelligent women dealing with poverty, with children with SEN, with health issues; as well as with Boden shopping and au pair dilemmas, and in both cases you got thoughtful, insightful advice.

As the site has grown it has obviously changed- for starters there are a lot of younger posters who were probably at school when mumsnet began! There seem to be more trolls, and I think the socio-economic background of users is probably wider.

Having said that- it is still a place where people don't use textspeak, where there are discussions on feminism, literature (and Boden); and where you can find people who think it is normal to breastfeed, think coco pops are a crap breakfast, put a lot of energy into supporting education and it can be hard to find those things in real life without sounding judgy or stuck up.

EatShit, I much prefer the packed-lunch threads. Every mumsnet child has:

• 1 X wholegrain wrap with grated carrot, lettuce and organic hummus
• Hardboiled egg for protein
• Small pot natural Greek yoghurt with blueberries
• Olives ('he loves olives!')
• Small square of homemade flapjack for pudding

I only heard of NM on here and ventured over to take a look. Was like a stab in the eye.

I'll never come to grips with the hommous-as-class-indicator thing on MN. It's a bean puree, people.

Am I the only person who chose MN over Netmums because I couldn't figure out how the boards worked on NM and here was simpler

I think there are people from many walks of life on here but sometimes people want to practise oneupmanship. It's like the old Harry Enfield sketch I've got more money than you.
I was a teenage unmarried Mum (shoot me now) and suffered for being one in RL. I actually suffered severe PND because of judgemental people.
Having said that I took my A levels and I went to Exeter uni 2 years late and got a first.
My point is that people are complicated and should never be stereotyped as no 2 people are the same.
White, Black, Brown or anything else we are all people with feelings and we come onto this site for fun help and advice. I don't think classism should exist and in a utopian world we should all help each other.
Hopefully we can all be at least nice and do just that, help each other.

usual Cocopops are evil, they make your milk brown

Apple I think chickpeas are a legume rather than a bean [misses the point].

Apple I think chickpeas are a legume rather than a bean [misses the point].

Oops, that's me demoted to NM.

When I joined in 2011, it was a lot less diverse.

It's the closed mind set that there's a 'right' way to live, comprising of Uni and not getting pregnant until 30's. Yet these people also don't know how to behave. I've never mixed with people who would turn up to an event empty handed and think that them wanting to buy a certain present trumps what the person would want.

The so 'Right on' posters who pity and patronise anyone who is happy in a Min Wage job and a house with only one bathroom.

I agree with ExConstance one of the great things about getting older is that you see what matters in child rearing and what doesn't. You also learn about what sad lives people lead behind some of the fanciest and most perfect looking closed doors.

Lolz hun no probz xxx

MN is like a fun but slightly scary paralell world to me

"Hun" has always struck me as more middle class. I'm working class I think say "chick", "sugar" and occasionally "my lovely"/"my love" (lets not talk about the time I called a young lad on checkouts "chicken" by accident, and he was probably older than me )

I have been around a lot of parenting forums in my time.

Compared with other parenting forums, MN seems to be more middle class, more intelligent, better off and has a wider geographic reach.

Other sites like Nethuns attract a younger demographic with their text speak and lolz, and from what I've seen their core contributor is less informed, either completely left wing or almost fascist, and offended by bad language :P