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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

........to not feel happy about children posting on here?

214 replies

sallyandherarmy · 15/02/2018 19:33

Just that really.

I thought this was an 'adult' site.

Kids posting makes me feel rather uncomfortable.

I have replied to a 'child' on another post, although something tells me that it isn't really a kid posting. Which also feels not right. :(

OP posts:
HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 15/02/2018 20:13

Mumsnet is "heavily moderated"? News to me.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 15/02/2018 20:15

I don't want to post alongside children and this site really isn't appropriate for them.

Where are Cedric's parent(s)/guardian? He/she can ask their advice, surely? Or a teacher at school? Why ask random people they don't know - and seemingly do so repeatedly?

sourpatchkid · 15/02/2018 20:15
  1. It's bad form to start a post about a specific poster - if you think shes a troll then just report
  1. This a public forum, you can't (and have no right to) control who is here
  1. If said poster is using MN she's already on the Internet. She's probably seen a whole fuck load of stuff more inappropriate than the posts on MN!
  1. MN is mostly fully of wise, wonderful women - why wouldn't you want a teenager to get her advice from us we are bloody brilliant . She also got bloody good advice on her post.
PiecesOfHate · 15/02/2018 20:15

I had a 14 year old girl (possibly) reply to one of my posts once. It was about books suitable for an 11 year old girl, and she made suggestions.
Not sure why anyone would lie in that situation, so ln inclined to believe she was real.

ShapelyBingoWing · 15/02/2018 20:16

I don't think children should be allowed to use MN. And I'm afraid that opinion does even extend to children who are mums. Because getting advice from the faceless and unqualified strangers on here may stop them from seeking/using services offered elsewhere that are designed specifically for people of their age group in their situation.

Sparklingbrook · 15/02/2018 20:17

So those that don't mind children posting on here, would you be fine with your DC posting?

AnnieAnoniMouse · 15/02/2018 20:19

I have no problem with teenagers using this site to get help from adults, ones they probably assume are parents, people who should be interested in helping a child. It’s quite sad actually that people are being so hostile to a poster that often helps others.

Of course children/teenagers say how old they are, it’s relevant to the advice given.

As for the swearing, seriously, at 14 I’m pretty sure they’ll cope 🙄

yaela123 · 15/02/2018 20:19

For all you know I could be 12 I'm not, I am 44! It's an anonymous forum. If you don't say you're age no one would know. As long as no one is causing problems I don't see the big deal. Sometimes I'd rather my teens came on here for advice than ask whoever at school, etc.

I more worry that they are reading some topics and words that are not suitable at 14. The C word makes me recoil and it is used a lot on here.

I think most 14 yr olds in an average secondary school will have heard the C word many times! Plus they have access (probably) to the entire internet - I doubt MN is introducing them to swearing.

Aridane · 15/02/2018 20:19

Cedric’s mother is on Mumsnet!

Batteriesallgone · 15/02/2018 20:20

MN is massive. There are a fuck ton of people here you won’t want to converse with for whatever reason.

If you think there’s a reportable issue, report. Otherwise, move on.

It’s the internet FFS. It can’t be fixed or made safe. The best thing to do is to not feed/encourage/talk about the corners of it that don’t work for you or you find suspect.

MotherforkingShirtballs · 15/02/2018 20:20

would you be fine with your DC posting?

Fuck no. If they ever attempted it I'd have to teach them a lesson by randomly showing up at youth club and trying to talk to their mates, tit for tat style.

CougheeBean · 15/02/2018 20:21

There’s plenty of mums here not much older but than Cedric. What do you think a teenager will see here that they couldn’t find elsewhere? Enough threads get put in the daily cunting mail anyway. Are you not flattered that she has enough respect to ask here? I used to use 4chan and before that some awful chatroons when I was far too young to know better, and trust me mumsnet is far from inappropriate.

I can understand if it feels like the invasion of a private space but this is the internet

AnnieAnoniMouse · 15/02/2018 20:21

sparklingbrook yes, if they felt they couldn’t ask me or another person in their day to day lives. I’d rather they asked here and at least had a shot at getting help.

I’d prefer they didn’t know my user name though 😂🤣

CoedynSbageti · 15/02/2018 20:22

She posted her age as she felt it was relevant to her thread. She didn't need to as it would have been obvious that she was a teen as it was a thread about school. She has posted her age before but only when it has been relevant. She never trolls. Can't see the problem.

And she has a good relationship with her parents as it goes....even if I do want to strangle her a lot of the time! Grin

I actually had her banned when she was twelve but I am fighting a losing battle as she keeps coming back. She's not doing drugs hanging around on street corners though so it could be worse Wink

CaptainCardamom · 15/02/2018 20:22

I think it's pretty sensible for a 14yo to come on here for advice - they'll find plenty of women with useful experience and sometimes professional knowledge that can really help.

If more teenagers got their advice from MN in general, it might be a good thing. How to avoid controlling relationships, and many more useful things.

Coconutspongexo · 15/02/2018 20:22

I think it’s very unlikely any child would ever post on here if I’m being completely honest

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 15/02/2018 20:22

Batteries, we don't need to 'move on', post reported or not.

RubyFlint · 15/02/2018 20:22

It's an adult site definitely. I mean, I'm no pearl clutcher but some of the posts are certainly not for children's eyes 😵

SaskaTchewan · 15/02/2018 20:22

Children shouldn't be on the internet unsupervised, but if they are, most of the things online are unsuitable anyway.

You could even see how a young teen ends up here with threads about bullying, kids not invited to parties, teachers being moaned at, puppies, and god knows what.

Let's be honest, anything you post online (or read online) can be seen by children. Some parents are just too casual about it, too naive, and some just don't care.

VioletCharlotte · 15/02/2018 20:22

Most 14 year olds have unrestricted access to the internet. There are many, many worse sites they could be on than Mumsnet 🙄

No one really knows who anyone is on here. I always assume I'm talking , in the main, to adult women, but I've got no way of knowing that.

I can't imagine many teenagers would want to be on Mumsnet, but if some find it useful to come in here and seek advice, then they've as much right to be here as anyone else.

yaela123 · 15/02/2018 20:23

*your Blush

Sparklingbrook · 15/02/2018 20:23

The thought that I may have been on an AIBU thread debating something with my own DC. Blimey. Grin

I am pretty sure they have much better things to do with their time TBH.

SmashedMug · 15/02/2018 20:23

People's posting history is no proof of anything. It just means that character has been around longer.

Maryz · 15/02/2018 20:23

So have mnhq deleted the thread? If so why haven't they deleted all of Cedric's posts?

Either children are allowed or they aren't.

CaptainCardamom · 15/02/2018 20:24

And 14 is not unsuitably young. She will have heard of most of what she can encounter on here and certainly so will boys her age, so she might as well be well informed.