Topics ,star ratings, a good idea ?

Well I thought it was funny. I mentally rate them anyway and only visit certain topics if I fancy a poke in the eye with a pointy stick.

is that often then harrigran?

Tongue-in-cheek doesn't seem to work with everyone, there are people who don't appreciate it and prefer the-serious-letter-of-the-law.
Which makes me wonder if perhaps (must add tongue-in-cheek-here too, before I am lambasted for suggesting it) labels are needed should signify the degree of solemnity the OP thinks the discussion should receive? Suggestions for suitably descriptive emoticons would be useful. Here are a few:-
? just clowning around
? tongue in cheek
? wink
? joke
? said with a smile
? neutral
? think twice before replying
? needs serious research and conclusive evidence
? very sad and serious, nothing at all to smile about
? say nothing

These come from getemoji.com/ If you see just squares instead of emojis, it means that you don't have a font installed that shows them, but it does say on the page that "Emojis are supported on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux"

Good idea Elegran
However, although I can see the emojis, will I be able to use them, judging by my previous failure on this thread?

Bridgeit I do kwym as posters have been asked why they have joined certain threads as it is evident they do not have an in-depth knowledge of the subject matter and opinions are, apparently, discouraged.

But sometimes it is the only way to learn and to find out what others think.

Goodness me, now we are hearing about a sense of entitlement. Surely if "all who have joined GN have and are entitled to voice & share our opinions & perhaps even learn something new ..." that is an argument against flagging up someone's (whose?) view telling us whether we need no previous knowledge, some knowledge, etc. You seem to have done a "u" turn on this one Bridgeit.

The "only for the brave!" category shouted that this was, as someone called it, a "goady" thread. I haven't seen anything posted, including the usual personal attacks, reference to snobbery, etc., that makes me feel any different.

Of course you haven’t GGM2

whispers quietly: I would be quite interested in the crochet link as I have never got to grips with crochet and have tried many times

Does everyone have a large G&T in hand yet?

Good ideas Elegran and further to that we could also have
? doing a bit of virtue signalling
?just love this thread
?can’t believe that last comment
?whaaaat?
?not entirely serious
?not another word!

? Crochet link? Have I missed a page?

Crochet is the devils work Jalima

Brilliant Elegran?
Yes that’s a good point Jalima1108, but to be fair there are some attributes I wouldn’t want to learn, ......although I think I might be now getting up to speed with sarcasm ?

Can someone tell me what ‘Goady’ means is it the new term being used instead of ‘Goading ‘?

GGMk2 said that she had made a video about crocheting and I have tried to learn over many years but am about as good at that as I am at posting emojis.

I think goady and goading, whilst sharing the same root, are different parts of speech - like jokey and joking

As in, similar to ,bear bateing ?

Sorry Maryeliza54, I forgot to say thanks

Brilliant analysis Elegran. Those emojis were obviously designed with GN in mind. When can they be implemented?

Actually, we do need more GN emojis as many of the iPad ones, which I used ( and Elegran) can’t be seen by everybody.
This is an old GN one ( a crown, for when one is feeling haughty)

Also brilliant emojis Lemongrove, perhaps I will make my opinion known just by using them ?I have a feeling I might be censored ?

? for when we are utterly shocked at an outrageous and utterly shocking post

? for when we have to make it absolutely crystal clear that this is a light hearted thread and is not to be taken seriously

? for when we get our second usernames for sensitive threads and we're going incognito

? for when we're not clued up enough to contribute to a "serious" thread and have to leave the thread in disgrace

?‍? for those occasions when we have contributed to a "serious" thread and our posts have been acknowledged as being worthy of acceptance

?give me a strong drink
?wise comment
?eeek!
?couldn’t resist saying
?icky post
?enough to make a cat laugh
?is it safe to come out yet?
?‍♂️Be on your guard
?‍? another lecture
☄️?incoming!

10 out of 10 for humour ladies, ????

How about banning all comments unless accompanied by appropriate emoji ?

? We need more light-hearted threads like this on GN.

I agree indeed we do Marydoll, , we had better run for the hills now ????Fun & frivolity , how very dare we!?