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MNHQ

Tell MNHQ why you use Mumsnet

897 replies

EllieMumsnet · 27/09/2018 16:09

Here at MNHQ we would really like to get to know our users better and would therefore love to know why you use Mumsnet and if Mumsnet has managed to help you in any way.

Is the main reason you use Mumsnet for the advice from other users? And if so, what advice do you look for in particular or is it on everything and anything? Do you use Mumsnet as a place to browse the funny threads and have a bit of ‘you’ time? Is it more the product/service reviews and recommendations that you use Mumsnet for? Has the support of fellow Mumsnet users helped you get through a tough time? Or maybe you have created long-term friendships with other users and come on to chat to them.

Whatever the reasons you use Mumsnet and any stories you have on how Mumsnet has helped you, we would love to hear them so please share them on the thread below.

Thanks
MNHQ Smile

Tell MNHQ why you use Mumsnet
OP posts:
calpop · 29/09/2018 08:24

Originally (15 years ago!) for advice from other women that had already been through what I was going through: infertility, pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth and looking after babies.

Now for the feminism, FWR boards and for information about the fightback against violent TRAs, trans rights activists (NOT trans people themselves), misogynists on twitter and assorted abusers who try and bully and silence women.

Aridane · 29/09/2018 08:28

Er - so basically the majority of people are here for the trans threads (FWR)?

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 29/09/2018 08:30

A bit of procrastination via AIBU, hopefully giving some useful advice on The Doghouse and enjoying taking the pee out of the midnight misogynist but mostly now for FWR. The scales have certainly fallen from my eyes.

pennydrew · 29/09/2018 08:30

Aridane 😐 what’s it got to do with you? Women are responding to a question from MNHQ, not to be analysed by you.

Gentlygently · 29/09/2018 08:31

@MNHQ you have the data! Can you tell us? What are the most popular boards?

BabyTeeth · 29/09/2018 08:33

A miscarriage brought me here. Anytime I google for advice about any child related problem a MN thread comes up so I come back here for that. The odd product review. Classics threads for laughs. There are some very good writers on here. Lately, feminism. I thought feminism was very boring at first but as feminism is back in society in general it’s now very relevant. Taking part in the Brushbox thread and through MN action forcing apologies and making sure it made the news internationally that pornography is not an ok advertising style. That was good.

FarFrom · 29/09/2018 08:34

Aridane, that's you told! Clearly other voices are as welcome here as on fwr....

Onlyinanemergency · 29/09/2018 08:35

Originally joined for pregnancy advice 5 years ago. Now read the feminist board exclusively.

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 29/09/2018 08:36

Er - so basically the majority of people are here for the trans threads (FWR)

Ive been on mumsnet reading the FWR threads for a long time now.

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 29/09/2018 08:38

Sorry, pressed post too soon

And there have been very many interesting threads that have not been related to 'trans' for many years

FarFrom · 29/09/2018 08:39

MN eats too much of my time. But it's funny and interesting. I find the trans threads depressing but in general I have found this a place with interesting and thoughtful discussion about things that matter as well as things that don't (in a good way).

3TresTrois · 29/09/2018 08:40

Should also add that the SEN boards were an invaluable source of support and information when we were going through the process of diagnosis, getting a Statement and then EHCP, and finding a school for my child with autism. It was a lifeline, really, during an incredibly bleak and stressful time in my life.

MyPoorEyes · 29/09/2018 08:41

I came here for baby sleeping advice years ago and MN is now part of my everyday life. Nowadays I mainly read FWR.

ILuvBirdsEye · 29/09/2018 08:42

Aridane Er - so basically the majority of people are here for the trans threads (FWR)

Nope - not here for the trans threads. Here for all these articulate wise women. Been here for ages - way before trans took over.

ToeToToe · 29/09/2018 08:43

Joined because of the v funny threads in classics, and interesting discussions.

Then discovered the FWR section a few years ago.

FWR is fantastic - great to be part of such a wonderful group of women, and be allowed a space for woman-centred discussion.

