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

I started reading about 10 years ago because my Mum recommended it. Mostly funny chat threads, relationships and AIBU.

Now I mostly lurk on FWR and politics threads, because as others have said it is so refreshing to find somewhere with so many brilliant women talking

I came because I was pregnant and panicking. Mumsnet got me through the early days of breastfeeding.

Now I stay primarily for the FWR boards- when I first came to MN I had them hidden as I thought they were full of hectoring man-haters. Since then though they have been a huge education, and they are the first place I visit on the site.

Of course I enjoy a good parking thread too

Mumsnet can make me laugh with tears pouring down my face.. until it hurts one minute, gasp with shock the next then raging with anger moments later.
Best of all is the good, sensible and very logical advice & reassurance.
sometimes just someone saying "I get what you mean because I feel this way too" or "god, that's shit for you", or even "good for you!"
It can be the smallest most benign post but my god it can make a huge difference.
Love it!

I joined because of penis beaker (yes I'm one of those!) I fell in love with the FWR board and have learned so much. I stay because of the FWR board.
Most of my time is spent on the FWR board. I do read around that, have commented where I thought I had something useful to add, save tips ideas and spread my wings into other boards but it's the FWR board that has my heart.
An amazing, intelligent, inspiring and insightful posters on FWR.
Thank you.

I joined initially for the sleep and breastfeeding advice. Now I spend most time in FWR, lurk on the Brexit threads, style and beauty, low carb Bootcamp and Books. I love the humour and intelligence of many posters.

Came for advice on infant feeding and sleep training, stayed for everything else: property, DIY, primary school info, TV, gardening, FWR, general chat...

Any big purchases, I’ve checked for past threads on MN, which has helped us make choices on flooring, our wood burner, dog, car, holidays...

FWR is where it’s at though. Some amazing women on there.

Im going to come o here to enter competitions because getting advice from people who are not professionals and are only going by a few one sided words of what you are saying is hopeless . There are a lot of people who come on this site just try to make people feel bad I'm sure of that

I came because it was a place full of clever, witty women. I used to mainly hang out on style & beauty, chat and AIBU.

I'm now an avid lurker on the FWR boards and I'm hugely grateful that MNHQ has allowed that space to continue to be led by women and not by any external pressures. I'm in my 50s and now, more than any other time in my life, I think that women need to have a space to talk about what concerns us.

The women on FWR are inspiring to me and I love to hear their voices.

Literally nothing to do with parenting. I came across AIBU when googling and found it good for easy reading on my phone. I like general chat etc.

If it wasn't for Mumsnet, I'd have to talk to my DH in the evenings .

I was a regular on Gransnet - still am - for discussion about all sorts of things and interest in the relationships and other life situations that GNers posted about. I started looking at Mumsnet occasionally for a different slant on things.

I became very interested in the emerging info about trans issues, on FWR and other boards. I am so glad that Mumsnet found a way to allow that discussion and sharing of info to continue, in the face of determined opposition, as the way things are going now is a huge threat to women and children.
Mumsnet is in the forefront of keeping women and children safe from predatory men.

Firstly, I don’t think of myself as a MN ‘user’ - any more than I ‘use’ my radio or whatever book I’m reading. It’s not that sort of relationship. MN is woven into my life and I’d be less well informed and entertained without it.

I came, iirc, for information on schools (via Google) and stay for the intelligence; breadth of experience; speedy analysis on current affairs; FWR; witty usernames (OMG but ‘AllMumsyWereTheBorrowedClothes’ is just breathtaking! ) and, of course, the Archers threads.

I start the occasional thread. I have sought and received advice but have no inclination whatsoever to share personal or relationship details. I don’t talk about my occupation. I hate having to remind myself that the site is entirely public. It’s less fun now that most threads seem to be entirely made up ...

There are things I hadn’t fully appreciated until I came here. It’s hard to believe that, in 21st century Northern Europe, the gathering of women for free communication of ideas should be seen as threatening to others. I do feel that in the face of ... concerted outside attack it is better to stand firm rather than attempt to please anyone who demands to be pleased. It’s still mostly fun here. I’d be sorry if we were to lose this space.

