to ask why several prominent members seem to have vanished?!?

A bit like the definition of a compromise - it is that small step toward MY perfect solution that the ignorant fool is too stubborn to accept.

I’m wondering what it means to be a “prominent member” as opposed to just any old body ? As most of us are .

Kitty asked already- I tried to answer.

prominent
ˈprɒmɪnənt/
adjective
adjective: prominent
1.
important; famous.
"she was a prominent member of the city council"
synonyms:
important, well known, leading, eminent, pre-eminent, distinguished, notable, noteworthy, noted, public, outstanding, foremost, of mark, illustrious, celebrated, famous, renowned, acclaimed, famed, honoured, esteemed, respected, well thought of, influential, prestigious, big, top, great, chief, main; major-league.
Really ?

Gillybob, could that be us then?

Oops sorry if that question has already been asked/answered.

Thanks harri. None of those definitions mean anything to me (or indeed any of us on GN) . Surely we’re all just minions or spokes in a wheel . None of us any more special or deserving than the next person.

Sadly not chewy we are all equally irrelevant .

harrigran "prominent", according to your list, includes well known and I think most Gransnetters would accept that the four people who have left were well known to the site. Personally, in the context of this social forum, I would also describe those posters as influential - and some of us, including me, thought well of them and respected their views.

youtu.be/jVavtX80m3Q

Influential or pedantic & overly opinionated ? considering their own opinion to be the accurate assessment of a given subject /topic.

I find that song, like many from WWI, absolutely heartbreaking. The “jolly” propaganda which was peddled looks obscene in hindsight.
(I have always loved the bittersweet irony of “Oh What a Lovely War packing a powerful punch as it does though)

May I add that I think it is asking for trouble to devote a thread to a “tribute” to some members who appear to have left. Yes, they had strong views, yes they were tenacious and prolific posters, but speaking as one who did not necessarily always share share their views I sometimes found myself getting the very sharp end of someone’s tongue.
I think we all know what connotations the term “prominent” carries and I questioned the use of the term word upthread. I fear this thread could sink into a GN bunfight if we cannot accept that members come and members go and we miss those most with whom we have most in common.

Good Morning MawBroon

Prominent? No, vocal on one topic ? Yes

there are many descriptions of the word depending on the dictionary used. As said, when Kitty raised eyebrows on the use of the word- I am just a mere foreigner with a different mothertongue- and I probably used the wrong word in the context. I am grateful to all who have enlightened me and won't make the same mistake again (this is how one learns foreign languages- getting it wrong, and remembering it next time...). Perhaps we could have the debate in French next time ;)

Thank you Eloethan - exactly how I feel. And if some want to use this thread to make nasty and sarchastic comments about those who are no longer here, so unable to respond - then it says an awful lot more about them, than those who left- and some of us miss. Seems no-one knows for sure- so perhaps best to close this thread.

You might like to substitute 'conspicuous' for 'prominent'. Or would that carry connotations of self-aggrandisement of which I certainly don't consider these well-known posters to be guilty?

I rarely open links, but curiosity got the better of me and I opened yours MissA

So glad I did what a laugh !

??

Another meaning :
'the fact or state of projecting from something.
"radiographs showed enlargement of the right heart with prominence of the pulmonary outflow tract"

I think it's time to put this issue of 'prominent' to rest now, as jura has already explained that English is not her first language; her command of English overall is amazing, maybe if it was poorer posters would be aware of thbis.

I very much agree MawBroon, it could be a very painful experience.
I don't come on here very much now, was jinglebellfrocks another missing GNer?

I was only thinking of you GranJura / jura2 yesterday because DS and family sent photos of the magnificent Dolomites and they reminded me of you 'talking' about snow and mountains.

Oh that YouTube link
So desperately sad.

Four people? I thought it was three.

Quick check - hands up who else isn’t here !

?

I've been lurking...