Another missing poster

A few years ago Chestnut several posters were permanently banned all at the same time.

Yes Primrose53, I have lived in North Norfolk for 50 years and with the world as it is today I'm glad that I do!! I share your views but like to think I can see two sides of an argument. It's what I enjoy about Gransnet, intelligent debate with a variety of people.

I value the range of views, some of which I disagree with. It all helps me keep in touch with the wider world and stops me being certain that I am right all the time.

I agree. Well put GrannySomerset.

I never manage to recognise old posters either, BlueBelle

BlueBelle

GrannyIvy I don’t know this at all , but from what I read in the earlier threads (now deleted) GSM made some rather nasty comments about a politician that were subsequently printed in the Daily Mail which led to her banishment ….
about Callistemon I have no idea at all I don’t remember her ever being controversial
As I said I don’t know this so it’s second hand but someone said that’s what had happened in the deleted thread

That’s not true BlueBelle
You’re making it sound like GSM wrote terrible things about a politician and it made big news in the DM.
She did not lie, she just commented.

We all know theDM (and other sources) pick up short snippets and comments from all over the place including here. So IF they did it would be literally a word or two and would likely attribute it to “a Gransnet member”. No big deal.

As for Callistemon, I have no idea what happened there but I miss her.

NotSpaghetti

I never manage to recognise old posters either, BlueBelle

They usually give themselves away in the end. It must be really difficult to pretend that you are not you. I could never keep that up.

The difficulty is that only HQ and the poster themself know exactly why someone has been banned.
If anyone, who is in the know, posts the reasons, that will be deleted. HQ don't tolerate that.

Am I the only one, who is uneasy about speculation about posters, (however well meaning or not) when they are unable to respond?

My memory might be a bit faulty here but a few years ago a new poster stirred the pot with a few anti Royal sentiments. She said she was writing a book but some of her comments were inaccurate and we called her out on them!

It then turned out that she was a journalist and it was a set up designed to provide the DM (I think) with some negative opinions of the Royals. Of course they were edited in her favour.

Since then I haven’t cared a jot about what might appear in the DM.

Our opinions might not be to everyone’s taste but they are genuine

buffyfly9

Yes Primrose53, I have lived in North Norfolk for 50 years and with the world as it is today I'm glad that I do!! I share your views but like to think I can see two sides of an argument. It's what I enjoy about Gransnet, intelligent debate with a variety of people.

Thank you Buffyfly9.
Great place to live. I was born and bred here but spent about 16 years living and working in one of the most multicultural cities in the country - Leicester.

Actually a lot of people share our views as does GSM.
I always try to consider both sides of an argument too but as soon as you mention controlled immigration (and that’s all I ask for) you get called racist, lacking compassion etc.

I am sick and tired of those who don’t even try to understand that others think differently but it doesn’t make them bad people.

I spent several years working with Ugandan Asians thrown out by Idi Amin. I interviewed them, found them employment, assisted with housing problems, visited schools where their children were sent, ate with them and attended family events.

Times were very different then, they were mainly well educated people who had documentary evidence of qualifications and they were prepared to work really hard and, of course, the population was much,much smaller. They also mostly held British passports so were coming here legally.

Very different times.

I think the days of free speech are well and truly over. I would never get personal about a poster on Gransnet or call them names just because I do not agree with what they have posted, which some posters have done. Surely you can enter into a debate without upsetting someone just because their views are different to ours.

If a poster upset me I would call them out, I would never report them because I am a believer in letting someone know who has crossed the line why I am upset.

Sometimes on the online newspaper comments, you write a comment about something in the news and then get so much horrible abuse back just because you disagree with what has been written. When that happens. I log out and never use it again because these people are just trolls out to cause upset for no reason at all.

My impression is that this latest bout stems from that post-election thread about Angela Rayner in which several posters got carried away, including GSM. That thread made the national press in an uncomplimentary way. We can’t pretend it didn’t happen. But it was nearly 2 months ago now. More than time to readmit any temporary suspensions.

Nobody that I am aware of on Gransnet has ever said they are in favour of uncontrolled immigration.

And I doubt anyone has ever called another poster racist for saying simply that.

