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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask the outcome of taking advice on Mumsnet

143 replies

Scentsandsensible · 21/09/2019 12:47

By its very nature, MN is a place that people come to seek advice. However looking on boards (am mainly talking AIBU as opposed to specific topics), I've seen some absolutely shocking and uninformed advice, among some absolute gems.

So aibu to ask - have you ever specifically taken advice from the wisom of MN and what was the outcome?

OP posts:
OvalCanvas · 21/09/2019 13:46

Somebody suggested that I feed my teething baby his milk by putting it into his cheeks with a medicine syringe. It was a great tip and stopped him becoming constipated while bottle feeding was causing him pain.

MintToBee · 21/09/2019 13:50

Not advice but I found my two amazingly lovely wedding witnesses through MN for our elopement.

Original poster
Scentsandsensible · 21/09/2019 13:54

@minttobee - that's lovely.

OP posts:
Zebraaa · 21/09/2019 13:55

I would never take any advice on here 😂

Every man is abusive, everyone’s child is autistic, every MIL is awful, everyone has gone no contact with their families ....

most people just have normal problems but posters on here make them feel like they have serious issues. It’s making people less resilient.

BananaPlant · 21/09/2019 13:57

Some of the health advice is really bad. Putting things on burns for example (don’t). ‘Call an ambulance now!’ is another one.

However there is some fantastic advice on here and I feel like I’ve been really well informed about several issues just from reading MN.

ChrisPrattsFace · 21/09/2019 13:57

I have another username for all the outing things I need advice on - and have had some excellent advice.
As someone mentioned above, there’s some people here who have really helped me in difficult situations.
Also - I’d love to take all the ‘go NC with MIL’ advice but DH likes to keep the peace in the family!

ffswhatnext · 21/09/2019 13:58

The 'experts' are a great source of humour. There have been some real corkers over the years.

However, some of the advice has been excellent by posters who have been through similar. From the good advice it gives the poster and others, a starting point in which to go on from.

There are places and things to do in certain circumstances that I wouldn't have known about otherwise.

Knittingnanny · 21/09/2019 13:58

I did. Was going to have a secret quick registry office marriage and tell adult children afterwards. You all said tell them so we did. Very very glad as you were all right!

Knittingnanny · 21/09/2019 13:59

Tell them before that is.

Areyoufree · 21/09/2019 13:59

I bought a Shark vacuum cleaner. It’s awesome.

Wauden · 21/09/2019 14:01

Yes, I have followed advice given here. I asked for advice about a difficult colleague and explained what I was doing about it. Most people said that I was doing the right thing, but then a lone dissenting voice suggested doing something else and I did that as well. Lone dissenting voice was spot on and that helped a lot.
I posted on AIBU, albeit with some trepidation, and followed sound advice.

Bless our nest of wise vipers!

saraclara · 21/09/2019 14:02

Every man is abusive, everyone’s child is autistic, every MIL is awful, everyone has gone no contact with their families...

most people just have normal problems but posters on here make them feel like they have serious issues. It’s making people less resilient

Yep. It bothers me how glibly some posters fuel the goes, and turn something that could be handled subtly and sensibly, into a huge conflagration.
Going no contact is recommended without a thought, and certainly without even a fraction of the information required.

saraclara · 21/09/2019 14:03

Ffs. Fuel the FIRE

FaFoutis · 21/09/2019 14:03

I kept my job rather than giving it up thanks to advice on here. I'm so grateful for that.

Gastropod · 21/09/2019 14:04

Yes, and if I hadn't, my daughter could have died. Posted about 7 years ago about my daughter's swollen face when she had chicken pox, having been told by GP there was nothing to worry about.
Didn't sit right, described symptoms here and was told unanimously to get her to A&E. Lucky I did, as she was already in toxic shock when we got there.

ControversialFerret · 21/09/2019 14:20

I posted asking for relationship advice many years ago - both of us are much happier (together!) as a result.

Cleaning the oven glass with an unwrapped dishwasher tablet was a bloody fantastic tip - that came off the housekeeping boards.

S&B gave me very good info on AB routines and products which has dramatically improved my skin. They also helped me with a bra intervention which has significantly reduced my back pain.

All sorts of things really!

Deadposhtory · 21/09/2019 14:20

It encouraged me to have a long over due smear test. Only to find out that I was stitched up badly after childbirth and have two openingsSad

justasking111 · 21/09/2019 14:21

Well extreme advice should be viewed with caution. But my next vac. cleaner will be a shark.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 21/09/2019 14:22

justasking

I, too bought a shark on the recommendation of MN.

It's one of the few decisions in my life that I have never regretted!

ffswhatnext · 21/09/2019 14:22

I was trying to remember where I got the dishwasher tablet tip from.

Sorry to hear that Deadposhtory

Mrsgogginsthe3rd · 21/09/2019 14:22

Yes regarding an issue with a particular friend last Xmas. Mumsnetters were correct, followed their advice and 9 months on am so happy and pleased I did!

Jimdandy · 21/09/2019 14:24

@MuchBetterNow I agree. I am genuinely a Solicitor (Commercial Property) so my knowledge outside of this area is limited. I can usually help with general questions about property/residential conveyancing but Family Law is quite specific and complicated so even a genuine family solicitor would struggle to advise properly on here, even if they wanted too!

And as you say could be a lie/fake!

Zaphodsotherhead · 21/09/2019 14:25

I posted about my 'D'P, some of his behaviour was fairly odd. I knew I had to leave him, I knew the whole relationship was doomed. All the advice pretty much backed me up. We've since separated and I am so much happier.

Some of the advice can be a bit over the top, but I find you can winnow the sensible from the mad, as long as you are aware of not just following the advice that you agree with!

Runorforgive · 21/09/2019 14:26

I had great advice and support when I posted about the behaviour of a male acquaintance. I’d lost objectivity and it helped me to see the situation from the outside. I had lots of help with phrasing things I had to say to another acquaintance too.

Apart from helping with the immediate situation, it made me realise I wasn’t too far off in my own judgement. The realisation that I had my boundaries set in pretty much the right place was even more valuable.

Thank you MN for that big step forward away from horrible abusive ex and the way he made me feel.

Frequency · 21/09/2019 14:28

I LTB.

Well, he kicked me out in a drunken stupor and then when he invited me back the next morning I remembered all the lovely advice I received on MN, told him to go fuck himself and presented myself and my children homeless at the local council.

The result is I am poorer, much, much poorer. He still tries his damndest to make my life hard (his only hobby is to attempt to make me miserable) but I am happier. The kids are happier. The house is much calmer and I'm working towards new qualifications and searching for better jobs.