To return to MN after a decade & think it’s changed a lot

[ExNorfolk]

Do you think MN has changed in the last decade?

Observations: to me it seems that people are more stressed, more aggressive & quicker to judge, and less tolerant and supportive. Possibly more right wing. Users maybe older? 45-55 instead of 35-45 (which would make sense if it’s the same users a decade on)
These are generalisations. I’ve lurked and read about 100 threads in different forums. AIBU was always a bit of a brawl. But the general rise in snark seems to me to be more widespread.
(yes, I know I don’t have to post here, and could go somewhere else). I am just interested to know your experience

Unfortunately I think a lot of it is a reflection of the world as it is now. People do take offence far easier it seems- I'm social minded and left of centre politically, but I'm not particularly 'right on' - on some subjects these days it's almost impossible to disagree politely or put your point of view without someone calling you names or accusing you of being xenophobic or being anti LGBGT - I find in general for a country stuffed with comedy nights etc it's actually become quite a humourless place.

I agree, OP. It’s a much harsher environment. Also, have you seen there’s now a Royal Family board? I don’t know if I had it hidden before, but it’s vomit inducing. OTOH people on there are nice to each other and about the Royals, despite the Per Una style clothing that they’d turn their nose at if it was worn by a pleb. So if you’re looking for a nice crowd and don’t mind some brown nosing, you can try the RF section.

Since penis beaker it has become much more daily mail readers demographic.
There are right wing views commonly expressed that would not have been entertained in the past.
It is also rarely a site for support around parenting.

That's all here, but everything has been completely compartmentalised. There are eleventy hundred boards now. Some tend to be echo chambers.

I agree there was a lot more humour. These days there's a proper 'race to the bottom' culture on MN, but I honestly think it mirrors our government and media and the messages we've been receiving from them/ the general decline in living standards in the UK.

They're not really nice though with all the frothing over Meghan

But lol at the 'Per Una' style clothing. So true 😂

I've been on 21 years and it hadn't changed at all

Oh yes. All the weird threads where other people had no idea what they were talking about. They probably didn't themselves! Don't miss those.

I've been here 15 or so years. Yes, it has changed a lot, but then the UK has changed a lot in that time.

It is more right wing.
It is less funny.
More angsty and angry.
It's less cliquey.
There are more blokes.
And more climate change deniers and forced birthers.

I agree with this. Everyone gets anxious, sad, stressed, but on MN it's all elevated to a mental health issue, which only minimizes it for those who actually do suffer from one.

As for those with no coping life skills, I am amazed at how little some posters can deal with, how everything becomes such a huge issue and drama. How have we got to this stage? I don't know anyone in real life who is like this, most people seem far more resilient and pragmatic.

This! There are some extremely bitter people here just looking to nitpick and fight. What a way to live your life.

It’s definitely changed in the 15 or so years I’ve been here , lots more women being really vile to each other. It’s a bad (but accurate) reflection on society, we’ve become very selfish in its truest sense.

I wasn't around 10 years ago but seems a fair assessment. Much of the attitude shift probably down to the political and economic situation we live in in the UK. Its a phenomenon that's been noticed before - in times of political and economic stress, culture changes - becomes harder. And we're now reaping what we were sowing 10 years ago.

It's a mix but maybe because we have presumed identities on here people can be more forthcoming with their true perspectives.

Well the really funny comments are few and far between let's face it

Seems to be a lot of autism/anxiety/ADHD excuses going around all the time too

Definitely changed a lot

Not opening your door when someone knocks appears to now be commonplace....honestly I think 10-20 years ago it was generally higher functioning women. Today it seems to have a high proportion of fairly stresses low functioning women waiting to pounce.

It's a lot less witty and a lot more angry. I hate to see the pile-ons. I think in the past people would give thoughtful and individual responses especially on the relationships board ....now it's immediately ' LTB' for even slight transgressions.
I hope women feel they can still come here in their more difficult days but do have concerns that the aggressiveness of some posters would put them off.
I got fantastic support here for a horrible situation, I'm not sure it would happen now.

Been on here for years. Am going through a difficult time in my marriage. Now I namechange every few weeks because there are a couple of posters who stalk me across various boards to fact check me and berate me for not sticking to every detail of my story ( I change small details so am not outed). That's the change. ( And I don't even post in AIBU).

Agree, I was here 15 years ago and there were a bunch of smart, funny women with a strong take on parenting dilemmas, and good discussions. Still pick up some good ideas but there's so much snappy nastiness and not much wit. The reputation around trans stuff means a lot of women have left, too, and there have been some truly unpleasant posts eg about pride.

IMO it's got so far left it's coming around for the second time.

If you complain about immigration you're automatically a knuckle-dragging fascist.

I am surprised at how many women are married to idle husbands yet still keep having kids with them. These kids then grow up into idle entitled teenagers and appear on other threads years later.

Every week we have a thread about a female who's partner has gone to a strip/lap dancing club.

So many women post to say they have been cheated on. It's depressing.

Just about every day we have a thread bashing government members.

It's getting boring.

I mean, yeah, it’s changed. 10 years have passed.

I just treat the place as a diversion.

I think you’re a fool to start threads on here. It’s utterly brutal. I use the place as somewhere to pass time on threads other people are misguided enough to start.

I don't think anyone is foolish for starting threads outside AIBU. I have had a lot of support from most people. Just a couple of weirdos who like to advance search.

I'm also back after along gap-and one thing that hasn't changed are the threads about how Mumsnet has changed and it used to be funnier and kinder and more compassionate!🤣. That being said, I do think that the tone of the site feels much more right leaning. And, sadly, much more anti feminist.

I think there was always snipping, nastiness, and overtly serious posters.

However there does seem to be an decrease in frivolously daft threads started purely to be silly and that remain daft and silly.

Threads about things like "which way do you hang your toilet roll?", that would run and run with faux anger and outrage. (And even then you'd have some unhappy posters on them loathing it all but thar wouldn't take over.) The anger and outrage are real now
The unhappy poster more frequent (or persistent maybe). For whatever reason.

Also i think while many of the long daft threads were "had to be there" so wouldn't seen funny to posters looking back to them if you weren't involved at the time. But there really does seen to be far less humorous.