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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:
scrivette · 30/09/2018 11:50

I joined 8 years ago when I was pregnant, for information and advice but have remained on here due to the entertainment of reading different threads.

I don't know how I would have survived all the years of night feeds without Mumsnet to read!

Also the advice I was given, and the information I found on Mumsnet when I was breastfeeding was brilliant and I probably wouldn't have continued if I hadn't been given so much support.

idsisatwat · 30/09/2018 11:50

Mainly the FWR boards

FishFingerPie · 30/09/2018 11:50

I joined Mumsnet when I had my children and despite having left work and much of my social life behind, it felt like I was still connected to the world of intelligent, funny and inspiring women. I don't post very often now but years later I'm still here for those same inspiring women via the Feminism board.

Humandignity · 30/09/2018 11:50

Initially, years ago, I lurked for informaion and entertainment.
Now, I come here for reassurance that there are still feminists out there who are capable of questioning the gender-liberal dogma that is creeping into mainstream society and our laws. As an academic, it‘s a relief to come here and see that it‘s not just me, but there are others out there.

Bifflepants · 30/09/2018 11:51

FWR.

BabyItsAWildWorld · 30/09/2018 11:51

I came for Chat, baby names, style and beauty, and procrastination, many years ago (12 years many name changes and de regs).

I then started to read and support women on the relationship boards and this changed me from a latent feminist into an active one. It opened my eyes to the oppressive relationships women are still in, how having children and not working leaves women so open to abuse and lacking in power. I had naively thought most relationships were now equal like mine. It changed things for me.

This led me to FWR boards, which led to the trans issue and the fundamental threat to women's rights and autonomy.

I now check in every day just for FWR boards and an update on the activism by so many amazing women, to see how through their persistence in defending women's rights they are changing the tide, and to get reinforcement for the small part I'm playing in this in RL.

I often disagree with many of the posters on FWR, my feminism veers from theirs at times, but I come back every day to FWR never the less,.

(and sometimes i still pop in to style and beauty!)

Beesandfrogsandfleas · 30/09/2018 12:02

It's pretty much the only thing I use the internet for.

FionaJT · 30/09/2018 12:02

I joined after picking up a mumsnet book 14 yrs ago, when I found myself unexpectedly single and pregnant and found the advice refreshingly honest and un-twee. I've migrated through various boards as my daughter has grown up and it's always the first place I'll come to search random advice (cloth nappies, new camping equipment, getting a rescue cat). But now I predominantly read Feminism chat and Westministenders for the sanest and most well informed political debate.

Slapdasherie · 30/09/2018 12:06

FWR mostly, especially all the information and debate on the transgender issues.

Justanewname · 30/09/2018 12:11

I found mumsnet by it coming up in a search for something else. Ages ago, I’ve no idea even what it was about. And I’ve stayed because it’s one of the few good active online forums left. I love AIBU for entertainment, I always do a mumsnet search before any major household purchase, and there’s been so much useful advice about babies and toddlers.

Mumsnet is also the best feminist forum I’ve ever found. Mum advice and product reviews can be found in lots of other places but a space where intelligent debates on feminist issues happen is something I’ve not found anywhere else. I haven’t really posted much, maybe I should start taking part instead of lurking, but I have learnt a lot from reading threads on here and it’s sparked lots of interesting discussions offline for me.

Please mumsnet don’t take this away. Mumsnet is something really special- there won’t be any way to replicate an environment where all sorts of women including those who might not have even though lot of themselves as feminists can contribute their thoughts to feminist debates. Most other places are small groups of more similar people echo chamber style. At least here you’re guaranteed as many different points of view as you could ever hope for.

C8H10N4O2 · 30/09/2018 12:12

FWR
Archers chat.
FWR
Politics/Brexit etc
FWR
Random across all topics from Active
FWR

When MN started I well past the baby stage. I left and returned a few times for the next few years, never really posted huge amounts.

FWR is the draw for me. FWR is key to MN's woman centred nature across every topic. Even Archers Grin

The encouragement to non members to brigade the site and attack individuals was madness. I cannot think of any online community who has done that successfully.

I would like some of the missing from FWR to be asked back.

It is essential that there is a mainstream women centred site discussion the erasure of sex as a protected characteristic.
I didn't face discrimination in my early days in a "male" industry because I'm female but because I was deemed likely to have babies. Then later because I had babies.

Sex is the basis of discrimination against women we need to be able to talk about this.

