To think people on Mumsnet are nothing like anyone I know in real life

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On Mumsnet the majority of posters seem articulate, witty, well educated and quite middle class. They come across as being interested in lots of different things, most have been to university and got married etc. In real life the people I know are just, what I would consider, "normal". Some have been to college or university, some haven't. None are in fancy jobs and most rent their homes, lots of my friends had their kids out of wedlock. From some things I've read on here (not all), these would be classed as "bad decisions". Am I the only person who feels Mumsnet doesn't "match" their day to day life? (Sorry, not very good at putting things in to words).

I think it's unusual to only know people who are just like you.
I know people from all walks of life, with a range of education/interests/wealth etc.

Don't forget people can be whoever they want to be on here. Nobody will ever know. They could make up a whole new persona-be someone else, maybe the person they want to be?

Also people that are more 'normal' are less likely to post maybe for fear of being told they have made bad decisions in life?

I don't know. Some posters seem like me some don't.

I'm working class. Done ok for myself. Have daily struggles.

Didn't go to uni. Joined the forces instead.

I'm not well spoken.

I'm divorced. Issues with ex h.

Just plodding on really. Trying just like everyone.

Thanks for the responses. I'm on my own with a 6 month old and on universal credit. I didn't go to university. I often feel inferior on here.

Maybe it depends on what you are reading, I don’t see the same as you do on here. Think there are all sorts from all walks of life from what I’ve read. Maybe that is the point, to get a different perspective than you would in your normal circle of friends?

I think that millions of people read the threads and the ones with the confidence to post statistically more likely to be educated. Education leads to confidence
and arrogance esp if in management or privately educated.

Some git (male) threw my advice back at me because he was to educated and celebral to accept it.
There is an unusual start towards those earning over 100k too. That always shocks me. Average wage is 28k. I thought I was well off as teacher on 36k. I read today on here that teachers earn 50k. They certainly do not.

On Mumsnet the majority of posters seem articulate, witty, well educated

Majority? Obviously, I'm all of the above but don't think the majority are.

I don't think MN are representative of the population by any stretch of the imagination. Lots of posters on here claim to be earning six figure salaries, have a hatred for all inclusive holidays preferring to drive for hours cramped up in a car to go camping. They call their kids Tarquin, Lottie and Hugo. Drive for hours and spend copious amounts on their aunt's next door neighbour's cousin's nephew's daughter's wedding, whom they haven't seen for 10 years. Yet would never, ever travel abroad for their best friend's wedding. They don't go on hen dos and everyone's husband has a hobby which is so unique to mention it would be outing. It's also perfectly fine for their husband to go on a stag do to Prague or Amsterdam as of course the only reason they are going is to take on the architecture.
They also believe that if you lose your job it's totally fine as you can feed a family of 4 for a week on one whole chicken and a packet of lentils, and you can simply take on some ironing to earn extra money.

I love the fact that everyone on here is different. I’ve learnt a lot from posters from different backgrounds to my own from reading other people’s viewpoints, it’s very refreshing

Never ever feel inferior to anyone OP.
Work on your self steem, in who you are and see your worth.
Regarding MN, depends on the day and the subject to be honest.
Sometimes you feel part of the group, others is like a different universe!

Maybe the posts you are reading are from people a bit older than you and have had more time to get their life together?
Not that you haven't all I mean is that they might be more stable than what you think you are.

I'd of loved more kids but it just didn't happen for me.

I'm 41 by the way so it's too late for me personally have more.

I've got great step kids though.

Don't do yourself down.

There are people from all walks of life here I think.

Oh yes, a different league to me & my circle.

The posters who have a cleaner and are high earners are not of the same world as me.

Also having been on the end of some vicious replies and being ripped limb from limb on threads, I can honestly say that I have never ever known any one that nasty in real life.

I can’t relate to the very well off, posh and somewhat entitled people on here, they are from another planet.

But then there are some absolutely hilarious people who I would absolutely love to meet, I know a lot of very funny people in rl.

I’m from a working class background. Had two children outside of a marriage and spent 10 years as a single parent on benefits and living in a council house. Now remarried and work as my dc are now older but I still work part time in a job that pays only a few quid over minimum wage. We own a house now but it’s a big standard 1930’s semi. Yes

YANBU, that’s exactly how I envision the ‘typical mumsnetter’ from my experience reading threads. Married, university educated, property owner, high salary.

In real life, the majority of people I know don’t fall into that (or all) those categories.

Who knows if there is a higher number of posters with those circumstances, some might be lying, they might just be more likely to post about their lifestyle than other people. 🤷🏼‍♀️ but YADNBU, I completely agree.

Bog standard not big

I’m a SAHM I don’t have my own income, which is a Mumsnet failure, I eat loads, I’m a size 16 and couldn’t feed my family with one chicken all week, my kids love fish fingers. There’s all sorts of people on Mumsnet but I think people remember shocking, unusual things rather than ‘average’ I wouldn’t remember anybody earning £50k and think WOW but when people say they earn £550k I remember it.

I’m not sure if that makes sense.

FWIW, I work part time, DP (not husband!!) works full time. We have 2 DCs & we rent! The floor hasn’t fallen from beneath our feet yet.

Thanks everyone. The people I know in real life don't even have a Mumsnet account!

I suspect the lurker population is more diverse than the posting one though.

I remember all the threads about the need to close every park during the first lockdown. I live in a flat with my kids in a tower block and I got the impression I was an exception. But then someone started a thread to check if there were any MNtters living in garden less flats and quite a few suddenly appeared.

I'm a person with two degrees, one in law, with two kids, who no longer owns their own house, is shitting twinkies that we might never again, with two kids, we earn far too much to be in the situation we're in, but that's where life and our life choices got us. Husband has a six figure salary, I just got a job with a salary that's just over what I last earned. Twenty years ago.

Life isn't linear. . .

No one I know in RL would ever be as rude or nasty as some on here! And I may be naive, but I therefore think that some have a completely different persona in RL and that possibly therefore some lifestyles are not entirely true either!

I think what it is is that generally no one talks about being on mumsnet.

I think some friends are on here but it's anonymous isn't it so it's not really talked about.

Or at least they don't say they do.

I think it's unusual to only know people who are just like you.
I know people from all walks of life, with a range of education/interests/wealth etc.

I don't think it's unusual... I work with a lot of people from different backgrounds but I'm still good friends with the people I went to school with. Reading stuff like this makes me feel bad, like I lead a very sheltered life. (I almost certainly do, not sure what to do about it.)

OP, I probably come across as reasonably articulate. I work in the media so my job is words-based and I feel comfortable expressing opinions here.

However, I have learnt such a lot from reading about others' experiences on here. I am ashamed to think how judgemental I used to be and try to catch myself when I am being judgmental now. (I don't always succeed.) It is a very useful learning tool. So many people express things on here in a way I never could. I love it.

Please don't feel self-conscious. We all have something to learn from each other.