Extended Mumsnetting

[BEAUTlFUL]

It is the accepted norm for most Mothers to stop Mumsnetting at around the same time, 6-7pm. Many others like to carry on until slightly later, 10 or 11pm.

But, there is a group of Extended Mumsnetters who don't conform to society's normal guidelines for internet usage and go far beyond the recommended 12am shut-off, Mumsnetting up to the time of 3, 4, even 8am.

Whilst most mothers would balk at such extended internet use, claiming their computer was primarily designed for their husband, these Extended Mumsnetters say it carries benefits.

"After 1am, you get the drunks coming back from the pub," says one EM, who admits she has Mumsnetted well past dawn. "They type a bit dodgily, but often you can get them to admit embarrassing stuff without name-changing."

Then there are the Tandem Mumsnetters, who have two screens open simultaneously so they can refresh threads faster.

The World Health Organisation recommends every mother Mumsnets if at all possible, and supports the local Internet Cafes that help new Mumsnetters overcome problems logging on. But there are some groups of people who believe Extended Mumsnetters are weird. "I tried to Mumsnet when I had a baby, but it was so tricky at first," says one vehement opposer. "In the end I gave up and read the Daily Mail. My kids are thriving."

[MarsLady]

I personally never listen to those who say that it is impossible to MN with twin screens. I find that they are completely uninformed and have no real knowledge about a parent's ability to MN. In my personal experience having already MNed singly, twin MNing is actually rather easy.

[WilfSell]

rofl MMJ

[LyraSilvertongue]

I've found MNing really easy from day one. The computer just seemed to know what to do.
I never had any of the problems logging on that some people seem to experience. It just came naturally.

[WilfSell]

I'm always amazed by those who say they don't need any additional equipment to MN. I've spent loads! I simply can't do it without a cup of tea, packet of chocolate biscuits, muslin square (for those quick cover up moments), tray to put everything on (for those mobile MN in the garden moments), not forgetting portable phone.

[Enraha]

Each to her own I say. My HV said the odd sudoku, crossword or irate letter wouldn't do any harm. I think after a certain point, MNing is all about the mum tbh

[Psychomum5]

you lot are funny.....

[hairtwiddler]

I'm very proud to say I've been exclusively mumsnetting for 18m now. I know some people mix mn with other parenting sites, and it works well for them, but I really couldn't be doing with the hassle.

[LyraSilvertongue]

Once my DC were a few months old I found it convenient to MN and read the Daily Mail, especially once I returned to work part time.

[berolina]

Surely the problems start with the lack of support in hospital? Internet access patchy at best, but the DM freely available at the kiosk for all to buy.

And then when MIl comes round when you're home bringing a DM and when she sees the computer says 'you don't want to be doing that, that's for dh, surely'.

Then there's the staring and tuts when you MN openly, with demands to do it 'discreetly', leading to the ridiculous invention of the Puter Hider.

[ChicaLovesHerLocalGreengrocer]

[MrsBadger]

actually I had great support for MNing in hospital - admittedly I posted completely unassisted from DH's phone in the delivery room but on the ward there were Patientline terminals by every bed which I found invaluable when getting MNing established.

I know not everyone is as lucky though.

[susiecutiebananas]

The Puter Hider? I'd never use such a barbaric thing, I say be open about it, and be proud, don't flaunt it in the face of old chaps but FGS! its your right as a woman to be able to!

So I say F* those who don't approve, I say, fling out your Puter Hiders, let the air get to it,

[BEAUTlFUL]

I Daily Expressed in the hospital, because my c-section scar made it uncomfortable to hold a laptop. But I couldn't tell how much information my DS's were getting. Then I went straight onto DM when we got home, because not going to MN every day meant my cookies dried up.

When will the guilt go? What if I have a daughter one day and she needs help creating a new message?

[susiecutiebananas]

Oh, and Mrs B, I'm really and to read your post, not every one gets such support in hospital, you come across as smug, and patronising! Its simply not that easy. There is no need to rub everyone's nose in it!!!

Terminals are few and far between in most hospitals. There is little training, if any in some hospitals on the terminals, timings, how much you give them to be adequate to keep them going. I mean, how can you sit there and make it sound so easy? Its not, not everyone has such experience, especially not in an NHS hospital. I'm quite shocked TBH, I always thought yo were sensitive and aware of the experience of others, but not any more. you know the bit that got me the most? you doing it unassisted in the delivery room!!! I mean, you don't know how lucky you were Have some compassion!

[talilac]

[LyraSilvertongue]

We had Patientline in hospital and tbh I didn't find I needed much help. Someone showed me how to get logged on at the start and then me and the laptop just got on with it. I MNed every couple of hours in those early days.

[BEAUTlFUL]

Those of you whose Mums did Artificial Reading, do you feel it's made you less intelligent? Or fatter?

[MrsBadger]

oh I'm sorry susie

MNing is such an emotive issue - all those people who want to but don't manage it, or not as much as they'd like, or people who think it's not for people like them and never give it a bash...

as for Mning every few hours in the early days, it felt like I was MNing constantly...

[No19]

I think you lot are disgusting.

It never occurred to me to MN after midnight and when I heard of some people doing it (and talking about it on a public forum) I felt really queasy. Has it ever occurred to you that you are doing it for YOUR benefit and NOT for the benefit of the posters whom you claim to be "helping"?

It's needy and selfish. You can wean by first of all perhaps blogging, then getting a column in a national newspaper. This should help you cope with your need to express yourself constantly.

[OverMyDeadBody]

lol

very good

[susiecutiebananas]

Oh, i see, lyra another smug post. Thanks for that. > have you any idea how hard it was for those of us not so lucky as you, who were not shown how to log on? some of us, god forbid, had no such help, some of us had to learn how to log on ourselves, with nothing, nada, not so much as a little teeny 2 minute 1-1 teaching/support session. Disgusting IMHO.

I mean, yes I'm all for being left to it, to a degree, of course, its important to learn yourself, to find out a way to work your way through quietly and stress free, but there is a point at which that becomes abandonment isn't there? I mean ,maybe we experienced the 2 extremes, but I for one can tell you it was detrimental to me,from the start.

I feel lucky that I am still able so easily now all this time later. I'm an extended MN and bloody proud of it. the NHS has alot to answer to for so much of this. They need more terminals, more training, more 1-1 sessions, more support and above all compassion to those who just are not able to. They should not feel outcast because they can't or indeed don't choose to when in hospital.

[LyraSilvertongue]

Isn't there a programme coming up on Channel 4 called Extreme MNing? I've heard that there's one woman who MNed for 12 hours straight. Now, I think MNing is great but you've got to know when to stop.

[BlueDragonfly]