Why report so much ?

Doodledog

It isn't one thread, SD. We are taking about threads about trans issues. There are, and have been several in N&P, although there are many other topics in that forum too.

Yes, exactly. But it is possible to disagree and not be aggressive. It's why I refuse to post on those threads now, because 'challenging' turns into 'attacking' and some posters can't avoid turning them into personal attacks and demands for answers to questions. No one is obliged to fulfill the demands of another poster and it's crazy that anyone would think others are obliged to.

Whatever happened to agreeing to disagree and polite debate? I know it's an emotive topic, but we're adults.

I hope you're right, about the member I'm referring to not leaving. But I definitely know of others who have left. Not because of the trans forums, but due to some of the banned members constant hounding and insulting.

Welcome to Gransnet Baggytrazzas
Not the best thread to start on

It's reassuring to know that a newcomer will be alert to any of our misdemeanors on threads.

Will you be reporting anything you find amiss?

Lucca
Separately, several Gransnetters brought concerns around bullying and harassment to our attention because they have been upset by the tone set on many threads and felt reluctant to post as a result.
Direct quote from Gransnet who have an overview of all threads and all complaints.
Obviously I don't know to which thread you refer or the member who has chosen to leave, but in common with many posters I have noticed the taunting and harassment on some threads conducted by the same small group of people, and it has been both unnecessary and unpleasant.

Hi and thanks to those of you who have sent kind words of welcome and guidance. I've followed this conversation as best I can without knowing fully or at all who has or may have done what and when, and am amazed at the amount of effort that has gone into it. We should all be following the rules and its up to us as individuals to choose to report or simply ignore instances where we believe the rules have been broken. If we make a mistake then surely we should be able to apologise and then return after some time out if necessary. If we keep making the same mistakes then we should probably be told to leave and not be allowed to return. Either that or have no rules at all and just allow a free for all, which would probably result in a lot of decent folk withdrawing and all the bullies fighting with each other, which might be amusing to follow without intervening! I will now take a look at some of the other conversations and see if I can spot any of the serial misbehaviours or multiple users mentioned earlier.

Yes Chestnut I'm in favour of letting things be seen too.
I would report something if I thought it was a deliberate personal attack, tho, and let GNHQ decide what to do.
GNHQ might then see, as Michael explained, that the person has been breaking guidelines repeatedly.

Chestnut

Doodledog

Sometimes, a strongly expressed opposing view can be perceived as a personal attack when that is not the intention.

Exactly.

I don't agree. One poster deliberately attacks anyone with an opposing view and puts them down, often twists what they say to make it seem they are the bad guy. I've seen them do that to lots of posters. It always gives the thread an unpleasant tone.

Yes, that can happen on any thread, and I agree that it is nasty.

However, what FarNorth says is also true - I don't think the things are mutually exclusive.

I don't report anything. As I said, it's only right that the thread can be followed and people can judge what they read for themselves. They can then make up their own minds on what people are doing or saying to others.

If you see that Chestnut I recommend reporting it and GNHQ, as I said, should be able to decide whether it truly is a personal attack or not.

I don't agree with those who think reporting is "snitching" which shouldn't be done.
Neither does GNHQ as you'd see in Michael's post

Doodledog

*Sometimes, a strongly expressed opposing view can be perceived as a personal attack when that is not the intention.*

Exactly.

I don't agree. One poster deliberately attacks anyone with an opposing view and puts them down, often twists what they say to make it seem they are the bad guy. I've seen them do that to lots of posters. It always gives the thread an unpleasant tone.

Doodledog

It isn't one thread, SD. We are taking about threads about trans issues. There are, and have been several in N&P, although there are many other topics in that forum too.

Ah, thank you.

Lucca wrote One thread only was objected to not “some threads”

I wish Lucca would say which is the thread that she claims is the only thread.

Gagajo this is one of the things we agree on, although you and I seem to be able to disagree on some things and still get on.

I don't mind disagreeing there seems to be only two specific subjects that lead to issues for me so I go through phases of avoiding them cos I don't like the personal stuff.

Sometimes, a strongly expressed opposing view can be perceived as a personal attack when that is not the intention.

Exactly.

It isn't one thread, SD. We are taking about threads about trans issues. There are, and have been several in N&P, although there are many other topics in that forum too.

Why don't you just say which thread it is, then people could have a look?

GagaJo I sometimes stayed off 'those' threads for a day or two if there was a lot of squabbling going on but, when I looked, it always seemed to me that everyone involved was treating each other in much the same ways.
The current threads on 'those' topics have had some disagreement but have stayed civil, as far as I could see.

