What do you think of Gransnet?

Mollygo

What pictures?
Since the only pictures put on GN are posted by GN members, that’s rather rude of you LS.

I think that Mollygo is referring to the logo picture at the top of the page - the purple one showing heads of 2 adults and a child - not pictures posted by GN’s. I agree with her in that it’s rather dull, but I suppose we’re not here to be enchanted by clever artwork (though it would be more appealing to look at), but rather to have the ability to post and share ideas. A bit of an update wouldn’t go amiss, and really shouldn’t cost much to do, surely.

Like so many of you, I really think an edit button would be valuable although there is a preview post option, but that means waiting until you’ve finished your post, previewing it and correcting it then. An edit button (as on mumsnet), would be quicker when you spot a typing error just as you press send.

CariadAgain

nanna8

Pictures ? Is this the same forum ? Adverts ? I don’t get any of those,either. A few pics from posters is all, just photos. I still think we should have a ‘like’ button but people here seem to be very, very sensitive about that. No idea why, not as if I would want a ‘dislike’ button. We are seen as old farts I guess so we have to have old fart’s technology.

There's certainly times where I go to click the "like" button and then remember it doesn't exist.

But, on balance, I think it would facilitate "pile-ons" - ie someone putting up a post that someone else didnt agree with and they and their buddies would pile into clicking whatever button best represented "dislike". So I'm inclined to think it's best not to have such a button.

I think on Mumsnet only the person in receipt of a 'like' can see it.

An edit button, available for just a few minutes, would be good.

I think the set up is poor. As you don't see who is online you make a post which is ignored or misunderstood. Without avatars I have no idea who anyone is so I end up just talking to myself.

I don't understood why it isn’t absorbed into Mumsnet.

I hope it isn't PaynesGrey.
Mumsnet is so fast-moving that it's impossible to keep up. I very rarely look at it for that reason and have only ever posted a couple of times.
It does have features which I am sure could be introduced on here at little cost with some tweaking of the systems.

Of course, if posters prefer Mumsnet and dislike Gransnet, it would be interesting to know the reasons why they are on Gransnet 🤔

MaizieD

Tizliz

Even previewing doesn't prevent spelling errors!

That just tells me that people need to improve their proof reading... But we're continually asked to be sensitive about people's spelling errors because not everyone is a perfect speller and what they are saying is more important than how they spell it.
I don't mind people correcting in a further post (because I do it when I forget to proof read )

Like MOnica, I don't think there's much wrong with the present format of Gnet, but I only read the forums and have an ad blocker on my laptop and Ipad, so don't see ads.

I do like the Mumsnet feature of being able to see all the OP's posts, but it doesn't really stop people suggesting solutions for a problem that has already been solved...

A 'like' button would be problematic; posters have other ways to express approval.

I suspect the average age of forum participants is 75-85.

I ,might be 75 now, but I was 65 when I started posting. A bit less ageism, please, PG 😆

Someone suggested it should be absorbed into Mumsnet. Who would be happy with that? The young Mothers would resent us and we would perhaps not be comfortable giving our "old-fashioned" (but usually brilliant of course) opinions

Aely 😂

I suspect the average age of forum participants is 75-85.

I ,might be 75 now, but I was 65 when I started posting. A bit less ageism, please, PG 😆

Absolutely, MaizieD
I haven't always been this old!

And I'm not a Great-Granny yet.

I can understand why some people may prefer to be able to just like a post instead of responding to it. It's faster, easier and doesn't have your name attached. So lurkers could 'like' as well as the usual posters.

But what is the point in the original poster being able to see how many people like it and other posters can't? Is it supposed to make the original poster feel good that others agree with them?? I really don't understand the point of it.

As I said above, you can edit your posts! Click Preview, edit, then click Post!!

I think there are lots of us in our sixties on Gransnet too. Life is very busy for most people while they are still working, but once retired we have more time, which is probably why most of us don’t join until then.

I really don’t worry about the set up I m happy enough
I have no pictures or adverts bothering me (if I have I ve never taken any notice of them) i ve never seen the ladies and dogs and I ve been on here about 11/12 years
I did have those stupid women stirring a cake for months but that’s gone and haven’t seen it for a good while now and nothings taken its place
I too would like an edit button we’ve asked many times but always been ignored
Otherwise old fashioned or not I come on here to interact with others and it suits me fine

That comment about being absorbed in MN was purely from a financial perspective. Why would directors keep running a business for 12 years that has never made a profit and has to be shored up by the parent company to the tune of hundreds of thousands of pounds?

I don’t participate in MN as I find being bombarded with moving adverts and pop ups stressful. It also contavenes good web design principles and more importantly, the law. A user should be able to pause, stop or hide stuff like that. I just checked the MN main page with a design compliance checker tool. It found 69 accessibility violations on one page.

So one thing GN does have going for it in all its dullness in that you can block this stuff.

But why does it still show Gransnet Recommended Reads so prominently which hasn’t been updated in six years? Again, any potential advertiser clicking around the site is going to ask the board of directors why should I spend some of my precious advertising budget with your business when you won’t spend any money on it yourself to make it look like it belongs to the 21C.

The logo is so old-fashioned. It looks like something from Charlie's Angels which was in the 1970s!

Casdon

I think there are lots of us in our sixties on Gransnet too. Life is very busy for most people while they are still working, but once retired we have more time, which is probably why most of us don’t join until then.

That could atually could be another reason why people seem to not be joining until later in life.

