Lovely ladies etc - what about the men?

kittylester

But, GN isn't just for grandmothers- that's my point.

But you can’t make men post on it unless they want to do so.
There are millions of women who don’t post on here either.

I meant but does it much matter if people assume it’s primarily for grandmothers? What difference does it make?

But, GN isn't just for grandmothers- that's my point.

I don’t think it very important either way. Nothing wrong with a forum primarily for grandmothers. Why not?

IWasFirstClarinet

OK, you have managed to persuade me to write something. My user name? I was in the British army, in the regimental band, and worked my way up from Third Clarinet to First. Third Clarinet was the lowest of the low. It was where the bandmaster put all newcomers, so there was often about four of them. Colloquially they were known as "The Third Ducks". You know waltzes? Of course you do! The rhythm goes "Um quack quack, um quack quack" - hence the name "Third Duck!
I really could play the clarinet when I joined the army so I got rapidly moved up to Second Clarinet, followed by Repiano Clarinet (a strange word, that) and eventually to First.
Good for me! But it soon caused me a heck of a lot of problems when I leap-frogged the only other Repiano player. He was a sergeant; I was a trooper; he felt slighted; he took his revenge.

Hi IWasFirstClarinet I am glad you plucked up the courage to post. I always find other peoples' careers interesting.

I hope you write on GN regularly from now on. It interesting to hear from people with a wide range of backgrounds and there are too few men on here.

Mollygo

Many men like to congregate with other men, that was why there was such fierce resistance to women being allowed into working men’s clubs except on special occasions.
When men join women’s clubs under whatever guise, you often find they like to take over.

Being lonely once you retire isn’t a particularly male thing as we’ve seen on many GN threads.

It might do more of them good to join a group like GN, where they can share sympathy, worries, jokes, information etc. especially if they can’t or don’t want to get out and meet up, but getting them here . . . ?

Working men's clubs disappeared many years ago with only one or two exceptions. This is one of the exceptions www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd62yew50xyo . Yes there are some sexist men just as there are some sexist women but most have realised that people should not be segregated when there really is no need to.

Hi PaynesGrey - thanks for the suggestion. I have just reposted my earlier regimental band story on Geneology/Memories and will follow it up with a continuation of the saga.

Jackiest

Men are very often excluded in this society. Men's social life often revolves around work and when they retire they are left with nothing. A lot of the social groups are women only, ladies coffee morning or ladies that lunch. They have started Men's sheds but a lot of them do accept women as well as most men do not want a segregated society. There are a lot of men that don't follow football or want to spend their evening drinking in the pub. This sense of being excluded may well be one of the many reasons the male suicide rate is three times that of women.

Probus!

I think some Probus groups do allow women members but the one here doesn't.

Many men like to congregate with other men, that was why there was such fierce resistance to women being allowed into working men’s clubs except on special occasions.
When men join women’s clubs under whatever guise, you often find they like to take over.

Being lonely once you retire isn’t a particularly male thing as we’ve seen on many GN threads.

It might do more of them good to join a group like GN, where they can share sympathy, worries, jokes, information etc. especially if they can’t or don’t want to get out and meet up, but getting them here . . . ?

Men are very often excluded in this society. Men's social life often revolves around work and when they retire they are left with nothing. A lot of the social groups are women only, ladies coffee morning or ladies that lunch. They have started Men's sheds but a lot of them do accept women as well as most men do not want a segregated society. There are a lot of men that don't follow football or want to spend their evening drinking in the pub. This sense of being excluded may well be one of the many reasons the male suicide rate is three times that of women.

Mine is the other way around!

Was about to say that DH would be pleased to talk about football but wouldn't know what a spark plug was.

The day football and spark plugs start to feature, I'm off!

Of course ,
men are welcome ,but Gransnet need to change their website .
It looks like females only .

I also wonder if men are that keen on contributing.
I see the Grandpas all varying age and interests at church a couple of times a week and I realise that even at their age -there's an enormous difference between the sexes .

When DH was alive, he liked to hear the stories although he didn't want to join in. My username was his choice, my choices having been refused as duplicates.

I hope I refer to Grans which could mean either or any sex.

When I came across GN I thought it was for females only. I think we'd benefit from the male perspective on some posts. After all, some like eg estrangements don't just affect the grandma. Unfortunately, I just don't think it had enough appeal to men unless we maybe start discussing football and spark plugs . I would love for any gents that do read GN to be proactive and post as it's always good to get the other viewpoint.

BrandyGran

But why then is it called Gransnet?

It was aimed at Grandparents so the name was maybe a bad choice but that doesn't mean that we postrs shouldn't include our male counterparts.

I, and a few others, welcome their input. After all, we should reflect society.

^WasFirstClarinet

We do like hearing a regimental band!

Hi IWasFirstClarinet. I think your story has the making of an interesting discussion. Could I ask you to start a separate thread about it, please? Perhaps on Chat or Genealogy/Memories.

I have a family history story about a clarinettist who served in the the Royal Marines for 15 years including throughout WW1.

I'd love to hear more first (or second) hand stories from or about musicians in the military.

I've got John Ambler's book World War 1 Remembered Royal Marine Buglers and Musicians at War but would be good to hear about more recent experience.

Seems very apt this Remembrance Weekend.

But why then is it called Gransnet?

Welcome from ne too! Please keep posting on lots of threads.

IWasFirstClarinet

Welcome, what an interesting first post.

I do hope your Sgt. wasn’t too spiteful.

I think some of the men who have come on here have been scared off.
During my seven or so years on here there have been quite a few men posting but have obviously not enjoyed the experience as they quickly left.

Yep....as someone who gets on at least as well with men as with women - often better = bring on the male posters....

fancythat

You can try.

Personally, my OH wouldnt come within 10 miles of this site.

Would your's?

😂
DP wouldn’t that’s for sure.