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 hope @mumsnet are watching this thread.

Some of the comments are disgusting towards the childless through choice or otherwise.

Appalling.

I'd like Mumsnet to be clear this is a site for all women.

Reddit is a horrible cesspit, on which it is impossible to have an actual discussion because of the way comments are displayed, neither predominantly female nor UK based, and does not have the same sort of wide ranging community, instead having lots of very specialised sections. Really nothing like Mumsnet.

And even if it was - why in heaven do you think it’s appropriate for you to decide that current Mumsnetters have to post there?

(Also, the points you make here have been made and rebutted several times earlier in the thread, so you have added nothing to the discussion. Not a great advert for the quality of the mummy posters)

@XXXMangoLassiXXX No need to be mean. I stand by the concept of changing the name to womensnet, or at least making it clear the site aims to include all women, with all their concerns. Nobody can claim to be misled by the name or by parents for parents thing then and everyone will be happy. Maybe they can add a line about men being welcome too.

I’m becoming increasingly tempted to start MumsNOT.com as a result of this bloody thread.

Just reminding everyone of this post from @LilyMumsnet

I’d say this thread proves pretty well why a childfree board would be valuable.

some absolutely insane posts and some that are just so incredibly horrible.

Im a mum by the way. Definitely support a child free board. Don’t understand why I’d be threatened by it.

I posted earlier in the thread but just popping back with my support for this eminently sensible post.

Mumsnet is a fantastic site for everyone. It's funny, irreverent and has wide ranging discussions.

A lot of the time conversations can go in in the wide ranging boards without the conversation suffering - indeed they're often enhanced by the range of posters and the pace of the threads. But at other times there are conversations that it's easier to have with people who are in a similar situation to you, and obviously just having a board doesn't guarantee that but it can change the tone of the discussion, and that has value.

I think actually some of the comments through this thread have shown up exactly the reason this board has been requested and I hope that that can be taken into account when considering the request.

Just to say thank you to those mums who have taken time to post reasoned and sensitive responses on this thread, whether in favour of the suggested board or not.

I've been here for 13 years and I shan't be chased away by you.

100%

I don't have or want children, so I guess I'm childfree although I hate that label for some reason. The idea of a specific board is a bit weird on Mumsnet, but if some people want it then I guess it could be useful. Honestly, I wouldn't use it though - not having children is not something that takes up much of my headspace, and I don't really want it to define me.

I use MN mostly for the Style and Beauty, Feminism and general chitchat, I try to keep away from parenting stuff, so it's incredibly easy to avoid topics you aren't interested in. I did at one point join a specific childfree website, but I found it incredibly aggressive and bitter, and some of the awful stuff that was said about parents and children was off putting.

I can understand why parents are a bit wary of the suggestion though - could you imagine going on TheChildfreeLife or similar places and asking for a separate mum's topic - you'd be ripped to shreds.

I’d like to commend you OP on your patience in the face of quite a lot of horrible posts about childfree and childless women. You’ve showed admirable restraint and dignity.

I don't get why people think the 'it's MUMsnet' is such a gotcha.

Literally the first board is becoming a parent. And whilst parents who are pregnant for a second, third time etc probably go on there, the very phrase becoming a parent implies people who are not yet parents.

And yes someone will be along to point out that those posters without children are okay because they plan on becoming parents, I get it. But it still makes then 'it's MUMsnet' think a bit ridiculous when a full board is relevant specifically to people who are not yet parents.

Jesus. Say what?

WTAF does not having children make a woman's opinion invalid?

FMD

I think people forget that Mumsnet isn't just a message forum. The site is dedicated to parenting, but the forum isn't.

Could you direct us to any posters who have said they want the board so they can discuss banning children?

or are you just making shit up because you think it proves some kind of point?
(it does, it just doesn’t prove the point you think it does)

@8state why 'women'? there are lots of male posters who are great.

This is a very good point. The chat forum is only part of the site and whilst the focus of the site is parenting, that is not the focus of the chat forum

I don't particularly like Reddit.

And MNHQ have been quite clear that I'm welcome here, whatever you say.

@AnnWithoutAnnie Lots of posters seem to like mn because they think it's mainly women, but yes, the name or strapline could make it clear it's for everyone. I think it needs updating.

That's because the poster's comments are tripe.

It doesn't, though. The site is dedicated to parenting. Have you looked at it? The forum is just one part that isn't exclusively about parenting. There is no need to rename or rebrand the whole site just because one part has a wider audience.

@BadNomad I looked at 'About Us,' which states the idea is for parents to swap and pool knowledge without heavy handed moderation. They mention the discussion forum as being for parents. I know it's changed, but I think they need to update their mission statements.

Yes but go look at the actual website. If they change the tag to say "Womensnet: by women, for women" then the whole site is articles about child development, best bottle warmers, breastfeeding advice, cheapest family holidays, pram reviews, eight ways to keep your child entertained on a flight etc. it doesn't make sense. That doesn't represent women. Because the name Mumsnet is about the site. "By parents, for parents" is about the site. Not the forum.

And parents do "swap and pool knowledge without heavy handed moderation". They aren't excluded from the forum just because other people use it.