To wonder when Mumsnet stopped being a place for mums?

[Fenced]

I used to frequent the site years ago and have come back recently because I became a mum again! However, whilst I am all for equality, the site seems to be full of people who aren't mums or aren't even parents! (and a good few who are journalists hunting for stories!).

I would never suggest anyone be excluded from the warmth, breadth of knowledge or bat shit crazy hysteria that the site offers, I was just wondering when it stopped being a place mainly for mums?

(I am not suggesting dads or non parents aren't welcome, just curious as to when the shift happened?).

But I suppose when you rely on advertising revenue, you can't be too fussy.

Tugs forelock or something grateful for being allowed in as a non parent... .

Just came on to say that whilst I am a mum, I hardly ever read anything to do with parenting or children on here! In fact, MN is my break time from being a parent!!

Okay am actually laughing at someone who has been so offensive accusing another poster of 'crude language'

We swear on here - if that causes you to have an attack of the vapours, perhaps you should step away for a while

Before I was pregnant with DD, it would never have occurred to me in a million years to read or post on here, so I was a bit surprised at first to see people without kids doing so. That's because it simply was not on my radar and I assumed it was just about parenting.

But I also signed all my first posts with lots of hugs and kisses, so what the wanking fuck did I know?!

After reading just a few threads I got it, there's loads here for absolutely everyone. Except lazy journos, they can fuck right off to the far side of fuck.

Temporaryname137 has nailed what mumsnet is all about :)

I'd never have gone on MN pre-kids. I can understand why people do, there's so much more than just parenting advice on here. I just can't imagine I'd have stuck around to find out about that before becoming a parent. I imagine the horse and hound forum has lots of non-equine threads, but I'd never find out about them, because I have neither so wouldn't click on it.

Ha ha Livia - now it's me laughing - and you thought my initial non personal comment to this thread was offensive despite my explicit reply that it wasn't but I'm not allowed to comment on crude language without you laughing at me? Is that maybe just a teeny bit offensive? Ooh the irony! Like you suggest I really am off now to more interesting, less offensive threads with less defensive, more eloquent posters who have more to say than simply swearing. Over and out.
PS unless you're on night shift or up with babies/children (Should you happen to be one of these annoying parent types) what on earth are you doing up in the middle of the night posting sharp comments? Hmmmmm.

I dont have children but i like the relationship and feminism section because I have had relationships and I am a feminist so I believe I can help some people with their questions.

Children are not the only reason someone might be up during night time hours.

Not being in the UK might be a reason for quite a few users it wasn't 1 a.m. This also is welcome. Non-Brits, non-parents, blokes, all human life is here, thank goodness.

The reason MN changed is because it got a lot bigger. Popularity has its advantages and disadvantages. There are a lot of bored and mischievous people on the internet as well as, well, just people. Some of them come here. That's the ICT age for you.

I don't think MN should change its name however much it changes its nature, because it is a strong brand and anyone with any acquaintance with the marketing industry knows how vital this is. They've taken a long time building it up so that it's now justifiably famous. To switch at this point would be suicide.

It is also, as has been pointed out, generally aimed at parents but is far from exclusively of interest to them. I suppose I qualify on the grounds of having given birth in the past, but it's not what I'm here for. DSis joined because I showed her some tremendously funny threads and she got hooked; she has never had nor wanted children but is a respected regular in the giving up smoking and litter tray topics. And why the hell not?

Btw I've noticed it seems to be a feature of your average GF to tell us "mums" off for swearing. "What's with the potty mouth" was one recently. Er, there's a lot of swearing on the internet too, including on this forum! I suggest you keep your language filter set at maximum, or give up computers altogether, if that's a problem. Oh, and don't watch any telly either. Four letter words have been pretty mainstream on most channels for a good five decades that I can attest to. But here we must be genteel, for some reason I have yet to fathom. Like we found our babies under a gooseberry bush, rather than got 'em by fucking. Actually birth mothers are the only people who are walking proof to the world that they do rude stuff (barring the occasional IVF and the even rarer virgin birth), so lord knows why we're supposed to be mealy-mouthed about it.

Bah, spent ages crafting that screed and left the first sentence garbled. Clearly have not had enough caffeine yet.

You are right Annie.

One thing I've always liked about MN is that you can call a cunt a cunt.

No you can't call a cunt a cunt. I did and was banned for a few days. However the person involved does remain a cunt.

Good grief, MN really has changed then.

Anyone got the address for Moldies?

I'm a cat mum, a dog mum and a tortie mum.
But I originally joined Mumsnet five years ago when I was writing my dissertation on why mums choose to Breast or bottle feed.
Since then I've had advice on house buying, relationships of all manner, my job, my epilepsy, and just general lifestyle style.
And now I'm hoping to have a wedding a baby... so then maybe I will be allowed to join mumsnet?

I am a mum but he's now 26 so I don't really need parenting advice and much of the advice I got 26 years ago has changed. Should I leave?

OFFFS - direct PAs have never been allowed. You've always had to take some care with how you express yourself.