⬇️

The above is from our dear friend *Urms^

I remember Iam getting locked out ages ago, and messaging HQ repeatedly, as, I think, did others, but it took ages for them to act. They did in the end, though, so tell Urms not to give up?

GrannyGravy13

The above is from our dear friend *Urms^

Reading that has made me so flipping angry.

What does Gransnet do for us? Absolutely nothing!

We’ve lost the book club, the Q&A sessions with celebs which often had competitions linked with good prizes, promotions and other ‘perks’.

In short, we felt valued.

Now we’re not worth a light. We offer support to each other and discuss topics which are allowed under HQ’s now draconian rules. That’s about it!

What’s the point when we’re treated like naughty kids or even worse- ga ga old biddies. 😡

I asked GNHQ for help to change my email address, because it no longer worked (Thanks Virgin Media), they have ignored me.

I have been incommunicado for a couple of days, so arrive at this thread on page 6. I have tried to read through some of the back pages, but not all. so apologies f I am repeating something someone else has said.

When GNHQ make decisions about banning etc. I do think they should take into account, not just the post that has caused offence (unless it is quite law breakingly dreadful, for example really vile racism) and look at that posters long term contribution to GN.

An obvious example of this is GSM. She has given so much help and information to so many people over the years which has been really helpful, and I do think if thinking about a ban, all that we would lose by her absence should be taken into account.

As for quotes in the press, well, none of us invite the press to quote us and it is not that it is unique for the press to bear down on a group of people, whether teenagers, students, young mums or us and quote excerpts from letters, posts, or verbal interviews and then edit them in a partial manner that makes that group look nasty and prejudiced.

It is something politicians are always complaining about. Why GN HQ should start having the vapours and taking to their chaises longues with smelling salts, just because now and again someone says something nasty about them or too them, defeats me. They should learn to be as robust as most of GN members, who over long lifetimes have learned to take the rough with the smooth.

In a few weeks they will be asking us for suggestions to improve the site...

again 🤔

I always end up feeling as if I am a MN/GN cheerleader on these threads but, I very much doubt MN would be impacted by adverse publicity. They hosted the gender discussions despite advertisers pulling their support, and nonsensical claims about MN being a hotbed of radicalisation across social media. They actually have supported free speech more than most online forums.

winterwhite

My impression is that this latest bout stems from that post-election thread about Angela Rayner in which several posters got carried away, including GSM. That thread made the national press in an uncomplimentary way. We can’t pretend it didn’t happen. But it was nearly 2 months ago now. More than time to readmit any temporary suspensions.

Don’t think anybody is pretending it didn't happen but it was very minor. Can anybody confirm it’s true anyway?
I never saw it.

I agree that a couple of months is more than enough time to reinstate someone.

Primrose53

winterwhite

My impression is that this latest bout stems from that post-election thread about Angela Rayner in which several posters got carried away, including GSM. That thread made the national press in an uncomplimentary way. We can’t pretend it didn’t happen. But it was nearly 2 months ago now. More than time to readmit any temporary suspensions.

Don’t think anybody is pretending it didn't happen but it was very minor. Can anybody confirm it’s true anyway?
I never saw it.

I agree that a couple of months is more than enough time to reinstate someone.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/14/reducing-labour-women-to-the-sum-of-their-outfits-is-suddenly-all-the-rage

Chestnut

I'm afraid this is what happens when people report another poster. They disappear. There has been a lot of reporting it seems and that can only be a bad thing. It will change the dynamics of the site and turn it into an echo chamber.

That's an unfair comment. Obviously reporting someone maliciously is wrong. But sometimes there is good reason to report a poster, and creating a culture where people are expected to put up with bullying, spiteful comments or nastiness (not talking about GSM, Callistemon etc) because reporting is disapproved of, is very ill advised.

I have had a reply from GNHQ since reporting Gg13's post.

It said they are checking things out behind the scenes.

kittylester

I have had a reply from GNHQ since reporting Gg13's post.

It said they are checking things out behind the scenes.

Good 👍🏻

GSM got carried away on that day, as it was unlike her usual posting style. Voicing a remark about the appearance of a female politico is certainly not an egregious crime. It is an "opinion" People are entitled to hold opinions - even if they deeply offend others.