Gransnet Day of Direct Action! ✊

It’s sad that this thread has become focussed on banned members or allegedly banned members or missing members (although I agree with your sentiments Alegria1.) Relative harm is still harm.

I thought the day was meant to be about asking GNHQ when and if the site will ever be updated to include some useful and very practical features (some of which Mumsnet already has). It’s frustrating to have GNHQ deliberately ask members to comment and make suggestions about site functionality and then be stonewalled.

On 5 August, LilyGransnet wrote:

Changes at the back end of the site do take time, but we're more than happy to keep you updated during the process.

I am asking politely where are we in the process? Specifically, which of the features that have been requested are going to be implemented and when?

I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking that GN is very much the poor relation of MN and I wonder why that is? The number of people age 50 or over in the UK is considerably more than those of child-bearing age and we have a lot of spending power.

Personally, I’d like to see a site that offers something for all people over 50. I know it says in the small print that all are welcome but the content is very much female-focussed and dominated as is the discussion forum. Some will say the clue is in the name but why does it have to be so?

Some argue that the site has become dull and uninteresting. Making it more inclusive might attract a new and different kind of membership that will broaden the range of topics offered up for discussion and attract a wider range of advertisers.

who seem to have been banned not for anything which went on on any thread

I'm probably going to get myself deleted for this.

Many moons ago I reported a poster who was posting sexist, disgusting "jokes" denigrating women and suggesting they were all sex workers who'd do anything for a jaunt in a sports car. He got temporarily banned, and SO MANY posters on here were doing the thing about "oh, what happened to dear old xxx, he's such a nice chap" . He hasn't posted now for a long time.

We don't always know why people get banned.

Good to see some responses from moderators today, we might not like what they say, but pretty swift to acknowledge the emails sent.

But there are quite a lot of posts (and have been threads before) about people who seem to have been banned not for anything which went on on any thread but because they somehow challenged the moderators. Presumably people who really do the things you describe Alegrias1 wouldn't last long anyway. Perhaps they could be invited back but with a warning that their posts would be followed and an automatic lifetime ban would result if they strayed again.

trisher online bullying is not harmless - there have been many reports of people committing suicide because of it. I'm not saying the bullying on GN is that bad (and yes there is bullying on GN) but when posting a nasty comment no-one knows what the person it is aimed at is going through.

Quite proud of myself so far for staying off this thread. However....

Michael told us how people get banned. You might think they get banned for frivolous reasons but nobody gets banned for getting carried away once or twice and posting something regrettable. If somebody gets repeatedly "carried away" then they are not to be trusted on this forum or any other and need to be banned.

Online stalking, bullying and trolling is not harmless. It can ruin lives.

Smileless2012

With regard to some of the posters who've been banned, having them back would not make GN a livelier place, it would make it a nastier place trisher.

We all enjoy lively and forthright discussions but stalking and bullying are what most of us left behind in the school playground, and are glad to have done so.

This means that anyone who has perhaps got a bit carried away and maybe posted a few things they shouldn't have is effectively banned for ever. Is that really fair? Even stalkers and bullies can reform. Unless someone has actually traced another poster and begun extending their behaviour into their real life I think they are relatively harmless and that only very extreme behaviour should result in permanent bans.

a poster said 'we are all adults here' in my opinion some are more adult than others.......

With regard to some of the posters who've been banned, having them back would not make GN a livelier place, it would make it a nastier place trisher.

We all enjoy lively and forthright discussions but stalking and bullying are what most of us left behind in the school playground, and are glad to have done so.

Dry well said Trisher

I m gobsmacked
I can’t think of a nicer fairer poster than marydoll I ve never heard anyone say a bad word so who is passing round bad pms that is horrendous
Surely that should be a priority michaelgransnet

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Thanks Lucca

I have had several posts and even threads taken down because they apparently "breached the guidelines" and I am still here!!!
I think however idiotic the judgement may be (e,g you can call someone a communist but musn't call anyone a Nazi) you have to accept it.
The only warning I would have for GNHQ is that the site is in danger of becoming so anodyne and the discussions so boring that it will in fact lose any idea of being a forum for discussions and become merely a games site. Which would be a pity. I've been on here for quite a while and most of the people who have left or who have been banned are the interesting ones. Perhaps GN if you want to prosper you should have a moratorium on suspensions and bans, invite those who have been banned to return and make it again the livelier place it used to be. (Oh and get some moderators who are prepared to be a bit riskier)

You're spot on Marydoll the whole point of this day of action was to urge GNHQ to sort out the posting problems being experienced by Iam64, who is respected and missed by many.

I just hope that by not keeping any emails to GNHQ on this issue alone, but by introducing an approval/disapproval of life time bans, Iam's problems will not be over looked.

I'm so sorry that you have also experienced being subjected to a smear campaign Marydoll. I also had to endure this last year and know how horrible and upsetting it is.

I am thankful to GNHQ for eventually banning those responsible.

Callistemon

Doodledog

I haven't seen JaneAinsworth post for some time. Has anyone heard from her?

JaneAinsworth posts very rarely now, but I haven't seen her post for quite a while.
Likewise Elegran, another informative and sensible poster.

Elegran posted yesterday I believe.

That's understandable, Michael, but unless we know what constitutes an offence, how can we stay within the guidelines?

Ps
A poster could get a week's suspension and threat of a lifetime ban because they might protest about the banning of other posters and upset a moderator.
It is not necessary to break any guidelines!

Dear Michael

It's likely that we give a number of warnings and then move to a week's suspension if posts continue to break guidelines

It may be likely but it is not always strictly true.

A poster could get a week's suspension and threat of a lifetime ban because they might protest about the banning of other posters and upset a moderator.
"Moderators are people too" - so try not to upset one.
?

I am gobsmacked to be honest by it all. What possesses people to be so weird and nasty

Megs36

I really, like many others, don’t understand’banning, many months ago I got told off by HQ along with Rufus but not banned. There seems to be several regular posters missing now, isMarydoll one who no longer posts or who has been banned. There are quite a few over the last couple of years who seem to be gone . Help , I’m confused.

I'm not sure where you got that impression, from Megs36
Marydoll has been posting regularly - I have seen her posts.

Her posts are alway very kind and considerate of other posters.
She buoyed us all up last year when we were locked down and kept our brains active with her Maths threads too.

If she has been the subject of a smear campaign that is extremely unfair and I am very sorry to hear that.

I wrote a post earlier but it disappeared.

I can well understand how annoyed you are Marydoll you and I may not always agree but your posts are always fair and well balanced. I have also noted how kind you are to troubled posters.
I agree with dragonfly name and shame these cowardly posters.
Bon courage from France.

To clarify, the PMs have not been sent to me, but are circulating between other Gransnetters. However, this thread is not the place to discuss it.This is my last word on the matter. For those, who have believed in me, thank you.