Do we expect too much as a right in Great Britain?

ninny can't do right for doing wrong!

It's when likeminded GNrs pile in defending each other that it gets silly.

'Ganging up' would imply that a few people are in cahoots with a common purpose -a conspiracy theory , All that's happened is that some opinions are similar to each other but not similar to ninny's. End of bullying accusations? Real bullying is such an emotive issue that perhaps the word shouldn't be bandied about so readily.

janeainsworth i don't think you were bullying me and i am not accusing you personally. perhaps bullying might have been the wrong word to use, i should have said ganging up on me by a small group of grans, the grans concerned might not agree with this but if you are on the receiving end that is what it feels like.

As a Telegraph reader should I take exception to that?

Only a bit posher than the Daily Mail!

DailyTelegraph

Jane A

As I am the one accused of bullying, I would just like to reassure Ninny and everyone else that I am not left-wing, and I would not like the left-wing Grans to be unfairly accused on my behalf.
On the political compass I am very slightly left of centre and slightly libertarian.
And I read the Daily Telegraph.

As I understood it, the post to which ninny took exception was the one in which durhamjen told us (and not only ninny) about the Belgian interim government in Britain and the Belgian town set up in the North East at the time. Now, this was news to me and I certainly wouldn't have put this interesting information down to mere pedantry. I'm grateful to durhamjen for extending my knowledge of this period in our history.

ninny you, along with others of us, are quite an assertive poster and happy to state your opinions without mincing your words. It seems out of character to your posting style that you feel bullied by replies made in a similar style to your own.

For goodness sake - get a grip! There are real problems out there and these accusations of bullying are nonsense. Somewhere, possibly in S. Africa, there may be grandparents mourning the loss of 3 grandchildren whose mother seems to have snapped under the strain of caring for them. Keep a sense of proportion!

That comment was in response to Ninny telling someone not to be pedantic and telling them that she didn't need a history lesson. Noting to do with the matter under discussion. If Ninny took exception to the riposte perhaps she shouldn't have made her initial comment. Stick to the matter under discussion and don't instruct other people about what they should or shouldn't do. That way the issues are debated and it doesn't get personal.

That was a joke POGS.

Oh dear.

I shall say shut up in a minute. So watch it.

There has been comment that Ninny may have snapped at Durhamjen because she had had enough of being lectured at. Perhaps Janeainsworth had had enough of Ninny taking posts personally which were meant to be general. If so, then it is six of one and half a dozen of the other.

I don't know all that was in their minds, but it seems to me that a sharp exchange of words has taken place, which should now be over and done with and no need for talk about bullying.

Good grief, does no-one remember what real bullying is like!

And don't call me by that stupid name. Please.

Galen I did try to keep my comment fairly light hearted (whilst meaning what I said) You obviously did not understand that.

Rubbish, Ninny, you have not been bullied on Gransnet. If you were bullied at school, then you know just what it is like to be pinned against a wall and your dinner money confiscated, or called filthy names and not allowed to join in with other children, or play with them.

None of that has happened on here. You have an opinion, which you have expressed. Others have different opinions, which they have expressed. I have read this thread over and I can see no bullying.

If you have found a post which seemed to you to be an attack on you, and not on your opinion, then report it to HQ. Every post has a link above it with "Report" on. They will look at the post, and the conversation which led up to it, and if they agree that it was a personal attack, they will contact the poster and tell them so. They are very fair, and do not take sides. Each post is judged on its own content and tone.

I know exactly where ninny is coming from! It can sure has hell feel like bullying.

Telling someone to 'shut up' may not amount to bullying, but it's not exactly just disagreeing with a particular viewpoint either. I'd be upset if I were ninny, too!

I often find myself holding a minority view with many people, including longstanding friends, disagreeing with me (not just on GN!) but that is not being bullied it is just holding a minority view and others arguing their side! I don't particularly like it but c'est la vie!

If however they belittled me because of my appearance, racial background, ability etc then that would be a) unkind and if it was persistent & deliberate it would be b) bullying.

I do not think anyone meant to bully you ninny just disagree with your view of things on this occasion.

Good grief!