Are you too scared to post what you really think?

I wouldn’t vote Reform if they were the only party on Gods earth I despise racism and misogyny and liars

Of course the real judge of what is written on this thread is:

Will anyone admit that they are going to vote Reform?

No, I am not, I will probably vote Lib Dem because that is what I always do.

SporeRB My posts are littered with typos and my proof reading is not good, Sometimes. I think four words and type to, so the occasional post does come out almost incoherent.

Yet, I have rarely had anyone make invidious comments and if they do I simply say that it is because I have dyspraxia and he mental side of this problem seems to be getting worse as I get older.

Annsixty I was like you soon after I first joined I left for a period of time because I was put down by a member whose no longer with us and I shrunk back into my shell after probably a year I decided to try again and have been here ever since about ten or eleven years I think
I speak as I would to a persons face I don’t go out of my way to be hard but I m not a ‘there there all will be ok’ person either I think I m fairly realistic and I do try to be fair too

Agree

Likewise, as Voltaire says .

Thankyou very much and I support your kind words and as Voltaire says..etc

Well said as usual Doodledog.

I often felt that I have entered the Twilight Zone or a parallel universe at Gransnet. Some of the comments on immigrants and Muslims are quite shocking and literally ‘out of this world’.

I rarely post nowadays. Not because I am scared to say what I think. More to do with the fact that I am very aware that my grammar is rather poor and most likely will offend some people.

It takes so much effort for me to even draft a reply to a post that it is far easier for me to simply not bother.

In real life, I am very friendly and will talk to complete strangers on any topics under the sky. Even when the male taxi drivers get a bit cheeky and talk about sex, I don’t get offended at all.

Doodledog

I think it’s a shame if people don’t give opinions because of fear. That’s how dictators get power. If more people joined in ‘difficult’ threads they would dilute the stronger voices.

I do post on gender threads for instance, because I fear for our daughters and granddaughters if the current situation continues. Yes, I have had horrible things said, but after the sting of being called a Nazi or compared to the KKK wears off (fairly quickly, as it is so obviously untrue ) the insults are just words on a page.

We are all different, but I have a core belief that nobody should let others do all the work, and this applies to defending the truth as you see it as much as to pulling your weight however you can in other areas of life. Sitting back and watching others take the flak is not my style.

Also, if we don’t hear different opinions ours will never change, and I am open to change if I am persuaded I am wrong. I agree that you trap more flies with honey though - there are ways of getting a point across that don’t involve insults or twisting of words, and I always try to be polite, even though I don’t always stay as patient as I might.

There ^ right there.

I always attempt polite, because why be rude? But patience when others are obviously daft to my clever? Different matter!

As usual, Doodledog articulately explains.

I think it’s a shame if people don’t give opinions because of fear. That’s how dictators get power. If more people joined in ‘difficult’ threads they would dilute the stronger voices.

I do post on gender threads for instance, because I fear for our daughters and granddaughters if the current situation continues. Yes, I have had horrible things said, but after the sting of being called a Nazi or compared to the KKK wears off (fairly quickly, as it is so obviously untrue ) the insults are just words on a page.

We are all different, but I have a core belief that nobody should let others do all the work, and this applies to defending the truth as you see it as much as to pulling your weight however you can in other areas of life. Sitting back and watching others take the flak is not my style.

Also, if we don’t hear different opinions ours will never change, and I am open to change if I am persuaded I am wrong. I agree that you trap more flies with honey though - there are ways of getting a point across that don’t involve insults or twisting of words, and I always try to be polite, even though I don’t always stay as patient as I might.

When I first joined GN I was hurt by the replies I got to one of my postings and actually left it for a while but then thought 'Why should I' so I posted how I'd felt and someone privately messaged me to apologise which I appreciated.

Since then, I couldn't care less how, what, why or when I post. Its the same names who are 'spiky' with their answers, others are 'kind' but you get to know the ones who are 'spoiling for a fight' straight away.

How many of these names are Bots ?

Nan0

Here goes then, I really don't want to upset gransnetters, but I think these pro Palestinian marches should be banned, and I support Israel as I think October 7th attack by Hamas was sheer unadulterated evil

"I wholly disagree with what you say but will contend to the death for your right to say it."

