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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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:
DearSergio · 01/10/2018 14:06

Came for the feminism, and have learnt so much from the wonderful posters there. I lurk on aibu and comment occasionally on chat. Mumsnet is such a unique site, I know it's supposed to be a vipers nest but again and again I'm comforted to see the support and advice given to women experiencing or fleeing domestic abuse.

Glomerulus · 01/10/2018 14:31

I mostly lurk, but joined to get much needed advice and support through my first miscarriage, and stayed for advice around subsequent pregnancies/childbirth/parenting etc.

The reason I stayed with mumsnet rather than any other site is because it puts women at its centre, and a lot of brilliant and articulate women at that, with a whole range of knowledge and life experience. Through that I started to rediscover and develop my views on feminism, not just through FWR but through the whole site, be it the wifework threads on AIBU, the threads about coercive control and abuse on Relationships, the threads on Pregnancy/Childbirth where women are belittled or ignored by HCPs, and so on...

So when my rather woke employer recently started redefining what it was to be a woman in the workplace, with no care to actually ask the women who worked there, I trundled over to FWR and now spend around half my time there, with the other half around active threads.

peepholepringle · 01/10/2018 15:04

Mainly for the brilliant FWR boards now. I browse active threads and classics every now and then.

Lweji · 01/10/2018 15:10

I'm also here because the BBC Parenting Message board was shut down. Sad
But they didn't allow swearing, so Grin

PositivelyPERF · 01/10/2018 15:11

But they didn't allow swearing, so Grin

Fucking wankers! Grin

FrankUnderwoodsWife · 01/10/2018 15:12

Joined in 2006 when pregnant with my daughter.
I am a daily lurker, and whilst I enjoy AIBU and the relationship threads, it is the FWR which keep me here.
The FWR have taught me more about diversity and inclusion and any other medium, and it is an invaluable resource, which I use to better educate myself on some of the issues facing women today.

wopbamboo · 01/10/2018 16:33

I started using it when my little one was little and found a wonderful network of people to ask advice from/get support from when needed.

I then moved onto the feminism pages and really I check every day in this area to keep up with women's movement and to keep myself educated.

It's opened my eyes completely. Thanks feminism pages!

Viago · 01/10/2018 16:52

Another one here, acknowledging my love for Chris Moyles.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 01/10/2018 17:39

I am pretty introverted in RL so chatting online suits me. I also know that if I need an answer to ANY question someone previously will have asked it!

HavelockVetinari · 01/10/2018 19:40

It's the one place it's safe to question the trans rhetoric and not be called a bigot.

purplecorkheart · 01/10/2018 19:44

I was very low and lonely when I joined. I google a topic (not related to how I was feeling) and a Mumsnet post came up. Logged onto the website and felt that there were people I could talk to about everyday things. I feel so much less lonely since I have signed up.

hazeyjane · 01/10/2018 20:51

I logged on when I had my first baby, 12 years ago and was properly aghast at how bolshie everyone seemed....and promptly scarpered.
I crept back in and found that as well as bolshie there was wit, intelligence and lots of swearing.
A slice of cynical, cackling, heaven.
I met a bunch of wankers who didn't hide their cleverness
When I had ds, I found a ton of advice and friendship through the special needs boards, posters who helped me grow back my shell after feeling like it had been ripped off me in his early days.
I have crocheted with the kindest of wooly huggers and sipped tea with Mumsnetters whose real life names I couldn't get used to.
I have mooned over bell tents and kettles with camping ponces, I have discovered the best flapjacks and ranted and raged about the most important things....Gareth Malone, Donald Trump, parking and bus seats.
I have learnt from incredible women on the Feminism boards and right now it feels like just about the last place which just about has a foothold on truth (Please don't ban these women. Please don't delete truth)
Mumsnet is my coffee shop, my pub, my park bench, my lean on the garden fence. I log on too much, but I never regret being here.

NowtSalamander · 01/10/2018 23:12

I hope this goes in Classics. It’s so lovely.

