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Uncalled for comments

(217 Posts)
Sarahmob Tue 25-Aug-20 09:51:27

I’ve been a member (although quite a quiet one) for some time now and usually enjoy following the various discussions, chipping in if I feel I’ve got some valid point to add. Today I’ve read a couple of threads and been a bit disappointed by some of the sharp and sometimes downright catty comments that people have made. Surely a little thought doesn’t hurt and if we can be anything, let’s be kind.

suziewoozie Tue 25-Aug-20 12:58:51

I was addressing the OP Wood. My point is that you report posts of you don’t like them and/or criticise them on the thread itself ( including defending a poster if you think it’s appropriate). What is rather silly and goady is to start a thread like this with generalised comments - it sows discord and disagreement and is frankly ridiculous.

Lucca Tue 25-Aug-20 12:57:33

Also Bluesky ..agree !

Lucca Tue 25-Aug-20 12:56:59

Chewbacca. Absolutely.

BlueSky Tue 25-Aug-20 12:53:44

We are all big girls here, we can answer back the offending poster, can't we?

Chewbacca Tue 25-Aug-20 12:53:03

For some people the only acceptable post is the one that agrees with them

? this. And if you still don't, they complain that they're being invalidated, misunderstood or bullied.

grandtanteJE65 Tue 25-Aug-20 12:49:04

Well, I hestitate to be specific either as I don't want to be in trouble for trolling, but I have sent two private messages to posters today, who I imagine have been hurt by snide remarks made to them.

I would be, if I were them.

Doodledog Tue 25-Aug-20 12:48:47

I agree with you WOODMOUSE. I think that stepping away when there is conflict is unhelpful, as it leaves the 'victim' (for want of a better word) to fend for herself, but an atmosphere in which anyone wanting to goad someone knows that it will be challenged is likely to be much more inclusive.

That is a very convoluted sentence, but I am typing and cooking, and the conversation will have moved on if I try to disentangle it - I hope it makes some sort of sense grin.

merlotgran Tue 25-Aug-20 12:45:28

I've report such comments in the past and none have been deleted. I'm told such comments are part of the discussion/debate. For me, there's no way I'd call them constructive comments.

It happens, WOODMOUSE. It's HQ's job to decide if a post needs to be deleted, not the person reporting it.

Even if you don't agree - and sometimes I don't, the judge's decision is final!

WOODMOUSE49 Tue 25-Aug-20 12:42:00

Jane10

Every now and then a poster starts a thread like this. GN has clear rules. If you don't like a post or think it's offensive then just report it.

I've report such comments in the past and none have been deleted. I'm told such comments are part of the discussion/debate. For me, there's no way I'd call them constructive comments.

I don't intend as Suziewoozie suggests "to get out of the kitchen if I don't like it". I'll continue to support anyone I feel unnecessarily gets this type of comment.

Dorsetcupcake61 Tue 25-Aug-20 12:21:31

I can understand where Sarahmob and other posters are coming from. I've been on here for quite a while but only posting relatively recently. Probably since lockdown I've spent more time reading across the threads. I have noticed some thoughtlessness where someone has asked for advice or reassurance and posters have had quite a belittling attitude towards the OP. Its nothing in some ways that is strong enough to report. Sometimes I've seen friends of the poster support them which does start to feel like bullying. Such is life really,we all have different approaches. As other posters have said you start to recognize posters that have a tendency to act like this and step away. I suppose my concern is that Gransnet can be such a wonderful place of information, kindness and genuine support I would hate a new member to post and be upset.

BlueSky Tue 25-Aug-20 12:12:28

suziewoozie
As has been said, either report posts that you don’t like or get out of the kitchen.
Agree with Suzie here.

Lucca Tue 25-Aug-20 12:12:02

“ The unspoken convention within Gransnet is that Gransnet is a medium for chumminess not for serious discussions of ideas.”
Is it ? I think there’s room for both. I’d probably not stay on GN if we abandoned serious issues to debate although I like some of the fun ones too.
The problem is that we all have different stages at which we take our bat home.
Absolutely agree if you see a post you think is “catty” then respond there and then ! Although you may be told the poster was just “criticising”

Nonnie Tue 25-Aug-20 12:02:25

I am surprised anyone who has been on here a long time would expect the OP to give an example, we know that would be a 'thread about a thread' as someone has already said.

