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Wrist slapping

(55 Posts)
Babs03 Thu 15-Aug-24 20:23:54

Have not been on this site for long but have already noticed that members sometimes like to do a spot of wrist slapping with regard to certain comments. The thing is we all have our own opinions and like to voice them but one person's opinion isn't any better or worse than the next person's. And cheap digs or insults are a sign of someone who cannot think of anything constructive or intelligent to say.
And if someone posts something others think is trivial but the poster finds upsetting don't just dismiss this, is not for us to dictate how a person should feel.
I am probably as guilty as others of indulging in some of the above but after having my wrist slapped today took a long hard look at how I respond.

Cossy Thu 15-Aug-24 20:28:03

I know it’s wrong, but sometimes certain comments can trigger people, like me, and we respond in haste.

Cossy Thu 15-Aug-24 20:28:45

Oooh Babs, who slapped your wrist and how very date they! grin

Babs03 Thu 15-Aug-24 20:29:37

Cossy

I know it’s wrong, but sometimes certain comments can trigger people, like me, and we respond in haste.

I have been guilty of that too but I am trying to step back a bit before taking the proverbial bull by the horns.

Babs03 Thu 15-Aug-24 20:31:38

Cossy

Oooh Babs, who slapped your wrist and how very date they! grin

😂 was nothing this old trout can’t take but made me think.

Marydoll Thu 15-Aug-24 20:43:50

Sometimes, when you are new to a site, it is better to take it slowly, get the lie of the land and get to know posters, before diving right in.
When I first joined many moons ago, I was a prolific poster, because I was excited to find this site. Then common sense prevailed.

Many of we long time posters have experienced wrist slapping and have probably also done it ourselves.
Our responses may be depend on our mood, may be a knee jerk reaction or we have been slapped by that particular poster ourselves.

Recently I reacted strongly to a thread, which I found extremely trivial. I was experiencing high levels of pain, and thought I wish I only had that to worry about, what a lot of nonsense!
We never know what is actually going on in posters' lives.

What I am going to say now is intended to be tongue in cheek
Your comment:
And if someone posts something others think is trivial but the poster finds upsetting don't just dismiss this, is not for us to dictate how a person should feel.
does sound a bit like preaching and telling us how to behave. wink

Marydoll Thu 15-Aug-24 20:47:30

That was not meant to be a wrist slap, just my opinion, which may be trivial.

merlotgran Thu 15-Aug-24 21:00:16

I suppose it depends on how you define wrist slapping. It can be hurtful but I’d rather somebody took a swipe at me publicly so I could deal with the issue, than pressed that blasted report button - which is getting rather too much use at the moment.

maddyone Thu 15-Aug-24 21:15:42

There are a lot of deletions at the moment merlotgran, but I’m guilty of using it this week due to a horrible personal attack on myself about something that is very personal, upsetting, and unsolvable at the moment. I thought what was said to me to be more than merely unpleasant, but I felt it was truly horrible.
It was deleted.
As Marydoll says, we never know what is going on in other member’s lives, and even if it is mentioned, we don’t know the degree of pain that poster is experiencing.

Babs03 Thu 15-Aug-24 21:16:46

Marydoll

Sometimes, when you are new to a site, it is better to take it slowly, get the lie of the land and get to know posters, before diving right in.
When I first joined many moons ago, I was a prolific poster, because I was excited to find this site. Then common sense prevailed.

Many of we long time posters have experienced wrist slapping and have probably also done it ourselves.
Our responses may be depend on our mood, may be a knee jerk reaction or we have been slapped by that particular poster ourselves.

Recently I reacted strongly to a thread, which I found extremely trivial. I was experiencing high levels of pain, and thought I wish I only had that to worry about, what a lot of nonsense!
We never know what is actually going on in posters' lives.

What I am going to say now is intended to be tongue in cheek
Your comment:
And if someone posts something others think is trivial but the poster finds upsetting don't just dismiss this, is not for us to dictate how a person should feel.
does sound a bit like preaching and telling us how to behave. wink

That's ok, if I ever sound pompous it is worth mentioning.

merlotgran Thu 15-Aug-24 21:23:14

maddyone

There are a lot of deletions at the moment merlotgran, but I’m guilty of using it this week due to a horrible personal attack on myself about something that is very personal, upsetting, and unsolvable at the moment. I thought what was said to me to be more than merely unpleasant, but I felt it was truly horrible.
It was deleted.
As Marydoll says, we never know what is going on in other member’s lives, and even if it is mentioned, we don’t know the degree of pain that poster is experiencing.

Personal attacks are unforgivable and should be reported but it’s the trivial foot stamping that’s getting tedious.

We’re losing some good posters as a result.

