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?

I really can't remember how I ended up here.
I'm a Mum and now a grandmother. It's good to know how much parenting advice has changed over the years
I started out by reading Mumsnet Classics and spent about 2 days either crying with laughter or crying in sadness at some of the threads.

Because the forums (the vast majority of which have nothing to do with kids) are interesting.

I have children but they are not why I joined. I don't think I've ever asked for 'parenting' advice and I don't read the parenting boards so I guess people without children use it in much the same way that I do.

Surely it doesn't take that much imagination to look at the vast number of topics on here that aren't specifically related to children and think that perhaps they enjoy discussing those?

I googled something which led me to Mumsnet many years ago. I have no children, have no interest in many of the parenting boards on here but there are plenty of others I do enjoy such as AIBU, Chat, Money Matters, Politics, Relationships and MN Classics etc.

Had you searched, you would have found many threads asking your question, with identical responses.

I've been on MN since 2010. This question is like Old Faithful - it comes up every few months and gets the same answers each time.

Look at the topics in Talk. How many of them are exclusively focused on parenting and child-related matters? There's your answer.

I struggle to understand why people who do have children can't see that those boards are of interest to those of us who are 'childless'

Most of us have no problem understanding that in the slightest

Ok now I feel like a complete dick for asking a genuine question (or so I thought) what has been your favourite thread?

I think a lot of younger people come on who possibly either don't have a mum or don't have a good mum but really value what mums think or what a mum would do in certain situations. Maybe they want a mums perspective but don't feel they can ask their own mother certain questions.
I'm pleased to stick my mumsy beak in and give a view!

YABU.

And lazy.

1. A gaziilion threads about this.

1. If you shifted your arse for one fat second, you'd see that so many threads are not about parents.

1. Those threads that address parental issues are also open to comments by non-parents.

The site is called “Mums”net though

Why do people shop at Carphone Warehouse when carphones when no one has a carphone?

Because you won't get a more well rounded individual than someone that has been a mother and/or a wife for a prolonged period.
If advice is needed what better source than MNers.

I joined as I was looking for advice regarrding my DSD. I stayed for the bad language, intelligent debate and the humour. Sure there are some dickheads but there are everywhere. There is nothing to match reading here for an education on how the real world works.

Also my DSS's wife hates MN and that's good enough for me!

I think it's a wonderment (is that a word?!) of the modern technological era that seemingly disparate sectors of society can be brought together to share and listen to a different perspective OP. How brilliant is it really?!!!

Because I want to talk about the Archers and no one in real life is interested.

Will Helen and Lee get together?
Who has bought Home Farm?
Will Kirsty punch Brian?
Will Alistair finish the Felpersham Half Marathon?
How is Freddie getting on in prison?
And most importantly, when and how will Lily get rid of Russ the cocklodger? And will it kill Elizabeth?

Come on over to Radio Addicts!
Ps One of our beat posters is called DadDadDad. So not even a mum!

We are all children of others including those with no children of their own. Almost everyone will have child relatives within the family or wider family or through their own relationships. Plus friends with children etc.
Anyone involved in or just with a normal everyday interest in health, education, higher education, psychology, sociology, politics, their own relationships with their own parents, etc etc etc will have interest and valuable input in many threads irrespective of whether they themselves have children.

I’ve never once thought that someone without children of their own shouldn’t or wouldn’t naturally be here. Loads of threads simply wont be of interest - loads will.
Not so sure about men On mumsnet but have seen threads where it has seemed really sensible and haven’t ever thought they shouldn’t be I think. I suspect a lot of men aren’t open about being men here and that does piss me off.

I asked this once and was accused of being a journalist among other things.
I think whilst there is a very large section of Mumsnet that is parenting, there is an equally large section that could be lifted out of Mumsnet and it would survive on it's own as womansnet, even though a few men are sprinkled in for good measure, so a huge part of MN doesn't need children or family life for it's discussion.

I do wonder how many children of early MNs have joined the boards having grown up with the benefits

I didn’t join until I had dd. I did think Mumsnet for mums. But there’s obviously sections on everything pretty much. So I can see why people are drawn here.

Because it is just about the only place women can talk about our concerns, especially on the feminist boards , without being told to shut up or that our concerns are not relevant
Plus of course we have to stand together, with or without children to create a better world.

Personally, because of Style and Beauty and AIBU.

Because its an interesting , fast paced message board with a huge amount of members and topics abd mostly discussed by intelligent women.
I dont actually see it as parenting centred at all.
I do have kids but if i hadnt i would have still liked it

Hmm that made no sense but hope you got my meaning. Stuff evolves. I get more use, support and entertainment out of the PIL, health, career, 'D'H and bin theft threads than the specific parenting ones.

'Because you won't get a more well rounded individual than someone that has been a mother and/or a wife for a prolonged period.'

Don't know whether to or or at this. Being a 'wife and mother' means exactly sod all in terms of how well rounded you are as a person. I know plenty of parents who are narrow minded, thoughtless, insensitive muppets with zero empathy

Again?

Look at the topics lists. How many have nothing to do with children?

It's a massive website, google something and a Mumsnet thread is likely to come up and you'll get sucked in. I reckon the majority of posts on this site aren't about kids and once people realise that they stay.

Some of the most touching posts I've come across are from people who've had a troubled or abusive background but are seriously contemplating parenthood but are worried or doubtful about coping or their abilities; because they've had absent or poor role models themselves. I think Mumsnet can really help people in this situation.