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

Excellent point by waterlego. FWR has raised my consciousness and reignited my feminism. That doesn't mean I don't like reading a good aibu or poncing or sporn thread though.

I came here for TTCing boards, then moved over to the IVF boards.
Life went in a different direction and I love chat, AIBU, litter tray and of course the FWR boards.

I love that there is a female centric corner of the internet.

I came when I was ttc.

I stayed for the general advice and entertainment (especially the adoption boards and maryz).

The relationships boards gave me the knowledge and awareness to identify abuse and then the support and courage to leave my abusive husband.

Now I read the relationships boards and the FWR boards (mainly lurking) It's a unique and vital space in this terrifying age of "thought crimes"

I have been here for about eight years with different names and accounts.

Posted first on FWR, then relationships (the EA threads), then low carb boot camp, then took a break as life got very rocky and I was over-sharing online instead of finding a therapist, back to FWR and for some reason, I am also now really enjoying lurking on the Witches thread, although I keep falling asleep and have not finished the first one.

But I mainly post on FWR, not very often but when I am trying to make sense of my thoughts.

I can't remember why I first came to MN, I think someone told me it was dreadful!

I was drawn in by the wit, breadth of knowledge, how to look after a rescued rook! And generosity on every level.

And of course, the swearing

I come here now for the cameraderie of a long running thread that includes people from the age of 25 to over 70, and some in other countries.

And for the Westministenders threads, and Trump threads.

And yes. another one for FWR, reading every day and have learned so much.
Massive gratitude for the women that plug away so patiently to explain.

I'd love to take this thread back in time and show it to Justine and Caroline in 2001? when they were sock-puppeting on threads to keep them moving about holidays and push chairs.

Did they, could they, have had any idea what they were unleashing?

I think I first arrived here clicking on a link to AIBU, used to spend most of my time on AIBU and Chat. But for the past couple of years go to FWR first, then a quick look at the others. Sometimes I use the search function to look up "how to" type things but you can find out how to unblock a loo or make carrot cake elsewhere on the web. FWR is different- it's unique. I like that it's not full of bullshit feminism (you know, like "ooh anal rape porn is sooo empowering for women" cool girl bollocks). It is full of clever, articulate women who aren't falling for that type of shit for a second.

I have been on Mumsnet since 2001, under different names (and log-ins after the hack.)
I was attracted in general by the bracing honesty of the discussions.
I am indebted to Mumsnet over the years for advice on feeding and child behaviour, school, teenage years, relationships, finance, products and probably many more things I haven't thought of.
Now it's FWR that keeps me coming back. I am grateful that we have a space here where the threat to women's rights and identity can be discussed relatively freely.

Mumsnet has been a female safe space to discuss the myriad critical issues that take so much time and skill (child raising, housekeeping, managing family relationships, keeping self and family healthy...) but that are totally devalued by politics and mainstream economics. If women don’t do those things they are vilified but, generally speaking, they are supposed to acquire the skills by magic and to perform the tasks in no time. On Mumsnet we can actually admit to needing to learn them, kind people share their knowledge and we can come back again and again for more support. Oh, and we can also let off steam and vent our frustrations at the absurd unfairness of the lack of recognition that being a responsible mother/wife/daughter/stepmother/daughter-in-law involves

I joined 10 years ago when newly pregnant. Mumsnet users are the reason I had two successful breastfeeding experiences - at 6 days in with DD1 I posted for advice and it was brilliant. I now stay for FWR and relationships. It is the only place where the women’s experience I read in any way reflects my own.

Now - the GC conversations are a late part of why I come. Mumsnet has been fundamental in helping me shape my own views.

Joined for baby advice and product reviews. Nowadays I read almost exclusively feminism chat.

Lurk daily but rarely contribute, though I do appreciate the patience and wisdom of those that do, Datun in particular.

FWR boards.
I like to be able to speak to other women about the issues facing us.
This is the only place I can do this, or rather, the only place I feel free to do this, considering the current political climate.

I came here when I was in an abusive relationship for somewhere to escape, found the relationship board, through that FWR and was able to leave because of the strength I was able to find in myself through lurking there.
FWR is now my most visited page online, and has inspired me pretty much daily for the about the last 6-7 years.
Having a space online where male voices and ideas don't dominate is so important given that women often find that the internet can be pretty hostile towards them, especially if they have an opinion and doubly so if it's an opinion that prioritises women and their experiences

Joined when I was first pregnant nearly 13 years ago. Since then I’ve been active mostly on the conception, pregnancy loss and infertility boards. Sometimes I would ask for advice on child wrangling but not often. These days 95% of the time I’m on FWR although more a lurker than a poster, but I do read it daily.

Joined for some advice on health visitor basically stalking me.

Was on the site on and off, just when I was bored, mostly on AIBU.

Then I discovered FWR..thats whats made me stay. I now am on here far too often really!

Wow. I posted my answer to the OP before reading the thread. Its taken me a long time to read through everything as I have been pottering around also..and the huge majority saying FWr is just amazing.

I am very surprised that AIBU traffic is only 10 times higher than FWR. I expected it to be a LOT more, given its pretty much what MN is known for. I would think that a lot of the hits are not from members, but people who have heard of MN via whatever paper or such.

Any chance we can know the actual hits for FWR? I know you mentioned a while back that traffic had increased 10x or something, but I highly suspect with the GRA being in the public eye now, Posie being on TV etc we have even more visitors/people signing up after reading FWR threads.

I love the Feminism discussions which make me feel less of a lone voice. And also the swears. And also how kind people are to strangers. It's very heartwarming, even when folk are mean/trolling others always step up and tell them to fuck right off pipe down. And finally coz I miss women only spaces in real life and find that sisterhood still exists here.

I love the Feminism discussions which make me feel less of a lone voice.

Look at all these lone voices. It’s pretty amazing.

Joined because of FWR, also occasionally poke my head into AIBU. I try to keep an eye out for women who seem like they need support and positive reinforcement in terms of issues they're having with male partners and family stuff, and love that this is a place where women can come at any hour of the day needing a handhold and get immediate responses.

Oh, also love the brilliant, hilarious responses that happen every time a man arrives thinking he's going to show those women what's what and gets his arse handed to him. I just wish the mods would let us play with them like cat toys for longer

AngryAttackKittens
Yep, I bloody love those threads. They have to be the funniest.
In my head I just picture loads of women, fingers at the ready, waiting for the OPs next comment, going 'go on, make my day, I dare you...'

No one prepared to admit hanging out in Sporner Corner then?
I am surprised more people haven't mentioned In The News and the politics stuff.

I mentioned sporn when I posted, and there have been a couple of other posts which have as well.

Quite a few posts have talked about Trump, Brexit and Westminster derselben. Plus all the ones in FWR - that's politics.

Thank you, autoincorrect. Westminstenders, not Westminster derselben...

The whole "sporn" thing is new to me. Explain, please? Sounds a bit cloak and dagger.

No, sorry AngryAttackKittens. I can’t even write about it without boaking, let alone ‘squeezing’ an explanation out of me. 🤢 I’ll leave it up to a sporn expert to ‘erupt’ into excited explanations. You’re not going to put me on the ‘spot’ for this one. I don’t want you to treat me as if I was a ‘pustule’ on the bum of Mumsnet and tell me to ‘pop’ off.