Gransnet and Mumsnet are both commercial sites I believe, and therefore exist on the advertising that they attract. Therefore, the larger the membership the forum attracts, the greater the media advertising will be in prospect for the owners of these sites.
I also feel that gender balance on the sites is not as equal as some claim in this thread. Therefore, attracting a greater male presence on both Gransnet and Mumsnet would, without doubt, bolster the total number of forum members and in that ensure the financial future of both sites to the long-term benefit of the users.
There is also a sexist element on this forum perpetrated by some female members against male members. That has been demonstrated clearly in the last few days when a female user of the site used a very strong expletive against another female member, and not one complaint was forthcoming in the following posts against the use of that expletive.
However, when I used what I would consider a lesser expletive against a group of users, much false indignity was expressed against myself in regard to that expletive in posts on the same thread. Therefore, a greater gender balance on the forum(s) would I feel counteract the above.
Further in regard to equalities on the forums, I have long held great respect for the Lesbian and Gay community for the way that they have brought forward their recognition. In that, from a situation where homosexuality was illegal little more than thirty years ago, they have progressed through continuous challenge to the present day were same-sex civil partnership, marriage and even parenthood are now legal and accepted throughout society.
We have also witnessed the Lesbian and Gay community take on media, sports interests and hotels etc that have openly discriminated against them. In that, through the courts, they have pressed many cases demonstrating on almost every occasion success.
The Gay Comunity leaders have stated of recent that they are to target internet sites that they feel discriminate against them where practicable. Therefore, these forums with the titles of Mumsnet and Gransnet could well become one of those targets in the future.
In the above are the reasons I feel that a change of forum titles to Grandparents net and parents net would be beneficial to the community. That I also feel would bring about a change of emphasis to more encompass both sexes in joint discussions and interests
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a bit of swearing now and then but obscenities......?