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?🤔

WingedHarpy LOL !

Because being a mother doesn’t mean you have nothing else at all to talk about other than your children, so women chat about books, fashion, sport, politics, relationships with other people etc etc etc. This question is becoming tedious.

This.

Your question is underpinned by the sexist assumption that women who’ve had children have pushed their personalities out with their placentas and must now join an exclusive club where they discuss nothing but children.

I was a parent and now I am not? I came here looking for advice around writing a letterbox for contact and found a supportive community mostly.

wingedharpy that's it in a nutshell - brilliant!

I don’t think it’s a stupid question.. it’s called mumsnet! I’ve never seen this question posted and a lot of you are just being mean to the OP for asking a perfectly reasonable question.

Well you’re wrong. It is a pretty stupid question, and further, one that has been answered many times before. OP could have a) searched, or b) maybe even figured out the answer for herself, or 3) worded her question in a way that made it clear she was actually interested and not just being goady.

Also, ‘a lot of you are just being mean’? No, we’re not just being mean. People are answering in a robust way because robust discussion is encouraged here and is one of the main reasons this site offers so much to so many women (and some men too). I was handed my arse on a plate recently in AIBU. Did I whine about people being mean to me and run away from the thread? No I did not. I argued my position clearly and answered questions and clarified things to make my case.

It must be that time of the month again

Because I like the chat. There are LOADS of topics on mumsnet. Parenting is only one category.

Argh utterly inexcusable stray 3 there...Clearly more coffee is needed!

@hopityhopity don’t be put off by people’s vehement reactions. It’s the way of AIBU in particular, as you’ll know if you’ve been here for a while. Nobody gives a shit, really, it won’t be personal and it’ll be someone else who gets it tomorrow (possibly me!).

It's similar to the online fashion shop called Pretty Little Thing. We are not all Pretty Little Things but we still shop there.

It's just a name for the website but there's no rules attached that you must be a mum. The same as you don't need to be a pretty little thing to shop there 😁

Sometimes us mums like talking to people who aren't mums about stuff too. They can actually be quite interesting you know. Sometimes it doesn't even have to be about our children! Turns out there's loads of other topics to chat about! I couldn't believe it when I found out either!

Without exception, my impression of people who ask this stupid question, is that they are one of those boring and self-absorbed parents who think that parenting is the be all and end all. Always seems to be women that ask the question to.

Exactly this.

Why does it matter, seriously, who cares why other people choose to visit any website?

Grumpymcgrumperson I wonder this too! I’ve seen a few posts starting with ‘Hi mums!’ and the other posters have been downright aggressive about it! As if it’s ridiculous to assume that, on a website called Mumsnet, you’re addressing other mums! I never came on Mumsnet before having kids - wouldn’t have interested me at all!

But that's you. Do you honestly believe that people who aren't parents couldn't or shouldn't be interested?

So they can answer one of these threads every 6 months

I find a lot of the advice very applicable to raising my parrots.

I suppose both tend to repeat what one says in high-pitched tones and chuck unwanted food on the floor grin.

There are some striking similarities, except parrots are louder and more demanding than children, and even less grateful. **

I am an extremely partisan parrot mother and inclined to have favourites. . MN has made me see the error of my ways.

I'm now pregnant but have been a member for about 8 years. I use this place far more than friends who are parents, and one will ask me what MN has to say on something or other.

I came for work (I needed to find people to answer a survey for me and this seemed as good a place as any, and yes, I did pay to advertise). I started reading a thread about a horserider having problems with a certain car driver, and it was suggested that MNers dressed as zombies to teach the driver a lesson. The craziness appealed and I was hooked.

I just wondered what bought you here.

Wow, ignorant and disingenuous. Well done.

I don't see Mumsnet as a parenting forum to be honest ... I don't need advice and hardly ever post but I like reading the rows 😂😂... plus every day is a school day on mumsnet 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

I didn't realise this post has been done a lot!

You don't say.

Can always rely on threads like this to identify the parents who think we're sub human.

Not this shit again. The vast majority of threads on here aren’t about children/parenting.

And yes YABVU.

I've got children but I didn't come here for parenting advice!

Sick of seeing this post every other day.

I was attracted by penisbeaker. I go on AIBU when I need cheering up.

Because I'm nosy

Well tbh it's something that I've wondered before too, OP.