Gransnet forums

AIBU

Men on forum

(191 Posts)
Stillness Tue 03-Mar-26 13:08:10

AIBU to expect this forum to be for just women? At least that was my impression but after receiving a (unwelcome) private message from a man, I’m wondering if I’ve got this wrong? (And yes, I have blocked him).

Casdon Tue 03-Mar-26 13:13:14

It’s an open forum, so anybody can join, and men are welcome - but anybody who sends you unsolicited private messages which aren’t appropriate obviously isn’t, be they male or female. You did the right thing to block and report.

Georgesgran Tue 03-Mar-26 13:26:04

Yes - it’s an open forum and anyone can join, irrespective of age or gender. There are often posts wishing there were more male contributors.

Many here have had PM’s from various males - usually treated as a bit of a joke, (if you read the pertinent thread) and simply deleted and blocked.

ViceVersa Tue 03-Mar-26 13:35:16

There have always been men and women on the forum, as far as I'm aware. If I received an unwanted message from anyone, I'd block and report them.

BlueBelle Tue 03-Mar-26 13:40:10

It’s not for women it’s for any grandparents
I think it’s a real laugh when men send a message usually telling me how interesting I am ??? Obviously if it was anything worse I d report it but they are usually just ‘tries at engaging’ and just needing to be ignored
We have a few genuine men posting
We should have more

kittylester Tue 03-Mar-26 13:42:00

As said, this is an open forum and we welcome input from men.

Obviously, not strange pms from strange men. Was it offensive?

I have had perfectly normal pms from both women and men which is fine.

paulow Tue 03-Mar-26 13:45:03

To be honest, as a man I as a bit hesitant over whether I would be allowed to join in the first place, but it all seems ok. However the last thing I would do would be to send an unsolicited private message to anyone, it doesn't strike me as acceptable behaviour anyway.

BlueBelle Tue 03-Mar-26 13:46:35

Paulow don’t you worry most of us welcome a man’s point of view don’t be shy

kittylester Tue 03-Mar-26 13:46:40

Well said, paulow. Please join in the chats though- we need more men.

Ziplok Tue 03-Mar-26 13:47:34

As said, this is an open forum and men are as welcome to participate as women are.

Anyone who is extremely insulting and/or sends unwelcome private messages whatever their gender, should be reported and blocked, but otherwise, anyone should be able to post and be welcomed.

This is actually classed as a “grandparents” forum, not as “grandma’s” forum, but that in itself, is a little misleading because anyone can post, grandparent, parent or not, (which I completely agree with).

Plus the name “Gransnet” suggests to some, I feel, that it’s meant only for grandma’s, which of course, it isn’t. I’m not sure how it could be renamed, though.

Wheniwasyourage Tue 03-Mar-26 13:49:23

As I understand it, non-grandparents have always been welcome too. Generally, GNers are of more mature years, compared with most (but not all) of those on MN, but that is a case of self-selection rather than of rules.

yogitree Tue 03-Mar-26 13:51:18

Stillness

AIBU to expect this forum to be for just women? At least that was my impression but after receiving a (unwelcome) private message from a man, I’m wondering if I’ve got this wrong? (And yes, I have blocked him).

Hi Stillness
When I joined a few years ago I thought the name Gransnet literally meant the net for Grans, but no I was mistaken. There are, however, very few men on here that I have come across - not that I have much against men! It's good to see a different perspective when they do comment.

Stillness Tue 03-Mar-26 13:53:50

Thanks for the replies. The post wasn’t offensive as such, but requested we correspond etc (not sure what my husband would make of that..). I dont think any of my posts have suggested that I am looking for a relationship. I did think it was a female only forum though. The name is a bit misleading and especially if it’s also available to people that aren’t even grandparents. Perhaps it needs to be renamed.

Wheniwasyourage Tue 03-Mar-26 14:04:02

Stillness, are you sure that the man who sent you the unwanted message was actually a regular poster? Sometimes there have been threads where several people have told of having had such messages from some inadequate with nothing better to do. I think a recent one was called Robert. (Don't know what's wrong with me, but I never get them, nor have I been offered a fortune by some Nigerian prince. Hey ho.)

BlueBelle Tue 03-Mar-26 14:11:21

Stillness how can the name be misleading its Grans which could be a Grandad or a Grandmum I m not sure why it’s at all bothersome if anyone hasn’t yet got grandkids There are very few posters in that catergory anyway
Of course your posts are not suggesting you’re looking for a man, these people just message a whole heap of names hoping someone will be daft enough to engage. Just ignore or if it’s not nice report
Yes a lot of us had messages from Roberto and then was it Bobs this last week I didn’t bother to report as neither said anything out of place just something like ‘ I like to read your post would you like to correspond with me’ or something on those lines
Just ignored them
No big thing

BlueBelle Tue 03-Mar-26 14:13:03

Just had a look it was Robert and Bens this week and very polite messages they were 🤣

Granatlast007 Tue 03-Mar-26 15:11:15

I had a private message too, wondered whether to report it? So many scams about these days, it's wise to be wary. Perhaps it's cheaper to use GN than dating online?

Oreo Tue 03-Mar-26 15:26:21

Stillness

AIBU to expect this forum to be for just women? At least that was my impression but after receiving a (unwelcome) private message from a man, I’m wondering if I’ve got this wrong? (And yes, I have blocked him).

I just got one too, friendly but unwelcome so I just blocked the sender, no need to report.
This site is for women, men and anything in between 😁

David49 Tue 03-Mar-26 15:27:32

Men get unsolicited messages from women all the time I get 2 or 3 a day on Facebook just block them it's going to be a scam of some kind.

Galaxy Tue 03-Mar-26 15:27:57

Don't you start with that Oreogrin

Oreo Tue 03-Mar-26 15:28:38

😆

Grannynannywanny Tue 03-Mar-26 15:30:39

I think Bens has been busy this week. I had one which I reported, deleted and blocked.

Oreo Tue 03-Mar-26 15:45:30

It was David7.

Oreo Tue 03-Mar-26 15:46:06

American, according to him.

Stillness Tue 03-Mar-26 16:03:13

Yes, Oreo that’s the one.
My post isn’t about how to deal with the message. I can deal with that….also get them on fb at times….
It was primarily questioning whether men are intended to be able to use the forum. And I think I’ve got the answer, thank you.