To be irritated by the UK-centric assumptions on here

[saraclara]

Many posters here seem blissfully ignorant of the fact that the internet is a worldwide thing. Yes, this site is based in the UK, but that should be as far as it goes. Clearly there's somewhat of a UK focus which is fine up to a point. But...

Every second thread seems to end up with someone in the covid police trying to threadjack it because a hapless poster from a country that's not in lockdown, posts about being on holiday/vacation or visiting relatives, or doing something else that's not allowed here at the moment. Why do the threadjackers assume that everyone on here is British?

Seriously, the insularity here is really weird. I've not seen it on any other forum. I belong to two based in the US, but no-one assumes that posters on them must all be American.

@saraclara, I think I might recognise you from an American-based forum. However, the small forum I’m thinking of vanished more than a year ago. I never found out why.

Surely as an advice site (which MN largely is) its more useful if it’s largely used by people in the same boat. The advice for mums from mums for example. It’s not unreasonable to keep it relatively British as half on the advice would be incorrect or irrelevant otherwise.

To all the recent posters:

...as I've already said, I understand completely that the board itself is UK centric (with its ads etc). What I'm asking about is the attitude of posters to other posters,. As has already been pointed out, many moaners are incapable of even recognising that other posters might live in Scotland, or Wales, or NI. Or even, when we were tiered, outside their own tier.

The internet itself is international and people from any country can find it and post here. And if they're from an English speaking country they're going to blend right in. So before giving them a kicking for meeting up with their families or going into a bar, it's worth finding out where they live.

And I agree that it's very 'othering' to expect them to announce where they're from before they post anything

(some of the recent posters, I should say, as people have posted while I was typing)

[quote Cattenberg]@saraclara, I think I might recognise you from an American-based forum. However, the small forum I’m thinking of vanished more than a year ago. I never found out why.[/quote]
The smaller US based forums I regularly post on are still going. But I also posted on a large international forum that is gone. You're welcome to DM me though if you think you know me. It was always only going to be a matter of time!

Original poster I am not sure what the issue is?

This is a UK English language forum for presumably mostly British mums. The clue is in the name. This is a very well known British mums website.

Therefore it is no doubt made up mainly of posters who are British mums.

It is however very open and very welcoming to anyone who wishes to discuss issues mostly with fellow mums from the UK.

I also post in other global sites in both English and other languages and always mindful of where that site originates and its main target demographic.

What is the issue? Are there room for improvement or any misunderstanding? Should there be sister sites for other geographies or also in other languages? I don't understand why there is an issue? Surely if overseas visitors to the site like to post or share their different viewpoints then that is very refreshing and nice to know. Even within the UK we have nuanced variations and a spectrum of viewpoints.

I do not see any issue or problem and perplexed by this whole thread. Are you claiming discrimination or what is wrong?

It's totally fine for posters on a UK board to assume they are talking to other UK residents.

Do you not think that say, Nigerian or Bangladeshi or Indonesian boards exist?
Majority of posters living under that government, living under that culture.

That is fine

What the hell is all this "othering" shit.

If I was on a thread about what books I have read lately, then I wouldn't give a fuck where someone came from or their covid status was.

On the other hand if someone posted about having picnics on the beach with their extended family then mentioning that they were in New Zealand would be a good idea IMO. If they don't mention NZ then given that there are people in this country that are flouting lockdown rules people are bound to say something

Original poster I also note from some of your posts about other poster's attitudes and behaviours etc. Well each poster subject to English laws including equality, discrimination and hate etc can in free British society post what they like within these laws and presumably provided it is not deliberate defamation or falsehoods or unnecessary aggressive and rude.

Hope this helps!

hahahahaha Americans dont presume the whole internet is american? Sure Jan.

Gettings a bi sick of people picking and picking at British people about their nationality. Go and try it with any other nationality in the world and see how people react instead.

If your perception is 'otherness' OP, what is the solution? Your solution will indicate how that otherness is arising? For example, the assumption that the a thread on Covid lockdown rules is referencing UK lockdown rules, how do you want posters to react, what do you want them to say?

This is a UK based site and it he vast majority of posters are from the UK. I’m not, so when it is relevant I mention that. Currently it is relevant to mention if you live somewhere that is not in lockdown if you’re talking about going out, kids going to school etc.

Personally if you're on a British website and posting about a situation in your life that doesn't take place in the U.K., you should probably say "I live in XX". Really not very hard.

I'm Scottish living in America. I want to come home at some point and as most of my family are in the uk, it is most important to me to keep up to date with cultural issues and to get a feel for what is going on. This site contributs that in many ways.

I have been rebuffed multiple times here for commenting on threads, despite stating that I live in.... It is as if i have a nerve participating! Has really made me feel like shit, on so many occasions.

I have posted on here for yours and certainly been on the receiving end of some harsh posts, that's the nature of Mumsnet! Fontella wasn't being particularly complimentary to British people but nevermind.

Years not 'yours'

I’m a Brit living in Europe and the Uk-centric aspect is a large part of the attraction for ms.

It would just have to be someone from the US complaining. Like they don’t dominate enough things already.

I think you'll find that the vast majority of Americans who post on Mumsnet have a connection with the UK. They are here for the British cultural aspects, not complaining about them.

I remember someone posted “so excited we have a female Vice President” and she was attacked immediately. Fairly obvious she was (as she explained) a UK-based American. People just wanted to be nasty and those responses were completely unnecessary.

@Theluggage15

I don’t live in the UK and would think it’s up to me to point that out on a UK based board so as not to cause any confusion in certain discussions. As for talking about the US not being insular, that must be a joke.

Agree with this.

It's more English centric- seems to be where the most amount of posters come from. I accept that and I like the site. If you'd prefer one with a more American or Australian bent, then join one started in that country. I know there will be a skew towards England and English posts. I'm good with that. I find the grammar hard on American sites as it's not what I'm used to. I am also an expat Scot living in a different country.

@makingmammaries

I’m a Brit living in Europe and the Uk-centric aspect is a large part of the attraction for ms.

It would just have to be someone from the US complaining. Like they don’t dominate enough things already.

In not sure how many times I need to repeat that I'm British, English, living in the south east.

Each poster that assumes that I'm American (and doesn't rtft) just underlines my point. Just as anyone in the world can post here, a Brit can post on US sites. Hooray for the WORLD WIDE web.

I went to the garden centre to buy a toaster. They didn’t have any. AIBU to complain?

You’ve answered your own question! If you want less U.K. centric content then use a US site.