What does Gransnet mean to you?

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.

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.

Live alone (not lonely) but it’s a great way to interact at any time of day or night. You can see those you would warm to and those you would keep well away from in real life, without having to offend
I ve made a couple of brilliant friends of six plus years
And found some helpful answers to problems sometimes ones I didn’t even know I had 🤣
I d be lost without it in my down times

Anonymous therapist.
Good advice on everything from ‘cooking’ to ‘relationships’ to ‘bereavement’
Shared experiences
Great comfort in knowing you’re not alone

It’s one way I keep in touch with my country of birth besides a few remaining cousins. Very different views here often which provides a bit of balance . I don’t like the arguments ,either but there is so much other stuff and you learn things that you didn’t know before. I also feel very blessed when I hear of some and how they cope with difficulties in their lives.

I have two very good "pen" friends, made friends with around 3 in real life. I have picked up some good tips here and hopefully in return managed to help others with tips from my ex professional life.

One can dip in or not as the fancy rakes you. I live on my own with mobility problems and surrendering my licence last July was horrendous and my life is so difficult and different now.

I had my spelling corrected once which didn't go down a treat!

It is here when I can't sleep for any reason. I would miss it if it was stopped.

I like to learn about the lives of other people and how they are different from mine.

Having said that, another poster and i have lots of coincidental things in common.

And I too have made real life friends on here.

I like seeing others points of view and learning about their lives.
I have met some and I now think of them as friends.

I am stuck indoors a lot due to caring for my DH so coming on here is an easy way to meet new people and chat.

JamesandJon33

Different lives, ideas , ideology. Usually friendly, and lots of good tips on all manner of things .
A pleasant experience, when need a sit down, and a coffee.

I agree, I find dipping in and out always interesting. Life is full of diversity and GN reflects that.

What I like is that the GN community is made up of people from so many diverse communities that I do not meet in everyday life. I am constantly learning about the lives of other people and understanding how the world looks from their perspective.

I have made two good friends through GN, and hope, having moved house I will make more.

I’m quite deaf so it’s difficult for me to strike up conversations. GN gives me the chance to have those conversations, ask for advice and pick up tips. It’s good to hear different points of view, pause for thought and, in some cases change my mind. I know, if I need it, I’ll find kindness and support here.

I live alone so don't always have someone to talk to. Gransnet is like a perfect friend. I can discuss anything on here which I don't do with real friends.
I have learned a lot too. Some very wise and knowledgeable grans who I like to see posting.
It's interesting to 'talk' to people I don't know and get to know their very different characters.
I am very thankful to Gransnet.

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 😉.

Doodledog

I enjoy posting as I like people. I am sociable in 'real life' and enjoy being with others, although I also need time alone.

I sleep badly, and like that online communities are there all day and night, and are asynchronous, so I can reply to something posted hours before, and it doesn't matter if I post when there is nobody else awake in the middle of the night, as people can read and reply to my ramblings in the morning.

I also like the anonymity. I can say what I think, and hear what others think without the social niceties that prevent 'plain speaking' offline. That doesn't mean I hide behind a keyboard, just that there are things that don't come up in 'polite conversation' (eg money, politics, relationships) and I like learning what people actually think, as opposed to what they say in person. I suppose it's similar to why I like listening to Any Answers and other 'vox pop' type programmes.

I also like the fact that we get to know one another a bit. I can often work out who is speaking without looking at their name, and even though I don't know the poster in person it gives a sense of community. I like posters who can disagree without being personal, and who don't carry grudges from one thread to another.

I haven't met anyone, but I have exchanged emails with posters past and present. I think it's possible to have friends you haven't met, although I realise a lot of people think that's odd.

I agree with most of the posts here but Doodledog sums it up for me. I don't like the unpleasant arguments and when people are dismissive and simply opinionated. In general I enjoy how well qualified and full of information some posters are and I love how broad the range of threads and comments can be.

I like to dip in and out when I have spare moments.It's nice to interact with different people .Also a good way to hear news you wouldn't normally hear , like a recommendation of what to read or watch , or something to avoid buying etc.
It's good to try and be supportive of each other as you never know fully what is happening in someone's life.
I also enjoy seeing photos people post of various things, craft projects, pets, pairs of curtains, it's so random but enjoyable !

I found a GN member (now a friend) who’s child knew/knows one of my children 🤷‍♀️

Met another GN member who lives close who is also now a friend.

I have made an exceptional pen friend

GN provided the anonymous friendship and interaction I needed when my darling mum died.

At times I am sad, thoughts of those no longer posting

More or less what you've said, Doodledog.

I live alone, so it's contact when wanted and needed: windows onto the world: people including those I would never ever meet in RL.

Thank you, fellow gransnetters (and GNHQ). 🙂

It has expanded my friendship circle, both virtually and in real life. I have met up with The Glesga Grans, a wonderful bunch of ladies and have met up with other ladies too. I enjoy chatting to people online here and debating points. It's good to hear points of view that I both agree and disagree with. There are very few who are rude or dismissive. I like that.

Yes, I also like the fact that I hear views that I don't offline. I do have friends who have different outlooks from me, but on the whole we don't discuss politics much, so I usually hear views similar to my own. It's interesting to hear opposing points of view, particularly when they are thought through rather than cliched. I have changed my mind on a couple of things since discussing them on here, and enjoy having my perspective challenged.

Different lives, ideas , ideology. Usually friendly, and lots of good tips on all manner of things .
A pleasant experience, when need a sit down, and a coffee.

I enjoy posting as I like people. I am sociable in 'real life' and enjoy being with others, although I also need time alone.

I sleep badly, and like that online communities are there all day and night, and are asynchronous, so I can reply to something posted hours before, and it doesn't matter if I post when there is nobody else awake in the middle of the night, as people can read and reply to my ramblings in the morning.

I also like the anonymity. I can say what I think, and hear what others think without the social niceties that prevent 'plain speaking' offline. That doesn't mean I hide behind a keyboard, just that there are things that don't come up in 'polite conversation' (eg money, politics, relationships) and I like learning what people actually think, as opposed to what they say in person. I suppose it's similar to why I like listening to Any Answers and other 'vox pop' type programmes.

I also like the fact that we get to know one another a bit. I can often work out who is speaking without looking at their name, and even though I don't know the poster in person it gives a sense of community. I like posters who can disagree without being personal, and who don't carry grudges from one thread to another.

I haven't met anyone, but I have exchanged emails with posters past and present. I think it's possible to have friends you haven't met, although I realise a lot of people think that's odd.

It is nice to hear about the experiences of people from different parts of the country. It gives me a wider perspective beyond the town where I live in retirement.

I enjoy the online ‘anonymity’ of GN.

I feel I ‘know’ these names, which of course I don’t, but it feels like a fellowship of (mainly) like minded people, not always agreeing, but able to chat about a wide variety of subjects, help, support, advice, friendship offered.

I have no wish to meet other GN’ers in real life, I know some like to meet up, but I enjoy the virtual type of companionship it offers.