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Original poster

How did you discover Mumsnet and what was your first impression?

67 replies

Meid · 16/05/2003 10:49

With all the talk recently about changing Mumsnet, not changing Mumsnet, old Mumsnetters, new Mumsnetters etc. I was just wondering how everyone discovered Mumsnet and what was appealing about it to stick around.

I discovered Mumsnet about a year ago - recommended by my SIL. My first impression was how useful this website could be to me.

I was instantly hooked on the variety of things being discussed and comforted to find people with in similar situations to my own. I love it when someone comes up with a piece of sound advice and the next post is someone else saying they had tried that and it didn't work for them. And I am intrigued to read parenting problems that don't yet apply to me - I think "I now know how to deal with that when we reach that stage"!

I would say the things that appealed to me in the first place about Mumsnet are still very much here and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

OP posts:
edgarcat · 16/05/2003 10:50

Message withdrawn

whellid · 16/05/2003 10:55

Found it by surfing one day while ds was asleep,and I was meant to be working! Have been using it for quite a while (over a year - must be time I sent more money)- used to use another name, but am a very infrequent poster, and don't check in every day.
I like the feeling that I'm not alone when ds does things that I don't know how to handle, and I suppose I use this site as a reference manual.

ghengis · 16/05/2003 10:57

Yup, I discovered Mumsnet by reading a newspaper article too.

I love the fact that there is a whole world of parents who are happy to share their problems and frustrations because they know others will be supportive.

I don't have many friends who are parents and I don't always want to ask my family for advice. Mumsnet is a godsend! Besides, where else would you find people with 'our' sense of humour!

eefs · 16/05/2003 10:58

recommended by another parenting site, that I used to love and now think is awkward, small-minded and out-dated. Shows how i've been influenced by Mumsnet.

lucy123 · 16/05/2003 11:01

searching for "cloth nappy reviews" - no-one else had them. Took me a while to discover talk though.

ScummyMummy · 16/05/2003 11:19

I can't remember! Think I happened upon it whilst looking for parenting info on google. As for why I stayed... not too sure as the reaction to my first ever thread was precisely nada- no one was happy about our new red truck! Completely at a loss as to why I am still here 2.5 years later! S'pose it must have grown on me?

EJsMum · 16/05/2003 11:25

Found it on msn search engine. Am a little disappointed as I always seem to come in on a conversation that has finished. It could be that I have the power to stop conversations dead in their tracks as people never seem to answer/respond......

scoobysnax · 16/05/2003 11:27

I was directed by a search engine but thought twice about clicking due to the name which sounded a bit fuddy duddy and mumsy to me.
I'm very glad I didn't let that stop me!

Bobbins · 16/05/2003 11:46

Scummy> I bet someone is tempted to post on your empty thread now, but I think that would spoil it. It's a lovely shiny first post.

Crunchie · 16/05/2003 11:46

I found mumsnet via another site, can't remember which one now! Fist time I looked at it I thought everyone seemed quite posh! There was loads of talk about poaching nannies and private schools This kind of put me off posting. Then I found it again, and started reading more, and I was hooked!! I still think there are the 'posh' element, but now I've been here a while I realise that it was purely me feeling intimidated by women i was jealous of!! Everyone is so helpful, I find I am always parroting 'I read somewhere...' or 'mumsnet says...' DH often asks me what Mumsnet says about.... I can honestly say there have been times when it has changed my life/perception about a parenting issue, and more importantly it gives me confidence to tackle things with my kids.

Bobbins · 16/05/2003 11:57

I think I stumbled upon Mumsnet when I was obsessed about everything baby, during my pregnancy. I lurked for a long time, and I know what uyou mean about the 'posh' element Crunchie, but I also thought there were some really good ideas, and funny people posting. I use the search bit as I would google now, even if I'm wondering about what flooring to put in my bathroom, I search Mumsnet to see if anyone has talked about that before.

I sadly felt drawn to post and stop lurking after my little boy died. Mumsnet was just amazingly helpful, and has really got me through some tremendously difficult times. No exageration.

Thanks Mumsnet and Mumsnetters

lou33 · 16/05/2003 12:09

Dh found it for me when I was pg with number 4, because he thought it would interest me.

nerdgirl · 16/05/2003 12:13

I honestly can't remember! I think it was a link from another parenting site. I lurked for a LONG time! And I loved it. I think I learn something new everytime I visit!

Was prompted to start posting recently when someone suggested that the gorgeous James Marsters was gay! I couldn't let that one pass. How sad am I?

ks · 16/05/2003 12:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

nerdgirl · 16/05/2003 12:17

So, who else went to look at ScummyMummy's wagon thread? Very tempted to post there too but I agree with you Bobbins, let's leave it in its pristine condition.

CAM · 16/05/2003 12:51

Found it from the first article about 3 years ago in the Saturday Times. I went to the first-ever meet-up at Vinopolis. But of course in those days there were only posh people on the site.

ScummyMummy · 16/05/2003 12:53

Posh people are nice too, sometimes. CAM, for example, is a sweetie.

SoupDragon · 16/05/2003 13:02

Word of mouth - someone mentioned it to a friend and she asked me to have a look as we were compiling a list of websites etc for the NCT newsletter we edited. One year on, I'm hopelessly addicted and she's never posted!!

Yes, I too was tempted to post on ScummyMummy's wagon thread

CAM · 16/05/2003 13:12

CAM's not posh though, CAM just wants to be posh. Love you too Scummy.

Hughsie · 16/05/2003 13:13

Friend of mine suggested it - I dont think she posts but know she comes on for info and interest in the threads. Maybe she does post and I just dont realise it - I see her regularly but dont wnat to ask as it is blatantly obvious who i am as I'm fairly open on my postings but still may not say as much face to face IYKWIM!

Claireandrich · 16/05/2003 13:25

.Someone from here mentioned it during a heated discussin around Christmas time on Raising Kids. I was interested enough to come and have a look and have stuck here. Rarely using RK now. I like mumsnet. It seems mostly friendly and light hearted, but with some serious debates going on to - a bit of everything for everyone - great!

doormat · 16/05/2003 13:32

Got this site from raising kids and have never looked back.
Love this site.

First impression was friendly and useful
Never let me down.

Batters · 16/05/2003 14:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tortington · 16/05/2003 15:13

thi prompted me to look for my first post - which wasnt under this name, after some long looking, my first post was in december 2001.

rhuby kept going on and on and on about mumsnet - this and mumsnet that, i simply found it hard to ignore her - she does nag you know.

my first impresions were that it was all about babies - of which i had none.

i didnt post again for ages until rhuby told me about an interesting discussion via e - mail.

that combined with a complete life change and internet life change - means i post shed loads more than i ought to.

JanZ · 16/05/2003 15:32

I found it via Babyworld I think. At first I wasn't sure about the format - there seemed to be an awful lot of reading (I think I read some breast feeding threads and was very impressed by Eulalia), but now I love the clarity of it and can't be faffed with the "threaded" conversations of other sites.