Is intolerance getting worse on GN?

I don't recall anyone saying that Mr Johnson looked like a rent boy.

Personally - I simply don't go in for labelling people "left" and "right" - even in my own head. They just are.......

Goodness knows I've probably been (mis)labelled every political hue going over the years and yet my basic views haven't changed much I'd say. So I tend to think people label others politically according to how they personally think - and not in accordance with how that person thinks. Goodness knows the exact same person can hold very different views on very different topics.

I can certainly think of people who have been personally nasty on here - including to me - and I havent reported them (just thought "Be a better person than them"). I'm more of a "Oh it's her again....scroll on by" sorta person basically.

I do think Society has been getting way more "divided - and vocal about it" over the last few years. Though there is one viewpoint (held by a lot of women and I've never noticed a man holding it) that would cause screams of outrage - by women/always by women - if one puts it up on a forum even before the last few years - but it thankfully doesnt come up on one for this agegroup of women (whew!).

Now admits to wondering if there's an equivalent forum for men anywhere and it would be interesting to see how it differs from this (female-oriented) one.

Magenta8

Here goes.....In my opinion, GN hit an all time low with the thread about the Deputy Prime Minister's clothes last July (2024). There were 1,000 posts including one that stated that she "looked like a tart". Admittedly, not all the posts were critical of the DPM but a large number chose to denigrate her and to vilify any posters who defended her.

I don't know if I have contravened GN rules by alluding to a previous post; please feel free to report me if I have.

No that's not fair!
The thread was in Chat.
The two posts about AR's boobs and tarty look were rightly pulled up and, I think one was deleted.
The other 998 comments pretty much drifted around fashion trends, colours, our own clothing, holidays etc, but a few posters started getting uppity about what they saw as irrelevant comments, (as if any chat is irrelevant), on the thread. Then came the accusations of posters being catty, disruptive, mean girls purely because several were enjoying chatting whilst bringing the thread to 1000 entries. I can't remember anyone vilifying those GNs defending AR.

You do seem to get types who just seem to enjoy having a safe, anonymous go at other people, on every forum. I’ve encountered some of these on very different forums for a long time now.

Incidentally, one of my very first GN posts, years ago now, was about deficiencies in a pretty pricey holiday let. Someone (I haven’t a clue who) instantly had a go at me - I was supposed to enjoy ‘roughing it’ on holiday - that was what holidays were for!
Er, not for me, not when I was shelling out ££££!

I can’t quote your post for some reason, escaped, but would just like to say that recollections clearly vary

Philippa111

It's ok to agree to disagree and no need to get personal. It's interesting to read how people think and feel about things, often totally opposed to my own views. And sometimes I do recoil but live and let live. I can always choose not to read Gransnet if I dont want to.

Well said Philippa111.

Samsara1

Well saidkittylester I certainly hope no-one has been rude to you who is unfailingly pleasant and well balanced. A pleasure to know you. Fancy a cuppa some time soon?

Definitely!!

"trouser"
www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/1338034-Angela-Rayner-ghastly-trouser-suit#:~:text=Angela%20Rayner%20ghastly-,trouser,-suit.
I think this is the link.

Sorry Doodledog I misread your post. I thought it was about posting a link.

No, my phone only lets me quote some posts and not others. No idea why.

I'm sorry you don't remember Doodledog, but the references to posters being in a clique or bullies, didn't go down well with me or others.
Thankfully most discerning posters saw the chit-chat' for what it was - an attempt by posters to take the 'heat' out of the thread. But no way did a large number get embroiled in the ^vilifying the DPM discussion.
I was removed from GN on the back of that thread, so I feel very strongly.

suep1953

nanna8

If I wanted to I could actually vote in the British elections as I still have citizenship. I am interested in the mess that is British politics just now because I was born and bred there and have relatives there, including a brother in law and sister in law. I am also very interested in American and New Zealand politics because I have relatives there, too. Is that a crime ? I have never, ever,said Australia is perfect , it certainly isn’t . I voted the current mob in but they are not crash hot, lots of things they do I wouldn’t but then I’m not a politician. If people don’t like comments from overseas, feel free to ignore he , I wouldn’t be offended in any way.

Sorry Nanna8 you can't vote in UK Elections, you need to be registered to vote in the constituency in which you live

commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8985/

Yes, you can vote in UK elections as an overseas voter.

www.gov.uk/voting-when-abroad

Overseas voter eligibility
British citizen living overseas can register to vote as an overseas voter if they meet one of two conditions:

They were previously registered to vote in UK elections, including as an overseas voter, or
They were previously resident in the UK before moving to an address abroad.
How to register
Overseas voters must apply to register in the local authority of the last address they were registered to vote or were resident.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202506/medium-20jo0l-file-20211003-25-1b8j7p1.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202506/medium-4jx7lv-468445178-10162318114478307-1482168912572676889-n.jpg

woodenspoon

Mollygo

Woodenspoon

On the other hand, Boris has also been criticised for his hair and appearance on here many times.

Yes but he’s a bloke, and Conservative as well, so that’s different!

Of course it is. Two tier.

