What does Gransnet mean to you?

I found GN by accident seven years ago when I was googling “magazines for older women” and it came up with a GN thread on the subject. I’d never heard of Gransnet before that. It got me through lockdown and I love the variety of topics and opinions. Many wise folk on GN. I’m often to be heard saying, “Well, someone on Gransnet said…” My favourite thread is the Good Morning one and I always read it whilst sipping my strong tea. I have also been known to post on the 3am thread in the middle of the night. As others have said, I feel like I have a whole set of friends that I’ve never met. I really hope that the powers that be don’t get rid of it. It provides a vital service to we more mature people.

It's lovely to see how much people get out of Gransnet, it obviously means a lot to us. I've just come to bed after watching more episodes of Lark Rise to Candleford, recommended to me by a Gransnetter. I'm on the third series and really enjoying it.

It means a lot to me. You're a very supportive group who have helped me survive widowhood and become friends both virtual and in real life.

I love the variety of interests shown from politics to crochet, travel and relationships.
It's like a magazine but tailored to our own needs.
What am I doing awake at this hour? Oh yes there's a thread for me.

Gransnet always feels like chats with friends or rather some friends and other acquaintances. I like having people to chat with about TV programmes and often look out for programmes and books I've seen recommended by Grans. It's good to hear how things are in the various regions around the country. I've often asked for help or suggestions around various topics and received it. I don't like arguments though and usually tend to avoid contentious subjects if possible.
I've met a lot of Grans at events in the past or on Zoom so I'm not exactly anonymous.

I appreciate the anonymity for shared experiences and advice as well as the ‘life stories’ that are often shared. I feel that we can share as much or as little as we like to.

Something that does irk me is when someone berates and criticises another based simply on that persons comment to the OP…..I hope that makes sense.

I’ve found it very helpful in getting advice on all sorts of things related to health, gardening and the pros and cons of buying an air fryer. The latest thread on statins has been very interesting. I like reading the posts that interest me, skip by those that don’t. Avoid the contentious ones mostly. Like others, I like the anonymity of it and wouldn’t want to meet up but appreciate that others find that a lifesaver.
All in all, it’s a good site I think.

Meeting up isn't necessarily a 'life saver', Silvershadow. In my case - it's more friends and I think that is the same for the friends I have made.

I enjoy hearing other people's points of view, even when they don't rally with my own.

I also like the fact that people on here are generally kind, unlike those on some other forums.

I often post during the night, when my restless legs kick off and keep me awake, knowing that people will read in the morning.

Tally, not rally

I love gransnet and mums net too, made a brilliant friend on here, treasure our friendship 😀

I remember when I trained as a support worker, it was widely acknowledged that loneliness was one of the biggest problems facing individuals in the UK. Gransnet makes me feel less isolated. I like reading different points of view, even if I don't agree with them.

Unfortunately it also really supports my procrastinating tendencies

TheSunRisesInTheEast

I belonged to a local online forum for about 3 years, we said good morning to one another every day, shared our lives online down to minute details, wished one another happy birthday/anniversary/Christmas/Easter and were as friendly with one another online as we would be with 'real life' friends.

Then someone suggested we meet up one evening ... disaster!! 😱

No one spoke to one another, I got a totally blank expression when I introduced myself, people sat at tables and didn't want to interact, it was awful. I came off the forum the very next day. It felt like a bereavement. I'd shared my life with these people for 3 years and it was all fake friendship. I don't want to sound dramatic, but it took some getting over.

I enjoy the anonymity of Gransnet, but if I met any of you in person, I would be just as chatty and friendly as I am on here. I wouldn't want to spoil things though, so I won't be meeting up with anyone 😉.

That sounds terrible!!

Maybe it was less about being fake as being shy and uncomfortable with how to "act" when out from behind the keyboard?

GN was definitely a life saver or should I say a sanity saver during lockdowns.

I could poor pit feelings or vent on here without worrying or upsetting family members.

I also think for people who can’t get out, for whatever reason, they can use zoom or Skype if that’s still around or FaceTime to ‘meet’ new friends so, for them, it could be a lifesaver. Something to look forward to.

Although that is not the same for all as kittylester says.

I post on a board where we've all known one another for years (decades now) and have met a few people from there. A lot of the members are good 'real life' friends now, too, meeting regularly and going on holiday together etc. Whilst that is a good thing, it does kill off discussions after a while, as people often don't like confiding in people they know well. Over the years I've been part of a few similar 'private' boards and they tend to fold when too many people get to know one another offline.

It's one thing to moan about your husband anonymously, but it can feel disloyal when a few people know him well. Similarly, posting about a work situation can be really helpful to get objective views, but when everyone knows your role and workplace it's just not the same. Also, it is much more difficult for newbies to feel part of things when everyone else knows each other well. In the end, instead of being somewhere like here, where people can discuss relationships or politics openly they become a bit like Facebook, with people talking about their day, or what they've bought recently and how the dog is getting on. It's much more difficult to get new people to join in, so posts slow down and people drift off to where they can have more 'meaty' discussions in private.

JaneJudge

I remember when I trained as a support worker, it was widely acknowledged that loneliness was one of the biggest problems facing individuals in the UK. Gransnet makes me feel less isolated. I like reading different points of view, even if I don't agree with them.

Unfortunately it also really supports my procrastinating tendencies

Unfortunately it also really supports my procrastinating tendencies
😂
That hits the nail exactly on the head!

Right, phone calls to make, dinner to plan, garden to sort out .......

Some where to post and to virtually connect. We all have different life experiences and views and that's what makes posts interesting and fascinating.

Some posters are really knowledgeable on some subjects so a good source for learning. Some posters are very empathetic so can be a source of support, warmth and human understanding. Some posts related to the ageing process help develop insight on things to come and tips to build up resilience. Some posters make me laugh out loud- some posters' opinions exasperate on occasion but that's ok and no doubt the same happens in reverse.

You can dip in and out at your own convenience, any time of the day, even if unwell and at home with mobility restricted, which was the case when I originally joined and started to post last summer. For the most part all good 😊

Gransnet is mostly older people so there is depth of experience being shared --- on both practical, and also emotional matters .

Also the owner of Gransnet has set up a social website that is particularly easy to navigate.

Agree..the only thing I'd like, is an edit button. Not to continually use, but as a once only change. I'm not thinking about spelling mistakes, but posts that come out of sudden anger or deep upset and not well enough thought out.

A lot of grans netters are in very difficult situations - this would help the "oh I didn't put that right" at all...etc.

Agree..the only thing I'd like, is an edit button. Not to continually use, but as a once only change.

I need one for typos or to change Autocorrect.
I agree, just the once and with a short time span.

It's so easy to type and post in a rush then notice a mistake afterwards. Yes, preview is available but then the flow can be lost.

Desdemona, yes you're right. I know how people feel who've been 'catfished', but in my case it was friendship, nothing romantic (happily married!)

What I like doing is imagining what frequent posters look likr!
Madeleine I imagine her in her car scooting along like the car in the original begiining of All Creatures Great and Small. Splashing through the watersplash among the lovely hills and dales. Gramaretto is very Italian. A bit Sophia Loren. Marzipan I envy so much being close to the .cornish beaches and countryside. So she is on a topless bus under the blue sky with scudding puffy white clouds. I could go on, but you get the drift.

I read that as 'she is topless in a bus' 😂

Not in this chilly breeze.

😂