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?

@Costacoffeeplease I dont think anyone is saying anyone is unwelcome. To be fair I think the name Mumsnet is outdated as it's 10% to do with kids. So a valid question for a newbie I reckon. I just think there's no need to take it to heart.

God, @Robin198, so many of us are child free here- didn’t you realise that? Well, I’m a dedicated dog mum I suppose 🐶 😊

Personally I found mumsnet as my mother had the most shitty, territorial, antisocial neighbours and I was quite incredulous that people like that actually existed. Little did I know…!

I have children and even I know this. 😁
Look at active convos.
So many discussions that have nothing to do with children.

It's a large, busy site with a lot of intelligent and knowledgeable people.
And some dimwits like me too 😁

Why wouldn't it be attractive to a wide range of people?

I'm not fussed about having kids, however to answer your question, as.you may know the daily mail sometimes has some of the mumsnet posts on its website, and one of the infamous ones was called penis beaker, then I followed the link to mumsnet, when I clicked on the active threads list, I saw many threads that were not related to having or about children, and as such I joined the site.

A quick search (that the OP doesn’t know existed) shows that the OP has been around since 2018. Don’t believe this fake naivety for a moment, hence why I am sure it was just set up to be goady

Sorry wrong quote.

I kept ending up here every time I googled something housekeeping related like what cooker to buy or how to clean xyz. I stayed because it’s quite addictive and also I love the Christmas bargain threads.

Or they are writing a research perspectives

Also @Robin198 don't forget to join the mumsnet mafia.

😂

OP I sometimes wonder this too - especially when you get threads that seem very pissed off about people daring to have kids in the OPs vicinity. I wonder if there are a few who've come to have a general complain to the breeders. Unlikely, but it would be funny!

This is my reason too. I also like being in a space which is mostly full of interesting, straight-talking women who don't refer to others as hunni or end every post with xx.

Because the weekly 'what the fuck are you doing here?' threads just make me feel so welcome!

They are here to gloat over the misery of those of us who do have kids.

I first came when I lost some weight during the pandemic and wanted to work out what women my age wear to go outside these days. I also cook and budget and have and interest in getting different perspectives on topical issues. And parking threads are always good fun... I tend to avoid parenting related threads but that still leaves plenty to go at.

I can't lie, it takes the edge off the darker moments of two years trying with no success

Initially for the Style & Beauty threads - I discovered mumsnet when googling reviews for a particular foundation. Then I went down the rabbit hole, discovered AIBU and Chat, and never left!

You obviously haven’t been on any of the many other threads on this subject. It has been said, many times, to the point that mnhq got involved in one particularly heated thread a few years ago

wouldnt have been seen dead on here before I had kids

I was on here for 10 years before I had DD.

There's so much more to it than just discussing children.

Even now, I'd say around 15% of my posts are about DD.

I particularly enjoy the feminism board.

@Costacoffeeplease but no one has said that here tho?

@Robin198 please note although mumsnet is a chat platform a lot of people hate questions 😂😂😂😂

I have nieces and nephews. I have found some of the information and conversations useful, which I hope means I am a better and more understanding person with them.

This site may well have started out as a message board for parents but it's grown beyond that now. I used to read another more generic one in the early 2000s but that disappeared and I realised this is what had replaced it. I had assumed it was for parents too until I started reading and realised it wasn't at all. It's really the only UK based message board where you can go to get an idea of public opinion.

Give it time….

A quick Google of almost any topic will lead you to the Mumsnet forum. In my case it was about building work.