Spot the difference 😁

LauraNorderr

Furthermore, I do not agree with FGTs political views, wouldn’t vote for Reform, find Trump to be a dangerous man BUT
(Not shouting just emphasising) find FGT to be one of the kindest and most supportive of posters, she has helped so many through tough times with compassion and great sincerity. Now when she needs us most..,
No compassion shown by the person who has reported her, hope they have a conscience and are feeling regret.

Exactly, Laura. And she wouldn't mind that you felt

rafichagran

"trouser"
www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/1338034-Angela-Rayner-ghastly-trouser-suit#:~:text=Angela%20Rayner%20ghastly-,trouser,-suit.
I think this is the link.

Interesting that a poster made harsh comments about a politician's mode of dress and appearance, was targeted and had posts deleted and has subsequently been banned.

Yet, on the same thread, said poster was in receipt of some nasty personal attacks by others who supported that politician and party. Those posts still remain.

Some posters, of course, said her comments were 'uncalled for' or 'harsh, fair enough.

Yet there is no bias on GN. Strange, that. 🤔

Chocolatelovinggran

I don't recall anyone saying that Mr Johnson looked like a rent boy.

With a family as big as his?
I should think not. Although as I recall there were multiple often uncomplimentary comments about his ability to procreate.

You just mentioned BJ and rent boy in the same sentence though.

escaped

I'm sorry you don't remember Doodledog, but the references to posters being in a clique or bullies, didn't go down well with me or others.
Thankfully most discerning posters saw the chit-chat' for what it was - an attempt by posters to take the 'heat' out of the thread. But no way did a large number get embroiled in the ^vilifying the DPM discussion.
I was removed from GN on the back of that thread, so I feel very strongly.

I do remember - it's just that my recollections differ from yours.

But I was one of the 'uppity' posters (and that word says it all really) who objected to the way a group took it on themselves to decide that they would close the thread by 'chatting' and excluding anyone trying to make points of their own. In fact, I was the one who used the term 'mean girls', and I got several PMs thanking me for saying it.

It's water under the bridge now as far as I'm concerned, but rewriting history is really not on. I don't know who you were before, and have no wish to hold anything you may have said against you now, but it is just not true that there were a couple of posts about AR being a 'tart' - there were pages of them - and if I'm not mistaken the thread made the national press. The thread has been linked to above, so people can see for themselves. The thread was not the only one that used derogatory terms against AR at the time - not her politics, but her class, her cosmetic surgery, her accent, her 'illegitimate' child and so on, so reading the thread in isolation won't really give a flavour for the tone of GN in the weeks surrounding the GE.

Your comments above about 'discerning posters' (ie not me ) and how I have clearly upset 'you [and] others' are noted, however. The latter sounds vaguely threatening, but I'll survive .

I do understand that you will feel strongly, but can assure you that I didn't report you (whoever you were at the time) and nor did I report GSM or anyone else. There was really no need in any case, as the comments spoke for themselves, and passing on legal knowledge does not give anyone a free pass to do as they please on a moderated discussion board. As I don't know what you said on the thread I have no way of knowing whether I would have approved of HQ's actions at the time or not, but if you were banned/suspended simply for filibustering then I wouldn't have, for what it's worth.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202506/medium-36nmzk-medium-20jo0l-file-20211003-25-1b8j7p1.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202506/medium-95r252-large-4jx7lv-468445178-10162318114478307-1482168912572676889-n.jpg

Never worked out why people care to their hair. They have hair, are not bald.

Surely more important issues plague the world.

escaped

I'm sorry you don't remember Doodledog, but the references to posters being in a clique or bullies, didn't go down well with me or others.
Thankfully most discerning posters saw the chit-chat' for what it was - an attempt by posters to take the 'heat' out of the thread. But no way did a large number get embroiled in the ^vilifying the DPM discussion.
I was removed from GN on the back of that thread, so I feel very strongly.

I remember that very well and agree with you entirely. It seems obvious that racial hatred or personal attacks should be reported ( never mind all this guff about other posters adjudicating remarks!) but general remarks about anyone in the public eye should stand.Simply because other posters happen to like that person and take umbrage with comments about them should never report but take it as ‘mature people who can take disagreements.’
The moderators can see personal attacks on other posters and don’t delete without cause.

I have just skim read the "Trousers" thread, all 40 pages and I stand by everything I said in my previous post.

Luckily no one ever complained about the comments on Boris and his sartorial mishaps.

Magenta8

I have just skim read the "Trousers" thread, all 40 pages and I stand by everything I said in my previous post.

I see you’re taking my advice about no anodyne remarks😁

This is getting to ATAAT now tho so should probably knock it on the head?

I, too, was curious about the trousers thread so glanced through. I note nobody took umbrage about Mrs Sunak being called a zebra. I’d have thought that could be construed as a racist comment and that poster should have also been removed. Perhaps she was?
I repeat, Angela Rayner is not somebody I admire but I would imagine she was persuaded to wear that suit by a stylist perhaps. I don’t recall seeing it since. She should be judged solely on what she says and her ability to do her job. Her sartorial choices in clothes are not really relevant. I don’t suppose it’s a mistake she will repeat.

Oreo

This is getting to ATAAT now tho so should probably knock it on the head?

I agree Oreo and yes I did take your advice. I am beginning to wish I hadn't.