Page 4 | To speculate on the Typical Mumsnet poster ?

Baptoste · 2023-03-28T16:45:57+00:00

I've been thinking about the typical Mumsnet poster and I'm thinking it would typically be the mum in the 'Outnumbered' family - Middle class Living in London Living in traditional house as opposed to on an estate

Mark19735 · 28/03/2023 21:50

The real average MN poster probably has a lot less wealth and income, suffers more frequent bouts of genuine anxiety about similar mundane but relatable issues, and probably, in truth, has far more time on their hands than is healthy. I'd say probably 80% of us are just bored and fancy a low-stakes row with someone online as a surrogate for the friendships and sense of community IRL that we'd probably secretly prefer. I'd be willing to bet that many are living out a harmless online fantasy in which we'd love to be looking for a £1.1m house, but I suspect that most aren't. The ones that are, really don't need MN for support or validation.

Iwantmyoldnameback · 28/03/2023 21:50

Used to be 2 out 3, live in South East. Old bat now.

Mark19735 · 28/03/2023 21:54

Littleloveydovey · 28/03/2023 21:49

Op there is about 12 million folks on here. I think you’ve maybe got confused, it’s not some small members club. It’s a mammoth forum and covers more than London. Or even the uk for that matter.

Gosh - that's a lot. I have often wondered how big the cohort of posters and thread starters really is though - or whether there are MN staffers who start threads to keep the threads list 'vibrant'. Some AIBU topics are beyond tenuous, and there's loads that are started, pick up some back-and-forth but the OP never checks back in. Feels like it's either voyeuristic, or just someone's job who doesn't actually care so long as the website keeps getting hits.

Eranzer · 28/03/2023 21:54

Eightiesgirl · 28/03/2023 17:51

No, definitely not. I'm a working class, middle aged Northerner, living on an estate.

Same here!

MrsDoylesDoily · 28/03/2023 21:56

You might've been nearer the truth if you'd posted this 10 or 15 years ago OP.

But MN has got much bigger over the years and it's thankfully much more diverse now.

gingercat02 · 28/03/2023 21:57

Not me

Coastalvenues · 28/03/2023 21:57

Mark19735 · 28/03/2023 21:54

Gosh - that's a lot. I have often wondered how big the cohort of posters and thread starters really is though - or whether there are MN staffers who start threads to keep the threads list 'vibrant'. Some AIBU topics are beyond tenuous, and there's loads that are started, pick up some back-and-forth but the OP never checks back in. Feels like it's either voyeuristic, or just someone's job who doesn't actually care so long as the website keeps getting hits.

Show quote history

I'm sure the staff don't have time or inclination to start threads! I've been on here for almost 20 years and it's grown beyond all recognition, nice but just different

Ichosetheredpill · 28/03/2023 22:00

Zhougzhoug · 28/03/2023 20:27

I think a lot of people here are more "extremely online" than they let on, and odder than the MN stereotypes would suggest. The branding of the site lets advertisers imagine they're reaching a large clique of very normal Joules-clad breton top and puffa coat middle class 45 year olds, but I think the reality is closer to a raggle taggle band of total fucking fruit loops. Bet the demographic overlaps more with Reddit than you would expect but they don't get as many Ocado vouchers over there.

@Zhougzhoug you have summed me up perfectly. I am middle class, in a traditional house, a long way from London, so far away that Ocado doesn’t deliver and I wear Joules and Barbour for my very professional job. But if I was left to my own devices and didn’t have to earn a living I’d be a raggle taggle fruit loop pretending to be a grown up. In fact that’s what I am on my days off.

CockPits · 28/03/2023 22:02

Upper class
live in a castle
live in Northumberland
daydream a lot

LondonQueen · 28/03/2023 22:12

2/3, I don't live in London but I'm middle class and live in a small row of detached houses rather than an estate.

Goodread1 · 28/03/2023 22:16

I certainly don't fit in that criteria

I am from working class background, brought up in care adopted as a child
Been homeless,
I am from ethnic background,
I dont live in London,

PogoThePunk · 28/03/2023 22:19

None of the above for me, thank you.

shouldhavetakenmorenotice · 28/03/2023 22:22

I think the typical mums netter arrived here through one of three different routes -

Baby / pregnancy advice

Gender stuff

Penis beaker.

That covers a pretty wide demographic.

MrsDoylesDoily · 28/03/2023 22:26

shouldhavetakenmorenotice · 28/03/2023 22:22

I think the typical mums netter arrived here through one of three different routes -

Baby / pregnancy advice

Gender stuff

Penis beaker.

That covers a pretty wide demographic.

I really don't think that many MNetters arrived because of the penis beaker story.

Mumsnet is and always was full of avid Daily Mail readers.

The only difference now is lots of people will happily admit it, instead of making stupid excuses like "I read it at my PIL's house/at the hairdressers" etc.

shouldhavetakenmorenotice · 28/03/2023 22:26

Mark19735 · 28/03/2023 21:50

The real average MN poster probably has a lot less wealth and income, suffers more frequent bouts of genuine anxiety about similar mundane but relatable issues, and probably, in truth, has far more time on their hands than is healthy. I'd say probably 80% of us are just bored and fancy a low-stakes row with someone online as a surrogate for the friendships and sense of community IRL that we'd probably secretly prefer. I'd be willing to bet that many are living out a harmless online fantasy in which we'd love to be looking for a £1.1m house, but I suspect that most aren't. The ones that are, really don't need MN for support or validation.

You got me

shouldhavetakenmorenotice · 28/03/2023 22:27

@MrsDoylesDoily

Oh I dunno - penis beaker was pretty exciting stuff for 2011 (ish).

purpledalmation · 28/03/2023 22:29

No, no, yes.

Annoyingwurringnoise · 28/03/2023 22:31

Nope, working class as they come, living in a rented house on an estate in the West Midlands.

MajorCarolDanvers · 28/03/2023 22:37

1/3

rattlinbog · 28/03/2023 22:37

Tbf this thread is a bit self selecting as those who answered yes to all 3 might be a bit embarrassed replying!

summerfinn · 28/03/2023 22:41

HoneyPotBee · 28/03/2023 19:08

I think the average MN user isn’t a mum, spends a lot of time online, reads Harry Potter, watches This Morning, and gets hysterical over everything. She likes to claim she adheres all the MN tropes (chicken that lasts all week, no loo brush, husband earls £100k+, etc) but I suspect she shops in Asda (and calls it Asdas) eats junk food and lives in a rough estate.

😂😂😂 I agree. I think most people on here that reply to comments are exactly like that. Liars 🙃🙃

Thepeopleversuswork · 28/03/2023 22:43

Plexie · 28/03/2023 17:48

There's no such thing as a 'typical' poster.

This. The beauty of this place, for all its faults, is that all human life is there.

People persist in saying MN is incredibly middle class but it’s really not. Of course there are middle class people on here but it’s a true demographic spread.

Port1aCastis · 28/03/2023 22:52

I live about 5hours drive from London am not not middle class but do live in an old traditional house with a leaky roof.
Why would every Mner live in London anyway? I've been to London about 6 times in my whole life so I find your statement strange OP.

IHateLegDay · 28/03/2023 23:01

Yes
No
Yes

Due to my husband's career/income and our lifestyle, I'm assuming I'd be considered middle class but my life until meeting him (and my personality) was/is far from it.

Live up North.

Live in a large Victorian house.

sequincardi · 28/03/2023 23:08

Nope