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

I hadn't been following their last thread, but I went back and had a look when it became known that they had left. It seemed to me that Whitewave was already planning to go. Perhaps the others joined her in a combined gesture of solidarity, all the more effective as it was unannounced?

"Don't speak ill of the dead" - but they are not dead, they are probably all very much alive and kicking and discussing the same things elsewhere.

Still leaves me wondering were they asked to leave or told to or were they really Russian diplomats who were expelled?

Now I've had to google it! I actually smugly and wrongly thought I knew what it meant before your learned post.

A case of nil nisi bonum ?
we could have a philosophical discussion about reincarnation.

Not much in the way of political discussion going on at all now though !

And yes btw, probably time this threas was pulled as there is nothing new to say.

Never mind Eloethan you are doing it for them!
The main point is, GN had become pretty awful all round on many threads, and suddenly, even on news and political threads, things have become much better and calmer.
Co-incidence?
They are still likely to return under different names in the future though.

Annie

I had to google that Maw ?

A case of nil nisi bonum ?

Would you really expect anything else maryeliza?

These are the people who frequently complained that they and others were scared of posting because the big bad lefties disagreed with them and posted links that they didn't want to read. However, a browse through the political threads shows that the principal complainants re alleged intimidation have been very forthright in expressing their views.

I find it pathetic that even though whitewave gracesgran nightowl and durhamjen have left the site, their detractors still can't resist having digs. Of course, it makes it much easier when they're not around to answer back.

I wanted to say what I did because some of you are being frankly spiteful and childish

And by posting on this thread you've just extended it a little bit further maryeliza!
And if the other threads are "same old, same old", just gloss over them and ignore them. There's no obligation to post on any that you don't find to your taste is there?

Whilst this thread goes on, I don’t think it shows that GN is a nicer place - quite the reverse actually and there’s plenty of the same old same old on some threads.

I do wish this thread would just stop - am I the only one who finds it somewhat distasteful not to mention sanctimonious to keep going on about the three who have left - there’s been done pretty nasty comments about them which I find quite ironic and they were not alone in sharp and nasty comments across the political spectrum. It’s all a bit childish imo. They’ve gone, GN will be perfect now, great. Yeh right.

Any left-wing people left? Are right-wing people right?

I'm sure you're right lemon, I've noticed that too.

Actually, although the news and politics threads will always engender strong feelings, Gransnet has already become a nicer place IMHO.
Great to suddenly see so many new posters all having their say on many threads.Perhaps they have been lurking for a while, and now they all feel confident to post comments.

Well said iam

May I add those left of centre were target practice ?

Well said iam

I'm using the terms left and right loosely, before anyone decides to shoot me down in flames.
I think the ones in the centre often got caught in the crossfire.

I hope the politics and news threads become less polarised and that personally offensive or goading remarks lessen. I'm not criticising the three posters who have left, they were often well informed and usually interesting. However the level of anger often expressed between some on the left and some on the right did seem to discourage others from posting.
I'm using the terms left and right loosely, before anyone decides to shoot me down in flames.
Given the 'interesting times' in which we're living, the opportunity to discuss significant issues on line feels like a plus to me.

Lilypops a lot of GNs wanted Jinglebellfrocks reinstated, there were a few threads about that, she was a larger than life legend, she briefly came back under another guise but departed again quite swiftly.