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

perhaps myself and others should look again at what's on offer here

luckily rat, it's very easy to hide the FWR board. many people do. I question their judgement, but not their right to do so

I'm baffled as to why some people over there=> holding views you don't agree with makes you quite this cross

Oh Toe, if you're going to "quote" me at least make it something I said. I joke they needn't bother running nappy product tests around here. As in there might not be very many people left who might have kids who wear them.

Wit is so underappreciated round here these days.

I didn't see any calls, just a "look how many people have said FWR here!" - but if you're worried about bias, why don't you put out a "rallying call" on chat or AIBU wonga?

(Or even better, Twitter. Then everyone can come and say how awful FWR is!)

Again - @mnhq - are you using the info on this thread? Are you looking at length of membership or other markers on our posts? How do stats compare? Do regular posters on the feminist board go on other boards too or have a bunch of evil people lied and brigaded this thread to annoy people like rat?

WongaGoneWronga

Mumsnet will know full well how many women click on feminism. It doesn't need any kind of 'rallying call' to tell them that.

What they won't know, unless those women post, is why.

Rat

You may well be right.

Hey Mumsnet, I wouldn't bother doing any more nappy product testing around here. Know any placard manufacturers?

We do both. That’s why we are so powerful.

Women aren’t weak - we ARE strong and powerful IF we work together. We change the nappies, we hold the purchasing power and we have the power to change things.

That’s why MN is so amazing. It’s pretty much the only online place where you can get an opinion on a pushchair, support to leave an abusive relationship, laugh at a parking diagram and organise politically to protest the stripping of our rights.

Women as a collective have huge power. We need to realise this because I think a lot of us don’t. we are half the world.

The link to the feminism board was about how blown away we all were by the existing posts on this thread, wonga.

Let's not wreck this. It's really meaningful for a lot of women here.

Please do put out a call on AIBU or wherever if you think this is a result of skewing.

Whenever I had a baby query for google this place was without fail the where the answers were. Actually this place usually has answers for most things including recipes and plumbing advice.

It’s also almost always entertaining and thought-provoking and the style is much more me than sparkly tickers things and ‘text speak’. I am probably an addict...

Mostly I lurk on FWR (Rosie Parker is currently my new hero), chat and aibu.
I peruse the active threads daily and it can be anything from step parenting to philosophy and I will often be tempted by the recommendations (that elvive shampoo has, after years, fixed my scalp problem for that I will be eternally grateful!!!) and ideas for Christmas presents.

This is my go-to site for basically everything!!

I think what Rat was trying to say, is that, going by the posts on this thread, more people are staying for the feminism than for the parenting. I don't really get why people are jumping on her.

I came across from the parenting website iVillage.co.uk and I've never returned - that was about 10 years ago I think. Loads of name changes, but I came for the breastfeeding advice, The Staff Room and initially the humour found on Chat and Classics. Discovering the Relationships board was revolutionary and, despite this sounding utterly dramatic, led me to gain the strength to leave a controlling man and an unhealthy marriage. I've since NC'd again (always wary of being identified) but I will be forever indebted to the women on Relationships for opening my eyes (AF, Worra, Math, MrsTP - too many to mention).

FWR was a natural progression from Relationships - started reading about 4 years ago - and I have had my mind opened yet again. I owe a great debt to Datun for her patience and her drive and her sheer ability to help me understand. Again, to many women to mention, but their dedication and compassion and knowledge has reached out to so many of us. I look for their posts.

I mostly frequent Chat, Relationships, FWR and The Staff Room now. I dip in and out to News, Books, money-saving and housekeeping. I avoid AIBU as there seems to be a harsher and unforgiving climate there - too keen to put others down - hence its hidden for me. I hope the women on there stray out to other boards occasionally and start seeing.

Thanks to those I've mentioned who've perhaps unknowingly changed my life for the better, small steps at a time. Thanks to you MN for allowing freedom of speech on FWR and for seeing us as concerned, compassionate women and not as bigoted haters. Thank you for allowing us to talk about the things that threaten our safety. I am a Mum of three girls and MN has definitely helped me look at the world with wiser eyes, and this in turn, I will pass on to them.

Love and light to you all.

lovely post CisMyArse.

My post is rather emotional - must be my raging hangover (friends wedding last night)

I use mumsnet largely for the feminism discussion. I can get advice on most things from thousands of online sources but mumsnet has been the one place where I can learn and discuss without being shouted down by angry men. It shocked me when I realised how rare it is to be able to discuss things with other women.

Thanks Chrys

Aww.

And actually, I should have added to my post that the other thing that keeps me coming back to mumsnet time and time again is the wit and the humour.

@cismyarse. I remember ivillage.

Just to add I Used lurk a lot round the MLM threads, that was an eye opener and prevented student debt child falling into that trap. I still follow them on Twitter & Wordpress when used it

I suspect that a lot of women are like me - come for the AIBU, sneak a few peeks into FWR and find that you won't be sneered at for lack of grey matter when you tentatively do a post. I would never have joined a 'proper' feminist board, one where the main focus was feminism, as I believed that you had to be a) very very smart and intellectual and b) quite extreme and wearing Doc Martins, shaved heads, tattoos, and not be soppy about dogs or interested in fantasy books or other womanly things.

Hmmnnnn a bit inarticulate, but I think I've conveyed what I mean. It's the mixture of people and interests that makes MN so great. I turn every woman I know on to MN 😀

I lurked a lot a few years ago, mainly for entertainment. Lapsed as I found other things to do. Then popped in recently and found the FWR board. Registered and this is now my main source of information. M lost in admiration for all the long term regular posters here.

I’ve also found lots of other useful information about all sorts of things but FWR is my main reason for coming here.

I don’t post much because I don’t feel I have much to offer, but so grateful to those who do.

Very grateful to Mumsnet who take a lot of flack from all quarters but still keep the conversations open.

Advertisers please note, I take notice of recommendations here and also make sure I avoid companies that are not ‘aligned with my values ‘ to use the current jargon. My individual spend may be small but it all adds up.

Arrived randomly (I think a year ago). I got caught in a long thread which was compulsive reading, then I landed on the feminist chat pages. I have stayed there ever since.
There are some amazing and supportive women.
I check in every day.

Twitter is for trolls

Am lost, not M

Been here since 2002. Another one who came for the baby advice, & is now here for the feminism.

I keep coming back for the feminist boards- mostly feminism chat board. It’s great, and it’s a place I can talk to other women about things that specifically effect us. I have learned so much on that board I can honestly say it’s ooened my eyes to what is going on around me. I love AIBU also but the feminist chat board is the best board on here for me.

Maybe mumsnet should start a "Mumsnet feminism" (because it is a very specific sort of "feminism") side venture. Mumsnet for making parents lives easier and Mumsfeminet for... well... making it easier for people who want to agree with each other over trans issues and tell each other how fantastic and intelligent they are for holding practically unchallenged views on who uses which toilet cubicle?

still furious about those with different opinions rat?

carry on......

I’ve been on mn a good few years and before there were posters who complained about the feminists piling on threads and being transphobic, there were posters who complained the feminists were exclusionary towards everyone else and were rude and too academic and shouldn’t be allowed to post without following special feminist rules that didn’t upset anyone else. These threads were always in aibu and used to run to 100s of posts of other posters proudly saying they hid the feminism section as it did not speak to them because they liked wearing lipstick, shaving their legs and didn’t hate men. Well now it looks like some posters have approached the feminism area with an open mind and it does speak to them and some people obviously don’t like it.

To think a woman could concern herself with women’s rights and also nappies and weaning and schools and everything else.