When I was fairly new I wrote a post about bullying and was shot down in flames, told if I didn't like the heat to get out of the kitchen, that was unkind to a new member. I think we should try to understand the OP and assume it is a post showing genuine dislike.

Some of the comments seem to me to be a bit lacking in understanding. OP didn't say it was today's posts, said they had read it today, somewhat different.

My issue is about those who make a comment which is later disproved and they cannot bring themselves to apologise. One of my posts was deleted because it 'couldn't be verified' so I verified it twice but no apology. I respect anyone who apologises when they realise they are wrong but, if they don't, then I tend to think their future posts are less credible.

Like others I avoid certain people who seem to be unkind for the sake of it. Many of us know who they are.

Ramblingrose22 Tue 25-Aug-20 11:59:01

Sarahmob - I have probably been on Gransnet longer than you and have also seen comments that are nasty about others rather than addressing the subject-matter.

I am not sure your post was intended to be "goady" as sooziewoozie suggests but I agree with her that nasty posts should be reported even if the person who posted doesn't learn the lesson. The moderators of the site can then see what's going on. I don't know if you saw a few days ago that a thread became so nasty that they deleted it.

I don't know what led up to this but I thought it was very sad.

Illte Tue 25-Aug-20 11:46:26

Ah Ellianne, we learn from our mistakes.

I called a poster out recently, when I should just have stuck to the facts that challenged her post ?

DiscoDancer1975 Tue 25-Aug-20 11:45:54

It’s interesting what Smileless, said about hiding behind usernames. I think I may be the opposite. I get nervous about posting, when I know I’m probably going against the general consensus. In real life, I’d just blurt it out with less inhibition! Maybe it’s the spontaneity I’m more comfortable with. If I had to wait to speak to someone, I would probably be more careful.

suziewoozie Tue 25-Aug-20 11:42:16

Just another goady thread aimed at causing disagreement. As has been said, either report posts that you don’t like or get out of the kitchen. It all depends on context anyway.

EllanVannin Tue 25-Aug-20 11:36:31

You get to know the ones to avoid ! They report you as quick as looking if you don't happen to share their view.

Ellianne Tue 25-Aug-20 11:36:02

^Sorry, but sometimes the original post is just so awful that it evokes a shocked response.
And sometimes the poster goes on defending herself and her actions and people lose patience.^
I think I was guilty of that once Illte. I once started a thread with a provocative question to which I already knew my answer, and wouldn't budge on it. Lesson learned, silly!

Illte Tue 25-Aug-20 11:20:33

Sorry, but sometimes the original post is just so awful that it evokes a shocked response.

And sometimes the poster goes on defending herself and her actions and people lose patience.

For some people the only acceptable post is the one that agrees with them.

Alexa Tue 25-Aug-20 11:18:42

Depends if people are discussing ideas or , alternatively, expressing their feelings.

Gransnet contributors usually presume people are not so much discussing ideas as expressing their feelings . The unspoken convention within Gransnet is that Gransnet is a medium for chumminess not for serious discussions of ideas.

Fennel Tue 25-Aug-20 11:17:50

Attacking the person rather than the issue is a common style of argument. (player rather than the ball)
To me it's a weak get out to cover up the fact that you'ce lost the argument.
Marydoll - I agree with your point too.

Charleygirl5 Tue 25-Aug-20 11:14:01

I agree, Smileless there are many cowards.

Smileless2012 Tue 25-Aug-20 11:10:09

Challenge them or ignore them is the best way and be thankful that you don't know them in real life. I do wonder though if they'd say what they do if they weren't 'hiding' behind a user name.

Maggiemaybe Tue 25-Aug-20 11:04:14

It's unfair to complain that Sarahmob hasn't given an example as that would, of course, make it a thread about a thread which is not allowed.

I don’t think anyone meant that she should. When I said I couldn’t comment on what was said without knowing what it was, I meant just that. If people are upset by something said on a thread, they need to raise it then and there.