If you don’t have/had/want children why are you here?

[Robin198]

I’m aware the title sounds quite nippy and I don’t mean it to. Having read a post from a person considering cutting off friends since they’ve had kids it genuinely made me wonder…if you don’t have or have had or want or even like children what attracted you to a forum where the main users are all of the above?

Am I being unreasonable to assume that users of MN have/had/want/like children?

I followed the penis beaker and never left 🤣

I came for the conception boards 2 years ago.

No conception yet, but I've stayed for the chat, the AIBU, the Litter Tray, the relationships, and all the interesting bits I've learned from other boards (albeit now under a different name).

It's a right shitshow. I like it

I think I originally came here when I was Googling tips on the process of buying a house.

I don't have kids, don't want any, and don't especially like or hate them - I mean, babies and toddlers are usually quite cute, I think? In general? But then once they get to about four, I just judge each one on its own merits.

But I don't have to kids to wade in on people's dilemmas with CF friends, shitty neighbours, work problems, annoying in-laws, style opinions etc, do I? Whether or not I've birthed a yelling goblin isn't really any of your business.

First time I've seen this type of question but have looked on the similar threads a PP above posted.

I joined as DH and I were planning to start TTC next year. Once I joined there were sooo many topics and I realised it wasn't just for mums.

Also, this site helped me to decide to delay TTC just for a little while whilst I focus on my career and become more senior before leaving my MLs. Great advice I think.

I still have loads of questions about babies/children etc so it's still useful while I think about when to conceive and related topics.

I now use it more than any other app for my range of interests: travel, reading, work questions, lifestyle choices etc

I suppose you get all sorts on any public forum. Maybe people looking for parenting advice should remember they may be getting advice from people who either know nothing aboutchildren, or really dislike them. Lots of interesting topics on here, but I'd be wary of the advice given about children and parenting for the above reason.

I don't have any kids or want any Googled a receipe and Mumsnet came up I find it handy for other things too

Why are people so defensive?

I googled fibroids and ended up here.

Tedious, tedious, tedious. The question that is.

🥱

Because 95% of the threads have nothing to do with needing to be a mother to have a valid contribution to a thread.

I came 10 years ago when TTC. Subsequently met a fantastic group of "Uber Barrens" on the infertility board, and many years later, still childless but enjoy the variety of topics so I stay.

I should copy and paste this for the same question next week .. and the week after...

Because people without children have regularly been told that they’re not very welcome here. At one point mumsnet HQ had to intervene to say we absolutely were.

Sisterhood 🙄

I’ll be using that search function….

I have children now, but was reading threads on here before that, originally came because I had work experience at a dog rescue, one of the surrendered dogs had puppies and I was told to give them temporary names for us to use until they were adopted. I looked up something about good names for puppies and got linked here.

I think originally I googled advice on something that had bugger all to do with kids and ended up here. Then I realised how many interesting/funny/helpful threads there are about subjects that are also nothing to do with kids.

I stay for the laughs, the witty and kind posters and the interesting discussions.

HTH.

😂😂😂

Have you not read the umpteen other threads on this.

Theree dare many sub forums that have absolutely nothing to do with having DC

Googled something and got taken to a Mumsnet thread as an answer. I stayed because you're all batshit crazy and I don't have drama to entertain me in real life. :)

Don’t believe for a second that you didn’t realise the forum had a search button. Unless you joined just before you set up this thread then I don’t believe you have never been aware of it - it’s right there on the screen

Admit it, you wanted to start a goady thread

Dogs? Cats? Visiting children? Someone trod on some and walked it through the house?

I mean, use your imagination, lol.

Zzzzzz

Oh and I googled 'Gonorrhoea symptoms' and that's how I ended up here.

I Googled a recipe suggestion and mumsnet was one of the sites that came up. I occasionally started to read posts on all sorts of topics and sadly, got hooked! 😀

I don't have kids but don't see why I wouldn't be interested in reading/contributing to the site just because I'm not a parent. 🙄

Because every time this question comes up we are made to feel unwelcome.

@Robin198 the name 'Mumsnet' is old fashioned and 'fuddy duddy' as this forum covers every topic imaginable! In fact I'm surprised people haven't 'demanded' it was updated to something more modern like 'chatnet' or the like! The name does it a disservice as they'd probably have a lot more subscribers if people knew what it was really all about! So @MNHQ explain please...