MNers without children

[MrsDanversGlidesAgain]

What's with the board name change out of the blue?

Makes it very clear?

I never noticed that. Actually I like it.

Wasn't it 'childfree' or 'childless' before? Either could be interpreted by the 'sensitive' as judgy or demeaning in some way, or as denoting some kind of condition, possibly. Like 'an autiistic person' vs. 'a person with autism'.

I'm not put out, just surprised. If it stops the 'well I'm childfree because my DC are grown up and the other side of the world so I'm posting here' posts it's a bonus, I guess.

It was asked for at the end of the site thread on keeping threads out of active, because one (parent) poster kept derailing the conversation by pontificating on the meaning of “childfree”.

But mixing up the childfree and childless doesn't work for the happily childfree

i thought it was too good to be true though. Oh well.

I’m happily childfree & I don’t mind. Plenty of room for different threads within the board.

Ah right. I baled out of that thread rather than get into an argument with someone who kept insisting how she wasn't bothered by people who choose not to have children.

Was announced in a separate site stuff thread yesterday.

I suppose it’s entirely neutral and sidesteps the connotations of ‘childfree’, ‘childless’ etc?

I voted for this name in the first place so happy. Hopefully it will keep the "I'm childfree for the weekend!" posters out.

Will people not think this means infertile/TTC?
I'm not 'without child', I'm childfree.

Presumably the board isn’t only for those who chose not to have children, though?

That's what childfree means. (That's what the board was called)

And? Isn't it for mumsnetters without children? Those who are ok with not having children and those who aren't? And those anywhere in between?

That's exactly who it's meant for, IMO. Anyone who by choice or otherwise isn't a parent.

We can always point people to the TTC or infertility boards if needed. Although I suspect we’ll still get the ‘I’m without my children for the weekend!’ crew.

Indeed or a board for people who ha e sadly lost their child

This is a daft name

It's like having a board for single people called mumsnetter without a man. It really doesn't make it sound like any positive choice just that we are lacking something!

I missed the original debate so was just very pleased to have to a childfree board, then I remember querying it after seeing some strange posts..

and being told that it was for childless too, so it's not really on my radar now.

Mad way of way doing things and the potential for causing upset is too high. The name change will probably make that worse.

i was thinking we had a board when we could be happy to be without kids (be that as we wanted them once and as not possible, are accepting of that or never wanted them).

But now if its for anyone who does not have kids, whether by choice or not, then most won't bother posting as the potential to cause offence to those who want kids and don't have them is high.

And? Isn't it for mumsnetters without children? Those who are ok with not having children and those who aren't? And those anywhere in between?

The point of the board was for people who were childfree through choice, as a space to talk without constant posts like 'why are you on MN if you don't have children?' and 'you don't know tiredness/love/responsibility until you've had children' when they posted (usually about something unconnected about children in the first instance).

That is why childfree posters pushed for it and that's why the name was 'Childfree'. It wasn't the posters that don't have children but it isn't by choice that asked for it, it was specifically requested by posters who had made the decision to be childfree.

It makes very little sense to have a board with the potential for a post along the lines of 'what do you enjoy about being childfree' right next to a post saying 'Im childless and desperate for a child, how do I cope?' The potential for upset is massive. However, apparently the idea of having a 'Childfree' board was 'insensitive' according to some posters.

Yes. “Without children” is purely descriptive in this context.

I like the name change. I don't have children. I'd have loved to have children. I'd never use the world 'childfree' to describe myself because I don't like the connotations of it. Other people can use the words they want, but that word's not for me, so I figured the board wasn't for me either.

'Without children' is neutral and says nothing about the poster's reasons for not having children or how they feel about it.

It makes very little sense to have a board with the potential for a post along the lines of 'what do you enjoy about being childfree' right next to a post saying 'Im childless and desperate for a child, how do I cope?' The potential for upset is massive. However, apparently the idea of having a 'Childfree' board was 'insensitive' according to some posters

IMO the potential for upset is massive whatever the board (have a look at Middle Eastern topics if you don't believe that). And having a board where childfree by choice and childless not by choice can post seems to have worked so far.

but the board was more for people who are all happy with the situation (or accepting).

it was never intended for people who weren't happy about their circumstances and wanted to discuss that aspect.