If you’re a regular user: Is MN your guilty secret or are you open about using it regularly?

[Theboredpanda]

I’m just wondering if it’s just me or if everyone does this…I’m a regular user, but never in a million years would I admit that to anyone in my real life! If I want to talk about something i saw on here to someone IRL, I may say something like “I saw this thing on MN” and make a self-deprecating joke about how I’m a bit of a loser for being on it. I’d never admit that I’m a regular user or that I have debates with strangers on here or use it for anything other than asking for parenting advice occasionally. Does everyone else do the same or are you open about it with your friends & wider social circle? If not, why not?

Yeah pretty much same as you! I think it’s mostly about admitting you’re debating / talking to strangers!

I mention it occasionally, if that's where I read something or other. I'm not ashamed of anything I read online.

I'm a proud mumsnetter. I have been here decades though.

I did mention seeing something on here to some friends and one of them scoffed at me - something to the effect about needing help parenting my child. ( which of course I might need ). Clearly they had no clue what it was but it made me feel a twat.

I've also been here decades. I might've mentioned it in the early days, but not anymore. It's got a BAD reputation. Even worse than it deserves!

I am out and proud. 'I have an unfortunate obsession with Mumsnet' is my usual introduction to what the latest OP said.

Only my daughter knows I use MN, because I tell her about the threads I reply to. She thinks most posters are crazy 😆

No one in my real life would have a clue what mn is so I just say I saw something online.

Oh I'm out.
very.

My husband, sister & MIL know I am or at least I freely mention it - my parents wouldn't have the first idea what a chat forum is so no point in mentioning it. I keep quiet about it at work; I don't have children so they probably wouldn't expect me to be here. Fairly sure at least one colleague is here, I recognized an anecdote someone told me from an AIBU thread (quite specific situation) but I didn't dig around to find the user, didn't remember username or anything.

My husband knows and gets brought up to the bat shittery that's always present here.

Outside of that, I may mention I've seen or read but never admit to posting. I dont know why I won't admit to that probably because I don't want them to think I'm one of those CFs or worse.

To my sister as she’s as obsessed as I am. To my husband who raises his eyes. Occasionally he’ll use Leave the Bastard. No one else really, as I’m not a mum and most of my friends aren’t either…so they’d think it was well weird.

DH knows but doesn’t really understand what it is, nobody else! Been here about 15 years and it’s vastly improved my knowledge of all sorts of things, occasionally I might mention that ‘I read something online’ but that’s it.

I talk about MN openly but no one I know openly talks about it, so I don't know if they use it. I find it weird that people wouldn't feel OK to mention it.

Been my guilty secret for 18 years!
was quite alarmed when my mum mentioned that she reads it!

Tell DW some of the stuff I've read also my Mum I was telling her women are still putting up with crap from men.
I grew up in a DV household 70s.

This made me laugh as I'm exactly the same as you!
DH knows I use it but even he doesn't know how much 😅.

At home I often say “I shall consult the Oracle”, and all know this means Mumsnet. I have signposted women here, just as I was nearly 25y ago. I wouldn’t say I talk about it to all and sundry, but I don’t hide it, either.

25y ago MN was tiny, 5-6000 posters. I was recognised a few times and I recognised people, too. Until MN took off massively, I protected my anonymity by being relatively secretive about it (unless I felt a woman would benefit from it). But now, when there are 100s of 1000s of posters, I no longer feel the need to do so. Nonetheless, I still namechange.

The only people who know I use it are my sister and my husband. They dont know my user name. Other than that I never mention it and I've not met anyone who does.

I mention it on occasion but I’m not embarrassed about using it - why are you? Most people don’t even know what it is.

Partner knows. That's because if he asks me for advice or a recommendation on anything I just tell him to Google '[subject] + mumsnet' and he will find the answer.

Oh I’m always saying “I saw this post on Mumsnet” to people 🤣 I really should be careful though, because if anyone were to find a few of my threads, I think they could quickly work out who I am in real life.

I’ve name changed a couple of times over the years (joined when my eldest was a baby, so around 20 years ago I guess) but my current user name I’ve actually started to have people quote me and say “this is good advice” etc, so it feels like I might have finally got to the point of my life where I can actually help people - and if people associate my username with good advice, that makes me feel good.

I’m fairly sure though I’m spouting shit the 95% of my posts and comments that don’t get quoted in that way so it really wouldn’t matter lol

I don't have kids and still spend an obscene amount of time on here. So I'm slightly embarrassed but only because I'm not a mum! OH knows and finds it funny- loves a good aibu.

secret
only my family know

I mention it on occasion but with an embarrassed half-laugh usually.
My (adult) children hate the fact that I use it. I think they think anti-trans MNers are going to invade my brain and suck out my soul. They also think most of the posts are made up.
What they don't realise is that I'm quite capable of reading opposing views and staying true to my own beliefs. And I enjoy fiction.