How can we ensure views on Gransnet are given a broader hearin?

I didn't say I was part of the 'camraderie' (did no one ntice the inverted commas? It indicates the word isn't strictly accurate) Annie I very much am not (and don't want to be)

Suggestion for new name:

BoringOldFartnet

Good idea?
It would encompass all genders

'It takes all sorts to make a world'
'It would be a dull world if we were all the same'

Oft quoted by my DM when I was a child

I for one did not join gn to influence decision makers of any kind.

I joined because I have had a terrible year, and although I am married with AC and numerous GC, I sometimes feel very alone.

I joined initially to read what people were saying and get to "know" you all. I plucked up to post on a thread, got viscously attacked by another poster and felt absolutely dreadful. Fortunately I had a dm from another poster that was so kind a supportive I have carried on with gn, even starting my own thread.

Surely there are forums out in there in "internet land" for everyone. Isn't it better to find the forum that suits you, rather than join a forum and try and change it?

trisher I didn’t say you were part of a camaraderie, I asked for a definition of camaraderie and gave an example which explained why I asked .

GrannyGravy, so please a poster encouraged you to stay with us

Annie instead of playing the "I didn't say, I didn't mean" card why didn't you in the first place say who said what and who supported that and how? i.e me. It's all this hint and innuendo and 'I'm really such a nice person' bitching that puts people off posting. Especially men who in my experience prefer a good straight argument or discussion rather than the present style of posting.

I don't think anyone wants to stop there being a supportive element to GN GG13 but some would like to see a wider range of subjects and posters.

We have had suggestions on this thread about how GN could be changed and/or brought to a wider audience.

We can suggest but it's not our call.
It's up to GNHQ and they may well put ideas out to all for discussion if they think any changes need to be made.

Where are you GNHQ?

If by camaraderie you meant clique, Trisher say so.
Only too obvious when they raise their heads, but fortunately that tends only to be on certain forums
#callaspadeaspade

In any case you can’t legislate for a wider range of subjects (have you seen all the forums?) or indeed more/different posters.
GN is what its members make it.

trisher, I am not going to quote names and thread titles , it isn’t permitted

Annie that's using the rules to obfuscate. Nothing to stop you posting my name, the words you objected to, and the name of the poster. However as I said it's off putting and unnecessary.
MawBroon I have seen allegations of "cliques" before. I don't think they exist as such. I do think some people just post to support other people and create 'in' jokes. For new members it's a bit like walking into a coffee morning where everyone is chatting and you feel a bit of a lost soul. In real life of course someone would turn and smile at you, on line we can't do that so the newcomer looks, reads but eventually turns away.

Hasn’t put you off trisher

*Lara what about a star system? 1 star light hearted, 2 stars more robust 3 stars take cover. I also wondered about a welcome to GN thread where people are invited to make their first post and posters are requested to keep their post welcoming, possibly with one or two experienced posters welcoming and answering questions about GN, on a rota basis and GNHQ monitoring it for accuracy etc.

Annie could you please stop trying to make this thread about you and me. Thanks

trisher, you addressed me, I replied

Hi Lara
One way to make newcomers feel part of the community is to give them help to learn how to navigate the site, how to post, how to start a new thread, where the list of topics are (and thence the threads under each topic) , what to do if they find a post offensive or spammy, how to send a private message to another poster, where to find the meanings of acronyms and why posters can choose to use them (or not) and all the other practical details involved in being an active member of Gransnet.

Posters are often unused to online social networks, and frequently ask in the course of a conversation about all these things and more. Even for those who have used Facebook and so on, finding their way around the site is like being stranded in a strange town with no street map.

Could there be a page with a comprehensive tutorial (interactive with screenshots) to navigating and using the site, and could every new poster be welcomed with a PM containing a link to that tutorial? If anyone asks on the forum, seasoned posters could also direct them to it, and not have to reinvent the wheel by repeating "how-to-do-it" to each newby separately.

I think that more cameraderie is needed, not less!
If you see a post by a name that you don’t recognise and it’s a post asking for help, don’t wade in urging them to grow a pair.Understandably, new posters will soon be put off.

That's a really good idea Elegran, a few hints and tips for newbies, to help them get started, would work well.

Stick around Rufus and Grandad
OldMeg; I hear your call! I can't speak for Grandad of course, but I've no intention of leaving voluntarily (who's that booing?). . That would be completely disgraceful of me after that marvellous virtual birthday party you all gave me back in July. Like the tune says, the memory still lingers on.
Mind you, since then, I've been kicked out of a thread I started on behalf of Michelle who lives in "beige Bournemouth" on beige clothing and head scarves. It took off like wildfire, over 250 posts when I last looked, but when I said was out of my comfort zone seeing as how the topic had been shifted from beige wearing apparel, to beige house furnishings, I was given the flick. Michelle was highly amused by that, and no, she hadn't" set me up!"
Well, OldMeg; that developed into a long-winded monologue as usual; thanks again for your encouragement.
Btw; I've had no response from HQ yet on the "Humour" forum.

Can’t claim any kudos for that party as I didn’t attend Rufus - I’m not much of a party animal. Give me a glass of the red falling-down juice and a couple of old friends any day instead.

However I’m totally with trisher on this and feel that your and Grandad’s contributions add a certain ....i was going to say ‘je ne sais quoi’....but that’s not true, I know exactly the ‘quoi’ - yours being a zany humour and granddad adds a certain political gravitas, both of which are sadly lacking, often.

Give me a glass of the red falling-down juice
I think Rufus likes a drop of that too OldMeg, but only drinks half and pours the rest over his keyboard