Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why men post on Mumsnet

101 replies

Strawbs11 · 22/11/2018 14:05

Just that really. As a long-time lurker (mostly on the AIBU boards), I have noticed the occasional post by men on here and it always takes me by surprise - I think because it's just such a female-orientated environment. AIBU to wonder how many men post on Mumsnet, what they get out of it and what female posters' thoughts are on it?

OP posts:
gamerchick · 22/11/2018 14:07

Heh I was just thinking yesterday when reading a thread where quite a few men had posted (about sex no less) and thought that one of these threads would be along soon.

Pity I can't predict the lottery Grin

Nenic · 22/11/2018 14:07

Doesn’t bother me. It’s a site for parents after all

WitchesHatRim · 22/11/2018 14:07

YABU

HTH

JacquesHammer · 22/11/2018 14:08

I have no issue with men who post. There are several who post regularly.

I have an issue with men who post “as a man” or “man here” when not relevant and seem to expect their “superior knowledge” is bowed down to.

LucieMorningstar · 22/11/2018 14:08

I just notice that the tone in the replies changes, especially if he is looking for advice on a situation involving his wife.

LoisWilkerson1 · 22/11/2018 14:09

It's a parents site. Doesn't bother me that men use it.

Doyoumind · 22/11/2018 14:11

It's a site for parents, not women. Someone posting about their wife could be a woman, you know. We don't know much about any of the people posting. They could be anyone.

MN is a good place to come to for information and advice. I don't know why that can only be for women.

Loftyswops988 · 22/11/2018 14:12

It is a parenting site, i think its a bit outdated that it's called mumsnet. Thinking of all the single dads or stay at home dads etc etc etc it makes sense that there are men here? But agree with PP that has an issue with men announcing themselves when it isn't relevant

MephistophelesApprentice · 22/11/2018 14:12

I lurk to learn. I post if there is legitimately a reason that a non-female perspective might have a valid opinion (so not much).

For instance a thread about what men put their dicks in might be a legitimate avenue for my input.

Hmm. Phrasing.

hellsbellsmelons · 22/11/2018 14:12

It's great that they can come on here for 'expert female' advice.
Most of them some good insight and it's helpful to them.
Others post responses from a male perspective and that also helps.
Do you go on the relationship boards?

There are few good ones over there.

slappinthebass · 22/11/2018 14:13

Doesn't surprise me at all. What does surprise me is the amount of never want to be parents on here.

Original poster
Strawbs11 · 22/11/2018 14:16

I can see that a man's perspective could be very interesting when it comes to issues with relationships.

I always thought of Mumsnet as a site for mums rather than parents, but looking at the website, to be fair it does say "by parents for parents". I never noticed that before!

OP posts:
Original poster
Strawbs11 · 22/11/2018 14:18

Doesn't surprise me at all. What does surprise me is the amount of never want to be parents on here.

Really? There's so much more that is discussed on Mumsnet beyond parenting and kids. I can see why it would appeal to people without kids (me!) just as much as those who do have them.

OP posts:
SylviaAndSidney · 22/11/2018 14:19

I don’t care if they’re men or childless (as long as they’re not posting in the pregnancy topic Grin), the more opinions the merrier I say.

As long as they’re not lying bastard trolls.

KlutzyDraconequus · 22/11/2018 14:19

As a long-time lurker (mostly on the AIBU boards)

If this were true you'd know we have this thread at least once a fortnight.

Men post here cause, shock horror, men are parents too and this site is, take a deep breath now, a site for parents...

I'll wait whilst you recover from the vapours ..
Better? Good good.

I believe that when the site was made it even had a dad helping out. So dad's have always been involved.

RTFT · 22/11/2018 14:20

I'm not a parent

Storm4star · 22/11/2018 14:21

I like that men post here too. Different view points are good. The same applies to non parents. I do have DC, but grown up so I don't often respond on child related posts. I go on AIBU, chat and relationships and there are topics on those every day that anyone can relate and contribute to. I like the variety. You get common problems that everyone has encountered up to ridiculous situations that can be quite amusing!

NonaGrey · 22/11/2018 14:23

Men have been posting in MN fur a very long time.

Non parents have been posting in MN for a very long time.

It’s a public site. Anyone can post as long as they (mostly) behave themselves.

PurpleDaisies · 22/11/2018 14:23

I can see that a man's perspective could be very interesting when it comes to issues with relationships.

Because men all think alike? I never understand this perspective.

Original poster
Strawbs11 · 22/11/2018 14:24

If this were true you'd know we have this thread at least once a fortnight.

I've been reading the AIBU board on a regular basis for about six months and have never seen a thread asking this question on here.

OP posts:
MQv2 · 22/11/2018 14:25

"I have an issue with men who post “as a man” or “man here” when not relevant and seem to expect their “superior knowledge” is bowed down to."

I'll often preface a post with that and have throughout my decade or so here (lost my beloved mayorquimby log in during the great hacking scandal) but it's not to try and give added weight to my opinion.
It's always either been to mark out that I'm coming from a different perspective (normally if the thread is about relationship stuff) or to save some odd eureka moment later in the thread when someone who disagree with me twigs that I am male and attempts to use the revelation to either discredit my argument or insinuate some sorry of dishonesty through silence as happened a few times

DerelictWreck · 22/11/2018 14:26

As a long-time lurker (mostly on the AIBU boards)

Yet you've missed the fact that this exact question, along with 'why are there people who aren't parents on here waaaahhhhh' gets asked every few weeks.

Buddytheelf85 · 22/11/2018 14:28

I don’t mind men posting on here but on feminism-related topics you often get posts from angry MRA types, who are rarely helpful to any discussion. I do wonder why they hang around on MN of all places.

JacquesHammer · 22/11/2018 14:29

It's always either been to mark out that I'm coming from a different perspective (normally if the thread is about relationship stuff)

So that certainly would be somewhere it could be considered relevant?

MQv2 · 22/11/2018 14:29

"Because men all think alike? I never understand this perspective."

No but they will share many common experiences.
In the same way many women tend to have a common experiences.
For example shouldering the bulk of housework or unseen tasks. Doesn't mean they all do it or that they all have the same perspective but it is something that women are likely to have a different perspective on to men