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

@ThanksHunkyJesus

Thank you

I originally came for a spot of delicious vicarious outrage over CF and parking threads, and (although I know MN has posters from all over the world, myself included) as an expat I love being able to connect with the largely British worldview, vocabulary, cultural references and humour.

I now stay for the daily stimulation and education of the brilliant, eloquent FWR. Despite being a committed lifelong feminist, the amazing women there have taught me so much and continue to do so.

I came to the site to see what all the fuss was about. I stay for FWR and the book pages

Starting reading in 2006 and joined in 2008. Hardly posted at all until one beautiful July day my son was diagnosed with leukaemia. The love and support I received was just overwhelming - a Woolly Hug (blanket) and 2 amazing gifts in the Mumsnet Christmas appeal, as well as just genuinely kind and lovely messages. The long-running children with cancer thread proved a great help to many of us.

I’ve read so many classic threads I know many inside out. I have also watched many happy or funny stories play out, some cheeky fuckers, as well as some heart-wrenching tragedies.

The relationship threads were real eye-openers and I started to realise the world could be a pretty terrifying or stressful place for many women. It was a real education for someone who has been very lucky in this regard.

Which brings me to Feminism/FWR. It’s no exaggeration to say these boards have changed my life. For 4 years now I have been getting to know the amazing women both on and off FWR. I’m am ridiculously proud to have been involved, in a very minor way, in some campaigns. It has given me purpose and passion. I don’t post much but I am involved where I can be. No wonder the misogynists want to shut it down.

Mainly appreciate the knowledge and intelligence on the Brexit threads. I wish they weren't hidden away.
Also the feminist threads, and reading whatever is interesting in Active.
I use MN for all kinds of decision making - a great research tool.

I first joined for baby advise when my eldest was teeny. Got hooked on aibu but now mainly lurk on feminism chat. It is fantastic.

I use it for downtime really - I mostly like AIBU. Some threads are really interesting and I learn something. Sometimes an answer seems obvious but then you see other views and you look at things differently. I've also posted a few times myself for advice.

Feminist threads.
And other general stuff from health stuff, style & beauty etc for a bit of down time

Bloody hell I can’t believe I forgot the MLM “Botwatch” threads in Money Matters! Also put me in touch with some fabulous mumsnetters

The feminist threads are what keep me here. What they are doing is so important. We need to protect our daughters and grand daughters.

I found Mumsnet when I was searching for information online about chin hairs, and found a very funny, reassuring thread with lots of stories from others who'd suddenly sprouted them. I found the 'penis beaker' thread and laughed till I cried. Stayed for the feminism and the entertainment.

Solidarity. The craic. Free speech.

I first came here many years ago seeking support.

I have used all the forums mental health, parenting babies through to primary, lone parenting. Home section especially on DIY, general health.

Think I have used most of MN forums over the years. It has been valuable source of support as it has pain in the arse especially in AIBU.

Currently only in feminism boards, I always avoided as I didn’t really know what it meant until recently, Now It’s my favourite place, so many interesting and intelligent knowledgeable women incl those with high end careers and don’t make you feel like they more superior. They witty too

Joined originally for parenting, SN, education advice.

Discovered the amazing FWR and haven't looked back.

I'm finding this thread quite moving hormonal obvs. I started reading MN when I was pregnant with my first child, been through two pregnancies and a miscarriage with it, and now find myself an ex-academic sahp with two young children who relies on MN for news, company and intellectual stimulation. I love the fact I can keep one eye on the play dough supervision and the other on the feminism chat boards. I find myself more and more relying on MN for news now that I boycott the Guardian, (gender stuff, Brexit, politics generally etc.)

I was brought up a feminist, but have learned so much from Feminism chat, Relationships and even AIBU. The feminist angle of Relationships is especially inspiring; it's taught me a lot about narcissism, DARVO, gaslighting that I didn't know, and it's put into perspective much of what went on in my extended family in the past. I love to see women waking up and being told the truth when it's practically impossible for their real life friends to tell them.

Now I'm looking at a diagnosis for a fairly serious chronic disease and the first place I have turned is to MN. I want to hear women's actual experiences and whether anything has helped them. Health websites just generally give platitudes about "asking your doctor": MN is an invaluable community of real people (mostly women) with whom to talk.

Long live this woman-centred public sphere! My DH is an addicted lurker too, and he's also learned so much - I love that he is learning specifically from womens' perspectives, because there are issues that he would never have engaged with if it wasn't for MN.

I know I went on about FWR earlier, and yeah, women's rights n stuff, I mean it's important, but SPORN
*
how could I have forgotten SPORN??

Oh, yeeeeaaaahhhhhh, sporn.

I didn't know what it was called until MN educated me. I didn't know that there were other weirdos like me. And I didn't know just how lightweight a weirdo I actually was!

Am!

Came here for the pregnancy boards, stayed for the feminist boards

The feminist section. Occasional sporn, and preppers for shizzles.

@Flora when family member had serious illness I searched mumsnet, reading about others stories etc I tried healthlocker but just didn’t have that same rapor.

I learnt never to google dragonbutter? I still to this day haven’t

I like preppers occasionally and sporn

When women take fwr subjects into aibu and chat, it has brought me to active and broadened my mn thread read.

Mn is my first hit in the morning because of fwr. I want to know who has said what, and where, and what's happening. Then I quickly read around for any stories to post there.

Stumbled upon MN when I was sorting my life out, post divorce, 7-8 yrs ago.. devoured relationship threads that helped me make sense of my marriage and exH. I'd never heard of NPD, but once I recognised that I'd been married to a narcissist everything became so much clearer. Got hooked on other sections, laughed at threads that became classics, cried at the real life loss of posters who died, lost a ton of weight with the support of others on the 5:2 threads (and kept it off). Now I spend most time in FWR and remain grateful to MN for providing this space for women to talk about issues raised by the proposed reforms to the GRA.

Oh, and I wouldn't make a major purchase these days without asking on here first! & I love my steam cleaner

Came for the relationship boards, was impressed by the no-nonsense advice and the many, many women helped out of abusive relationships.

Stayed for the FWR, one of the few places where women can tell the truth without being doxxed and harassed. I love how clear-eyed the posters are. It’s made me feel genuinely engaged by feminism again.

I just posted this in FWR and realised it should be here...

I came for baby crap. Stayed for fucking sleep advice and support. And then slowly realised that the most intelligent thought, analysis and perspective was here. The Malaysian air crash, the Brexit and Scottish referendum votes, the Cologne attacks... then I realised that the only people talking intelligently about feminism, without being either shut down by, or 'centering' men, were here.

I am constantly amazed by the intelligent, varied and awesome women here. It's a running joke in my house. Every time a major, complicated news story breaks, DH will turn to me and say, "what does MN say?" Because it's invariably more insightful and balanced than anything anywhere else.