Typical Gransnetter

Maybe most Gransnetters feel, like me, fortunate in some ways and not so fortunate in some ways. That's life I think.

Maybe the typical GNer is rather more on the fortunate side than the unfortunate.
People surely tend to post more about their troubles and heartaches.

They don’t tend to post saying, Gosh, I’m so lucky - I’m in good health with a lovely dh, adorable grandchildren, no money worries and I get on fine with my adult children - do they?

And I suspect that quite a few don’t post about personal matters very much, if at all.

Surely a typical gransnetter is just somebody who is a grandparent and posts on this site.

Simple definition.

I think Varian is a typical gransnetter. No offence meant to you Varian but I feel that most gnetters have no ideas what is happening in the real world.
And thats not a bad thing because when you know you can’t not know, it that’s makes sense.

MerylStreep, Why on earth would you think that Varian or anyone else has no idea of what goes on in the real world? Maybe they/we are all too aware, but prefer to keep their GN contributions relatively lighthearted.

I found your post patronising in the extreme.

I don’t think Varian was being smug at all. Simply saying that she feels very lucky. I too am very grateful to have a loving and supportive family, good friends and enjoy a very pleasant social life. That’s not to say everything is rosy, we all have our up, downs , trials and problems. Also different hobbies and interests.

Some posters feel able to post about all their illnesses and families problems. and that’s fine . I hope it helps them to deal with them. Others as in ‘real life’ would rather not discuss certain things.

Therefore it is impossible in my view to say what or who is a typical GNter

Doodledog

Flak jacket? Check.

Tape on the windows? Check.

Tin hat, gas mask, ration book? Check, check, check. . . . . . .

😂

This Gransnetter knows exactly what's going on in the real world. Unfortunately.

Although I have lived for all my life in the real world, I have not suffered the worst of misfortunes which the real world has inflicted on some others, unlike some Gransnetters who have been dealt a bad hand of cards.

Those of us who have lived a long life without suffering dire misfortune must count our blessings.

I do not think the typical Gransnetter is smug, any more than I am.

Perhaps those of us who have lived through changing times and post on GN are, on the whole, more fortunate than others of our age - or maybe not.

During my time on GN I have read of many misfortunes and realise how fortunate I have been.

Gratitude is not the same as smugness

Gratitude is not the same as smugness no it isn't varian. It's a good thing to count your blessings and to be thankful for what's good in your life .

I didn't think you were smug at all Varian. It's good that you've had a relatively fortunate time in life. I suspect that most of us have had ups and downs to a greater or lesser extent through life. Some very bad downs at times. However, grandchildren are a blessing and a wonderful distraction at times from the bad, sad things going on in the world.

unlike some Gransnetters who have been dealt a bad hand of cards

Ah but it’s not the hand you are dealt but how you play the cards.

It depends how many bad hands you've been dealt Foxygloves. Most of us can take so much before we break.
I don't think you are smug varian. Good for you if your life has been happy.

I don't think Varian is being smug. She is saying that she has been lucky. Full marks to her for being aware that she has been lucky. Her saying so doesn't take anything away from those who have not been so lucky.

She is NOT being like Foxygloves Pharisee who prayed "I think thee God that I am not as other men are" - He was pleased with himself for being better than others, not being a thief or murderer or swindler, but a man who could look at others and criticise their faults because he was good and kept all the commandments, gave to the poor, etc etc.

That is quite different to Varian saying that she has been fortunate and not suffered some of the things that are posted about about on the forum. Illness, disability, bereavement, betrayal, conflict in relationships, loneliness, depression, poverty. Those unfortunate things happened to people - they were not sins that they were virtuous enough to not have committed!

I could echo her post. I have lived to a good age without chronic or acute illness (apart from BC which was sorted out by one operation) I had a happy childhood with loving and sensible parents, and 50 years of a happy marriage before I was widowed, my children and grandchildren have no broken relationships or major health problems, I have enough money to live reasonably comfortably, enough interests to fill my life and friends and family to prevent me getting too lonely (of course I would like to see more of everyone, but they have their own lives and their own families to fit into their time)

I am aware that not everyone who reaches my age can say the same. Is it smug to say that I am grateful to whatever controls my fate for all my blessings?

