To think mumsnet has become a lot less popular?

[Duckypoohs]

Is it just me who thinks the volume of threads and replies has lessened? It used to be so busy and good, now you can reread a thread and hardly any more replies have been posted.

I'm sad about this, the Internet is becoming more and more condensed. It also seems like the demographic has shrank. Bah, sad times.

Oh bums wrong thread. As you were !

@SomethingOnce

Mumsnet has given me a terrible impression of British women and in particular white women.

Please do elaborate.

Are you asking other posters to elaborate on their experience?

In a funny way though, I like the intolerance of MN. The intolerance of the attention seekers, the intolerance of the drama llamas, the intolerance of people who think what they do and say is ok, when it's actually far from it.

I like that in a world where people can be entitled self absorbed (complete pricks to be honest) that MN has the dose of reality that people don't say to them IRL. And not because MNetters are hiding behind a keyboard, but because people are so used to being pandered too now by both peers and organisations, because everyone's too frightened of someone (falsely) pulling out the "you've offended me and discriminated" card. It's very rarely this. It's the fact the person is being an entitled arse.

I don't like the way it's going that we all have to pretend these people aren't simply unpleasant, entitled, or wrong....if you honestly point this out, you are "clearly bitter" or "are you this nasty IRL?" I've seen posters simply say "come on, that's not right is it" and then OP attacks them declaring they are being bullied. I find the many posts with people flippantly throwing accusations like that about, and the victim mentality it enables, appalling.

Essentially, before, if someone was being an arse, they'd be called out. Advised. Debates that were interesting and intelligent would usually follow. OP would often acknowledge they hadn't seen that point of view. I've certainly used MN in the past when I've wanted advice, and I just wouldn't get that standard now. It's still helpful. But not how it was. People trot out what they think is the most politically correct stance, to try and appear superior. Real life advice isn't always what would look best in a popularity speech.

I miss how funny it used to be, and the troll hunting has become very tiresome. I agree with PP that threads being removed which had whole heaps of interesting stuff on them because someone has decided they're fake is putting me off posting much, which is a shame, because there are sometimes still moments of genius and wit.

@flapjackfairy

Oh bums wrong thread. As you were !

See this makes a point - why can't you delete or edit a post within 10 minutes like you can on other forums??

And why do you have to refer to a bloody key to remember which symbols to use for italics, smilies etc - it's archaic!!

@MarshaBradyo

I am also so sick of the constant threads about the UK going to hell in a hand cart which don't offer any support or room for discussion or debate. I am not saying that we are not living through challenging times and that there are hard times ahead but it's absolutely pages and pages of people slagging off everything about the UK and almost revelling in life in the UK as a dystopian nightmare.

It’s off the scale atm

The constant pages of posts by people who are living in abject fear (apparently) is unbelievable!!

Yes, when you go outside & speak with people it's just not present - maybe more MNetters should try venturing outside - they'll see the sun still shines & people are still smiling...

@TwinsandTrifle

In a funny way though, I like the intolerance of MN. The intolerance of the attention seekers, the intolerance of the drama llamas, the intolerance of people who think what they do and say is ok, when it's actually far from it.

I like that in a world where people can be entitled self absorbed (complete pricks to be honest) that MN has the dose of reality that people don't say to them IRL. And not because MNetters are hiding behind a keyboard, but because people are so used to being pandered too now by both peers and organisations, because everyone's too frightened of someone (falsely) pulling out the "you've offended me and discriminated" card. It's very rarely this. It's the fact the person is being an entitled arse.

I don't like the way it's going that we all have to pretend these people aren't simply unpleasant, entitled, or wrong....if you honestly point this out, you are "clearly bitter" or "are you this nasty IRL?" I've seen posters simply say "come on, that's not right is it" and then OP attacks them declaring they are being bullied. I find the many posts with people flippantly throwing accusations like that about, and the victim mentality it enables, appalling.

Essentially, before, if someone was being an arse, they'd be called out. Advised. Debates that were interesting and intelligent would usually follow. OP would often acknowledge they hadn't seen that point of view. I've certainly used MN in the past when I've wanted advice, and I just wouldn't get that standard now. It's still helpful. But not how it was. People trot out what they think is the most politically correct stance, to try and appear superior. Real life advice isn't always what would look best in a popularity speech.

Hear! Hear! So true. I had never imagined people were like that it real life but mumsnet really opened up my eyes to what really lies with some women. It’s tainted my view of these demographic (fairly or unfairly).

*That demographic

The constant pages of posts by people who are living in abject fear (apparently) is unbelievable!!

