Why do young non-grandparents frequent Gransnet?

A number come on because they want the opinion of 'grandparents and the over 50s' on problems in their lives. or to explain the behaviour of other people in our age group

In "real life" people don't stick rigidly to those of exactly their own vintage. They socialise freely across generations, and enjoy exchanging views on all kinds of subjects with othrs of all ages and backgrounds. We have experienced conditions and attitudes which differ from those prevailing today, and perhaps for that reason out reactions are worth hearing to younger people?

I used to too before I became a grandparent.
I didnt join though, just read.
And wouldnt have been as young as some who come here.

I welcome them.
As Elegran says, real life is different to here or any site, that I think in some ways tries to limit the ages and demographic of it's users.

Because of our lovely personalities the depth of our knowledge, our life experience and because they think we might be a softer touch than some other sites.

Well I was a granny at 46 so I would of been reading this if it had been around then!

😂 softer touch!

Activists or an attempt to garner sympathy.

To find out what their grannies are saying about them

Why do some Gransnet members (whose children are now adults) go on Mumsnnet? And mums go on sites for children?

Maybe because lives aren't in boxes and our thoughts and ideas straddle different things. We want to know what the "other side" thinks or ask what the other age group used to do - or discover if they all have similar thoughts on something - and what the concensus might be...

They may want to put an alternative view. They may think their insight can help someone older understand something.

Our life experience as mothers 30 plus years ago is different to mums now - and as M0nica says they may want the opinion of 'grandparents and the over 50s' on problems in their lives.

I think you may as well ask why do any of us use the site.

for the wisdom, experience and kindness that comes with age

We also have older people on here who are not grans.
They are welcome here!

I’m sure some do it to get an alternative perspective, the interaction is much less combative and direct compared to Mumsnet, yet the issues are very similar.

The more input we have by a variety of people the more interesting and vital Gransnet will remain. We have discussions on so many topics which affect us all. Age and whether we have children or grandchildren is irrelevant.

Why not ?
I have friends in all age groups and enjoy the different view points and experiences they have to tell and share.
I first became a Grandparent at 48 and that DGS will be 21 on Thursday.

Like others, I also have friend of all ages, and don't see older or younger ones as 'the other side' or expect them to have 'alternative' views - sometimes they have a different perspective because of life experiences, but on the whole people are individuals with minds of their own*.

I have no issue with 'younger non-grans' except when they use their comparative youth as a stick to beat us with (which not all do, of course).

Ageism is rife on Mumsnet and is getting worse on here, and is not picked up on often enough IMO. Comments about people thinking as they do because they are old, or that a point of view is held by younger people so must be more valuable just because of that are lazy and reductive, whether they are said by older or younger people.

I'm sure that there will be younger people on here who don't shout about it, too. It's only when it is used as a badge of honour that anyone knows, unless there is a thread asking for personal details and someone points out that they are only 32.

*Having said that, I can understand younger people wanting to see how MILs think, for example. I don't see my DIL as being 'the other side', but I do read threads on MN about MILs and notice the sorts of thing that annoys DILs so that I can avoid doing them if possible. IL relationships seem to be much more fraught than they used to be, and it is instructive to learn how to avoid potential conflict. Being a MIL is a learning curve, and I think that is sometimes forgotten.

Do tell us Doodledog . What things annoy DiL's in general for me to avoid?

I found Gransnet by chance after googling some worry I was having. It was to do with DD.
I knew of Mumsnet and netmums but here was the perfect forum, well actually not perfect because it's so public and you wouldn't want to give too much away.
I don't blame younger not grans yet for joining in.
Anything to get away from nappies and crying babies. although there'll be a few of those too

Foxygloves

Because of our lovely personalities the depth of our knowledge, our life experience and because they think we might be a softer touch than some other sites.

This!

And it is fine, anyone can post if they wish.

However, there does seem to have been a lot of ageism on threads lately, a certain type of impatience, discrimination, downright rudeness and name-calling about older people. Posters complaining about their elderly parents regarding them as a nuisance or someone to be ordered about if they don't behave, too which is sad. Is to a reflection of society in general, a result of drip-feeding resentments by the Intergenerational Foundation?

It all makes for uncomfortable reading to think that is how anyone over a certain age is viewed on a forum specifically aimed at older people.

Rant over, I'm off to the U3A!

Excuse typos

Ageism is rife on Mumsnet and is getting worse on here, and is not picked up on often enough IMO. Comments about people thinking as they do because they are old, or that a point of view is held by younger people so must be more valuable just because of that are lazy and reductive, whether they are said by older or younger people

I should have RTWT first because this is what I am trying to say, but Doodledog puts it more succinctly.

Callistemon21 Some of the elderly parents do sound unreasonable and quite self-centred and, as I read, I hope I don't get like that.

FarNorth

Callistemon21 Some of the elderly parents do sound unreasonable and quite self-centred and, as I read, I hope I don't get like that.

Perhaps they don't like to be told what they should or shouldn't be doing.

I don't 😁

Do tell us Doodledog . What things annoy DiL's in general for me to avoid?
Obviously it is impossible to generalise. You can read MN, though, and see if anything chimes with your own experience. Sometimes it seems like MILs can't win, but again, that's because generalisation is impossible. The big one seems to be expecting to spend a lot of time with grandchildren when they are babies, particularly if there was no similar relationship before the babies came along.

I am not getting involved in a discussion about the relationship between MILs and DILs though . It was just a comment about why one generation might look at posts on a board designed for another one.

I doubt they stay here for long, if a younger person asks about relationships or talks about in-laws they are asked if they are on the right forum or accused of not being a genuine poster.

Theexwife

I doubt they stay here for long, if a younger person asks about relationships or talks about in-laws they are asked if they are on the right forum or accused of not being a genuine poster.

But I don't think these are young Mums having a go at MILs or even their mothers although there are some who op over for an opinion.

It's (presumably younger) Gransnetters complaining about the elderly, making generalisations about older people and how they live, calling them names, making lazy assumptions and generalisations about those they consider to be "old" ie over about 75.

There just seems to be much more of it lately.