To object to inane 'banter' on serious threads?

Just come out and say what/who you are talking about.

Don't just lecture everyone! It sounds pompous for one thing. And silly.

I can't see the connection between having to deal with tragedy in your job and making jokey comments on a very serious thread on a forum.
If professionals use black humour to cope with some situations, that is hardly comparable to diverting a serious discussion. And I am sure they would keep that kind of humour amongst themselves, which is not the case on an open forum.
No, I don't think my post was daft, jingle, and you know it is not the first time I have made the point.

Is this yet another directive as to how we can post on threads?

Probably me as well jingle, Namban I'm completely with you!
In my job I see tragedy all the time.

This is probably to do with me. It usually is. I don't drink!!!

Greatnan you know how daft your post was. Are you bored?

For goodness sake, life is never all disaster and never all joy.

I am curious though as to what set you off to complain? Did we not take seriously enough something you said perhaps? If so, I apologize to have offended you in any way. Sometimes also some of us find it a relief to lighten up a bit, and sometimes the more dire the situation the more necessary that becomes.

I know that, Greatnan . I think we sometimes have to imagine ourselves actually having a face to face conversation with a group of people in that it does go off at a tangent [we're women; it'swotwedo] but no one would start telling jokes in the middle of a conversation about a disaster of some kind.

Tegan, I have absolutely no problem with thread drift - it is just like a normal conversation. But if I were discussing a really serious or tragic subject with a friend I would be appalled if she started making a joke about it.

You obviously don't follow every thread, Wisewoman. Yes, it does feel like having to deal with naughty children who will do anything to get attention.
Some subjects are just not suitable for 'jocular' remarks.

Greatnan I do so agree with you. Imagine the angst people suffer when trying to express their feelings and worries on an online forum - to then read daft, trivial banter could put one off ever posting again.
Most Gransnetters are kind and empathetic though - I have had so much comfort and help from those people - I often feel that they put me to shame when they engage so closely with my feelings. Gransnetters in the main are intelligent, thoughtful and caring - in my experience. All we can do is ignore the other sort.

Then again in any group of some 15,000 people, there are bound to be a few who are just inane.

I have very occasionally been guilty of posting when I have "taken strong drink" and, not surprisingly, the posts were not often to the point. I have suspicions about some other members doing the same thing.

Yes, I agree but, as I'm supposedly very boring and anal it's not surprising. Although think it's ok to go off at a slight tangent sometimes as long as it isn't trivialising the subject of the OP.

I am not going to comment on inappropriate jokes as I am already in deep dog's doodoo over this very thing.

For goodness sake greatnan don't know what brought that on but you sound like a teacher lecturing naughty children.