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

But leaves the post open to misinterpretation. I don't see that it would be offensive if you were to say X posted so many remarks about such a thing. I found them upsetting and was offended. You are criticising the posts and not the poster. Of course if you can't do it without being offensive then you have a problem. But I do like honesty and dislike obfuscation.

If you name names the poster is likely to report your honest opinion as a personal attack and summon the big guns to anihilate you. Calling them "a certain poster" is insurance against that.

Hate must be a bitter emotion to endure

I hate these people who pussy foot around saying "one particular poster" or other euphemisms. If you don't like someone or their comments for goodness sake have the honesty to come out and name them and say why

Strong words trisher why cause trouble?

merlot, are you sure A and A are not here under different names?

Phoenix, I am totally amazed anyone could do such a thing. How spiteful, even if you 100% disagree with anyone. However, I hate the thought of members speculating on who it could be, without that person bein able to defend themselves- I must say. Yes, so glad you are still here.

So perhaps I misunderstood the word 'prominent' - as a non English speaker- as it seems to have ruffled a few feathers. Will have to check dictionary- I took it to mean that they were very visible on here, not superior.

I miss Ana and Anya

There are justifiable reasons why user names are changed, particularly the one outlined by Phoenix which was shocking. Ana was a very prolific poster so her lack of a presence on GN is noticeable, I could be wrong but I don't think she has come back under another guise. I think the same would apply to PRINTMISS who dropped her age into a couple of posts, mid 80s I believe, she also had a husband with Parkinsons. It is a shame to lose people we feel we have come to know through their written words.

I think it’s a shame that three very active posters have withdrawn or been thrown out of Gransnet.
They added a depth of knowledge to political discussions. They will be missed.

I changed my original name because an 'outsider' 'rumbled' me from some references I made to my life before Gransnet. I like my current name - it seems ever more apposite as time goes on!

I hate these people who pussy foot around saying "one particular poster" or other euphemisms. If you don't like someone or their comments for goodness sake have the honesty to come out and name them and say why.

As there elections in May perhaps those missing are busy campaigning

One particular poster thought herself superior and myself and another sometimes got put in our place.

Well, crikey! She wasn't the only one... (if it's the one I'm thinking of...)

Everyone got put in their place - which was mostly in the wrong - not just for having a different opinion, but also for not being a ruthless and experienced enough debater to fight fire with fire and to turn back assertions with a clever twist of meaning and the imputation of some unsavoury motive for those different opinions.

I think you hit the nail on the head kitty. One particular poster thought herself superior and myself and another sometimes got put in our place.

So did they jump,or were they pushed?

I hope not Maizie. There are a few posters I think are very unreasonable and very rude, but I don’t think anyone should be removed except for exceptional reasons. We’re grown ups and should be able to choose when to respond to threads and individual posters or not.

Just note that the 3 missing posters are no longer registered with Gnet.

If it was deliberate I'm surprised that at least one didn't PM me to warn me. I think they've been 'removed'

Do the 'prominent members' only like to converse with like minded people?

I would plump for the “somewhat deranged” explanation phoenix what a nasty thing to do ... and for what ? It beggars belief !

MissA.....that made me laugh!
Phoenix keeps us amused and anyone who did what they did must must indeed fit your description.

I had to change my name as I bought a new Kindle and it wouldn't accept my old name or password. I had to leave and then join again, which was a faff. The same thing happened with a couple of other sites, wouldn't accept password on the new kindle.

I don't know why other members who were there at the birth of Gransnet might have decided not to be around so much these days – or at all. My life has changed dramatically since I moved to the other side of the world. Although I am still a taxpayer in the UK, politics in the country where I live tend to occupy my attention more than those in the UK. That is true of news too. Also, I don't want to play simple minded word games of which there seem to be a plethora these days, but if other people want to that's fine with me. I look in occasionally and comment rarely. That seems to be the same with quite a few of the early Gransnetters whom I know quite well. Everything changes.

Quite, MissAdventure!

As far as those 'prominent' members are concerned, the expression 'as you sow, so shall you reap' (or something like that) springs to mind.

The atmosphere on the political threads was so aggressive towards people who didn't agree that most people gave up trying to have their say. I even stopped reading them.

Indeed MissA! Succinctly put!