Sometimes, a strongly expressed opposing view can be perceived as a personal attack when that is not the intention.
I'd hope that GNHQ, as a detached observer, would be able to see the difference.

GagaJo

I think that is a bit disingenuous Doodledog. You and I know of one member that no longer posts on GN because of behaviour on some of the threads you and I have been in. There has been hounding and mocking. Not always, but at times I would regard it as bullying

You know that I no longer post on threads 'of that type' due to that kind of behaviour / posting.

It's not about being disagreed with. It is gunning for someone because others disagree with them. And the way it has been conducted at times has been unreasonable.

Let's be honest about it, at least.

I disagree with that, although as I said, I can see that it must be difficult to post knowing that you are in such a minority. Without naming names, if we are being honest, I have to say that I may be wrong, but I don't think that the poster I think you mean has left us.

Again, without rehashing old arguments, I have seen hounding and mocking coming from those who claim to be 'bullied'. I have had horrible accusations made against me, for instance, as have others.

I don't 'gun' for anyone. I agree or disagree depending on the thread. I can't think too far back, but I recently agreed with you about swearing in parks being unacceptable, and that open spaces for children to play are now often built on, for instance.

I stand by the fact that people are more robust in their replies on topics that matter to them, and when they feel under attack themselves.

eazybee

Gransnet investigated concerns raised by members around bullying and harassment which caused upset and reluctance to post because of the tone of some threads.
They found a group of posters were repeatedly breaking guidelines on 'mean-spiritedness, ganging-up behaviour and rehashing old arguments.'
So NOT 'school snitches reporting things that were clearly not their business' but people genuinely upset by the treatment they received.
The people responsible for this unpleasantness are the people who have been quite rightly suspended.

Not entirely accurate sorry
One thread only was objected to not “some threads”
An educational and witty thread
Nothing to do with politics
Nothing to do with ganging up
However some responses on this thread have caused at least one suspended poster to leave permanently. A great loss
So for some “result “

I think that is a bit disingenuous Doodledog. You and I know of one member that no longer posts on GN because of behaviour on some of the threads you and I have been in. There has been hounding and mocking. Not always, but at times I would regard it as bullying

You know that I no longer post on threads 'of that type' due to that kind of behaviour / posting.

It's not about being disagreed with. It is gunning for someone because others disagree with them. And the way it has been conducted at times has been unreasonable.

Let's be honest about it, at least.

Although I scroll through Active Topics to decide what to read (as opposed to going direct to a forum) I post most often in News and Politics, as that's what interests me most. I don't think it's fair to say that people 'gang up' on there. It is true that there are some topics on which a lot of people agree and there are only one or two dissenting voices, and I appreciate that it might feel like that when every time you post there are five others disagreeing.

Nevertheless, I don't think there is bullying. There is fighting back, when people make false accusations, or get unnecessarily personal. There are robust responses when people twist words and pretend you have said things you didn't. But I don't think that people are targeted, and nobody is 'hounded' - it's just that everyone stands by their opinions which are often deeply held. I can disagree wildly with someone about one topic and agree absolutely on another, and I'm sure others do likewise.

As I said upthread, I think that N&P has an unfair reputation for being nasty. I wish more people would get involved on political threads, so there would be a wider range of viewpoints, and there would be fewer complaints that threads are all the same people agreeing with one another - it's baffling to hear that when it's free for anyone to join in.

People say that they don't post because they fear being shot down. I don't think that happens too often, and if it does, someone will usually step in and call out the behaviour. I find that posting on there makes me think through my own views on things - knowing that you will be challenged keeps you on your toes, which is no bad thing. It may not be for everyone, and that's fair enough, but I just wanted to defend poor old N&P, as it gets a bad press without (IMO) real justification.

Gransnet investigated concerns raised by members around bullying and harassment which caused upset and reluctance to post because of the tone of some threads.
They found a group of posters were repeatedly breaking guidelines on 'mean-spiritedness, ganging-up behaviour and rehashing old arguments.'
So NOT 'school snitches reporting things that were clearly not their business' but people genuinely upset by the treatment they received.
The people responsible for this unpleasantness are the people who have been quite rightly suspended.

No idea what this is all about. I've been watching lots of tennis ???

Usual falling out stuff I suppose.

Ah - I see !
I don’t post much - but read a lot .
Thanks for replying ?

Chrissyoh I could do that but I'm expecting that they'll put in a reappearance again when they're needed!

I havent a clue. Although it's a small site and it's not hard to notice names that are missing. Or I may be watching too much Vera.

Me too honestly