Newsofas · 30/09/2018 12:13

I think munsnet follows life. I joined here with relationships. Moved on to style and now head for the feminism boards. It evolves. So new mum’s will start at breastfeeding for example and gradually move on through the topics. Feminism seems popular because there are a lot of us MN who have been here a long time and don’t need to look at the parenting posts etc now.

BeyondAdultHumanFemale · 30/09/2018 12:23

I feel I should complain about all this Christmas in September nonsense on behalf of maryzed, as she is currently unable to do so herself.

PositivelyPERF · 30/09/2018 12:26

I feel I should complain about all this Christmas in September nonsense on behalf of maryzed, as she is currently unable to do so herself.

Start a petition. I’d definitely sign it. At this rate Halloween will be identifying itself as Christmas, so it gets the same attention.

RedToothBrush · 30/09/2018 12:29

But I only have six weeks left to shop for Christmas! Otherwise I'm into 'can't guarantee it'll be delivered in time' and the relentless list of all the Christmas related events you get sucked into which just eat time (and money).

AlvaBelmont · 30/09/2018 12:29

I have lurked on Mumsnet for years and years, after I left another forum which has since died the death.

I used to go to Active threads, and spent many a happy hour clicking on interesting titles and reading around the site. But most of my lurking has been on FWR threads, since way before genderism became the massive issue is it now. When MNHQ decided to stop showing Feminism in Active then I bypassed Active and have since gone straight to Feminism Chat, so I don't really see what goes on in the rest of the forum these days. I read to learn. And I have learned plenty from the intelligent, passionate, caring, dedicated, articulate posters on there. Who have ploughed on when it seemed the whole place was against them doing so. Thanks to them I realised that I had been doing feminist-lite for decades; I knew things were far from right, but I hadn't done much apart from grumble about it since my 20s. So I got angry and involved in activism again.

TorchesTorches · 30/09/2018 12:42

Initially came for baby advice, then discovered chat, aibu and relationships boards, which i read with great interest. Then I discovered the feminist board, and lurk a lot there. Mumsnet has been a great source of information for me and is an instant connection to intelligent, sympathetic and no nonsense people, especially as I am British but no longer live in the UK.

bilbodog · 30/09/2018 12:57

I joined about 2/3 years ago after noticing that when i googled for information on all sorts of things there was always a link to a mumsnet discussion. I am now hooked and find it like having a chat with my friends over coffee! Its very funny, informative, helpful and, just everything...........

Tellin · 30/09/2018 13:02

For the feminism boards - I cannot fully express to you how important they are for discussion in this climate.

Justkeepswimmming · 30/09/2018 13:04

FWR boards mainly. Never post but lurk everyday - I’ve learnt a huge amount and appreciate the time taken by so many to give informative, articulate posts.

Kewqueue · 30/09/2018 13:08

I came for baby advice and stayed for the feminism and politics discussions.

Fallingirl · 30/09/2018 13:24

I am another one who comes for the discussions in ‘feminism chat’, or FWR as it is also called.

Out of all the social media, this board has the highest intellectual standard. Nowhere else provides a space for womens insights and concerns to be seriously debated. In spite of the trolls popping in every now and again, women on this forum refuse to be silenced.

breastfeedingclownfish · 30/09/2018 13:26

I came on for general parenting, hung about and gasped at the fighting on AIBU for a bit. Wandered onto the feminist board to find out WTF they kept going on about transgender people. Eventually I understood, but in the meantime, really enjoyed reading the range of really intelligent women's knowlwdge and opinions. And that's where I generally hang out now. I have received an education on the feminist boards and am impressed by the women there every single day.

I also enjoy the Westminster threads and the IndyRef threads were fascinating, if brutal. I come to mumsnet first now when I want to find out more about something newsworthy because there will always be at least one thread about it and a range of opinions and links in the thread.

I also lurk on the politics/news board. Redtoothbrush - love your posts.

I love Style and Beauty - those savvy women have saved me a fortune and cost me a fortune at the same time.

I keep the fuck away from the dog threads though. Scary Mary stuff!

But yes, my home is now the feminist board. Can you please release Posie and Maryz please?

LiquidCosh · 30/09/2018 13:29

FWR

Milander · 30/09/2018 13:30

I used to like reading the aibu. Then I looked at the feminism and found people who think like I do. Now I see the feminism pages as a huge resource for action and a place of support and solidarity. Even though I mostly lurk