I suspect those few who have criticised the OP for posting that she was grateful to have been so fortunate, and accused her of smugness and so on, are doing so because they are resentful of her good luck in the lottery of life.

We have no control over what numbers we draw in that lottery. Good things happening to one person haven't been stolen from someone else, just as bad things happening to one person don't mean that they can't happen to anyone else.

Foxygloves

^unlike some Gransnetters who have been dealt a bad hand of cards^

Ah but it’s not the hand you are dealt but how you play the cards.

I think that is a bit unfair, honestly. Some people do have it much harder than others, however they play the cards. Your comment did sound smug, I must say.

In your long post Elegran you have overlooked the fact that the premise, indeed the title, of the thread was about a typical Gransnetter, nothing to do with gratitude.

The OP say she doesn't think of herself as a typical gransnetter because she's been fortunate.

It seems no one else thinks they're typical either!

I'e had some horrible times but as they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger .

I've always had a fantastic husband and kids and can honestly say I'm happier and more content than I've ever been.Despite the odd family worry .
I always thought thats just how life is ,you dont let the begger grind you down .
I'm happy you haven't had difficult times Varian but you know what? I dont think you really appreciate the good times if its always been good ,you need something to measure it against .

Ah but it’s not the hand you are dealt but how you play the cards

Bo***cks!.

Nothing wrong with being grateful and happy. A lot of my life has been nightmare-ish but I'm still here, albeit a bit battered. I don't begrudge anyone who has had a happy life. I can't imagine what it's like but they are lucky.

varian

I do not think of myself as a typical Gnetter beacause I am a very fortunate Granny in many ways.

When I read other Gnetter's stories it makes me realise how fortunate I am.

Who is the typical Gransnetter?

For me, this comes across as a little patronising. On reading it I am reminded of the posters on Facebook who are 'Blessed' because they consider themselves to be luckier than the rest of us in having holidays, grandchildren, being 'worth' it etc. 'Oh, you poor soul, look at me. I am so lucky'. In truth if you have had to face tough times and been rounded off like a stone that has had water action, it makes you much more understanding to the ups and downs of life because you have been there and had to face the music. Is there a typical Gransnetter? We seem to be a wonderful large eclectic community of wise and experienced people and I for one am very glad I found this group and it keeps me sane when surrounded by the great 'ooh, look what we have and do' of this world.

I don't know what a typical gransnetter is...
I know I feel fortunate to have the time to come and read stuff on here when others are out working or looking after sick family etc... so I suppose gransnetters must at least have some time to themselves or they wouldn't be here.

I think I've lived a pretty ordinary life. Not sure that makes me typical though.

A typical gransnetter is white, female, short in stature, rotund of figure, white haired and wears a benign smile at all times, even when she's been mugged by a stereotypical hoody who nicks her pension when she's coming out of the Post Office. She wears thick, wrinkly lisle stockings, sensible shoes and a cross over penny over her crumpled elasticated slacks. She attends evensong every week, is a keen and active member of the WI and spends her afternoon knitting shreddies.

merlotgran

^Ah but it’s not the hand you are dealt but how you play the cards^

Bo***cks!.

We'll just have to agree to differ then
I have no desire to play competitive misery memoirs with anybody, but it would be strange to have reached our 8th decade without some bereavement, illness or indifferent health, perhaps financial worries emotional trauma but what differentiates us is how we cope. Look at women in the two world wars- they were dealt a crap hand, often losing sons as well as a husband, maybe their homes too, struggling to bring up a family without the health and social benefits of the 20th century. Think of the people of Ukraine or any war zone around the world.
So I dont agree its bo**ocks but just life.

I don’t think there is such a thing as a typical GNetter.
Sorry OP.