Are all areas of mumsnet the same?

[eatingfor2drinkingfor0]

What's everyone experiences of posting on mumsnet?

I see such lovely supportive posts, then on others absolute vindictive horrible attacking replies.

New to mumsnet any tips?

AIBU can be quite, erm, robust.

The more specific areas are more helpful.

Welcome

I've dipped in and out over the years but not paid much attention But wow. Yes. I think I'll stick to the smaller threads

I've only been using it a few months myself, so still learning about the areas and 'rules'.

There is an option to pay to use MN, and I believe you get less adds and more emoji options! I just use an ad blocker.

Anything you put in the AIBU section will often cause a heated debate

People hate a dripfeed of info, so add it in the original post if releavant

What's everyone experiences of posting on mumsnet?

There isn't an 'everyone'. Every single poster re-makes their experience of the forum with every single post.

One moment I may feel embraced by warmth and wit and empathy on a thread I regularly post on, where others 'know' me even through name changes.

The next moment I'm shocked by a vituperative response on another thread, to something I've posted on the fly.

If you want to find out what different topics are like, you'll need to read them. Then see what happens when you post.

I find the supportive threads tend to be very subject specific. I have used the education threads for years, and they have been really useful.

AIBU can be vicious, and Chat can go either way.

I post and am on the parenting section a fair bit. Its useful, and 99% of the people are nice and supportive.

Chat, like PP, can go either way. I find its generally a pleasant place to be.

AIBU is horrible. I find the posters who hang around there are more often than not looking for an argument.

Definitely not!

AIBU is a fight club these days. Full of post-and-run where people don't properly engage with the thread, just shit their opinion out over the title and leave. Or people who find arguing/debate to be a sport and use it specifically for that rather than having a discussion.

Pregnancy and Conception are unusual ones - tend to be full of newcomers to the site. Some people hang out there and never ever venture into other sections and ask their questions on that bit, so you get a lot of off-topic posting.

Chat tends to be nice but can go off topic during a thread.

The specific interest ones vary - I don't know all of them so can't judge but some are really good with helpful info, some feel really cosy like a friendship group and others end up with a party line you must not dare deviate from. But generally the specific info ones are the best to go to if you want detailed advice.

Mumsnet has a strong feminist section which has the unusual perspective that we don't have to be extra nice because we are women. That leads to some forthright and direct exchanges that are alarming at first. However, it's actually quite refreshing to stop softening and qualifying everything you say, and just speak plainly.

That said, there is an occasional shark in the water type situation where people rush to get a few digs in. I'll occasionally post to advise the OP to hide the thread, as it's rarely informative and can be upsetting.

I'm toying with the whole 'nice' as female socialisation idea though. On the whole, I'm finding life better since I've stopped living to enable my children and husband, and started living for myself. The husband is definitely happier, and the kids are very capable!

@picklemewalnuts

Mumsnet has a strong feminist section which has the unusual perspective that we don't have to be extra nice because we are women. That leads to some forthright and direct exchanges that are alarming at first. However, it's actually quite refreshing to stop softening and qualifying everything you say, and just speak plainly.

That said, there is an occasional shark in the water type situation where people rush to get a few digs in. I'll occasionally post to advise the OP to hide the thread, as it's rarely informative and can be upsetting.

I'm toying with the whole 'nice' as female socialisation idea though. On the whole, I'm finding life better since I've stopped living to enable my children and husband, and started living for myself. The husband is definitely happier, and the kids are very capable!

Does hiding a thread just hide it for the viewer? Or the entire posters feed? (If you were the poster)

You can hide whole topic areas so they don't come up in 'active' - I've got all the baby stuff, parenting, education etc hidden as my dc are adults now.

Housekeeping is friendly, as is gardening, family history, extra-curricular activities to name a few.

Hiding the thread just stops the thread appearing for you. Everybody else can still see it and carry on posting to it.

Consider how much you feel comfortable opening up about if you are concerned about nasty responses.

Bluecheese are you sure? You've posted in parenting :o

I think AIBU is honest. I think some posters have posted and not liked what they have heard. Then they flounce off !

I think its quite an honest board so you need to be open to honest opinions if you post there. I posted yrs ago and then flounced (diff user name) It was a xmas on my own thread. I have re read it and posters were right. I was depressed at time and could not see wood for trees.

There is truth in AIBU threads. You just have pick through and see.

The parenting section is great - it's been a massive help for me throughout my son's life. The relationships section can get a bit, shall we say, extreme, and the double standards there can be shocking.

@eatingfor2drinkingfor0 "Does hiding a thread just hide it for the viewer? Or the entire posters feed? (If you were the poster)

Looks like your other thread has now been deleted.

Your original thread has been deleted. Hiding threads will not affect as now deleted.

AIBU is horrible - people are competitively nasty. Everywhere else tends to be ok but there are occasional pile ons for no obvious reason.