Childfree Mumsnetters' Board?

[musixa]

There's been some discussion on this thread about the idea of a childfree/life without children board, so I thought I would raise the suggestion on Site Stuff

[[https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4811166-to-ask-why-so-many-child-free-people-are-on-mumsnet?reply=126404125

My thinking is that the board would be a safe space for Mumsnetters who, for whether by choice or making the best of the hand they've been dealt, are embracing the childfree life, to discuss the issues that uniquely affect us - some examples I can think of are discrimination when it comes to workplace holidays; planning for old age and inheritance issues, how to cope when your friendship group only want to meet in child-friendly venues; family pressure to have children.

I would also hope it might stop so many threads like the linked one popping up, which often attract goady posters.

I hope you don't feel this is a step too far as a board suggestion and will give it serious consideration.

I support and encourage this!

Thank you Joris!

This is a good idea. I avoid the baby name, conception, pregnancy etc boards and - rightly or wrongly - it pisses me off no end when you get WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE on aibu and its a fucking request for line eyes.

Yes!! That would be great.

However I doubt that will stop the goady posts and I think it might make some women more angry! 😁Take the Black Mumsnetters board for example, I remember some backlash from a surprising number of people that Black women wanted a safe space on here for themselves. Then there’s the regular whataboutery on the threads and comments like I’m white but.

I think that would be very odd. There are hundreds of other forums you can go on instead.

Just came here to say that white can't seem to stop them posting on BMN board (even when specifically requested not to by op)
But good luck 😂

White *women

I think it already exists. It's called Reddit 😆

The difference is bmn are still mostly mothers.

Childfree section on a website called mumsnet. Complaining that aibu contains threads about pregnancy v.v. strange.

Like a atheist wanting a board on an Islamic forum.

This is a bit strange to me. Obviously people without children are allowed on here but there isn't a really a need to hate on threads and boards about babies and pregnancy because they're literally just women asking for help and support. And you can literally just scroll past the what does this look like threads, nobody is asking you to click onto them. Let people talk about what they want even if it's not to your interest.

Who joins a forum called Mumsnet and then gets irate when there are too many mums on here talking about pregnancy and the like.

Honestly, I can't read anything on IG without some original genius coming out with a "eeeeeeewwwww I'm never having babies" post which immediately gets about 300 likes and responses saying "ikr babies gross laughy face". I don't love it but I can't very well demand a safe space on there for mothers only. That would be nuts. Mumsnet is the closest there is to that and I would genuinely feel I would have to leave if they started a "child free only" board. I don't expect anyone to mind that except me, but would be a bit of a shame for me.

You just want 'Net', then?? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Do you also mind Scotsnet, Blacknet and Craicnet or is it just the childfree women's topic you'd object to?

Bit of a bizarre website to ask for a child free forum? Maybe go to other forums which are not specific to parenting.

I do think it’s a bit different to requests for other boards we’ve seen (like Black mumsnetters), but I’m interested to see mumsnets response to this.

I do have children, but support you getting this board. The threads like ‘why are people without children on mumsnet?’ are tiresome, I’d imagine they’re hurtful to some.

So, I’m just being nosy but good luck and I hope you get your board. 😊

Loads of groups have their own communities here, I really don't see why childfree people shouldn't. The more, the merrier, surely?

There isn't really an equivalent alternative forum with a strong, female membership based in the UK.

I'm in favour. It doesn't stop mums from getting advice, chatting, moaning, and all that stuff which is important on a site called "MUMs"net.

However, there are lots of us who joined for the fun, the style, health, news, current events, feminism, holidays and so on. I know we can still get all that, but sometimes a place that does not factor in children could be very useful for the child free either by choice or fate. Holidays is one example I suppose.

Mumsnet also has boards dedicated to cats, dogs and horses, should they not be on here?

Hi OP

Thanks for the suggestion - we'll keep a eye on this thread.

There isn't really an equivalent alternative forum with a strong, female membership based in the UK.

I agree with this. I think mumsnet is less about being mums but more about women talking to women and women’s voices being heard. Justine has said that in interviews previously.

If we can have a sex board, on mumsnet, that’s mainly been taken over by men that seem to only be interested in posting on that board 😡, then we can certainly have a child free board on here.

Yes, it is just the child free board I object to. Hth

It’s disingenuous to suggest that most of mumsnet is about parenting.

I came to mumsnet for pregnancy chat, I stayed for the parking threads 😁

I obviously won’t be contributing to the child free board but don’t see why childfree women shouldn’t chat to each other in peace if they want to.

Cat and dog owners discussing their pets is not the same thing as discussing being childfree on Mumsnet which is predominantly a parenting forum.

It would be like going to the Cats and Dogs boards and starting a thread for people who don't and won't ever have cats and dogs and issues like banning dogs. A dick move basically

I came to mumsnet for pregnancy chat, I stayed for the parking threads 😁

Indeed! But you came for the pregnancy chat, like a lot of women do, some of them vulnerable or just struggling with a major life event and then up pops the "childfree" brigade. It got to a point a few years ago with a since departed(?) MNetter who used to bombard every fucking thread with chat about how selfish, shit, boring and terrible for the planet children were. It was awful. I'm so glad she fucked off. Hopefully she's off somewhere veeeeerrryyyy far away.

Another memorable one was the poster who said she was only on Mumsnet because she wanted to see parents struggling to reinforce her choice to be childfree 🙄😂. Sounds like normal and well adjusted reason to be here.

You don't have to dig too far to find sub reddits or IG accounts on childfree by choice. Parenting accounts get bombarded by the childfree is so much better crew.

You allude to infertility as well. There is already a board for that and rightly so.