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Original poster

To think MN posts should show the age bracket of the poster?

214 replies

WhiteNoiseBlur · 03/09/2025 06:05

I think it would be really useful if the age bracket of each poster was included next to their username, e.g. WhiteNoiseBlur (35-45). Just so people’s opinions could be put slightly into context! What do you think?

OP posts:
ARandomWomanAge45to55 · 03/09/2025 18:20

Age, sex, location

Anyone had a flashback to MSN chat? ASL 😆 Now that truly shows my age!

sundayfundayclub · 03/09/2025 18:28

@ARandomWomanAge45to55 I said sometimes...

Millytante · 03/09/2025 22:36

Why would the info help you understand a response or post? If age has any relevance, it’d be implicit in the comment, surely. (Or more likely explicit)

(Aren't there clues anyway, with the odd cultural reference and so on?)

But you either agree/ disagree /sympathise etc or you don’t, whether the OP is 22 or 78. No?

Millytante · 03/09/2025 22:37

BlueJuniper94 · 03/09/2025 06:17

I'd rather see their economic status

I vote for a good fossick through their record collection

Millytante · 03/09/2025 22:38

PamIsAVolleyballChamp · 03/09/2025 07:32

Only philistines display their toaster... Ye gads!! 😬😬

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Not Philistines; Catholics. Protestants bung them back in the cupboard.

Millytante · 03/09/2025 22:39

sundayfundayclub · 03/09/2025 07:37

Yes, personally I think the average age is a lot higher than the media image exists eg it's not a mum in her in 30s with small dc but a late 50s women with older dc.

Nothing particularly wrong with that but I think it does explain some of the threads/posts.

Why the ageism? It's good to have opinions from a wide spectrum.

Isn't that the point of the OP? How many young people are on here?

The bouncer let in an 18 year old boy today! 🙀

Millytante · 03/09/2025 22:44

WhiteNoiseBlur · 03/09/2025 13:39

I’m a bit taken aback by the responses here. I don’t post that often. It was meant to be a lighthearted thought - I did not write to Mumsnet HQ and insist it become mandatory. Mumsnet is supposed to be a place to share thoughts and opinions..I think the answers here are very “strong” in their wording, quite unkind, and with little thought to the person behind the post. Whatever age you are, if you’ve told me I’ve got shit ideas, that I’m ageist, horrible, that you hope I don’t have a certain type of job because of what I’ve said - then I hope you take a minute to reflect. Good job this site is as anonymous as it is - you can all carry on being malicious and thoughtless with no consequences.

Yikes, don’t take it all so seriously!
I’m surprised the answers here have raised your hackles so much, tbh.

Ilovemyshed · 03/09/2025 22:45

Great idea. Lets add skin colour, sexual orientation, level of wealth, gender, number of kids and a whole load more boxes too.

YeOldeGreyhound · 03/09/2025 22:46

I only ever post about my dog. I am not sure what my age has to do with it.

sundayfundayclub · 03/09/2025 22:47

@Millytante see, this is why it would help. I'm not young! 😆

sundayfundayclub · 03/09/2025 22:47

Or a boy, that's a weird guess.

Millytante · 03/09/2025 22:48

Joystir59 · 03/09/2025 07:44

Im 67 and avoid 'frumpy' in my clothing choices. I think you are just stereotyping people.

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Blimey; ‘frumpy’ indeed.
(Not sure it’s even possible to frump, any more. Even M&S have swept all that stuff away. It’s all Ramones T shirts, waist-length trench coats, and weird Popeye jeans! I bet my cats think I’m dead cool 😳)

LemondrizzleShark · 03/09/2025 22:48

WhiteNoiseBlur · 03/09/2025 06:34

I’ve seen lots of posts where people respond to the OP with “with respect OP, how old are you?” Implying that age is actually quite relevant to understanding their situation. Oh well - it was just a thought! Maybe it would be fun to have it as a “click to reveal” option to see if you can guess right 😂

No, they don’t actually want to know how older the OP is. They just mean “because you sound like a silly teenager”.

