Another GNer feels they have to leave

GN, Facebook and Twitter are social media and it would appear that there is a lack of understanding from some posters as to how social media works. There is one basic rule to follow and that is to never post anything you wouldn't want your mother, your children or your employer to read. Maybe it's just me, but I cannot understand why posters on any form of social media would want to share intimate details of their lives with a world of strangers.

Something got deleted while I was typing - "Faceboin" should be "Facebo- ok page in which they talk in a general way . . ." and so on.

Letitia A rumour can be round the world while the truth is still getting its boots on. This is what happened - Gransnet has a Faceboin a general way that are being discussed in the forums, have competitions, encourage people to join, and so on. They also have a Twitter account and post short things on that, (and, though I don't know whether they do this ot not, it is possible to link the FB and Twitter so that the first sentence or so of a Facebook post automatically gets tweeted - I repeat, I don't know whether they do that or not, but it makes sense for a big organisation to do it and save a bit of time)

A little while ago someone mentioned a specific thread on the FB page and included a link, which also went on Twitter, thjus sending people's usernames and posts more publicly than anyone wanted. There was such an outcry on the forum when people realised this that GN promised that they would take care not to do it again.

This DM thing is not connected. It is nothing to do with GN publicing things, it is the DM copying stuff from the forums and using it in their online newspaper.

Repeating I know but as there are 2 threads.

It is not just a Daily Mail issue so be careful what you divulge .
The thread on this subject a while ago was an eye opener and I admit to being a tad naive until I read it.

www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/a1239569-GNHQ-please-make-it-clear-that-these-forums-are-public
----
www.gransnet.com/info/in-the-news

Worth a read it is quitec clear that many media sources use tit bits from gransnet posts. Not just the Daily Mail!

I thought that after all the complaints last time that this might have stopped.
The only safe thing is not to post anything personal- such a shame when experiences can help.
I think that people have no idea that whole threads are linked on Twitter.

Understood!

Thev padlock usually means that the site is secure against anyone stealing your money as it goes through, or your password or email address. It doesn't mean that no-one can copy what is displayed on a page other than one for paying for something or logging in. Otherwise you wouldn't have been able to see any of the site until you had become a member, so no-one could sample it before signing up.

You can try copy/pasting yourself - if you highlight a few words you can copy them and paste them into a text box (for instance a comment box on a forum page)

Here are a few words from "Discussions of the day" - Flu jabs - yay or nay? Easy peasy. No problem at all for a journalist to copy that into his/her own piece.

Anyway, anyone can become a member, including Daily Mail journalists.

No it doesn't.
It must mean only members can post.

Excuse my ignorance but does the padlock at the top of page not mean this site is secure and accessible only by members?

As GN owns the copyright, and is a "news and media company", you'd think they would charge publications for being able to publish it.

After all, anyone can go into a library and look at a book for free but if they wanted to publish extracts from a book, to sell, the copyright owner would expect to be paid.

For those who complain and wonder why some of us frequently criticised the DMs style read this thread.

I am aware GN is open to all viewers.
But the behaviour of some of the press is unaceptable .

The DM and others in the group are owned by press baron. Jonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere.

Is there any way of GN neotiating with other agencies to at least not add our usernames to the posts they have hijacked from GN.

1. Whose copyright is this stuff?

2. Is GNHQ paid for its leaks to the DM etc?

3. Is Gransnet part of a larger media company?

4. What is the "parent" media company?

I was really 'shocked' when I found out that the DM had published comments (and user names) from this site. It wasn't anything I had ever considered (doh!) As a fairly newbie - I just never thought about anything being picked up by the media!!! (stupid me, I know)

I think I was worried I had given too much information away in an initial post where I was having serious problems with two grandchildren and I opened my heart maybe a tad too much? The thought of anybody 'recognising' me i.e. DD or friends was upsetting.

However, since coming on here I have sorted a lot of problems out (so it did help enormously) and I have loved some of the other discussions.

I won't stop posting (in the hope that my own experience, which is vast lol, will help others) but I will curtail the personal information I give....just in case.

I am grateful for the heads up and thanked the OP in a PM also.

I have been trying to get stuff published by the DM for years. Is this the way to do it?

kitty I've been involved with a public forum (through work) that was free, and then changed to a paid subscription model. The uptake was something like 3%. People don't generally like to pay for something that they've had for free in the past.

I can't imagine paying a subscription to have an online discussion of e.g. how to fold sheets

Smithy, I'm quite fond of reading too. I won't elaborate on that, tho.
I love kippers for breakfast, have 3 Rottweilers and like rock-climbing.
(that should put them off the scent)

Interesting question kitty I say yes but I have no idea what fee to suggest.

What link with DM is that, MargaretX ? There is no special link with the DM, no back-door handing over of secret documents in a plain envelope. What is published online in these forums is visible to anyone weho cares to look at it.

The DM copied some posts and ran an article about a thread (by no means the first time they have done this). If you Google Gransnet and any of the leading newspapers you will find other articles making use of stuff from GN, including stuff posted on the forums.

DM is unusual only in that they chose to display a screenshot of the actual posts and usernames and make patronising comments about an imaginary dispute between posters. But then, that is the habitual tone of the DM.

Would anyone be prepared to pay a subscription to keep gn private? If so, how much?

The link with DM is shocking. My own favourite threads are not interesting for DM so I will still read them and may post occasionally.
Eventually GN will die off the signs are there already.

Delete last post - too much info!

Was only joking about the knitting and recipes, Far north. Haven't done knitting for donkeys years and never use recipes much either. Reading's my thing.

Phew, nothing on Google,just the name of a lunatic asylum in New Zealand.

I do think we should have same option as MN to have a temporary name, if we want advice on a personal and private matter.

{Makes a note}: cramp in hands