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If you’re a parent with an internet connection, chances are you’ve been part of an online parenting group at least once or twice. Argue all you want about their controversial nature, but deep down inside, you know there are legions of reasons why people gather in these little communities. Whether to find empathy and support, share experiences, or be shamelessly imperfect, they can be a lifeline to moms and dads trying to navigate this highly challenging and equally rewarding journey.

But there's another explanation why we succumb to the lure of scrolling through these groups — the funny, bizarre, and utterly insane stories that almost make us lose all faith in humanity. So behold! Here’s an entertaining corner on Twitter called 'Mumsnet Madness' dedicated to shaming the painfully funny threads found on the forum. "Digging through Mumsnet so you don’t have to," the creator writes in the description, and we can’t thank them enough.

Our team at Bored Panda scoured the account — horrified by the amount of abbreviations in the posts — and wrapped up an entertaining collection of the craziest stories we found. So buckle up and get ready for a wild ride as you scroll down to decipher them. ​​Keep reading to also find an in-depth interview with a family blogger from Australia, Holly Connors. Then hit upvote on your favorite ones, and don’t forget to share what you think in the comments!

More info: Twitter

Ever since 'Mumsnet Madness' graced us with its online presence in 2015, it has been documenting hilariously cringey discussions from the forum’s message boards. With over 60k followers, it has become the perfect outlet to find provocative, controversial, and downright hilarious content posted on the site. The page provides much-needed entertainment and proves that Mumsnet, just like other online parenting groups, is a breeding ground for wild stories.

Justine Roberts, founder and CEO of Mumsnet, started the forum in 2000. The inspiration to create the website came after a disastrous family holiday, aiming to provide a safe space for parents to swap advice on virtually anything. Today, it's the biggest network for moms and dads in the UK, with 7 million unique users per month posting around 22k messages a day.

It’s nice for adults who embark on the parenting journey to know they have a place of refuge to ask questions and share their feelings. But seeing how some parents act online begs the question: why do these controversial groups attract so many crazy people?

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To gain more insight on the topic, we reached out to a lifestyle blogger and a working mom of two energetic girls, ​​Holly Connors. After a decade of building her career in psychology, Holly is now the author of the acclaimed site Simplify Create Inspire where she helps families make their lives easier. According to her, there are a few reasons why these groups attract questionable folk.

"First, people are more likely to share their wildest stories online because they can remain relatively anonymous — whether using a different name online or simply because it's a community unknown to them. They don't have to worry about judgment from their friends or family members," Holly told Bored Panda.

The next concerning reason is that people tend to exaggerate their stories when they share them online, she added. "It's easy to make something sound more dramatic when you're not telling it to someone's face."

"Lastly, some people just enjoy stirring up drama and creating chaos in online parenting groups. They get a kick out of seeing other people's reactions and maybe even thrive on the negativity. Whatever the reason, there are times when it's not the most positive environment to be in as a parent," Holly explained.

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#8

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Deborah B
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe tell the local wildlife protection organisation that a pigeon has gotten in the way of your spray paint, and ask them if they can assist you to catch it and clean it up?

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Littlemiss
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My brother got home from a night shift and Mom had left him a piece of marinated steak in the fridge. He complained later the steak was a bit chewy. She never explained it was raw steak.

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And she has a point. Any person who has been a part of these groups knows they are a puzzling mix of support, criticism, and blatantly terrible advice. What’s more, they are the perfect pitfall for spreading lies. Recent research by George Washington University found that mainstream parenting communities on Facebook were infiltrated by powerful misinformation machinery from extremist groups shortly after the Covid-19 pandemic began.

The researchers looked into Facebook parent groups boasting about 100 million users in total. Particularly, they examined the health debate that erupted in these communities in late 2020. The results revealed that parenting communities were exposed to misinformation from two different sources.

First is the abundance of alternative health communities which acted as conduits and ensured a flow of misinformation between mainstream parenting communities and "conspiracy theory communities that promote misinformation about climate change, fluoride, chemtrails and 5G." Secondly, they found "an adjacent core of tightly bonded, yet largely under-the-radar, anti-vaccination communities" that consistently supplied false facts to parents online.

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DuchessDegu
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Pffft. Google assistant listening, bloody thing. By the way you should speak quieter!"

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"Our results call into question any moderation approaches that focus on the largest and hence seemingly most visible communities, as opposed to the smaller ones that are better embedded," researcher Neil Johnson, a professor of physics at GW, said in a press release. "Clearly, combatting online conspiracy theories and misinformation cannot be achieved without considering these multi-community sources and conduits." So any parent seeking advice online needs to put a thinking cap on and double-check every fact before buying into false information.

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Mattewis88
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had a date pull "the naked man" on me in my own house...he was blocked on every platform before my front door even hit his a*s.

