What have you learned from being on GN ?

I echo your second paragraph, Lona. Isn't it strange. I've not met most of the people on here but there are lots that I 'look' for and feel are friends?

All in all I have had a bit of a sh*tty year. Losing my dear grandma and my mum within a few months of each other. Then the horrible failed school appeals. But through all of this I have had some amazing support from Gransnet. I don't really have many "real life" friends but its comforting to know that at any time of the day and night there is always a "virtual" friend on Gransnet around to talk to. A million Thank You's x

I agree that there can be some nasty threads (or some innocent ones that turn nasty)and I do try to avoid those. What I struggle with and what saddens me the most though, is when people pretend to be nice.

I've learnt the patience that my mother always said was sadly lacking in me. That's because I too have deleted lots of sarcastic and sharp posts, but I realised they were a waste of time and energy.
I've also learnt that it's possible to become very fond of people that I haven't even met yet. I probably will never meet them, but I'm very pleased to consider some of them as my friends.

I agree with Grandmamoira. I have found GN incredibly supportive and funny and wise.

Sadly, other things I have found are that some people are not happy unless they have made some other person/people equally unhappy and it's harder to avoid them on GN. I try to make allowances for their obvious personal unhappiness but I find it difficult. This has proved that I'm not as tolerant as I thought I was.

I also type like crazy and then delete!

I've found there's lots of like minded people out there and most people are very supportive to those who post with a problem.

I have found lots of people with similar ideas and feelings. I don't delete just put it out there but don't take it personally when I get slapped down.
I am also sad at the number of people who have problems with family or health, makes me count my blessings.

Today 09:51 Granny23

I've learnt that the vast majority of people are kind goodhearted people, always ready to share joys and sorrows, while perhaps having bigger sorrows of their own. And that we are all human and thus occasionally lash out with a bitter remark for which will be forgiven/understood as long as that is not our only contribution to chat/debate.

This - a hundredfold.

I think we all have cathartic moments. I had one recently in response to a post that made me so angry I was almost in tears. Although it was not aimed at me personally, I took it personally, because it was not the first time the poster had taken this particular line and I felt goaded and, yes, a little demeaned. So I rattled off my response and then thought "don't be so b****y silly. It will roll off them like water off a ducks back, give fuel to their fire and you won't feel any better". So it was the delete button and a stiff drink. As in the real world, there are going to be people you don't like, but on GN it is easier to avoid them!

I had to laugh at your postNina , Grampy has to listen to me and sometimes he says things like 'it's not real life you know' ??

I think he might have a point !

All thats been said above, I've learnt to reread my posts before pressing 'post' and many I've just deleted having got it out of my system.

I definitely find a typing a somewhat shirty reply and then deleting helpful. It also helps H as he dosen't have to listen to rants about "stupid bloody posters"
As luckygirl says I have also been educated on several subjects.

All of the above. But also I have learned a huge amount - about science, politics, eco issues etc. All fascinating.

N&G, I too have written posts that I ended up deleting. It was therapeutic to compose them, but wouldn't have done me any good to make them public. I don't post as much as I once did because, having been a member almost since the beginning, I sometimes feel I am repeating myself.

I have learnt that by posting regularly we create a virtual personality which may or may not be true to real life. Who would know unless posters meet up personally?
I find I have allotted virtual personalities to some regular posters and I know that I read their posts in a biased way according to my mental image of whether or not I would like them in RL. Teetime makes a good point.
But I love GN. I feel I can come on here in times of stress and I will get support from lovely posters or read stories that put my concerns into perspective.
All human life is here.

I have learnt that the written word does not always portray the meaning the writer intended and without seeing the facial expressions and body language we can misconstrue the intention.

That's a good point Granny23 , I hadn't thought of , it's very true an odd mean remark is so much more easily forgiven if it's out of character and not just in character.

I've learnt that the vast majority of people are kind goodhearted people, always ready to share joys and sorrows, while perhaps having bigger sorrows of their own. And that we are all human and thus occasionally lash out with a bitter remark for which will be forgiven/understood as long as that is not our only contribution to chat/debate.