I am convinced out of those are started by people who, have a different motive.

I expect some of them are sickos who just hope to set someone's mental health problems off.

There are too many times I've posted on a thread in good faith only for it to be pulled as a PBP troll, for "privacy concerns" if it hasn't gone the OPs way or its turned into a bunfight and been removed. Makes me think why bother?

There are an awful lots of threads started which seem aimed to have MNetters denigrate MN, and other (unspecified but always and only nasty) MNetters

Is reinforcing the negative a good thing?

Or is it better to deal with specific issues when and where they occur? And post in the ways you think are better. Not ticking off other posters (always goes down badly) but in ways that reinforce the positive

People do raise some of these issues with MNHQ from time to time to be fair

@Finchall

Because it often seems pointless. I have a very long background in education, particularly early years and phonics. I want parents to have the correct advice - but the up to date knowledge I have is drowned out by loads of incorrect advice. Posters often ignore the correct advice.

Pointless.

Definitely any accurate advice is drowned out by myth, conjecture and absolutely bollox

Take the Employment Issues board, it's constantly full of people who reckon they're as good as an Employment law expert. Full of lazy thinking "take your employer to Tribunal, that's Constructive Dismissal" when it absolutely isn't. There are RW employment law experts who thankfully rebalance the advice and one hopes the OP can tell the reasonable from the absolute tripe.

There doesn't seem to be any of the perfectly serious that turn hilarious threads anymore that would find itself promoted to Mumsnet
classics.
It's all a bit doom and gloom and shouty even at times I find.
Unless I'm missing something.

It's an incredibly unfriendly place these days. Much like most of the internet, it's very difficult to have a discussion because people are SO black or white. You're not allowed to take the middle ground, you have to be either for or against. People will take a little bit of what you say and then run with it out of context to bang whatever drum they're banging. What's the point? Most of the time it makes more sense to talk to a brick wall.

Agreed. I had just been insulted by a couple of people, one in particular in a certain thread. Said person invented a narrative that the OP clearly never even said - still fucked if I know how these 2 people arrived at what OP 'meant' when she clearly didn't, and was so determined they were right and were 'running out of patience' with me (I had to laugh at that, the gall!). Said person had the English comprehension of a grade 3 primary schooler and completely made up a narrative that wasn't there and was quite insulting. It wasn't just that they were ever so clearly wrong, but they were so arrogant and so rude and belligerent in their arrogance that their fairytale narrative was right. It was the smug arrogant overconfidence that was the kicker. I just sat back in the end, waited and knew they would fall flat on their face when the OP came back and corrected their absurd little made up narrative. Schadenfraude if you will, but I am glad their pride came before their fall and they've now gone quiet. Like I said, it was the nasty, insulting, patronising smug overconfidence that they were right. We all make mistakes but when someone is so nasty and patronisingly smug about how they're right (when clearly oh so wrong) that really makes that person very loathsome and unpleasant and posting on MN unpleasant. It's usually the ones who lack comprehension and are less intelligent who are the most over-confident and the most insulting and so cocky and sure of themselves. It reminds me of the arrogance of someone who once argued with me that poison and venom mean the same thing, and were so over the top nasty and patronising when they were so clearly wrong. There seems to be a correlation between lack of basic English comprehension skills/fantasy/imagination and belligerent over-confidence they are right.

I also think Covid has made people feel mentally exhausted. I had to quit going into the Covid section not long after it started for my own mental health. But the Covid threads still show up in the Trending Now section, even when you hide the Coronavirus section so it can be hard to escape the thread titles even. It frustrates me that you can 'hide' entire sections but they still show up in Trending Now. It defeats the purpose in 'hiding' a section if it's contents are still able to be seen.

@MoreAloneTime

There are too many times I've posted on a thread in good faith only for it to be pulled as a PBP troll, for "privacy concerns" if it hasn't gone the OPs way or its turned into a bunfight and been removed. Makes me think why bother?

Oh yes I agree. I think there should be a hard unbending rule; posted on a thread box before you press send, that a person posts at their own risk, and privacy concerns should be fully considered before posting, and no posts will be removed for any reason if the OP 'changes their mind'. It's just not fair to respondents. Regret posting it later on? Too bad! Post at your own risk, and consider any/all privacy concerns before you press send. If it is a PBP, still not enough reason to delete imo, as the thread could have useful advice to others. Mumsnet have the ability to close a thread to comments. All they need to do is say OP is a PBP and "therefore we are closing the thread to further comments".