AIBU to wonder how so many non parents end up on Mumsnet?

[Keepingitreal14]

I see loads of posts from people without kids, older people with grown up adult kids etc and always wonder how they ended up as a poster on a mumsnet forum? Just feels a bit random to me.

Not this again.

@GingerFigs

I often wish they'd change the name of the forum from Mumsnet to something else just to stop this stupid question popping up every few days 😤

This!

I'm more concerned about the fact that there are loads of men on here.

Just bugger off to Reddit, will you?

It’s an open forum and useful to hear differing opinions. Not just about juniors last poo 💩

@NannyAndJohn

I'm more concerned about the fact that there are loads of men on here.

Just bugger off to Reddit, will you?

"By parents for parents"

With the slogan 'by parents for parents', I still don't feel its an unreasonable question. I have clearly missed it the 100's of times before.

But your all right, I rarely read or look at the parenting posts, much prefer the AIBU stuff.

I didn't realise how many search engine stuff brought you here which most likely answers my question.

Have a look at the Active List. Many, many threads aren't about parenting.

We genuinely have this question every couple of months, at least. YABU.

I'm not trying to conceive now. I was when I joined nearly 15 years ago. I didn't realise I wasn't a qualifying mum anymore.

Even if you hadn't read the 12353 other times this thread has been started you must be doing it wrong if you can't see that most of the topics and threads aren't about being a parent

How are you viewing threads? Do you use active conversations?

I think most of the content on Mumsnet isn't actually about parenting, but a wide range of topics so is suitable for non parents too. It is having kids that made me know about MN though and made me join, otherwise I don't think I would have. When I say I'm on Mumsnet to my childfree friends they laugh, not in a nasty way but obviously it's not something that appeals to them.

@GingerFigs

I often wish they'd change the name of the forum from Mumsnet to something else just to stop this stupid question popping up every few days 😤

Yes. Me too.

@Keepingitreal14

With the slogan 'by parents for parents', I still don't feel its an unreasonable question. I have clearly missed it the 100's of times before.

But your all right, I rarely read or look at the parenting posts, much prefer the AIBU stuff.

I didn't realise how many search engine stuff brought you here which most likely answers my question.

What answers were you hoping for, though? Why do you ponder it so?

I hope they don't change the name. The site still is predominantly women. If they changed the name ( which I can't see as its a now a brand) it would invite much more men and it would change the tone of the site.

Ive been on sites where its a similar ratio of men and women and the men can be very aggressive. The mods wouldn't be able to keep up with post deletion!

I wish it was called something else, too, to stop the hard of thinking having to pose this question every other week.

I joined cos my mum is on here, I came for AIBU, I stayed for the S&B and FWR forums.

I think it adds to the diversity. However it can be a minefield as you would normally expect to be have online discussions with fellow British mothers hence the name of this website hub but it’s apparently (positively) a rainbow of all sorts all and all geographies. I do wonder if female posters who do not have children (elderly or children), males or international audiences think about UK MumsNet? Do you also post on other online communities and if so are any recommended for curiosity? I understand there is ScotsNet, GransNet and DadsNet too? And finally would a website name change or separate website sections be more appropriate to avoid confusion and add inclusiveness or just more unnecessary demographics identity politics?

I've got no children. I came on because of style & beauty I think, and then moved onto low carb bootcamp, but also join in on feminism chat and the litter tray. So, basically, all the really interesting stuff that isn't child-centred!

I don’t have children but came here when searching for advice around gardening, house alterations etc.

I stayed ever since. It’s useful for advice about many things, asking for opinions on things not related to children. There’s loads of discussion about everything from hair colouring, bedding, pets, money, countryside and home decor. Dating etiquette - is it ok to say this to a man and what do you think this means? The level of discussion is interesting, I find more interesting and intelligent and sometimes more hilarious, than most other places.

I love hearing about people’s goings on and neighbour disputes. I particularly like the ‘how do you say this to (neighbour, relative, friend) without hurting their feelings and AIBU to do so? Things we all deal with at times.

I work in a an area of health and child health (being vague) so occasionally have something to contribute (I hope).

I have wondered the same thing sometimes OP. I guess people find it through Google. I didn't know it existed until recently when another mum mentioned it. Sometimes I wish I'd never discovered it!!

I have kids, but my MIL recommended Mumsnet to me (the Stately Homes thread) when I was processing some stuff from my childhood.

They should change it from mumsnet to personsnet

If every thread on here was about children/parenting then it would be weird for non parents to be here, but since most topics on here aren't parent related isn't it obvious?

I'm guessing the OP has got the message that this is a common question and the reasons is due to the non parenting topics.
So maybe we should welcome them now and back off the put downs.
OP, enjoy the forum, as you can see, it goes way beyond discussion on being a mum and all the better for it.

You don't stop being a parent once the kids grow up; there's no holidays, no sick pay, no retirement and not even a pension.