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?).

I understand what you mean Kate.

I don't disagree OP. I've returned after a long spell away. All the bloody ads! It's lost it's familiarity, I don't see anyone I recognise an it's full of indiscriminate 'User1234567'. I'd forgotten about the Friday Round-Up! That was always a good read.
I made RL friends thanks to MN. I have find memories if my AN group of 10 years ago. I feel nostalgic for what it was back in the day.
Lots of posters just say 'off you fuck then' and that's their sole contribution. Now I think Moldies had a point.

Kate, I think it's heartening that you view mothers in this way. I think someone would have to be really paranoid to read anything negative into what you've said.

Nothing at all wrong with a site supporting parents, there are loads out there who probably don't have many non parents. But if they are going to have so many topics, it's not beyond the realms of most people's imaginations that non parents may be interested in non parenting topics

Booboobedoo oh THANKYOU! I really didn't mean offense at all and was so puzzled over how I gave it. I meant the nurture of the mother figure.the word to mother someone,as in look after. heaven knows I no full well not all mothers are perfect!

It's in the name though...MUMSnet. Yanbu. It's a bit odd.

Parents are more than pampers possetting and prams
Most of us are interested in a broad spectrum of topics.
I'm a Parent but my dd is an adult(just). I've read and learnt many things from this site and at least there is decent debate.
Facebrag is not for me neither are twatter and glitter hunz.

I joined for the DIY, got pregnant and am now staying for the 'how to get projectile vomit off my new carpet' threads.

Pregnancy was purely brought about so as to justify my mumsnetting but am realising a baby is a disproportionate amount of work just to feel 'normal' for going on mumsnet.

I say this as a cautionary tale for those thinking of taking the plunge.

bad better not saythat!
kate i get what you mean, especially since your latest post.
That was nice.

I would've thought chatting to people that don't have children, was a small problem in the life of a rape apologist fenced ?

It isn't wrong for mothers to want a site that is aimed at them. That is what they have got, it is aimed at mothers. That doesn't mean it can only be for mothers.

Also, while I agree it can sometimes be bad form to bring up previous threads, I don't think anyone was stalking the OP here. If you were on the site earlier it was quiet because nighttime and hard to miss that the OP was on both threads. People just happened to notice, and her comments on the other thread were so terrible that I think it was reasonable to challenge her whole presence on the boards at the time.

I'm not a parent, we would have loved to have children, but have had to accept that's not going to happen.

I LOVE MN! Can't remember how I found my way here first, about six years ago. I now have to have a daily fix of MN.

'...her comments on the other thread were so terrible that I think it was reasonable to challenge her whole presence on the boards at the time.'

No.

This is not Tumblr.

It is bad form on MN to bring up unrelated posts, and it is up to MNHQ to challenge people who should not be on the boards at all.

kali thankyou. my wording and vocab is shocking I should really just keep quite eek.
just please please know I would never mean to cause offense no mattwr the opinions of others. its not where my heart/speaking comes from. or I try not to anyway,i can be a bi** I'm sure(my mum would agree haha)

I like the fact that mumsnet has become a more diverse playground. I have been using the site for a decade. I am a mother, but my ovaries/ offspring don't dictate ownership of this public site. As a rule I tend to imagine every responder on an internet forum is a 47 yo lorry driver called Dave as it allows me the freedom of expression without judgement I am usually seeking

The type of response and the profile of the people responding on a thread in reality is going to be dictated by the topic under discussion. Trolling is obviously a risk of an internet based discussion board. Even with the risk of unwelcome attention/ opinion I still enjoy using this site as mire mumsy focused sites are army risk of being an echo chamber. Having my views and assumptions challenged is good for me. A diversity of background, life experience, age, ethnicity and gender is going to ensure I am not having a cosy chat with polite reserve but a real debate.

So to answer the op question, I have always seen MN as a site where the subject was parenting and the users where all a lorry driver called Dave hth!

In my opinion, one of the risks of our reliance on the internet is that we constantly seek validation of our views instead of challenge. I get validation from family and friends, the internet is not cosy.

I know there are many very vulnerable and lonely people using mn (I have been among them) but it is the fault of our society that people are left in the cold. MN reflects that, it is the source of information but it is not a good therapist imo.

IsItTimeForWineYet :D

It doesn't sound like the worst reason for having a baby.

So what I am glad MN just doesn't talk about parenting issues it would be incredibly dull and boring if it did or only had views from posters that their opinion was based on them being a parent and it would certainly not be as successful as it is

There are lots of threads about parenting issues and many others that have nothing to do with being a parent

I don't have kids so I don't read the parenting sections.

For me it's mostly a site for women. I like the site, it makes me laugh. Lots of my friends that read it don't have kids either.

It is very different to how it was 6 years ago when I joined and many nc ago. Of course anyone should and can join, but I did specifically because it was a parenting forum.

The only thing I'd change on MN is the posters who get offended over everything. On every thread there's someone who pops up to be fucking outraged by what the OP has said and it's getting tiresome now.

I joined mn maybe 10yrs ago as a nanny - sadly for many years Mother Nature didn't play ball so wasn't a mum -but still carries on using the site and would like to think over the years I've helped some mums in here with sleep training and advice wit their babies etc

After 10yrs ttc and 4failed private ivf the 5th hit the jackpot and 20w preg -so does that mean a decaf later I'm illegible to join mn officially

I would like to think all are welcome here - old young childless parents male and female - gives an overall opinion and knowledge when people ask for help

Congratulations Blondes

That's wonderful news Blonde

I've been on this site since about 2000 - didn't realise 'til last year I must have been on the site since shortly after it started. I don't have children and have never wanted children. I found the site because my eldest nephew was being bullied and my DSis as at her wit's end. I stayed for the erudite conversation (somewhat less erudite on the whole these days). There is politics, travel, The Archers, recommendations for household appliances, and I bought most of the Christmas presents for the men in my life after reading a fantastic thread on here. If I could be bothered I would count the topics on the boards that don't relate to parenting.

Am I the only person who has noticed that the OP has "come back to the site after using it frequently" ( paraphrasing) because she "became a mum". Ergo- used to use MN when not a parent herself.

I think we can just leave her to it. the goady fucker

I started looking at mumsnet during a pregnancy scare and actually it was MN that made me realise becoming a mum doesnt mean you have to be a simpering yummy mummy who is obsessed with reading The Gruffalo to their little Tootsy.

Now 12 weeks pregnant

I guess a lot of other forums are closing down (I hear Digital Spy might close shortly too) but those who use them still enjoy discussions on the forum format. MN is the most active and will attract people for that reason.