It is a unique space on the internet for women to chat.

Charliethefeminist · 29/09/2018 08:44

Er - so basically the majority of people are here for the trans threads (FWR)

Heads up: for the women. The community of women.

InProgress · 29/09/2018 08:47

I joined after realising as an adult how dysfunctional my upbringing was. Whatever upbringing you have is normal you see. When I finally realised I also recognised how passive I was as I stifled my own character to keep out of harms way as best I could. Lurking a lot on mumsnet meant I could get the general feel of topics and I used this as a general baseline to reset my own values and beliefs. It took a while but I did it.

I love the relationship and CF threads where women are supported to overcome difficulties in the lives. I only started reading the feminist chats a few months ago and now they are a major part of threads I read too.

EmpressAdultHumanFemale · 29/09/2018 08:49

Heads up: for the women. The community of women.

On and offline. I've met some amazing women through FWR.

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 29/09/2018 08:49

And farfrom is right

Its a complete time eater!

Keep think i should wean myself off...perhaps i will do it a topic at a time

LizzieSiddal · 29/09/2018 08:51

for the past year I’ve used MN primarily for femminist board. I’ve learnt so much from those amazing women and this knowledge has changed my life.

calpop · 29/09/2018 08:59

Heads up: for the women. The community of women.

Ah that's bought a tear to my on this fine morning. So true. I realised, post-children, that my previous care-free existance was slowly being destroyed by entitled men. The trans thing is just a continuation. So glad MN has managed to continue existing through it all. Credit to Justine where its due, though im sure at some point it will get sold and we'll have to find somewhere elses to shelter (as that's what it feels like sometimes).

YetAnotherSpartacus · 29/09/2018 09:06

I found mumsnet when I googled something like 'critical of trans' or similar. Two years ago, almost to the day, I was desperate for somewhere to talk about how worried I was that in my work there was so much uncritical emphasis on transing children and young people (putting them on drugs for example) and I also had to interact with a TRA who claimed to be 'trans' (I think this individual really meant queer or non-binary) who was a frothing and raging misogynist who used trans ideology to silence women. I also had to work with others who were of a similar mind, but not as bad. I came across the old 'Spartacus' thread and the rest is herstory. I'm at home on FWR and also spend rather more time than I really should in the Litter Tray, ooh-ing and ah-ing over Ollie, PB, Mr C, Obie, ASBO, Fatty (RIP), Snorg, Cheddar, Harry, Ernie, Ginge, Fred, Daphne, Dolly, Leroy, Freya, Maisie, Basil, Sybil and all the others...

Can we have our banned FWR posters back now, please?

ToeToToe · 29/09/2018 09:16

Can we have our banned FWR posters back now, please?

Yes please. There are many good women who have fallen foul of very new guidelines which only apply to FWR and are not applied equally across the boards.

Bookrat · 29/09/2018 09:26

An autistic family member had expressed a strong desire for elective mastectomy (not cancer related) and my online attempt to read around the subject kept sign-posting me here. Her fundamental feelings have not changed but feminism chat has given us the language, logic and science to address those feelings in a rational manner. We now have a middle ground which we are crossing together where there was previously only opposition between us. Thank you women of FWR.

Datun · 29/09/2018 09:34

Exasperated by my teenagers, I had a look on here for advice. And boy did I get some perspective.

AIBU proved funny and very rude. Quite unexpectedly. Classics was hilarious (it seems to have tailed off a little lately).

But what fascinated me was the extraordinary scope and scale of communication between so many women.

This number of women coming together to talk and share is unprecedented in history.

It's remarkable how many women have been helped by understanding The Script, DARVO, the Duluth model, etc. Because they share information. Little wonder that men, throughout history, have been a tad suspicious of women when they get together 'what do you actually talk about?'

Suddenly everyone is as wise and informed as the wisest most informed woman here.

So I came for the 'bloody teenagers' advice, and stayed for the FWR. Because of the women.