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The trouble with Gransnet

(70 Posts)
Artdecogran Tue 07-Apr-20 15:39:07

I have been on Gransnet for about a year now and it has not been at all how I expected it to be. My comment is partly prompted by Gransnet asking for people to comment on it. I think I joined it because I needed someone to chat to, to ask questions and get support. Looking back I think I was naive. I have had support and most welcome it was too but that is often countered by unnecessary sniping and harsh comments. Posters often seem to delight at sniping at each other and forgetting the thread theme. It also seems that some famous figures invite nothing but bile and derogatory comments and yet others for no discernible reason can do no wrong. I have thought about the different attitudes and think it’s because I was naively expecting everyone on here to be my friends. After all, we have friends because they mostly share our opinions, have similar interests and have history together. If they disagree it tends to be noted in a subtle caring way. It’s taken a while for me to notice that Gransnet is just a group of people with disparate experiences etc that are not ‘on my side’. I have been reduced to tears by some of the sniping that goes on, not only to myself but to others. Then again that is the trouble with the written word, it is just black and white. I hope you can understand what I am trying to say. I am not criticising as such, just saying what I feel.

Nonnie Wed 08-Apr-20 12:14:05

I am another who has had very supportive PMs, only ever one nasty one. It is a useful way of clearing up any misunderstandings too.

I think getting posts deleted is a bit of a lottery. If a post has been in place for many days and been debated a lot, it seems rather strange to delete it after such a long time. I suspect there are those who ask for deletions when they are not getting the answers they want, not winning the 'argument'

I do find some of the attitudes lack empathy as I get on well with most people. We live in a cul-de-sac and know most of the others and get on very well with them all.

GrannieIggle Wed 08-Apr-20 00:32:01

Hello @Artdecogran
Thank you very much for posting that.
It's good to know how others feel. I'm a real newbie - I joined just this last week. I can see that there are many posters who write generously, kindly and thoughtfully - they have a lot of interesting, engaging thoughts to share.thanks

I'm not a newbie in the forum world though and have been on other forums for up to a couple of decades now. A couple of them, shall we say, free with the colourful language and insults! (These forums probably have more male than females. [eye-rolling emoji here!!]) But even these seem more mature than some of the silly, spoling-for-a-fight comments I've read here.

I have forthright opinions which I certainly don't expect everyone to agree with. And I've learnt a lot from reading other people's differing thoughts and opinions over the years and the resulting sensible discussions.

But I do expect respect, the respect I accord to others. What's surprised me such a lot here is the sniping you raise, Artdecogran. What's that about? Do we have a bunch of teenage grans on here?! Because it's just the sort of behaviour that kids manifest!

No excuse for it if it's from those of mature years. Especially when a good number of us are challenged IRL with enough health, family, domestic and other problems without being sniped and snarked at online - and even more so now during this dreadful virus epidemic.

Perhaps these snipers are actually in the wrong forum if they like upsetting others?! Anyone who snipes at others rarely has anything much to contribute anyway. Pity there isn't an ignore button on here grin. (I have one in my head though LOL!!)

GabriellaG54 Tue 07-Apr-20 23:31:16

Gemini Towers in the US?

welbeck Tue 07-Apr-20 23:27:29

i agree with the above.
it is possible, indeed should be the norm in civilised society, to be able to disagree with a statement without abusing the speaker.
there does seem to be some point scoring going on sometimes, which as well as being unpleasant, is often baffling and boring to other readers; some kind of private bickering conducted on a public forum.
don't go OP. stay and play.

PoppyD Tue 07-Apr-20 22:36:44

I am a watcher mostly. I have been upset by some unkind postings aimed at clearly vulnerable people. Everyone is entitled to their views but vindictive attacks on some posters who are troubled or grieving have put me off posting. Those who do this need to take a deep look at themselves. I don't like confrontation and would post more if I felt more comfortable with some posters. Most seem lovely a few spoil things.

lemongrove Tue 07-Apr-20 21:52:48

Gemini....I mentioned it because I wasn’t totally sure it was you.?It was really good fun, your party at Gemini Towers.

pollyperkins Tue 07-Apr-20 19:35:38

I agree with what you say artdecogran. I have been annoyed and sometimes shocked by unnecessary sniping. Also I think because people don’t really know you , it’s easy to be misunderstood. I have sometimes put things badly and put peoples back up unintentionally - if they knew me they would know I’m not like that and make allowances (I hope). It’s horrid getting unkind remarks. But without exception all the pms I’ve had have been friendly and supportive agreeing without what I’ve said or thanking me for defending them. It’s difficult to come across as the person you really are I think.

sodapop Tue 07-Apr-20 19:27:45

Sorry you felt uncomfortable on GN Artdecogran it's probably a mistake expecting everyone to be your friend, there is such a cross section of people we are never all going to agree. In fact it would be pretty boring if we all did agree.

I like getting PMs as well, they have always been friendly and supportive, usually continuing a discussion we were both interested in.