• AIBU hilarity
• free speech around gender mania
• to seek women's views on things going on in my life as I don't have many close women in my life
• to prepare for parenting
• to ride the TTC bus

FWR FWR FWR FWR FWR FWR FWR FWR FWR FWR FWR FWR FWR FWR FWR FWR

I stay here mainly for the FWR board, and all the wonderful women that post on there.

I've learnt so much over the last few years, and I'm no one special, just an ordinary sahm, so I really didn't think feminism had anything to offer me, and I kinda thought we didn't need feminists anymore.
It is thanks to the FWR board that I now know how wrong I was, and I've woken up to how little equality women truly have.

After all, look at how easily our rights are being dismissed, and how the language that protects our rights is being diluted to have no real meaning!

If it disappeared, or became too censored, I wouldn't stay around.

I like the FWR board, though I don’t post much. That’s the one I visit most frequently.
I also like ‘books’ and ‘style and beauty’ sucks me in. Plus there’s nothing like a good AIBU argument!

Feminist chat. Joined for other stuff, stay for FWR.

Came for Property many years ago, became interested in Relationships in a nosy way and Higher Ed when issues applied in my life. But here now mainly for FWR.

I enjoy being able to talk to a far wider range of people than I would meet in real life. I regularly post on the game threads, the Litter Tray and Dog House, but I'll chip into any thread where I feel I have something to contribute. I come here mainly to relax, but occasionally for specific support or advice.

I only really use the Talk section - I'm childfree, so most of the other parts of MN aren't relevant to me.

I stumbled across MrsDeVere’s shed thread before I had my DS, and that hooked me. The wittiness and sheer intelligence of a lot of the posters kept me coming back to read threads, then when I was pregnant and subsequently BFing/weaning, Aitch and TikTok guided me through. Since then I mostly lurk but try to contribute a bit. I mostly read the FWR boards, which have really opened my eyes to feminism and how important it is. I also read a lot of the AIBU threads because they’re often quite entertaining. I’ve also learnt how to keep my house clean, how to style trousers with trainers, and a whole host of other tips. What makes Mumsnet great, for me, is it’s a mostly women-led space where there’s a whole load of intelligent debate and comment. It’s somewhere I can learn from.

Joined as it was a thing to do when I had my first child. Was active for a bit, then it waned. Now I have a bit more time I am using it more often to provide a form
of company and entertainment really. I wouldn't use it for advice as some thread responses are just ridiculous. Christmas bargain threads are ace, and some of the classics and funny threads have made me cry with laughter.

FWR, Brexit, Relationships. I like browsing through the Classics threads when I'm feeling low. I am frequently stuck in bed, in pain, so MN helps me get through those days. I've noticed I'm posting a lot less than I used to, though, as I worry about falling foul of the new rules. I don't really have much support in RL, I don't want to get banned for accidentally breaking some new rule I didn't know had been implemented.

Joined to have a browse. Stayed for Feminism chat.

I name change a lot but have been here for years. I joined when I was thinking about getting pregnant, stayed for antenatal threads and have been here ever since.

I read and lurk more than post these days but I appreciate the feminism boards and have been really educated on a few issues. Also read relationships, chat, AIBU - and Classics when I need a laugh! Housekeeping has been helpful too.

MN is a bigger part of my life than I realised it would be 😊 I appreciate the anonymity of it which has made RL friendships from here difficult but I like seeing familiar names.

It is really important to me that it remains a space primarily for women. We have so few spaces online for intelligent discussion of women's issues. We need somewhere to discuss our health concerns, breastfeeding angst, menopausal madness and the rest - all the stuff that makes us women. Also we just need somewhere to read for a giggle with a glass of wine beside us 😊

And yes this place has definitely cost me money - the Instant Pot recommendations for example - but I've never regretted anything I've bought that was suggested here.