Marydoll Thu 15-Aug-24 21:39:03

That's ok, if I ever sound pompous it is worth mentioning.,
I would never call someone out for being pompous, I know my own failings, but certainly will, if I think someone is being unkind or vicious.

The only reporting I do is regarding those blooming scammer threads! 🤬

There are many kind posters on GN, who outnumber the unpleasant ones, that is worth remembering. Having been hurt in the past, I avoid certain threads and posters.

maddyone Thu 15-Aug-24 23:23:22

I’ve just had a message from a poster on here who has just de registered tonight, she has sent me an email. She was deleted yesterday, for the first time ever, and is hurt. She is never controversial or rude and this coupled with another poster I’m in contact with who had been banned, well it’s making me think. GSM has disappeared, presumed by other posters to have been banned. I think I’ve had enough of this. Two days I was attacked personally as I mentioned in my previous post. GN is unpleasant at the moment and posters who are not controversial are disappearing, one by one. I’m feeling quite upset by all this and considering my own position.
Maybe I’ll be deleted for saying this.

Marydoll Thu 15-Aug-24 23:42:32

maddyone you sound really upset, but please don't let them drive you off, we need good people like you on here.
Unfortunately, anonymity allows the bullies to flourish and some (myself included) are no longer robust enough to fight back! There are posters, who seem to hone in on the vulnerable posters, in an attempt to drive them off.

Debbi58 Fri 16-Aug-24 00:32:31

When you load gransnet, it's says , the online site for advice and support. Which it was a few years ago. But for some reason this has changed , I've noticed it myself . Maybe over the last 6 months . Some members have been, harsh , judgemental, and even spiteful. It's put me off posting anymore, it's a shame .

rafichagran Fri 16-Aug-24 00:33:57

Maddy Dont let them get to you. The poster who wrote the personal comments is not worth it.
It is not clever or nice to use someone's personal upset to make a point. In fact it is a cheap shot.
Keep posting, if posters like you go it will be tedious, we want as many view points as possible. I want to say more but it will be deleted.

Marthjolly1 Fri 16-Aug-24 00:58:45

Maddyone - I had wondered where GSM had gone. She has always been so generous to anyone who needed some legal advice. She will be much missed if banned. I do hope not

MayBee70 Fri 16-Aug-24 01:11:17

I think we’ve all at one time said something that other people have found hurtful or insensitive.

biglouis Fri 16-Aug-24 01:13:01

I suppose it depends on how you define wrist slapping. It can be hurtful but I’d rather somebody took a swipe at me publicly so I could deal with the issue, than pressed that blasted report button - which is getting rather too much use at the moment

No one respects a grasser.

MayBee70 Fri 16-Aug-24 01:17:58

Do you honestly think that HQ bans people just because someone has reported them? Please credit them with some integrity.

HelterSkelter1 Fri 16-Aug-24 06:04:16

I expect some posters just take a break from posting. I doubt if they disappear from GN altogether as it's too addictive...unless personal circumstances change.
Some threads are so interesting with different points of view and much useful information, but the snapping and snarling on some is laughable. And so personal for a site which must host many thousands of readers.

Calendargirl Fri 16-Aug-24 06:31:35

if I ever sound pompous, it is worth mentioning

You did, actually.

Marydoll Fri 16-Aug-24 06:56:56

MayBee70

Do you honestly think that HQ bans people just because someone has reported them? Please credit them with some integrity.

Without meaning to be rude, Maybe, I think you are a little naive.
Previously, I have been aware of posters, targeting a poster by consistently reporting, in order to get rid of them.
Unfortunately, there has been little consistency among inexperienced moderators in the past, which hasn't helped.

I once begged ĢHNQ over a weekend, despite other posters trying to support me by reporting, to stop a poster, who kept attacking me, they ignored all the reports or there was no-one there. I lost all faith in them and gave up posting for a time.

biglouis, not everyone is as robust as you. Some posting on here are very fragile and relentless targeting of a poster, can affect their mental health.

Vintagejazz Fri 16-Aug-24 07:08:27

I think Gransnet is like most online forums. The vast majority of posters are decent and polite people. But there is a very vocal minority who are rude, cutting and unable to accept other viewpoints. Because they post so frequently they set the tone and sadly discourage more pleasant and often more interesting and enjoyable people from remaining on the site. Many of them seem to get frequent bans and then return chortling about having been on the 'norty' step. They just seem to lack awareness of how much upset they cause to other posters who just want to engage civilly in interesting conversations without having to tolerate blistering put downs, extreme grumpiness and hurtful personal comments.

MayBee70 Fri 16-Aug-24 07:10:24

Imo ( or should I say in my naive opinion) being a moderator is a pretty thankless task. I hadn’t realised that the moderators on gransnet were inexperienced.