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But misinformation isn’t the only danger for parents online. These groups also lead to people being misguided and following the wrong advice. "There are a lot of people online who are more than happy to share their (often unqualified) opinions on parenting," Holly told us. "And because we all parent differently, what works for one family might not work for another. So it's important to be cautious about the advice you take and always remember that you know your child best."

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Another issue is when parents spend too much time looking for guidance instead of trusting their gut, forming opinions, and coming up with their own solutions to everyday problems. Online parenting groups can crush people’s ability to make their own judgments and even invalidate their parenting instincts.

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Mattewis88
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All these abbreviations ... back to google ... back to BP ... another weird abbreviation... back to google.

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Historyharlot93
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s not faffing around. That’s passive aggressive controlling behavior. I had a cousin who would wait until everyone was literally ready to go somewhere, then say she needed a coffee before she could go. A friend of mines evil MIL, would wait until everyone’s ready to go then insist she needed to lay down for a nap for 1/2 hour. I would have left these folks behind but it wasn’t possible.

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Edward Willis
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not necessarily. I know someone with ADHD (that they don't get help for) who is never anywhere on time (they once texted me they were in the car ready to leave, half an hour later texted that they hadn't left and couldn't make it). Honestly, mowing the lawn right before leaving for a holiday sounds like something they'd do. Best way to make them do a something? Offer it as a distraction from something else, it'll be done immediately. I don't deny that the people you know were controlling, but not everyone who does things like this is, though I daresay most of them would benefit from some sort of professional help.

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BluEyedSeoulite
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm guessing "faffing" around is similar to my family's term of "piddlin' around." You basically do random c**p instead of doing what you NEED to do, especially when trying to leave. My dad was infamous for this. Won't even start getting around until we're putting on shoes then we have to wait for him in the car. Mr "It only takes me 2 minutes to leave" always took at least 10, sometimes more than 30. We should have left him behind but mom was too nicd

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BlooNoosh
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I constantly remind my partner of the deliciously morbid Roald Dahl story "The Way Up to Heaven." (https://xpressenglish.com/our-stories/way-to-heaven/)

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Key Lime
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had the car packed and the kids buckled into their cars eats and the hubby says " maybe I should mow the lawn. "

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However, Holly believes everything depends on the parent. "Some people are very confident in their parenting abilities and trust their gut instinct implicitly. Others might be more prone to second-guessing themselves and looking for validation from others — whether that's online or offline."

"There's nothing wrong with seeking advice from others, but I think it's important to be selective about who you take advice from," the blogger added. "Just because someone is a parent doesn't mean they're an expert, and just because someone shares a story online doesn't mean it's true. So always use your best judgment and trust your gut instinct above all else."

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Monday
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That...actually sounds like a teambuilding activity I'd love. Would it sound awful? YES. Would it be fun? SUPER YES!

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But we’re not here to vilify all online parenting groups. After all, for every bizarre, peculiar, and critical post, there’s also a positive one. It’s easy to devour yourself in the craziness and overlook that these communities offer support, and even a lifeline, to strangers during difficult times.

"I definitely think there are positive aspects to online parenting groups as well," Holly noted. "It can be a great way to connect with other parents — especially if you don't have many friends or family members who are in the same season of life as you are right now. You can share your struggles and triumphs, ask for advice, and even just vent about the tough days."

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Smutná_elfka
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very much yes. They can't remember the actual memories but the happy toddler age is still in their subconsciousness being a basis of their personality.

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"So while there are definitely some negative aspects to these groups, I think the positive ones outweigh them. And as long as you're selective about who you take advice from and remember that you know yourself and your situation best, they can be a great resource for parents," she said and added they can help you feel less alone and provide support when you need it most.

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Jill Rhodry
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If that's you're biggest worry and the one that's keeping you awake - count your blessings.

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Choose your online community wisely, Holly advised. "Find communities that are highly moderated and supportive, steering clear of any that leave you feeling drained or negative."

"Of course, it's always helpful to get outside perspectives, but at the end of the day, you should do what you think is best for your child. They're the only ones who truly matter in this equation." Holly concluded by saying that parenting is hard enough without having to worry about judgment from others — "especially internet strangers! So find your tribe and trust your gut instinct. There is no one size fits all for parenting!"

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Anna Snorrepot
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that's a weird way to try and communicate. Seems muddled. You two clearly disagree about the seat thing. Get a solution that both agree on. Have a conversation about that, to and fro, and come to a conclusion, together. Many possibilities. Maybe even that the problem you perceive can be a non-problem in your house. You do not seem to have talked about it together, it has been you both saying what you think but not thinking along with the other and trying to solve the other's problem. It seems from this short post :)

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Lesley Relph
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mr Motivator is definitely still doing festivals (2022), a friend had his photo taken with him. He doesn't look a day older than when he was on Breakfast TV in the 80s (?)

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lenka
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If he's been like that since day one of the relationship then the problem is yours. You accepted his builders bum then - too late to change him now.

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