Why do childless people join Mumsnet?

[Sammysees]

Each to their own and I’m not saying they shouldn’t join. There are a plethora of boards that help people with or without kids. The site is called “Mums”net though. I’m curious as to why someone without kids would even think to join the site in the first place. If you are childless and reading this ... Can I ask what made you join Mumsnet?

This sort of thread is really hurtful for women who are TTC and/or suffering losses

This is very true. I’d love to have a baby but it hasn’t worked out.

I never feel out of place or unwelcome here. Except when people start threads like this.

The classic one of these threads was when the op admitted that she had joined when ttcing her first but she still wondered why people without DC were here.

I never feel out of place or unwelcome here. Except when people start threads like this

^this. I am not childless by choice, should I leave because we weren't successful??

Mumsnet’s ttc forums are the real reason why it’s so popular. It serves as a gateway to trashy posts such as this.

Fuck's sake, can't we just pin a thread like this to the top of the page? Why the fuck do childless or childfree people have to justify themselves for being here every couple of months when yet another of these threads pop up.?

I always think it’s odd when (as an example) a young single childless student in America has a fallout with a room mate and thinks
“ think I will ask for advice on a UK parenting website about this”
I don’t think they shouldn’t, I just don’t understand the thought process around it

I joined this and baby centre when ttc with my exH. I then discovered AIBU and stuck around after we split.

Now however I have a DD with my fiance so I'm now a mum but still only read aibu or relationships. With the occasional classics thread which got my through a lot of nightshifts in the summer.

So I can converse with, and seek the opinions of, a large number of (predominantly) female people

I agree. I wouldn’t join a football forum as I don’t like or play football.

Hoppinggreen mumsnet threads are often shown when googling random stuff. If a young single student in your example has surfed and found mumsnet in the past they wouldn't think twice about asking a question given the majority of non parenting threads. Also don't you ask for advice from mums, dads and childless people all the time depending on who is in your circle of friends.

I have asked for advice on here about random things. I don't specify that the person replying can't have children because I don't value their opinion because I am childfree.

I agree. I wouldn’t join a football forum as I don’t like or play football.

Ok. I’ll fuck off and take my dead baby with me shall I? Thanks you cockwomble.

@greendale17 But you'd probably find that 95% of topics and threads on a footballing forum would be about football. The majority of topics and threads on MN aren't actually about parenting.

I agree. I wouldn’t join a football forum as I don’t like or play football.

Neither would I if they just talked about football. Most active threads are nothing to do with being a parent. Maybe the people who find it odd only view child specific threads? There are many many non child/parenting ones.

I have friends with children (it gives me good insight into some of the challenges they might have)
You don't have to have kids to talk about cats/dogs/weddings/property/cf's/parking 😬

I might join a football forum. I don't like or play football but my DSs do and I might have a question or two.

I’m childFREE (not childless) by choice.

I joined because there are threads about periods, menopause, crappy parents, property/DIY, employment, self employment/TV and films. It’s fascinating and hilarious to learn about “living with teenagers” (I was one once!), entitled people, selfish people, bridezillas, wanky husbands/partners and people who steal bins and park like arseholes. I’ve learnt a lot about mental health and depression, autism, Aspergers and what it’s like to live with these conditions.

There’s a wealth of advice on what is acceptable in a relationship, be it with a partner, parents or friends.

Posters on here aren’t ‘just’ mums, they’re daughters, sisters, friends, wives and partners, colleagues, employers and neighbours, and they have many more stories and experiences to share than just their ‘being a mum’ stories.

Questions like the OPs make me feel unwelcome.

Questions like the OPs make me feel unwelcome.

Actually it just makes me think those that find it odd for us to be on here must just define themselves as a 'mum' and can only do and post 'mum' things.

Can't speak for anyone else, but I'm an uncle who wants to be a really, really great uncle. There may be an "Uncle's net" but why not use a site with thousands upon thousands of members?

I do understand that for those who have accessed via the pregnancy app and don’t realise there is a whole host of other sections on Mumsnet they may not realise that people who don’t have children (or aren’t pregnant) might post on MN. But if you are posting in AIBU then you must have figured out that there are other sections

I visit loads of forums for things that I do not personally do .
It is amazing the tips you get for travel , diet , fitness etc
I type the words into google and it takes me to many interesting places that I do revisit .

I think the OP is getting a hard time here, it’s a valid thought to wonder how it came about for someone to join a website that- from the outside- isn’t aimed at them. WE know, as members that there are loads of boards not related to parenting in any way, but you’d have to be here to know that, so I do idly wonder how someone found mumsnet sometimes. That’s not even close to the same thing as thinking those who don’t have kids aren’t welcome! I understand those who are not child free by choice might feel upset as it’s a sensitive topic, but I think people are taking that out on the OP unnecessarily.
And questions that have been asked before get asked again all the time. I don’t search every question I ask before I ask it, and I don’t believe most of you do either, so it’s unfair to have a Go at op for that either.

I have no issue with it and can understand but cannot understand all the posts about “why do people have kids” etc etx

Because if you’re bored on a night shift AIBU is hilarious.

I agree. I wouldn’t join a football forum as I don’t like or play football

Oh bore off. 95% of threads here aren't even about parenting despite what the name of the site suggests so it's really not hard to grasp that childfree people may also have opinions to share on those subjects. It's not an elite club for women.

I wouldn't join a football forum if all they posted about was football. I might do if they had dozens of other sections about various other topics like MN does.

For women with children*