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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why there’s so much talk on politics on mumsnet?

160 replies

Chloefairydust · 09/10/2022 06:26

Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s important to know what’s going on in the world and I’m as angry at the government as the next woman…

But sometimes it’s nice to come on mumsnet for a bit of escapism, and the lighter hearted topics…

Am I alone here?

OP posts:
MyLovelyPen · 09/10/2022 07:59

I could weep at the amount of time women spend worrying about whether their red skirt goes with their blue boots or whether skinny jeans suit them or not, and for that reason I avoid the style & beauty section like the plague 🤷‍♀️.

If I want to talk politics I will - just don’t join in and hide the threads. Don’t stop others discussing what can be done to make a difference.

SleeplessInEngland · 09/10/2022 08:03

Just don’t click on the threads ffs.

Original poster
Chloefairydust · 09/10/2022 08:05

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 09/10/2022 07:55

Shall we talk about fluffy kittens? 😹🐱

Yes I love kittens! 😁

OP posts:
Bringonthebloodydrama · 09/10/2022 08:08

OP your summary of politics is... vague... You probably, ironically, should be learning more about policies, mandates and decisions made.

But crack on with the fairy dust and kittens, that's your prerogative too.

MorganSeventh · 09/10/2022 08:09

Chloefairydust · 09/10/2022 07:46

I guess I just don’t see the point of getting all worked up over the state of politics at the moment, I feel like it’s all just in such a state, and I can’t really see any hope for improvement in politics anytime soon. The conservatives are very much just for the benefit of the few high earners right at the top, and the Labour Party have been in such a mess that people have lost confidence in them (I say this as a labour voter and yes I still vote for them but conservatives always win by a landslide). I just feel a bit defeated by it all.

I read the political posts and the injustice of it all is just really shit, but I don’t see any hope of change any time soon. Nothing I say on here is really going to change anything. Just probably put me in a bad mood and raise my blood pressure a bit lol.

I don't think anyone reading/ engaging in Mumsnet threads expects to directly change things. Personally, I do it to engage with a variety of views. I work in a policy area and it's useful in drafting consultation responses, and the like, to have an overview of the broader debates - I don't have to agree with them but I should know what people are saying. There is more to politics than party politics and much of the devil is in the detail.

If you don't find it useful, that's fine, but it doesn't mean nobody does.

More broadly, in my experience of internet forums, complaining that people aren't creating the free content you want to see is never a successful way of gaining more content. If you want more escapist and light-hearted threads on Mumsnet then your best bet is to start them. Then the people who feel the same - and there will be people who feel the same - will join in.

Numbat2022 · 09/10/2022 08:09

I think you need to engage with politics a bit more. The Conservatives are losing every bi-election that comes up, and voting intention polls show that if an election were called now Labour would win on a scale greater than 1997. European political journalists are reporting that their leaders are preparing to work with Keir Starmer as the next PM.

Politics affects everything. Whichever topics you do find interesting, they are affected by politics. If you're not interested don't read the threads, but don't be surprised that women are talking about politics. Would you say the same on a forum aimed at men?

Rowthe · 09/10/2022 08:10

Just hide the posts you don't want to see.

the80sweregreat · 09/10/2022 08:12

I've become much more interested in the last decade or more and joining mumsnet has been an education as on a few threads you really can learn a lot from people who really know what they are talking about.

Original poster
Chloefairydust · 09/10/2022 08:14

Numbat2022 · 09/10/2022 08:09

I think you need to engage with politics a bit more. The Conservatives are losing every bi-election that comes up, and voting intention polls show that if an election were called now Labour would win on a scale greater than 1997. European political journalists are reporting that their leaders are preparing to work with Keir Starmer as the next PM.

Politics affects everything. Whichever topics you do find interesting, they are affected by politics. If you're not interested don't read the threads, but don't be surprised that women are talking about politics. Would you say the same on a forum aimed at men?

I’m not saying that politics is just for men🤨 … Stop putting words in my mouth

OP posts:
sandytooth · 09/10/2022 08:15

Because some people are interested in it. Why are you so keen to silence the debate.

Threadkillacilla · 09/10/2022 08:17

There's loads of serious topics amongst the fluffy ones is it just the political ones you're averse to?

Depressedbywork · 09/10/2022 08:20

Just ignore those threads?

ilovesooty · 09/10/2022 08:20

I think the OP is one of those people who see no point in any engagement with political issues as "It all makes no difference to me personally and they're all as bad as one another anyway".

Vapeyvapevape · 09/10/2022 08:21

Do you vote Op ?

Vinylloving · 09/10/2022 08:27

I actually often click on mumsnet as part of my daily news and opinion reading, there's always fascinating views, some align to me and others oppose so you get some good perspectives. If I'm in the mood for mindless, pick and choose threads appropriately

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 09/10/2022 08:31

We can love kittens 😻and talk politics.

People need to engage with politics in my opinion. Everyone has been drinking wine and watching TV for too long and look what has happened:-
Lack of investment in schools
Unisex toilets everywhere so the built environment favours men.
No decent NHS dentists
Libraries closed
No decent healthcare / emergency care
The rise of nationalism
Ridiculous house prices
Etc….

DorritLittle · 09/10/2022 08:33

I find there are far more posts about the royal family.

luckylavender · 09/10/2022 08:33

Chloefairydust · 09/10/2022 06:26

Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s important to know what’s going on in the world and I’m as angry at the government as the next woman…

But sometimes it’s nice to come on mumsnet for a bit of escapism, and the lighter hearted topics…

Am I alone here?

If you want light hearted then AIBU is a strange place to start. If politics doesn't float your boat there are thousands of other threads.

Snugglemonkey · 09/10/2022 08:35

I really don't think there are very many political threads. I quite like them. There can be a mix of topics, as you do not need to engage with anything that you are not interested in.

echt · 09/10/2022 08:37

I don't think there are enough threads about politics. MN's knee-deep in threads that could be solved with a Google search.

Isn't Netmums still the fluff light-hearted site do nos jours? No-one's mentioned it for ages.

echt · 09/10/2022 08:38

De -not do. Duh. This is what happens when one gets all pretentious. Grin

StupidSmallFruit · 09/10/2022 08:41

Just ignore the threads you’re not interested in.

And leave other people to talk about things that interest them.

Do you really need this spelled out for you……..?

SkirridHill · 09/10/2022 08:42

Vinylloving · 09/10/2022 08:27

I actually often click on mumsnet as part of my daily news and opinion reading, there's always fascinating views, some align to me and others oppose so you get some good perspectives. If I'm in the mood for mindless, pick and choose threads appropriately

I do this too. I've found I'm far more informed about the world as a result of Mumsnet (and Twitter). It's meant I was ahead of the curve when it came to things like COVID and Brexit; and I've become far more organised thanks to advice on the Preppers board. The political discussions are brilliant - opinions from all parts of the spectrum.

I get it feels overwhelming at times but if I need to tap out, I go read Style & Beauty or just check out of the app.

NorthStarRising · 09/10/2022 08:48

I’m a grandma, I’m on MN for the Feminist boards and the politics.
So I select which boards to ignore, and only have the ones on my feed that interest me. AIBU provides the drama and frivolity if I need silliness.
Choose what you have pop up on your feed, then ignore any political threads, but I’d really miss the opportunity to read responses and reflections by women on the stuff that shapes our lives.

Reallybadidea · 09/10/2022 08:51

There used to be a whole lot more threads about politics and current affairs. Back in the day the 'In the news' topic used to be one of the busiest parts of the site, full of insightful comments and what was going on in the world. I really miss that.