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

Started with hyperemesis support. Then breastfeeding support. Then Christmas bargains. Also just for a laugh - there used to be hilarious threads on here.

Now it's mainly FWR and a bit of Brexit I'm afraid

wonders if all of those who say FWR will go on some list...

For me MN is both informative and entertaining.

It’s the informative sections (particularly FWR) that keep me here though. I can get entertainment elsewhere.

I never ask for advice and try to give it where I have something useful
to say.

I look at the Style threads and Chat for info and entertainment but mostly I am deeply grateful to the numerous intelligent women on the FWR board. The intelligence, clarity and wit on many FWR threads has thoroughly affirmed my faith in humanity. I have not found another online forum where women can gather and have such a clear voice and be supportive of each other.

The Feminism boards have been life-changing and life-saving. They have helped me through many areas of my life, through many phases of parenting teenage daughters.

I don't agree with some if the restrictions brought in to the FWR boards, but nevertheless, thank you MNHQ for, mostly, allowing the debate to continue.

Combination of all the reasons really. It is funny, interesting. I learn all kinds of snippets I never knew before. I have come for advice on important things, and many, many times for more trivial things.. I use it for 'me time' as well as using it to Find things out (my family will now suggest I 'ask on MN'). I hope some of the advice I've been able to give / pass on has helped others over the years too.
I do like the fact I can hide threads that are not interesting to me (TTC, breastfeeding, etc) or just plain annoying (Feminism), and that I can pick up threads I've been on already and highlight where I last posted, or - on a long thread - pick out the OP's responses, etc.

I came for pregnancy advice and still come back daily after 16 years. The fact that it is such a busy forum of interesting and intelligent people from different walks of life means the board (and indeed the archive) is an amazing resource of advice. Last week I had specialist advice and signposted resources to help my DD with maths within half an hour of asking. I do use the forum as a source of relaxation, but also learn and stay informed about a lot of issues through it (along with other news sources).

What @beenandgoneandbackagain said

I've been a member for around 12 years. The amount I post is dwindling and will probably drop to zero if something isn't done about the whole absurd situation re. the Gender Recognition Act.

I came for the pregnancy and breast feeding advice and I stayed for the feminism. Having a baby showed me how we do not have equality and the feminism shared here explained that to me. I also lurk around style and beauty and have made many purchases of products based on advice there.

I mainly lurk (3rd name change here) but I'm here every day for one reason, the Feminism board.

The whole lot! It's a great place to cone for advice (both giving and recieving) light hearted fun and what I have found to be the best place for discussions around feminism and women's rights. There are some amazing women whom I have learnt a great deal from and it has helped me become more confident and self aware

I came to MN over a decade ago for parenting advice.

I'm still here for:
FWR
To try to pass on some of what I've learned over the years (particularly re uni application type stuff at the moment
Occasional forays into Philosophy &Religion (though less of that at the moment than in the past)
chat.

From time to time the joyous idiocy threads (such as Mortificado) though.
And did I mention FWR?

I came to MN for advice on education. There are so many dedicated teachers on MN, and also helpful fellow parents. I received so many helpful advice over the years. Really glad I found MN.

I joined when pregnant with my first 5 years ago as I didn’t have a clue what I was doing! I’m still here as find it funny and supportive. Although I do think it’s being overtaken by gender critical talk - which I know is a good thing but it’s become very overpowering.

I originally came for baby/parenting advice. Stayed for Aitch and the BLW. Used to love AIBU when it had a sense of humour. When I was moving house last year the property buying support threads possibly kept me sane.

Now I'm pretty much here for FWR. Seemingly the only place on the web where women can talk about women's issues in an intelligent and critical way without (generally) being silenced. Although the bans are worrying.

Honesty? Mainly habit.

The Feminism boards are brilliant; challenging, smart, important and full of women who are standing up for their beliefs.

The climate most other places is awful; snippy, bitchy, unpleasant, hectoring.

Im childless but use it to talk to other adult women about things that interest me and issues I have think it's invaluable as a women's forum (even though men do post here)

I loved our Mortificado world back in the day

I personally came for advice on ttc, then support through miscarriages and infertility. Now I am grateful every day for the intelligent female community on FWR, which is keeping me (relatively) sane.

There's no other corner of the net like it and I don't think everyone here "gets" how rare it is to have a place where mostly women talk, and not just on the typical babies/shopping topics (though those are great too). I like it.

I originally joined for relationship issues. I have found it really helpful and I also like to help others too and I like to try and show kindness in threads where as sometimes forums can be quite harsh. I also find housekeeping and decluttering threads useful and competitions despite never winning 😩

Came for the camaraderie and advice, learnt enormous amounts on the relationships boards, stayed for the political discussion and FWR.

Smart women on FWR. I used to glance at it - now I read it first. Also books chat. And practical info on education.

Mainly I just enjoy hearing so many clever women talking amongst themselves. Oh and they are funny.

I joined back in early 2000's for parenting insights and advice. Now I visit for the FWR boards. Thank you for doing your best to keep that space available for gender critical women.

I came to chat about weaning, and am still here when ds is going to secondary school!
I love the chat about all sorts of things - sometimes its hilarious, sometimes political, but you always hear it straight. I work from home and travel for work, and MN is always there to tell me what to wear on stage to address 1500 people, what to wear in Japan, but also to be my social life.

I like reading different opinions from people with different lives to me.

Some I agree with, some I don't, some are totally beyond my life experiences.
It's still interesting tho.

I came for the property and home decoration boards, stayed for the Conception board. I don’t read the feminism boards at all but enjoy threads in Chat and AIBU as well. I use MN to help me understand life in the UK and have found helpful and supportive people in the process.