Tell MNHQ why you use Mumsnet

[EllieMumsnet]

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

to Mumsnet for hosting this vital conversation
posters provide free content and MN sells their attention to advertisers so that they can make a profit, why are you thanking MN?
They should be thanking us!

Oh, to add, the group of mothers from my antenatal and postnatal group are still going so very strong on fb and are an incredible group of supportive and funny women. Many have met up, held hands a lot and still sharing news on their then wee babes.

Because they allow and enable proper feminist discussion, despite the best efforts of misogynists to stop it. Thank you mumsnet, you are awesome

I come for the feminist chat every day. It is the most accessible and knowlegible board I've come across. Please continue to support, women of the future will thank you.

Came for IVF threads, stayed for the Twislut threads, now completely addicted to FWR. Thought I was a feminist before. Now feel like someone's put a fire under me

Hi penguin! It's me in disguise (Eric) ❤️

I came for the babies, but stayed for the feminism.

Came for the dog threads. Enjoyed AIBU and spent too much via Style and Beauty.
Now it is the Feminism section nearly exclusively.
Thank God for these women.

Support through fertility struggles initially and then I branched out.

I also value the fact that MN (largely) allows for robust debate and doesn't censor.
I love the fact that MN is a space for people to discuss and debate really important issues such as self ID and women's rights. It's important that although people may disagree, there is a space for debate and discussion that doesn't silence women. Sadly, not all platforms are able to say they allow such debate.

I came when pregnant, stated through a miscarriage, premature birth, breastfeeding etc. Then spent a few years where I stayed because of Special needs as ds was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. I rarely now read much other politics, news and chat , just to know what people not like me think but mainly I stay for FWR by far the most interesting and relevant parts of the boards for me now.

Reading material when pregnant/breastfeeding and too tired to read 'proper' childrearing books, then got sucked in the AIBU and the Christmas threads, and occasionally the feminism ones. I noticed the astroturfing around the time of the Brexit ref and realised then the influence that MN has on public debates (so it wasn't just a case of sleep-deprived parents debating helicopter parenting).

I've learned a lot about British society's expectations (not something that I get naturally). And of course, I found out political/feminist stuff I wouldn't have from the BBC and the Guardian...

My sister recommended mumsnet to me six years ago when my daughter got into a bit of bother in her first year of university and I needed advice (hi sis!). Both dc now grown up and left home, I'm not a grandma yet so my main interests are FWR, property/DIY (currently self building) and chat/aibu for the laughs.
I'd like to thank you for the FWR boards, I'm not much of an activist but I'm outraged by the current attack on women's rights and I appreciate having somewhere to discuss it and be informed.

Joined years ago for child development, education and SEN boards; started checking active threads regularly and enjoying blend of humour and advice. From there started to pick up on FWR posts, and over past year almost all I have been coming here for. Have found whole new sense of community on FWR though I rarely post.Awful to see the way that board is attacked and so many women's voices are banned.

Chat, style and beauty firstly. Then FWR. An amazing board. The voice of sense in an increasingly crazy world.

ok confession, I had a load of preconceived ideas about MN, middle class, etc, etc. also didn't know if I was " allowed" cos I don't have kids.

I landed on FWR after a gender confused google, because the Women's Pond was going gender fluid, WTF is that I thought.

I landed, I lurked, I un-lurked, I love it!!! thank you FWR!!!!!

TTC originally. Now post periodically on low carb boot camps, and read Style and Beauty, Exercise, and FWR.

I joined MN when I was at the coalface with babies and toddlers and came for advice. I come back, more and more recently, to lurk on the Feminist boards. Although I'm more likely to post on Aibu because ridiculously, it feels like a safer space and I won't be jettisoned from the forum for fucking up pronouns.

Joined years ago when my kids were tiny and we were having trouble BF (got some great advice and went on to feed both for the first year). Now I like Style & Beauty, feminist chat, and the frequent book/reading threads. I am a UK expat and love keeping up with what is (really) happening in the UK Mumsnet is a safe space for so many women; it's one of my favorite little corners of the internet.

I came to mumsnet when I was pregnant and then when I had my first read the breastfeeding advice threads a lot,was always in awe of tiktok who seemed to give so much of her time.
Now I read the FWR board most days and am in awe of the intelligent women who post regularly and so articulately. It has really made me wake up and get angry over the unfairness to women everywhere!

I was recommended by a friend to AIBU, i wandered further afield to relationships, chat and occasionally sporner corner but my first port of call is FWR boards. I love that mumsnet is full of thoughtful, intelligent and witty women.

I used to read MN for entertainment when I first joined in 2008, and made many friends that I am still close to today. I don't spend the same amount of time here as I did ten years ago though, and most of the old 'faces' I knew are gone. People no longer recognise my name as a 'regular' (because I'm not really nowadays), so I don't have the same laughs and in-jokes etc.

What I've stayed for is unquestionably the FWR boards. There is a community here of fiercely intelligent and principled women, whom I am proud to know. I have dipped my toes into RL activism as a result, and I am grateful to Mumsnet for trying their best to keep this gender-critical space, one of the best places to really discuss women's rights in depth and away from the abusive voices of misogynists that dominate so many other internet spaces.

When I am not consuming vast quantities of virtual gin drowning my SEN parenting sorrows, and soothing bruises, and finding support for those very many difficult times, I use the fwr board to keep up with what is going on in the world and find information and a nother sense of comunity.

Community through the internet is very important whenyou are parenting SN children, and have disabilities oneself.

AIBU and FWR. It is a space mainly by and for women, I like that.

I never used it much to get advice; more for fun and procrastination.

Joined to get some swaps for DS's Dr Who cards. He was about 6. He's just gone to Uni..And I stay for FWR.

I was told to come here because it was almost the only forum on the internet where women are allowed to discuss issues which affect them without being told to shut up and be accused of being bigots for not centering men.

FWR is a place where I can talk to intelligent, caring women. I venture over to AIBU occasionally, too - I like the CF threads.

Clearly I am the only woman on MN who never reads any of the feminism threads - in fact, I've now hidden them all. Why? Because I got fed up of the preachiness, the haranguing, the whole guilt-inducing feminine conscious thing.... I posted a couple of genuine comments on one or two threads and got very snitty comebacks.

Warm, witty, intelligent, informative, entertaining, supportive etc happens elsewhere on MN too. It doesn't always have to be life-changing.

I'm here because I can't work or do much (ill-health) so the cancer support threads are very important to me, as are education, careers, relationships (and PigletJohn for anything to do with plumbing / boilers!).

I too would love to know what the actual MN traffic stats are. Judging by this thread, 99% of people are riveted by the feminist subjects. I wonder if the numbers back that up!