If the OP said they were 47, those same posters would just say “are you sure you’re 47? Because you sound like a silly teenager”

Millytante · 03/09/2025 22:51

sundayfundayclub · 03/09/2025 22:47

@Millytante see, this is why it would help. I'm not young! 😆

Neither am I 😸
Maybe we Oldies could wear enamelled badges, like at school. (I still pine for my ‘Campion’ house badge)

Millytante · 03/09/2025 22:53

ILoveWhales · 03/09/2025 07:44

So you can be ageist and judge the older and younger women?

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It’d just reveal, in my case, that in all my decades I’ve learned bugger all.

Millytante · 03/09/2025 22:53

LemondrizzleShark · 03/09/2025 22:48

No, they don’t actually want to know how older the OP is. They just mean “because you sound like a silly teenager”.

If the OP said they were 47, those same posters would just say “are you sure you’re 47? Because you sound like a silly teenager”

Show quote history

🤣

WalkDontWalk · 03/09/2025 22:55

Aweekoffwork · 03/09/2025 06:12

A nice idea, I tend to have a lot more in common with much older contributors ☺️

How do you know?

Because, if you know, the suggestion’s unnecessary.

SummerFrog25 · 03/09/2025 22:56

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 03/09/2025 06:12

I think it's an absolutely appalling idea! Perhaps you'd like it to say our sexual and political preferences too, and then just block anybody who doesn't fit the tiny bracket of people you deem to be 'into context' with you?

Don't forget weight & height.

LillyPJ · 04/09/2025 05:36

Millytante · 03/09/2025 22:48

Blimey; ‘frumpy’ indeed.
(Not sure it’s even possible to frump, any more. Even M&S have swept all that stuff away. It’s all Ramones T shirts, waist-length trench coats, and weird Popeye jeans! I bet my cats think I’m dead cool 😳)

Show quote history

Ah, but 'weird Popeye jeans' (whatever they are) are the new 'frump'. They keep moving the goal posts.

*Edited for typo

Bikergran · 04/09/2025 05:48

WhiteNoiseBlur · 03/09/2025 06:21

i just think it would be interesting! When I read a post, more often than not I wonder how old that poster is. I don’t tend to wonder about their ethnicity or location or anything like that. For example there was a post the other day about some shoes - the poster was wondering if they were ugly/frumpy etc. For a 20 year old, they were pretty frumpy. For a 65 year old, not so much. That’s just a silly for instance that I’ll get piled on for but..I’m just interested!

Frumpy shoes are frumpy whatever your age. I am 72 and loathe the shoes my increasing age force me to wear.

Millytante · 04/09/2025 14:35

LillyPJ · 04/09/2025 05:36

Ah, but 'weird Popeye jeans' (whatever they are) are the new 'frump'. They keep moving the goal posts.

*Edited for typo

Edited
Show quote history

Those ‘horseshoe’ and barrel leg ones that make models look like they’ve an invisible horse under them 😂.
(Maybe it’s just resentment that I’d look flipping ridic in them)

WolfingtonBear · 04/09/2025 14:39

So you can more easily dismiss them as being a “Karen”?

No.

Chompingatthebeat · 04/09/2025 14:43

WhiteNoiseBlur · 03/09/2025 13:39

I’m a bit taken aback by the responses here. I don’t post that often. It was meant to be a lighthearted thought - I did not write to Mumsnet HQ and insist it become mandatory. Mumsnet is supposed to be a place to share thoughts and opinions..I think the answers here are very “strong” in their wording, quite unkind, and with little thought to the person behind the post. Whatever age you are, if you’ve told me I’ve got shit ideas, that I’m ageist, horrible, that you hope I don’t have a certain type of job because of what I’ve said - then I hope you take a minute to reflect. Good job this site is as anonymous as it is - you can all carry on being malicious and thoughtless with no consequences.

At the risk of not acting my age - you started it!

SmeII · 04/09/2025 15:01

I wish they’d add everyone gross household income in alongside their username.

That way I can be sure to skip the ramblings of the poors.

Or perhaps the poster’s height because we all know that anyone below 5’ 2” or over 5” 11” simply cannot make a coherent urgent.

Anyone above a size 8 shoe just should not be allowed to have an account, quite frankly.

SixtySomething · 04/09/2025 19:13

My username indicates my age, because I consider it relevant.
I do find that I sometimes get patronising replies to my posts, or humorous ones, not in a nice way, aimed at my age and supposed geriatric '50's ' views.