It amazes me that posters get so wound up by others that have a different opinion to them. Almost like they think they're only doing it to be contrary.
For eg, on the portion size thread, the bitchiness and incredulity of posters baffles me.
Portion sizes for most food has recommended guidelines, which I tend to follow, but that doesn't mean it's the right choice for everyone.
Some may need less due to medical or health issues, a different way of eating (eg, little and often), what else they've eaten on that particular day, etc.
Conversely, other may need more due to having a manual labour job, or generally being more active/ higher metabolism, or simply not having eaten much on that particular day.
Personally, I can't generally eat a lot in one go, although when I was younger I definitely could. 😂
Nowadays, I'm more likely to graze throughout the day, although if I'm busy, I'll often forget to eat until late afternoon.
This is partly due to health issues that I have developed over the years, and partly because I've probably just got used to eating less, so I feel fuller quicker.
I also eat a lot slower than I used to and that has definitely made me realise sooner when I'm full, rather than eating really quickly and then realising too late that it was too much, and I should've stopped 5 mouthfuls before.
Do I overeat? Of course, sometimes I still do, especially if I'm really hungry, I might eat too fast, and then eat too much and be full. Or I might just be really enjoying that steak and not want to savour it and not waste it. Usually, that would mean is save it for later, but sometimes I finish it even though I know I don't need it.
Does that mean someone else eating the same amount as me is also overeating? Not necessarily. There's so many variables it's hard to say.
Also, for many people, food isn't just fuel, it's social, pleasurable, or it might make them feel better temporarily, etc, so it can be very hard to untangle all that.
Some of the plates on that thread (eg, the roasts), I did honestly wonder how anyone could eat that much without feeling sick, unless the plate is much smaller than it looks, but that's just me and just because it would be too much for me, doesn't mean it's wrong to eat that amount, which is also why I didn't comment on it.
Does it mean that person is greedy or has overeaten ... who knows? Not necessarily.
Does it mean I'm a competitive under-eater (I'm really not) because it's too much for me... again, no or who knows unless you know me and my circumstances?
I think a lot of these angry responses stem either from guilt because that person does think they eat too much or too little, or from this new trend of being offended on someone else's behalf.
Obviously, I'm sure there's also a few that just enjoy being argumentative, but I just don't get the bickering and insults that often end up being thrown about.
It's a forum, if something annoys or upsets you, just disengage and move on.
You're unlikely to change someone else's opinion anyway, so you may as well just save yourself the stress.
These points can also be extrapolated to most threads, eg, regarding income, spending habits, cooking skills, relationships, etc.
What is a lot of money to someone obviously depends on where you live, how many people you're supporting, bills you have, etc.
Cooking from scratch again has a lot of variables, as do spending habits and anything else you can think of.
It feels like Mumsnet has become quite a mean place, rather than the supportive place it could be.
I don't know if it's just because people are generally unhappier nowadays, and so they take it out on others online because it's anonymous.
What are other people's views on this?