Is Mumsnet a net negative or positive in your life?

[Neteffect]

NC but I am a regular poster and I'm NOT dissing mumsnet at all.

I've had amazing advice on parenting issues and love Style & Beauty which is also a v friendly section. I was also 'peaked' by the sex and gender discussions.

But sometimes I feel dragged down by the relentless negative threads and the arguments, particularly on things like BF vs FF, child obesity, poverty and the attitude of 'race to the bottom etc.

I cant actually decide if, on a daily basis, mumsnet has a negative or positive effect on my life and mood! Tell me how you all feel please!

Positive I always get good advices here especially on education.

I would say it's more positive IME. There's negativity of course- snide comments, patronising comments, dismissive comments and what I dislike most is when the name of Jesus is typed out as a swearword or curse but that's everywhere these days and not just the internet either. I'm a Catholic and see it as blaspheming and taking the time to type it out is worse than just letting it slip in shock. I wish posters wouldn't do it but I am not in a position to stop it. I suppose I'd be told to do one but still.
But overall, I find it a good thing and where MNers really shine is the support and care they give to posters who are being abused in anyway. It's like MNers "circle the wagons" and really do their best to inform, support, uplift and empower abused women. It really brings out the caring side of MNers and God bless everyone of them who reach out to help abused women and, as a woman who has experienced abuse, thank you!

It has neither a positive or negative impact on me. I scroll through when I’m having a coffee etc. Happily, I have never needed to use it for advice and I mostly take it all with a very large pinch of salt! I’m never outraged on anyone’s behalf, I never need to know about any health updates, I never ‘cry as I’m writing this’ I probably shouldn’t be a mnetter at all really.

Net positive I'd say. I've been kicking around here since we started TTC over 3 years ago, and now have a 3 month old. In that time I've quietly read a LOT on the conception, pregnancy, parenting, relationships etc boards and absorbed all the differing experiences and opinions, come across issues or subjects I'd not thought about and gone and done further research and reading and discussion elsewhere.

I think I've gone into parenthood pretty open minded and well informed because of all that, and this has been reinforced by meeting some fellow new mums who don't seem to know one end of their baby from the other, whereas my DS hasn't come up with anything (yet) that has totally stumped me, which I put down to soaking up so much MN over the years before he arrived.

AIBU can be an absolute shitshow and terrible for mental health though, obviously.

edit : Didn’t realise this was a zombie 🙈

Very much a positive - I've helped lots of Mumsnetters and maybe saved a life along the way.

Badly at the moment especially reading what people think of adults living at home which is the situation I am in now.

I use it more for amusement - so I guess a positive?

Mostly I come away flabbergasted by how complicated other people's lives seem to be! Mine seems terribly sane and quiet in comparison!

Never enough for it to affect my life! If social media affects you that much, then you ought to step away.

I've had fantastic threads that have given me wonderful support and advice, I've also(only one or two) have had threads where I've had my arse handed to me. On one of them someone did a deep dive into my username and brought up some very traumatic family events on a thread totally unrelated.

Still didn't bother me. They don't know who I am, or them. But if someone can be so nasty to a poster, even though the poster is anonymous, it says much more about them. I can't imagine trying to be nasty to what could effectively be a bot, would give me any satisfaction in life, but if evidently does to some.

I also think MN is largely white and middle class. Some threads are very VERY far away from real life and the privilege really starts to show sometimes. Especially on threads re finances. Oh yes, I can afford to up sticks and move my house household just because my heating bill has gone up. 😂

Take it all with a pinch of salt really.

I've seen lots of really helpful advice and info shared

Fed up of reading about VAT on school fees

I agree with the fact that MN is by large very middle class. Women who can't get over the fact that not everyone can just move into a flat share or that they don't have enough money for rents and deposits.

Positive, good advice and laughs .

Positive and mainly very supportive and helpful.

It's a distraction when real life gets hard going.

At this moment - I really enjoy it. I've learnt alot, I've discovered posters who share struggles like mine and that's incredibly positive.

I've had my stance on one issue completely changed following debate on here. I appreciate that and feel that's incredibly positive and important in light of current political events.

I keep out of certain subjects that aren't relevant. I couldn't even cope with the thought of BF Vs not discussions so wouldn't have to deal with that.

The only negative is when I can empathise with a situation involving a great deal of vulnerability and there are a large number of cruel replies. I fund that really difficult but tend to get involved to support the underdog if I relate!

It's been great. I'm an American who has never been to the UK. My husband lived in London for a time before we met and loved it there. I've always been a bit of an anglophile, so it's been fun for me to connect with so many Brits and have such a window into British culture and society.