To ask why non-parents are here?

[hopityhopity]

I see posters saying they don't have any children, or want any. So if you aren't a parent, pregnant or TTC, why are you here on mumsnet?🤔

I’m in a mums-only fb group and it’s lovely (and so much less judgy/ argumentative than mumsnet!)

I’m in a mums only Facebook group too and it’s full of cunts.

There's another popular online forum which I've never felt entitled to use, as I only half qualify, so I've always stayed well clear to avoid similar misunderstandings.

I mean.... I AM digital, inasmuch as I (proudly) possess a full complement of phalanges; but, sadly, I'm not (currently) employed in any category of front-line espionage role.

For the shoes on or off in the house threads, the paying extra to guarantee my toddler sits next to me threads, the DH going on stag do threads and the booking holiday over Christmas threads.

My sons are grown and gone, but I stay because it teaches me how to handle so many situations that I would not have known how to handle otherwise.

"Anyone read the slogan...
Mumsnet .. for “parents” by “parents”
Just saying"

Yes, I've read it, but it bears no resemblance to what Mumsnet is now. As so many people have pointed out, most of the topics are not about parenting.
In any case 'for parents' doesn't mean not for non-parents.

@Skysblue

“It makes me a bit uncomfortable tbh OP. Mostly because anytime women form a space to discuss stuff to do with being a woman, it stops being a space about that very quickly.”

Wow so because I’m infertile and therefore might not ever be a parent I also don’t get to “discuss stuff to do with being a woman” without it making you “uncomfortable”...

Just have a think about your wording.

Oh this again, must be a weekly question. Because I love reading threads asking why I'm on a site where 90% of the forums aren't about children or don't need you to have children to understand/have a good laugh about. A better question is why did you think this needed to be asked in the first place?

I actually came her when I lost my mum almost 13 years ago. I have said it before, We all HAVE a Mum.....

Or had a Mum

For the poster who is 'uncomfortable'

Twitter's been infiltrated by MILLIONS of marauding, parasitical humans, too - no more safe space for the worldwide avian community.

I'm mad about dogs so came into mumsnet through the doghouse . Hope you are thick skinned @hopityhopity so many of the pp are being unnecessarily vicious over a totally reasonable question.

so many of the pp are being unnecessarily vicious over a totally reasonable question.

People aren't being vicious, they're frustrated!

And it really isn't a 'reasonable' question as has been explained ad infinitum.

It is a loaded question.

Asking why posters use MN is a neutral, possibly interesting question.

But asking why posters from one particular demographic use MN carries an implicit challenge or judgement.

I find the threads about children very boring and never click on them. (I have three DC).

I'm here for the discussions about crisps and the stories about people being CFs and the book recommendations.

'Really baffled at the number of people taking offence at the question. There really is nothing bitchy about it.'

There's at least one thick, clueless post like this each month.

Wish all the idiots would just form their own platform and fuck off.

I'm in Australia & I read quite a few articles that had been taken from here. I had a look & enjoyed some of the topics so decided to join. Plus it makes me laugh at all the crazy shit that people say.

I think for the most part it’s the same reason why parents are members of the Childfree Facebook group I’m in. They’re curious about our lives and how we live as we are about them.

I personally cannot fathom for a second why anyone would want to have a child. It genuinely baffles me so I find the posts here intriguing! It’s like reading about an alien species that enjoys servitude!

@hopityhopity for the reasons that;

this site covers a variety of interesting topics,
to support other women where I can, and lastly;
to read ridiculous posts such as this

There's no such thing as stupid questions, only stupid people. Honestly, what did you think the responses would be? Get a grip love

Asking why posters use MN is a neutral, possibly interesting question.

Exactly. If the op had said, ‘if you don’t have dc what first brought you to MN?’, then the thread would have a completely different tone.

CFers, Parking threads and in general, the entire AIBU section? Most AIBU don't even mention the OPs kids (if any). More than enough resin to be on Mumsnet.

**reason

It makes me a bit uncomfortable tbh OP. Mostly because anytime women form a space to discuss stuff to do with being a woman, it stops being a space about that very quickly. I don’t want to be on a thread about post-childbirth pelvic floor issues and then have someone wade in with “well from a man’s perspective...” or on a thread about fertility and suddenly have someone saying “I’ve never wanted children...”

I’d be very interested to meet the man desperate to give his perspective on the pelvic floor. I’d have thought you had more chance of finding Bigfoot. Also, you do realise you could ignore comments on infertility from someone who doesn’t want children? No one is forced to read or respond.

Most of the time you won’t know whether the person posting is childless, male, both or neither. Most people only mention it if it’s relevant. People don’t necessarily tell the truth online either.

I can relate to @Legomadx2: i have 2 children, but never read the parenting threads.

It makes me a bit uncomfortable tbh OP. Mostly because anytime women form a space to discuss stuff to do with being a woman, it stops being a space about that very quickly. I don’t want to be on a thread about post-childbirth pelvic floor issues and then have someone wade in with “well from a man’s perspective...” or on a thread about fertility and suddenly have someone saying “I’ve never wanted children...”

And I love the inference that a 'space to discuss stuff to do with being a woman' means someone who doesn't want children is not welcome

Oh ignore that poster

T A M