Flowers to all you vipers/sisters.

IdaBWells · 01/10/2018 23:15

hazyjane fabulous ✍️

UnderHerEye · 01/10/2018 23:22

NowtSalamander

I hope this goes in Classics. It’s so lovely - Seconded!

Flowers to all you vipers/sisters

  • Seconding that too!!
SophoclesTheFox · 02/10/2018 07:08

@MNHQ, what do you make of this thread?

Would be great to have a resonse from you on this. It's quite wonderful - is it what you expected?

ArrivisteRevolt · 02/10/2018 07:53

Yes, @MNHQ, is it what you were expecting? Does it tally with the most used boards?

wallyfeatures · 02/10/2018 07:57

I'd love to see some stats. Such average unique users accessing each board etc....

LurkyMcLurkface · 02/10/2018 08:03

As my name suggests, I am a lurker. I like browsing active threads, but really love the FWR boards.
I have gained so much from reading them, and it has reawakened my passion for politics, debate and feminism.

MIdgebabe · 02/10/2018 08:03

Years ago it has helped me understand how to help my dd cope with divorce, then helped me understand that previous relationship. Then getting her to university. Now feminsit chat and menopause information. And a bit of a laugh. Just hearing other people's experiences and, seeing the diversity of thought is fascinating and informative and reassuring . So many people have helped me ..thanks to you all

WeeMadArthur · 02/10/2018 08:08

I joined when my DC was born for advice and support, stayed because _Chat and AIBU gave me plenty of reading material through the long nights awake, use the reviews section, dip into The Doghouse, Baking, Travel, Relationships mainly to lurk rather than post. Enjoy the occasional product test or questionnaire.

It’s definitely the Feminist board that has opened my eyes the most though, I do feel like the rest of the world is in the midst of a 1984/Emperors New Clothes situation and that board is a haven of sanity to me.

Chocolate50 · 02/10/2018 08:14

I like throeing around ideas & having honest discussions. A good debate is sadly lacking in my 'real' life. I also love a parking thread, talking of which I haven't seen ond in AGES!

ArrivisteRevolt · 02/10/2018 08:54

Agree @Chocolate50. My life is polite and even- tempered and the conversation amongst my friends is measured and respectful. Sometimes I need something more robust for an actual exchange of ideas.

FuriousFifties · 02/10/2018 09:09

In the early hours 10 years ago I found a group of amazing women that listened, cried, listened some more and stood with me throughout my recurrent miscarriages. Without those women I don't think that I would be the person I am now. Miscarriage felt such a taboo subject and Mumsnet was my beautiful warm safety blanket and I can never thank you all enough.

Mumsnet Secret Santa, flipping fantastic and miss it, loved being able to give something back and wonder how Sandy fills her time in December.

Now I visit chiefly for the Feminist boards, I dip into AIBU out of habit but the FWR boards represent all that is Mumsnet. I've gone from sobbing in the dark to strutting my stuff in a bright red t shirt talking to people about the GRA.

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 02/10/2018 09:24

Hi all,
I've just been catching up on this. I'm not surprised that FWR is important - probably a bit surprised by what looks like a majority saying it's their main destination. The stats do give a slightly different picture. Here's our top 10 boards in September ordered by hits:
Aibu, chat, relationships, FWR, style & beauty, pregnancy, property, Christmas, Secondary school, Telly Addicts.

This was much the same in August except that Baby names and Sex were in the list and Secondary school and Christmas weren't (seasonal effect). In terms of magnitude Aibu is by far the biggest (around 10x as many hits as FWR and 4x as many as Chat). But it might be the case that Aibu visitors are more in "viewing" than "participating" mode and so perhaps less likely to be registered and therefore post than FWR visitors. We'll look into it and report back.

The reason we asked the question is to try to understand more all the different roles/jobs MN is performing to inform design/ user experience decisions and just generally for inspiration.

Thanks for the input and great stories. Very helpful.