Are you too scared to post what you really think?

Hi everyone I’m not scared to post what I like and yes like most folks I can get it wrong so please forgive me and I apologise for any hurts that I may have posted. Take care my friends and do not be afraid

I have never been good with names. Here they are basically names devoid of other clues.
I'm not sure that I would "recognise" more than a dozen of us after some years here.
If anyone's offended me I certainly don't remember who!

I’m not scared as such but I do find the patronising attitude of some posters very irritating. They seem to have no idea how sneery they sound but I wouldn’t say anything in RL so wouldn’t say anything on here.

Glad she’s gone, too, GSM . It was quite noticeable. Onwards and upwards now, as they say.

One particularly nasty poster has disappeared. I suspect banned. She tended to make a beeline for me for some reason and it was very unpleasant.

Unfortunately there are a small number of posters who are really unpleasant to anyone with whom they disagree. I finally did report one such poster who came in with a jackboot at pretty much everything I said. Even another poster commented on it. I believe that poster was warned. It’s sad that this sort of thing happens, but some on here, just like in real life, can’t stand any view other than their own.

I’m not sure why anyone is “scared” of posting what they really think unless what they really think would be offensive to many or illegal.

Scared? Moi? Definitely not. Like Primrose I’ve had plenty of PM’s from members who share my sentiments but aren’t robust enough to post them.

I only dip in and out of GN occasionally though but do sometimes read the estrangement and AIBU threads and some of the downright nasty comments shock even me. There are one or two posters, in fact one in particular, that can be relied upon to jump in and say something nasty every time. I can understand it on the political threads but can’t fathom why some seem to delight in piling in on someone who’s already upset about a personal matter.

Mostly I think people on here are reasonable . I often disagree with certain ones but I don’t mind reading why they think like they do. Still disagree with them, of course! There are always a couple around who are pains in the proverbial but that’s life, isn’t it ? Have to say the real psycho pains seem to have disappeared, for which I am thankful.

By they, I mean spam.

Nope. They annoy me too much.

fancythat

petra

fancythat

This may be the thread to say something, or repeat what I have just written elsewhere.

If it is made to be "bad form" to respond to threads that are dodgy, even if a poster is" bored" or "wants some fun", then there may just be less spam threads.
There may be not. But worth a try in my opinion.

Here’s an idea, why not just ignore them 🤷‍♀️

Not sure whether you mean me ignore, or someone else ignore.

I personally would like all spam to disappear and never ever reappear.

As you are talking in the first person the answer is you ignore.

I enjoy dipping in and out of Gransnet and post infrequently.

There are lots of posters who gain enormous benefit, knowledge and enjoyment from this site and long may that continue.

I enjoy watching the online friendships develop and, yes, some posters are closer to each other than others but I think that’s due to shared experiences, or frequency of posting. I don’t think there are cliques.

I have been subject to attack on several occasions by one particular poster who, in my view is very unpleasant, but she doesn’t scare me and won’t stop me posting.

karmalady

no not at all scared but I quickly learnt to keep my mouth zipped, when I realised that there were a few horrible, self-centred and self-important opinionated people on GN with nothing better to do than sit here all day and take people apart

Life is too short for all that. I am a positive person and will keep my thoughts to myself

Thank you, karmalady: you expressed what I was too afraid to say. It is heartening to know that I am not alone.

I am sure most GNs know the difference between lively debate, difference of opinion and what you describe.

I hope I have answered your question MOnica

I’m not scared to express views on news/politics. I’m very cautious on estrangement threads but occasionally comment though never from a personal point of view. I try not to respond to HnM threads but sometimes fail!
I enjoy reading the different view points

petra

fancythat

This may be the thread to say something, or repeat what I have just written elsewhere.

If it is made to be "bad form" to respond to threads that are dodgy, even if a poster is" bored" or "wants some fun", then there may just be less spam threads.
There may be not. But worth a try in my opinion.

Here’s an idea, why not just ignore them 🤷‍♀️

Not sure whether you mean me ignore, or someone else ignore.

I personally would like all spam to disappear and never ever reappear.

karmalady surely positive posts are welcome here??
We need positivity.

The debate I hate is the one purporting to be about facts but offering no evidence - or starting off factually incorrect (eg politician x said y...).

There are plenty of opinion/chat type threads -
- what shall I wear on a 70th birthday cruise?
- which stick vacuum is best for pets?
- how old were you when...?
I can't help thinking that non-facty people might find those threads preferable and should move over there . Obviously I'd never say that outloud!!

I know it's not ^ just^ me - but I do like to get the "fact" bit right as far as I can. It's really hard to discuss anything with anyone if they refuse to engage with facts.

I know that some facts won't always support my argument and would admit that on a thread if presented with them. I do get frustrated with the lack of nuance though.

I often start to write a post but then delete as I realise nobody is very interested in what I have to say.

no not at all scared but I quickly learnt to keep my mouth zipped, when I realised that there were a few horrible, self-centred and self-important opinionated people on GN with nothing better to do than sit here all day and take people apart

Life is too short for all that. I am a positive person and will keep my thoughts to myself

fancythat

This may be the thread to say something, or repeat what I have just written elsewhere.

If it is made to be "bad form" to respond to threads that are dodgy, even if a poster is" bored" or "wants some fun", then there may just be less spam threads.
There may be not. But worth a try in my opinion.

Here’s an idea, why not just ignore them 🤷‍♀️

This may be the thread to say something, or repeat what I have just written elsewhere.

If it is made to be "bad form" to respond to threads that are dodgy, even if a poster is" bored" or "wants some fun", then there may just be less spam threads.
There may be not. But worth a try in my opinion.

Surely the purpose of a site like this is to learn about the views of others. It's good to see things from another perspective. We all have different experiences and this affects our outlook on life and our opinions.
For instance, many people spend their whole lives living in one town and inter-acting with the same group of people. Their views are bound to be different from someone who has travelled a lot and has knowledge of life in other parts of the country/world.
It still amazes me how naive so many people are, including politicians. It shows what narrow little lives they have lived.

Well, if you put your opinions into the public domain you have to take on board that some people won't agree with you.
Criticism stings but you have to brace yourself and take it on the chin - everyone is entitled to their own opinion and has the right to make their views known.
But was IS unnaceptable is criticism just for the sake of it with no feasible justification to back up the rhetoric.

biglouis

Agree 100% GSM.

On another thread someone posted that there were "schoolyard bullies" on Gransnet. At least with bullies you can see them and face them out.

Too many cowardly snitches running to teacher because they are too weak to engage in a robust debate.

I've been 'put down' a couple of times, possibly deserved, who knows really, and smarted a little because of it.

I have not though experienced nor witnessed any bullying.

Some posters are direct and don't pussyfoot around their views - but that is not bullying is it? Challenging an opinion is not a personal attack.

If you post on social media and give an opinion for the public to see, you have to surely accept that someone might question it?

You know what they say about the heat in the kitchen...