Dear Mumsnetters
The eagle-eyed amongst you may have clocked a small difference about Mumsnet today. It may only be a single vowel but I believe it could come to be seen as one of the most significant moment in our short history. From today, Mumsnet has been renamed Momsnet. Like the Mayflower and One Direction before us, we are going west!
For more than a decade, we Mumsnetters have resisted the inexorable tide of American cultural hegemony. We have watched the rise of trick-or-treating with mounting distaste and done our best, with the ever-vigilant pedants of Pedants' Corner to encourage the proper use of the English language.
But, at the ripe old internet age of 12, we have finally faced up to an unavoidable fact: Mumsnet cannot continue to grow and prosper without reaching out to our American cousins. So today we extend the hand of friendship across the Atlantic, confident that many rewards will come of sharing (though on Facebook only with an opt out, naturally). Frankly, if Piers Morgan could do it, how hard can it be?
After extensive panel-testing of options including Mumsbook, Mumster, Mumterest and Netmoms, we have opted for a modest change in spelling that nods to both our heritage and our new home.
To show that our change in direction is about more than just warm words and a single letter, Mumsnet Towers will be relocating to a new luxury condo (plus shed) in Malibu, California.
You'll also see a few small changes around the site to make sure our American users feel welcome: AIBU will be renamed YCNBS (You Can Not Be Serious), Mumsnet Swears By will become Mumsnet Thinks This Is Kinda Neat and we'll shortly be converting all our recipes to measurements by cups and spoons rather and grams and ounces.
It would be great if all of you could do your utmost to help educate newbie Momsnetters who may not be fully up to speed with the importance of naice ham, the moral maze of eating grapes at the mall, or the full implications of a weekend at CenterParcs.
In particular, in deference to the more delicate sensibilities of our American sisters, we ask those who are inclined to employ colourful language to henceforth moderate your use of the vernacular. Over the coming months, we will be reviewing all usernames and I'm afraid any that might give offence in Des Moines or Delaware will have to go.
It couldn't be a more exciting time for Mumsnet, oops Momsnet!, to be arriving in America. You may remember that some commentators described the 2010 UK election as "the Mumsnet election" and we're looking forward to occupying as central a role in this year's presidential race. Already, some analysts are speculating over who will win the Momsnet vote and the candidates are lining up to take the favourite biscuit cookie test.
Indeed, Presidential hopeful Rick Santorum said last night: "Momsnet is just the kinda wholesome, upstanding organisation we need in America. But what exactly is a fanjo?"
Have a nice day y'all!
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