To wonder why there’s suddenly an influx of American posters?

[Wonderwomam]

It seems every other thread I open is from an American poster. It’s all well, the more the merrier, but there’s some advice being given on some threads that just wouldn’t work here and vice versa. I can’t pin point each thing I’ve read as there’s so many. One example is about school problems; how can we advise someone living in another country how to sort school issues? The system is completely different.

I’m wondering was there some kind of big story like the bloody beaker that’s seen an influx of people from the US, or is MN just getting bigger and bigger?!

Tbf not every Brittish country has the same education system yet people muddle through posts don't we ?

Sometimes threads do not work because of this.

Including some about education in Scotland.

Agree it would be useful to have certain topics split by region so that advice can be relevant. Most posters do say where they're from which is really helpful but the ones that don't seem to get frustrated that all of the advice they are getting is wrong. Some people only read the OP so clarifying posts are often ignored.

Scottish posters are often suspected of being trolls or forrin if they mention their child being in school in August or whatever. There are lots of differences - educational and legal - within the UK, so not all advice would work even here.

It doesn’t matter then if others come too, the more the merrier. State where you are if you’re worried you’ll not receive accurate advice. Most advice on most matters here, though, is pretty universal, and it’s good to get a range of viewpoints.

@zzzzz

Posie Parker and other women travelled to America. They did not do this specifically to have a meeting with Donald Trump supporters.
There are widely different opinions about their trip to America. As I said before, check out the Feminist boards because this is a complicated issue for lots of people.
Enough, please don't @ me again because I won't be responding

I’m getting at least some feeling here from some posters, no, not all, that Americans maybe shouldn’t be posting about education/health because ‘it’s confusing’. What’s confusing?

Well I'm guessing they mean it's confusing if they don't say they're in America?

At least I'd jump to that conclusion before thinking they're not welcome to post on MN.

Are yes, late August when the school related posts pop back up and the troll hunting starts because people don't realise that parts of the UK vary in their term dates. Scotland being notably different, but some English counties operate out of synch with the majority too.

Sometimes it is just turn of phrase that sounds more American with the misuse of "pissed" to mean cross, not drunk or having relieved one's bladder (from a UK perspective, it can distort meaning), or the growing popularity of "gotten". Language is getting more global and less localised.

There is absolutely a hint of Americans not being welcome on this thread and backtracking is disingenuous. "Sudden influx" as if it's a bad thing. Bit like when people moaned about the "sudden influx of thickoes" after PB.
I haven't noticed any influx of anything (other than post PB thickery)
Been here 14 years and am British.
Do I need to get that put on a ticket before anyone will answer my questions then?

Wth! You’re just making BS up out of nothing! Please tell me where I’ve stated Americans aren’t welcome here? Word for word?

There's always been more than a hint of less intelligent posters not being welcome on Mumsnet, in the 8 years I've been here, which I find abhorrent but I can't say I've noticed posters from other countries being unwelcome really.

Not leaping to any conclusion just going off responses right here in this very thread Worra. Like I said, not all but some are definitely giving a vibe of ‘what are they doing here anyway?

‘maybe they should ask other Americans’ ‘
‘we should split topics by region’

I’ve seen it on other threads too where Americanisms and customs are called out from posters who have clearly stated they are American or at least American-English immersed by virtue if longtime US residency.

And, judging by responses from a few Scot, it’s not just American systems that are ‘different’ since within the UK itself education and healthcare systems vary from region to region. So, again, yes, it does seem some posters want an entirely England-centric discussion.

Well the American talk show ‘The Real’ have discussed several stories from here so have mentioned Mumsnet a few times now. I’m not sure of their viewership figures but they’ve recently won an Emmy & have 1.7 million subscribers on YouTube so I’m guessing it’s a fairly popular show which might explain the interest from the US.

I don't think there has been a sudden influx. I've been here for years and there's always been lots of Americans. English posters always assume everyone is English, part of the English education system and subject to English law. It's annoying for all the rest of us tbh ie Scots, Americans, etc. But we've always been here.

There is quite a bit of anti-Americanism on MN, I'm afraid. The OP may not be aware of that (but most of us Americans are; I've had pointed personal anti-American remarks made to me on threads), and that is the overall context that some people may think of when reading this thread. But I do not get that from the OP's posts. I think she is just curious about how MN may have come to the attention of Americans. My guess is google; that's how I found it seven years ago.

I've noticed anti-American sentiment quite a few times here. There have been various threads bemoaning the increasing Americanisation of language, customs etc. The Scots and Irish then usually pipe up that they've actually been doing or saying that for centuries

There's definitely anti-American sentiment on MN. Nary a baby shower thread without a 'tacky American custom' post. Or a wedding thread with some belief that all Americans 'cover their plate'. And God help you if you use grammar or terms or verbs that are not familiar to the English! You get pasted and called American when in fact, you might be Scottish or Antipodean or Irish.

Yes, Betty, every Halloween . . . 'tacky American custom'. That they got from us Scots and Irish . . .

I think at times we can learn from each other's points of view and/or 'methods' even if the 'specifics' can't apply to a solution. I try to make clear when I offer advice that I'm in the US so it may be that what I offer may not be completely practical in the UK. But it just may serve as a 'jumping off point' for someone to think of things from a different angle or prompt them to a different UK-based resource that they hadn't considered.

I have used UK-based advice to approach a problem with a different 'mindset'. I think it's helped me learn to stand up for myself in a better way. And Lord knows the non-US posters on the Trump thread have helped me keep my sanity in these trying times!

Total agreement with BettyUnderswoob and TaimaandRanyasBestFriend

It's insidious - anything "tacky", "grabby" or "vulgar" must somehow be American and those posts are as is as predictable as a fly on shit on any baby shower, Halloween, cake smash or, heaven forbid, a "Gender Reveal" (YES WE KNOW IT'S SEX NOT GENDER!)

Anything that can be sneered upon must be an "American import".

And I'm a Brit living in the Caribbean, not American.

Online papers ?. A lot of people abroad read them for interest. There are mumsnet threads appearing in them regularly so they may click on the link and find the site.

The Scots and Irish then usually pipe up that they've actually been doing or saying that for centuries

Which is often the reasons that we Americans are doing and saying it. We didn't just make up our language and customs from whole cloth.

The Welsh also have expressions you hear abroad.

@TaimaandRanyasBestFriend

"There's definitely anti-American sentiment on MN."

Yes, yes there is. I've seen loads of nasty comments about Americans on MN and MNHQ doesn't do anything about it. 😒

And on the baby shower importation, based on MN threads, when y'all imported the concept, you left out most of the etiquette that goes with it, the main one being, you don't host a shower for yourself, you don't make the guests pay for their food, you don't serve alcohol, you don't give another present when the baby is born, and did I mention the most important one, you don't host one for yourself.