Other forums.

This was my first ever venture into the world of Forums. I couldn't be bothered to get involved in any others I don't think. I spend too much time reading the posts on here. I don't really know how to find them anyway.

GN works well enough for me, in general, and I think over a period of time I have sussed a few things out that allow me to get the most out of it.

I joined an Australian forum for over fifties around the time I joined Gransnet. It was extremely boring and posters had to ask the two old moderators for permission to start a new thread. Not all Australians are so laid back but I think this lot were all asleep.

I do look at one from the USA about Budgies. It does have very useful information on bird care etc.
It doesn't usually get nasty at all until some Brits and others start criticising the US habit of clipping a birds wings so they can't fly and can be more easily trained.
That discussion is virtually off limits though. There seem to be a number of very needy posters who really look to their birds to give them affection.
I do have to modify my views here. A robust GN type discussion on the subject might really hurt some of those very vulnerable types.

It was quite funny..it was my first 'go' at any forum and I posted that some parents at a local playground appeared to be annoyed by some older kids 'hogging' some equipment but were afraid to ask them to let their little kids have a go. I asked and they were OK to let DGC have a turn.

My point was do not assume older kids are always troublesome!

You would have thought I was condemning the big kids to a life of crime! It was pure vitriol!

I have found GN friendlier, supportive, helpful, challenging and fun! Occasionally some personal vitriol spills out in the threads but not on the level of mumsnet!

nanaej that made me giggle, I know it shouldn't, but your description is so apt

I only posted once on Mumsnet..got a good kicking ..so never went back..I pity their kids

I suspect the specialist ones are very different with experts helping out others with a need to know

No sin bin here Tegan but there's a Bolthole thread where you can find sanctuary today. Bacon butties waiting in front of the log fire. x

Well my folk and film forums don't descend into anarchy [although a folk forum I dip into does seem to be a bit, if I can use the dreaded word [and spell it] a bit cliquey. But that isn't answering the question because they are specialist ones. My racing forums are moderated by forum members and any squabbles soon get sorted out but, being mostly men [dare I say this] the members aren't so sensitive to comments. I find the best ones are forums where there is a good mix of men and women; as if they balance themselves out. A lady on one of my racing forums has several permanent quotes and one of them is 'I'm poking you with sticks' and I try to think of that phrase if I see something on here that smacks of someone trying to wind someone else up . But, in general most of the comments are about the main subject of the forum and there is just a small section for chat and, in those people tend to stick to the subject being discussed. And, as I said, they do have moderators from the forum that are constantly monitoring what is being said. What we need on here is a 'sin bin' [I'd like to take myself of to it sometimes], or, as a granny forum perhaps a naughty chair?

I don't belong to any other forums,started off on mumsnet and found GN which is more my style..don't mind a bit of anarchy either

kitty I was just wondering about that myself (someone had posted about being on/compared GN to other social forums).

I am one of several moderators on a forum for work. Sometimes things get slightly heated on there (on our work forums it always emanates from the same group of about half a dozen posters) and again, sometimes, a moderator will jump in and pour oil or lead the discussion off on a different tangent, but mostly the posters eventually sort it out amongst themselves. Until next time (yawn). Occasionally, the arguments kill the thread, which is a real pity, because our forums are a source of information and interest to our 1500 members.

I am also on an Alzheimer's UK forum as a poster, and have never come across any real trouble on the threads I've been on, although people disagree from time to time with an opinion.

To me a social forum should be just that - a sociable place to meet, find info, exchange views. Relax, really!

PS whoever gave that fabulous tip about microwaving a whole swede, thanks for that [thumbs up emoticon] - it works a treat. I did that last night, scraped out the inside, popped it in the potato ricer, bit of butter, salt and pepper, Yummy side dish with our roast.

One is enough for me. Couldn't find time for another.

No, I don't go on any other forums. One is enough for me!

Some of them start off in anarchy! And much, much ruder than GN. About other posts, other posters and the OP.

I do not belong to any other forums. I do read the comments under news items sometimes and wonder why everyone seems so vicous to the other posters.

I don't belong to any other forums, although I did join another last year and found it uninteresting in comparison with Gransnet. Some I have looked at seem to consist of uncontrolled personal attacks, so not for me. I don't mind a bit of anarchy