To wonder why men post on Mumsnet

[Strawbs11]

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?

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 think they say "man here" just so people know because there is definitely a majority of women posters. Not everything men say and do is because they think they are superior!

Not everything men say and do is because they think they are superior!

I have had a couple of blokes on here do exactly that. Hence why I made it clear it irritates me when it does happen!

There isn’t really an equivalent site for men - I know my DB uses MN for the SEN and Education boards and finds it really useful.

However I’m sure there are also men who browse MN as they think they’ll be able to read about women’s sex lives etc. And to find out a woman’s perspective on affairs, divorce etc.

I assume that like the majority of posters on AIBU, they're bored and looking for a fight. The same as us.

If they're on other boards then they're probably after information - usually parenting.

I think it’s absolutely fine for men to use mumsnet - it’s a parenting forum.

One thing I’ve noticed though is that female posters tend to be taken at face value when complaining about an issue with a partner, whereas male posters tend to get told it must be something they’re doing wrong. Just an observation!

Blanchedupetitpois

In fairness it probably happens the other way round on male dominated advice sites.

Surely the same could be asked of you OP, as a non parent.

I use MN but don't always actively broadcast that I possess a y-chromosome because a) as PP have pointed out, this is a parenting board and I'd like to think that for the majority of civilized interaction, biological sex shouldn't matter, b) the tone can become instantly hostile on some board sections/threads (hello, Relationships) when you make it clear that you are male, and c) I like to try to avoid any accusations of mansplaining (something that I generally try to strenuously avoid anyway).

I wouldn't ever lie about my sex if confronted about on it the forum, but I have equally learned not to volunteer the information. Read into that what you will.

I don't see why men shouldn't be on here, nor the childless (like me). There have been a few occasions where men have joined with the express purpose of behaving like dicks but they tend to be swiftly dealt with.

There are plenty of boards on here to keep both of the above interested - I personally stick to non-pregnancy/child subjects.

I don't mind it, as long as they don't come in with the patronising "jokey" tone that so many seem to use, as if women aren't capable of grown-up discourse.

There are plenty of regular male posters who fit right in but I've noticed a spare of male 'newbies' who post, usually to criticise their wife, and lash out when people naturally disagree with them.

A spate I mean.

So by that reasoning those of us who don't have children shouldn't be here then?

YABVU. And sexist.

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.

Yep.

Signed, non parent.

YABU

This is primarily a site for parents so i think its a good thing that men come here too. They should be more welcome imo.

I think there are probably quite a lot incognito, not all men are twats that barge in shouting "MAN HERE......!"

I also think non-parents should be more welcomed. I first found MN while researching miscarriage and infertility, I was lucky to eventually have a live child, but if I hadn't would you really have expected me to fuck off?

It takes a village...etc.

Everyone has something to offer.

I do often wonder why there are so many men desperate to share their opinion in the Sex Topic.

You have no way of knowing which posters are men unless they do a big fanfare 'I'm a man' etc.

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.

As I've said already on this thread in response to another poster, I've been reading the AIBU section fairly regularly for about the last six months or so, and have never seen a thread about this on the AIBU board before. If you can point me to a thread on AIBU asking this question made in the last couple of weeks then good luck with that, because I'm pretty sure there isn't one.

The broader the range of people, perspectives and points of view the better, if you ask me.

And I have never found that owning a penis automatically makes a person into a thundering, domineering, jokey bore.

My DH posts when threads pop up in his area of expertise. I usually tip him off that his knowledge is needed. Eg questions about fracking or asbestos or anything else chemical or sciencey.

Many of the threads on here are not related to parenthood let alone motherhood, so it shouldn’t really be a surprise then men and non-parents post here.

Stuff to do with ownership of willies and how they behave is likely to be pretty accurate and therefore interesting, but other than that in my mind they are just another poster posting away.

Found this place while going through multiple rounds of IVF with the wife. There was some great support and advice. I don't go looking for certain threads as such, just tend to dive in on whatever is active so to speak. Generally speaking everyone here is pretty awesome, even the ones I disagree with but sadly there have been some pretty hostile responses from a minority when finding out that I am a man. There is a daft amount of generalising when it comes to male behaviour of the 'why do men do x' type of thing. Although I roll my eyes sometimes it is no different to the daft amount of generalising that happens on male dominated web sites when talking about women so it kind of evens out.

Happy to have men on board!

Two reasons. My sister occasionally sends over her child for an hour or two and I’m not a natural with children so I didn’t know what to do tbh. Now it’s easy: you just give him a colouring book and he can entertain himself for hours. There was also the aspect that this site is often quoted across Europe for all sorts of nefarious reasons and I wanted to see for myself- tbh I don’t see a big difference with other forums; most people are ‘normal’.