TrendyNannie6 Tue 07-Apr-20 19:26:34

I have received quite a few private messages, each one of the posters were lovely. Yes I enjoy Gransnet I also enjoy mumsnet too, the language is very colourful though to say the least, not for the faint hearted ?

Callistemon Tue 07-Apr-20 19:17:41

A good analogy Maggiemaybe

Maggiemaybe Tue 07-Apr-20 19:16:44

Yes, I’m on Mumsnet. I don’t post often, but I enjoy browsing the threads. I think the difference is that it has so many members, it never seems insular, and GN can be. MN’s the big city, we’re the little village where everybody knows everyone else. Sometimes that’s a good thing, but it can be a disadvantage as well.

Callistemon Tue 07-Apr-20 18:58:15

I dipped a toe in the water, *Kandinsky, and then fled to the sand dunes!

Kandinsky Tue 07-Apr-20 18:50:10

I’m assuming most of you haven’t been members of mumsnet?
Mumsnet makes this place look like a convent.

Hetty58 Tue 07-Apr-20 18:30:19

It's just like at work, where you get a range of different opinions and interests. You find like-minded friends and people you really can't fathom.

I'd never be upset by what others write online, though. It's just words.

Those who resort to sniping and personal insults clearly demonstrate their own inability to produce a logical opposing argument.

I find them amusing in what they unwittingly reveal about themselves.

There was a lady at work with loud, outspoken views and beliefs. She could never explain why she had them, though. We discovered that she was just quoting her husband!

EllanVannin Tue 07-Apr-20 17:31:28

It's possible that we had some overspill from Mumsnet last year. They weren't grannie material that's for sure.

Chewbacca Tue 07-Apr-20 17:22:59

Nor me M0nica. I agree with Marydoll, GN is like any other strata of society; it's a mixed bag; some you like, some you don't but Marydoll puts it better than me. And just like in real life, some people you just hit it off with straight away and a virtual friendship grows and if you're very lucky, those friendships become "real" ones when you actually meet up.
I think that, due to the present situation with COVID-19, many of us are in a state of heightened tension and stress and that is sometimes spilling over to what's posted. But overall, GN is a nice place to be generally imo.

ninathenana Tue 07-Apr-20 17:22:56

I have one member that I share PMs with, apart from that I very rarely receive them.

Gemini17892 Tue 07-Apr-20 17:20:51

To Lemongrove

Yes I did host a party at the Towers. Why do you mention it ?

CariGransnet (GNHQ) Tue 07-Apr-20 17:20:47

It's really important that all who come to the site feel welcome - it is, after all, a place for everyone.

Inevitably, we all have different opinions on things, which is only to be expected in any large group, virtual or otherwise. And that's fine (of course). But while we welcome debate, bullying is another matter altogether.

As you know, this is a post-moderated site and it's not possible for us to read every post. But if you see any instances of bullying, do please report them to us.

Now, more than ever, it is so important to have a place where we can chat to other people and while we would never expect everyone to agree on everything, we do ask that people post in a way that does denigrate other users.

I think it's fair to say that most of us are a little more tense/stressed than usual at this very strange and difficult time, but do stick with us, and just let us know if there's anything we should look at.

Callistemon Tue 07-Apr-20 17:16:55

Artdecogran
I suppose if you join a large club with many members there will always be some whom you feel you couldn't get on with although perhaps, if you get to know and understand them better you may.

There are lots of threads which are pleasant and supportive so I hope you can try those too.

I'm just off to find a thread on books as I will download some on to my Kindle as I can't go to buy any now. There are more than one I think, helpful and not nasty at all.

I think Mumsnet is worse shock

EllanVannin Tue 07-Apr-20 17:15:32

Speaking of which, I glanced at the " clap for Boris " tweet on twitter---------it's horrendous !

Maggiemaybe Tue 07-Apr-20 17:15:17

It’s just like real life, as others have said. There’ll be people in your neighbourhood you get on with and others you cross the road to avoid.

Joining a new group like GN is just like moving to a new town, and it takes a while to work out who you want to be friends with and who the dodgy ones are. Stick with us, Artdecogran, the good far outweigh the bad. smile

EllanVannin Tue 07-Apr-20 17:13:31

There have been some corkers in the past who've had the brass neck to report me !! Just because they got het-up about my personal point of view on a subject.

They couldn't/ weren't allowed to openly insult/abuse me on the forum so slyly reported me instead, 2 or 3 times----which gave the impression to others that it was me to blame.
Typical school-yard bullies-----I doubt that they were grans !
I even had a pm that must have been put on repeat as it registered about 20 times. A real nutter.

M0nica Tue 07-Apr-20 17:07:40

Yes, another who enjoys receiving PMs and sending them.

I have never had an unpleasant one and I was quite shocked when someone further up this thread said they had received them.

Urmstongran Tue 07-Apr-20 17:02:26

I like getting p.m’s too JenniferEccles! I had a nasty one once, not long after I joined 3y ago and for a while I was wary when I opened any new ones. But happily, ever since that one meany, they’ve all been lovely!
?