Even two years ago, posters were supposed to spend hours looking up links, finding many references to something or other, getting more "evidence"etc.

Exactly, Casdon!

I didn't become a Gran until my sixties either 👵
And no, I don't look like that even now.

Well of course, like the on off button on the tv,everyone is able to stop looking on GN or make a particular effort to change things that they do not care for. I was happy finding this, and being able to join in. Of course there will be people I disagree with and other things that may not interest me, so no problem I dont add any comments. Occasionally, it sounds as though someone has got out of bed on the wrong side, but usually people are able to disagree and put other points of view without being unkind. I enjoy hearing about other peoples lives, and find the good morning post absolutely brilliant, especially if I have had a horrible night or havent seen anyone to talk to for a day or two or have some horrible doctors appointment I want to forget for 10 minutes. I have learnt all sorts of useful ideas, some I would never have thought of in a month of sundays, but also hope I have added something helpful or something to think about for others too. Long may GN carry on, and whether there are different pictures or whatever will make no difference to me, as I shall still sit in the middle of the night feeling rotten and be comforted by a drink and a chance to read the lastest posts and think of many things happening all over.

nanna8

I don’t like mumsnet and I ‘retired’ from it. The people here on gransnet seem much nicer ,kinder and more intelligent.

I agree. I've never really read Mumsnet because I don't like the tone most of the time.

I honestly felt like was on the edge of having a nervous breakdown this morning. I decided to ask Gransnet, not expecting much from my fellow old codgers, but the advice helped me to clear my head and make a decision about what to do. Am ending the day feeling much brighter.

I often read Gransnet on my phone, I have an adblocker, so only see pictures that people have posted. I can't think how long I've been reading GN, many years, and I still find much to enjoy. My only gripe is when some poster are banned, there doesn't seem to be a good reason for the ban.

blue14

Although I rarely post I've been on Gransnet for several years and like the way it is set out.
Like many others I don't have adverts or pictures, other than those put on by posters.
Mumsnet feels much more rushed and on Gransnet it's easier to get to 'know' the regular posters.
However, I would certainly use a 'like' button or a 'thumbs up' button.

You have the 🤙 emoji on whichever device you are using.

Marg75

As I said above, you can edit your posts! Click Preview, edit, then click Post!!

That's only before you post. I think people want to edit posts that they have already submitted then noticed there is something wrong. You can do that in lots of other places but not here.

Sorry. Skipped to comment and not read previous posts. I love GN. I had avoided it thinking it was going to be sharing cute baby stories. As if!! GN is free, interesting and makes me think. Am grateful to the moderators for being discreet, helpful and not over reactive..
honestly, not noticed the design or art work. Personally would like an edit button but am glad we dont have 'likes or dislikes'. Cheers GN!

Casdon

I think there are lots of us in our sixties on Gransnet too. Life is very busy for most people while they are still working, but once retired we have more time, which is probably why most of us don’t join until then.

True but being of working age doesn't seem to affect the footfall through Mumsnet. Key Performance Indicators there show that in 2024, users logged over 45 million hours on the site, 1.3 billion page views and made 9.4 million posts. 45 million hours is equivalent to over 5,000 years!

The company does not publish corresponding data for GN but on the basis that older, retired women have more time than young working mums, I don’t image that the hours logged, page views or number of posts comes anywhere remotely close to that.

So what is it hat deters people from joining GN or staying? Why doesn't GN have the footfall that MN does?

The premise of the opening post is that The interface is very old fashioned. It doesn't seem to reflect today's Grans - the pictures that are used are boring and the whole layout is dull. I totally agree with that. I do think it deters both new members and advertisers.

Does anyone actually ever look at the pictures on the home page?
I admit I don't - except when prompted by this thread.

I only go straight to the forums. I don't look at the main website.

Aveline

I only go straight to the forums. I don't look at the main website.

Me too. Can't say I would even notice changes unless I needed to change how I used GN.

I pm with two lurkers who never post but have read GN longer than I have.

One PM'ed me after something I wrote gave away approximately where I live - she lives a few miles away and we now meet up for coffee now and again. She posted three times. On the last occasion someone responded to her post with something like 'Third world problem. You must live a grand life if that's all you have to worry about. Get a life'. She never posted again.

The other PM'ed me when I wrote that I had an electric car asking a question and we've been in touch ever since. She won't post, but I'm not entirely sure why.

So nothing to do with the actual site itself.

So what is it that deters people from joining GN or staying? Why doesn't GN have the footfall that MN does?
IMO apart from the N&P thread, there doesn't appear to be so many reasons for angst on GN.
Look at the topics on Mumsnet (I do).
Their concerns about e.g. potty training before starting school, children being prevented from using mobiles in school, may more directly affect them, so the posts come thick and fast. On GN it tends to be more “When our children were young we . . .” Or criticisms of parents paying too little attention to their children because of phones.
Mumsnet might have genuine concerns about the cost of school bus fares, and while GN’s sympathise, there are always posts about “We had to walk x miles to school in deep snow.” Nostalgia is interesting for us, but doesn't help younger mums, so doesn't create the footfall that attracts ads.

It’s to do with the transitory nature of Mumsnet I think PaynesGrey. Lots of the posts on there are young mothers supporting each other through difficult child related and pregnancy issues, AIBU relationship, and gossip type threads, but it’s more pop in pop out type posts. Gransnet is more of a conversational site, with people getting to know each other, and forming alliances and friendships. I think quite a lot of Gransnetters are on both, because they offer different things.