Is it me or is Local GN divisive?

Eloethan by negative postings I meant disagreements which degenerated into personal criticism in defiance of GN rules. This seems sadly to happen from time to time and usually results in valued members of the forum signing off for good.
Nothing wrong at all in polite differences of opinion - it would be very boring if we all simply echoed each other's viewpoint.

Well, this is my first (and only) forum, so if, as some of you have said, this is how they develop, so be it

I think that meetup you mention was organised about the time of the launch, gracesmum, when a lot of things were happening, interviews for papers and radio, pushes to get enough posts on the forums and listings to stop that empty look. There was a sense of urgency, so maybe it was to happen as soon as possible.

I think all the meetups welcome people not from that area, they always have and it continues. Up here we have had people from the East, West and South of Scotland as well as the Central belt. (That area is bigger than several of the others put together) Others have come from the Newcastle area, from South-west england and other places which I can't think of for the moment. If it does get a bit parochial, we can rely on Glassortwo and Marelli to keep up the fraternisation.

jan I understand what you mean, and agree.

Thanks for that Lara but I have noticed that the people posting on the Nottinghamshire site (only 2 to date, I think) are not posting on the main site - unless I've missed them. If I have I apologise!!

They may have chosen to use a different name on the local forum, Kitty. There is an option to do that if you think you might be easily identified in your home area and don't want that.

I have just killed of my second identity on the local site. It got confusing.

Maybe there could be a topic that was called something like "New conversations on local sites", which listed threads started on them in the last week, or however long gave a reasonable number, so that we could all see whether anything had been raised that we wanted to contribute to.

And maybe the meet-up theads on the local sites could be listed with the main meetup threads on the main site, to be on view and added to easily. I have found that if a meetup is mentioned on two separate threads, you get two lots of people joining, some replying in both places - gets confusing again. #bearoflittlebrain

I did post about the current meetup on both sites - but with minimal details on the main one, and a request that people go to the local one for more and to post there that they were interested. What happened? Half posted on one thread, half on the other! The two lists are now collated on a piece of paper lying beside the laptop - ready to be lost.

I wouldnt think it would cause much of a problem to Tech to have a way to tie maybe just the meet up threads on both GN and local sites... of course I could be totally wrong

All of this , especially what kitty says about people posting on the Notts site but not on the national one, bears out my original thought that we are communicating on 2 levels. It should be enriching, having local sites, but I feel, IMHO that it is actually complicating matters!

Hi Gracesmum,

I organised the N Yorks meet-up and first posted about it on the 4th April and 5 ladies met for lunch on the 27th and had a good chat and lovely meal.

I have just posted on the local forum to try and organise something for June, probably the 15th and you are more than welcome, was just about to post details on national when I saw this thread.

The local forums have been granted a fund by Nominet with the aim of helping reduce social isolation amongst the over 50's both on and offline and so do need some sort of local presence on and offline.

Got to go cook, will post details asap x

Thanks YaYa I think my point was, though, that if we operate as a plethora of branches of the same site, we risk losing a feeling of unity and GN identity - we are like separate "cells" with no guarantee of a national oversight. I am not in N Yorks, so I am not claiming I have been left out, but being used to all communication being open to all on ONE site, I now feel there are things going on in pockets all over the country which is good but risks being in isolation.
I also think IMHO that operating under 2 different names which I understand from GNHQ is possible, is madness, a member either is or isn't her "nickname" - so please GN can we not go down that road?
If I am also being picky (and shoot me down if you want, although I have no intention to be offensive to anybody)I would hope to see all the local editors contributing to other threads, asssuming they want to - so that we can all get to know each other. The analogy which comes to mind is of a patchwork quilt not a pile of squares waiting to be sewn together!!

gracesmum i agree about the two usernames. That is also probably why local editors do not seem to be posting on the main forums - if they took out a second name, it would not appear when they posted back on the main forum - it reverts automatically to the other one. I killed off my second username for that reason - it made me appear to be someone new when I was really still me.

I agree about the two names being a bit confusing ..I looked again on the Surrey site and saw a name that I had not seen on the main site before. It took a while for me to remember that it was my 'local' name!

I went to the farewell to absent get together in the NE because I was in the area staying with an old school pal. It was lovely to meet my fellow online posters! I have not posted as much since then just because I have had a really busy time since and the weather has been nice enough to be gardening !

Are you coming out then*nanaej*?

ha ha..I just used my post code!

What an interesting set of letters. I am the new editor of conwy and am really struggling to get my forum off the ground even though there are lots of subjects on offer. Now I can see there seems to be some kind of problem with the outside forums. I would love to have visitors.
I can also see some conflict about little clicks forming and some meeting and others not. It would be good to meet up with other editors but get that the south is where it might happen. A long way from north wales.

Hi Juneh maybe a meeting in Chester would be an idea because there is also a local site there and some people in North Wales and Merseyside/ Wirral could get there too fairly easily. There is a North West meeting for all members in Bolton at the end of May but that would be quite a way for you though just off the M61

Hi thanks Seasider I think it would be great to meet up but cannot come to the 31st May one as it's my birthday so got stuff planned. However would be happy to come to Manchester/Chester or Liverpool etc sounds great. I am not sure if there is anyone else in Wales but I cover Conwy and all it entails.
I would love it if people from outside North Wales come onto my forums would love to see it buzzing. I think that the meet ups of grans locally will take time but when they view the forum as active they might be more inclined to join.

I would be delighted to have GNetters from across the country come down to the south coast for my GNLocal coffee mornings
I'm the editor for 2 Local areas: Brighton & Hove and Worthing.
I've always been NannaAnna on the national forum but I'm Wayfinder on the local forums. Like Elegran, I don't really like that or see the point of it, so I will be pestering Lara next week to amalgamate my identities. (Hadn't realised I could lose one!)

*I've opted for coffee mornings to start with because I don't want to alienate any local GNetters who would find the cost of a meal out prohibitive, but if you're travelling from further afield to join us, I'd be happy to stay on for lunch with you

Come on Sussex GNetters - there must be lots of us within fairly easy reach of Worthing or Brighton. NannaAnna was so welcoming when I went to the first coffee morning.

Theatre trips anyone...??

Agreed yogagran. Theatre trips, whether locally or up in town, would be lovely, and just one of the many things the GN Local forums can be used for in order to bring GNetters together. Sunday walks? A pub night? Anything is possible if more than one Gnetter would like to do it!
All it takes is for Gransnetters to use the local forums and put forward ideas. They are also there for members to discuss local issues which would not be of relevance on the national forums.
As has been mentioned already, it is simple to keep tabs on topics you have posted on, whether local or national, by clicking on the 'I'm on' tab at the top of the page. They work together, not against each other. I think for a lot of members it's simply a matter of getting their heads around the new developments within Gransnet.
So, Gransnetters, let us know what you want from Gransnet locally. Are you happy with your virtual relationship and not interested in meeting anyone in person, or are you interested in meeting up? If so, get posting on your local forum!
yogagran it was lovely to meet you, and hopefully more Sussex GNetters will start appearing soon!