Voltaire (Translated from the French)

Before anybody starts, this is not to say I support Hamas. I don't.

I have always been prepared to stand up and be counted, in real life and on GN, although, since I have never had a post removed by GN, that I can remember, I have not overstepped the line.

I find standing up and being counted, whether bullies at work, or anywhere else causes far less trouble than being intimidated by people, to my face or in print.

Whitewavemark2

*I steer clear of estrangement, gender and royal threads, which seem to be where there is most personal conflict, and it’s a lot less stressful not to get involved at all*

And me! I am astounded at some comments that people direct at others. It is dreadful, particularly as they have no idea of that persons background or mental state. It really is appalling.

Totally understand this , there are some people who jump on posts & in defending yourself you become embroiled without starting out with that intention.
So , yes there are many things that I would like to post , but have learnt to hold my tongue on . Which isn’t who I am , I am someone who will say if something isn’t right and yes even if it offends as sometimes others are far to sensitive.
Also these days you can’t say all manner of things without offending one person or another !

Think it's understandable and sad that these days you can hold back for fear of reprisals , I used to speak my truths in situations but now very careful - especially if know my address. Even when driving eg an idiot pulled out in front of me but I didn't peep as would have done because car had youths in it........it kind of provoked fear
But if you can't speak truth here I guess what's the point x

On here I've always felt safe to put my true opinions on any subject. Same with OH and DAC. With real life friends, even close friends, I never discuss religion or politics as I feel they both can cause a rift or upset the friend. My family are open minded and tolerant to ideas different from theirs and respect others views. OH and I agree to disagree on many subjects but it never causes arguments.
On gransnet if I get rude replies (which is rare) I can just stop reading that thread. Not so easy in real life.

rocketship

Some interesting viewpoints.

I can deal better with people I know when or if they verbally 'attack' me - but complete strangers, which we all are on here to each other - is for some reason more difficult. It should be the opposite though. We don't know each other, so what the heck does it matter!

There's one or two posters whose strong opinions I sometimes find quite shocking - and I certainly oppose them - yet I can still respect the poster. In the same way I absolutely loathed Margaret Thatcher's ideology, but I respected her absolute unswerving dedication to it. If that makes sense?

Galaxy

Rocket ship, there is a section called getting started on GN, in that section is a list of the acronyms.
DH means dear husband, DS means dear son, etc.

Thanks Galaxy!! I'll try to find it.

Some of us deal with shouting & screaming better than hurtful words though.(because that's obviously the person's problem & you respect them less & don't value their opinion). Words can hurt,of course they can, even typed on gransnet. Especially if you're someone who doesn't have all that much face-to-face contact on an ordinary day.

Here goes then, I really don't want to upset gransnetters, but I think these pro Palestinian marches should be banned, and I support Israel as I think October 7th attack by Hamas was sheer unadulterated evil

I think it is more about do you NEED to say what you think?
there is a difference between thinking and saying. I have strong views about many things but do people NEED to know my thoughts ?

I don't post a lot, or often, but when i do post I speak my mind.

If someone wants to answer me, and have a go at me then that is up to them. We are all big boys and girls, free to speak our minds, this is 2024, not 1984.

So come on WT, if you have something to say, say it, the only thing you are likely to get back is words, and they can't hurt you unless you let them do so.

Unless anyone has passed on information, we are all anonymous, it's not as if someone will come knocking on your shouting and screaming in your faces.

Dickens

Joseann

Dickens I remember a big pile on I experienced on a M & H thread when I said Meghan was history now! I was accused of threatening a living person, and on cue additional posters pitched in over several pages. Luckily, half a dozen more sensible posters came to my rescue, and fortunately they are the ones still on GN whereas the others disappeared! So thank you,
Oreo
Callistemon
25Avalon
MerylStreep
as I recall.
If something like this still comes to mind, after possibly 18 months, I can see why some posters are scared to open themselves up to bullying if they post something expressing any criticism.

... oh!

But, saying someone is "history" surely is a phrase that lots of people use about those who are considered no longer relevant .

It takes some stretch of the imagination to translate that as a threat! But obviously others must've thought something similar if they joined in the pile-on.

Perhaps it was misunderstood by someone who does not understand English idioms?