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?

And yes, this question gets asked regularly enough.

I've been on MN for 10 years (so slightly longer than 6 months), and it pops up often enough.

People - men and non-parents! - come on this site because they're bored and cant work Reddit

FTFY...

I’m not bothered really. But what does bother me is when posters ( & it happens quite a lot ) use ‘he’ as an insult to a poster they know damn well is a woman.
Example - he must be so bored.
So men definitely aren’t welcome all over Mumsnet.

Surfer, I'm disappointed now

But what does bother me is when posters ( & it happens quite a lot ) use ‘he’ as an insult to a poster they know damn well is a woman.

Oh really @surferjet - I haven't seen that before. Very silly!

@SpeakingAsAMan777 AIBU is my favourite too, Speaking. It's addictive!

As I said earlier, it's interesting to hear from some of the guys on here. I wonder if DH is a closet poster

Also, just to clarify - I have no problem at all with men posting on here (not that it would even matter if I did). I was simply interested to know why some men choose to do so.

My first! 🎉
Because it caters to a diverse range of people, not all of whom have children/ want children/ are women.

@SD1978 what does the biscuit mean? I've seen it used a number of times but have never understood!

There are some lovely male regular posters. Unfortunately there are also a few who seem to specialise in either trolling (they get banned but manage to reregister) or who manage to post mostly within Talk Guidelines but who mansplain, sealion and generally derail threads. Especially on FWR. However, these are the exceptions, and they're greatly outweighed by the contributions from other men.

A lot of males who post here manage to convey their sex via NN, some sort of nonfiction masculine name so they don't have to do the 'man here' fanfare.

I'm a man. I've posted on football forums in the past which are obviously male-dominated but have female posters, so although it's a bit unusual, if they're interested then fine. I don't go out of my way to hide it or to highlight it, except where it's relevant like here.

I like cooking so got into it via the recipes as I thought this would be a good place to start. I simply post on or read what I'm interested in and avoid all the flower arranging, wine tasting, 'does my tampon look normal?' and 'who is the sexiest Eastender?' or whatever you ladies like to talk about.

Oh no- football forums, that reminds me of the PieandBovril/MN fiasco a few years ago. It didn't end well at all.

I first came on here about 5 years ago when we adopted our DS and I became a SAHD - the advice and help I got was invaluable.

I use it now because I find it interesting, entertaining and eye-opening.

I enjoy the fact that there are a lot of women on here but it really gets up my nose when you get that anti men stuff going on. If it happens again I shall self identify as a man and go annoy the wimmin on FWR boards by calling them 'girls'.

Well, since you ask..

I think the threads are really interesting..anything about wedding/bridesmaids/hen-do's/stag do's can be gobsmackingly hilarious. The Cheeky Fucker stories are also brilliant.

As a parent, anything to do with in laws, childcare, schools etc I find relevant and often thought provoking.

I also got a real education/ sense of perspective on the self I.D./ trans gender topic as well. You wouldn't really get the range of opinions anywhere else.

Male or female, parent or non parent, the sheer number of threads on here means there is something for everyone.

Respect is key - no mansplaining or wading into sensitive topics where it's obvious the thread starter feels they (she) is in a safe, man free environment

As a woman I think it’s great more men feel they can have conversations with us. So many of them aren’t sure they know the answers to things and telling them shows that us women do see men as equals. I for one speak to all kinds of men on varying levels in everyday life - from stay at home dads to PAs - and their gratitude when you help them really shows through (they probably fancy me, bless them).

And if you’re the kind of woman who’s only after sex then, if you’re nice to men, they eventually put out. Just don’t give them your real name, most of them are only after women’s money (slags).

Love all the posters saying it's a parents site when the actual name of the place is mumsnet! Clue is in the title

Love all the posters saying it's a parents site when the actual name of the place is mumsnet! Clue is in the title

Spread, the Mumsnet slogan is "by parents for parents" though, which I wasn't actually aware of until today!

the actual name of the place is mumsnet! Clue is in the title

Doth thou needeth a lesson on Mumsnet history?

Justine herself hath never saideth iteth iseth justeth foreth mumeths.

It was merely that Mumsnet sounded better than parentnet. So fucketh offeth.

the Mumsnet slogan is "by parents for parents" though

But you have no kids so you're not a parent... you're just as "wrong" as a man.

I don't mean wrong, obviously. I don't care who posts here :)

Well I'm a parent, a single parent a make single parent to 2 dd's under 13, sometimes I need advice, sometimes I have issues to deal with sometimes I want to vent. I don't want MRA's, Mgtow's or anyone like that chipping in to say something that is counter productive to what goes on in my and the dd's lives.

I like Mumsnet. It's useful

I read a lot of posts mainly on AIBU. I like reading the questions and replies and occasionally will post a reply.
I've been thanked for my replies,I've been flamed for my replies and that is fine.
I come on here with a user name that is fairly clearly a male because it is an interesting place to read about life and what matters to people.

Because men are parents too and because it's the internet.

I was flattered to be called 'she' on a thread on a female dominated forum. I mostly lurk, especially on FWR, feminism is not for men though we can learn from womens' lived experience and change our behaviour. I do post on The Archers thread and the PokemonGo thread because why not?

Does anyone know of another forum on the internet where the debate is as intelligent and educated, covering the ups and downs of everyday life, and with a good breadth of experience and opinion?

Until I find that, I guess I'll stick with MN.

After all, I am a parent, so I feel at home here. (I'm one of those who lets my username reveal that I'm a man as a courtesy, without trying to make a big deal about it)

But you have no kids so you're not a parent... you're just as "wrong" as a man.

You've got me there!