Gransnet influence

Well said Ravenscroft. I agree with you. I feel the same.

Glad to be of help. Let us know what you think about u3A Canadian style, I will be joining my local one on Tuesday.

Sometimes others on here have expressed their gratitude for this group and I am always silently agreeing and not participating and this morning I am even more grateful for this forum. I am in Canada and didn't know what U3A was so googled it and found a like-chapter in my city. Ah ha! Finally I think I found something that this 67 year-old-brain needs. Many thanks all for all your ideas, knowledge and sharing.

Gransnet has certainly shown me others' points of view and some very unpleasant responses to posters' questions too. Sometimes I've felt like leaving (and I know I'm not alone in that) but a fascination with people's thoughts and ideas keeps me here.

I think I might look into U3A as some of these groups would suit my interests. Thanks for mentioning it.

I agree, Gransnet is a very interesting forum, and we hear all kinds of opinions here.

It’s sometimes easy to forget that there are all kinds of people in this world and everyone has such different perspectives.

Tolerance, diversity, and inclusivity are essential for everyone having a happy life.

I agree, some groups are better than others. I met some lovely friends at a group on scrapbooking , which has since disbanded because there are only so many scrapbooks you can make. Line dancing was good,too but bookgroup not so good because the books were boring for me and in the end I couldn’t be stuffed reading things I didn’t like.

I joined U3A when I retired 11 years ago. I still go to one group where I have met some good friends who think like me. I tried other U3A groups over the years and some I enjoyed more than others, please try it, you never know what you might learn!

Last time I joined University of the Third Age covid happened within weeks and everything, of course, stopped. I am thinking of joining again as I want to join a couple of their walking groups...

Of course, I was speaking for no one other than myself and am looking forward to meeting new people in the groups I join.

Joining a group may be exactly what you want *silverlining" but apparently, it's not for everyone as some do only go to the monthly meeting.

I don't think one person can know what is best for another person. I think just going to the meetings will suit me fine at the moment. They are not too frequent, not particularly onerous and with a chance to hear about something different each month - although you don't have to go if you are busy.

I think it’s joining the interest groups that allows people to get to know others because at the monthly meeting it’s
just 125 or so people in a room, a speaker, a cup of tea and that’s end of meeting.
I joined the final meeting just before first lockdown so had no chance to join groups. There was contact between members who knew each other from their groups but I didn’t know anyone, so next week will be my first chance and I am looking forward to it.

Agree absolutely LRavenscroft- GN entertains, informs and provokes every day. I am very grateful to it for all of the above.

I have heard many good things about U3A.

I expect at times there is hot air on the forum Doodle

My dyslexic brain read the title of this thread as Gransnet flatulence. I was wondering what it was about

How strange. I was talking about how U3A works in our market town yesterday.

The friend I was discussing it with made a point about different ways of using the group that I hadn't considered. Some people join one interest group; that is all they need. Some members attend all the monthly meetings but never join a group; others still join several groups but never to the monthly meetings.

Finding a way into an organisation that suits you makes all the difference.

I hadn't really thought about that. It explains something here. My friend,who I regard as capable and confident, has joined a computer class.She has only been once and when I asked her why she said her pal is on holiday.I couldn't understand why she just didn't go anyway. She will have missed so much but perhaps she is not as confident as I thought!

I will be joining u3A next week, have already chosen activities I would like to take part in.
As for GN I have learned quite a bit from my years on it too.

Gransnet is a real lifeline. I have had so much support on here and also in pms, as I know many people have. Of course we don't all agree on everything but I have seen people get so much support with extremely difficult problems. Lots of fun too.

We may not always agree but we certainly get a great perspective on how other feel and think which may perhaps influence our own response should we come up against a similar problem.

I’ve often felt the same LRavenscroft so thanks for putting those thoughts into words.

Hallo *LRavenscroft' and welcome. It's never' just you' and there is no such thing a silly question on here just pitch in and enjoy it. If the debate gets heated and you're uncomfortable leave that one and go on to something else.

It’s nice to hear you have gained more confidence on here and U3A. It’s true we all may have different opinions but if someone is stressed people here usually are supportive.

I belong to our local U3A and have made lots of friends and tried new things, would definitely recommend it!

Yes, I quite agree with you LRavenscroft