Posters ready to disrupt

No, rather the reverse, Cariad. I think the thread may have been deleted, but can't really see that anything would be gained by rehashing it all.

Missed that one too. Was it News and Politics? That's where I usually visit.

That's now raised my curiosity as to what went on in the "green trouser suit thread". Think it must have been before I started reading this forum.

Anyone got a link to it?

Guessing it was a serious discussion and somebody brought in a (totally irrelevant) green trouser suit and others started talking about trouser suits to derail the thread?

escaped

Moi?

Well that's me told! Especially after several posters last week commented on the welcome injections of humour brought into threads to stop them getting too nasty.
FWIW I know nothing about kittens? Maybe someone will enlighten us! 🐈 😻 🐈‍⬛️ 😺 🐱
The green trouser suit goes way beyond being an excuse for personal digs.

I agree. It was simply expressing an opinion, but you keep playing the martyr.

I hadn't even remembered that you were involved until you brought it up specifically on another thread. It's tedious.

The thing is, whilst you might see threads as 'getting nasty' you don't have the right to decide to change them like an unelected Head Girl. Other posters have a right to an opinion too, which is all I am saying.

Of course threads meander - it's inevitable, and there is nothing wrong with that if it's organic. It is different when a small group decides that they will impose 'lightening up', though.

Anyway, I am in danger of dragging this out too, so will leave it there - or at least until the next time it is mentioned

Yes, sometimes a wee, funny diversion, temporary of course, does reduce the heat.

If you look at the length of some of the posts you might understand why, Doodledog.

Oh dear, sometimes a jovial(ish) post on a serious thread can diffuse a brewing pile on or another difficult situation.

I am guilty of the above, I am not in a clique 😼

Moi?

Well that's me told! Especially after several posters last week commented on the welcome injections of humour brought into threads to stop them getting too nasty.
FWIW I know nothing about kittens? Maybe someone will enlighten us! 🐈 😻 🐈‍⬛️ 😺 🐱
The green trouser suit goes way beyond being an excuse for personal digs.

I don't think it's anything to do with sufficient gravity and level of intellectual debate.

Many posters have commented on how it is annoying when threads are disrupted because a group of people have decided that they need to be 'lightened', regardless of whether others have had a chance to say their piece. A thread about politics or a serious news event suddenly has people talking amongst themselves about kittens, and those coming late to the topic are unable to get a word in edgeways. It is particularly galling when the chat pushes the thread to 1000 posts, at which point it closes, and posters are often open about the fact that this is their aim. It just rides roughshod over everyone else, as we all have a right to express our opinion (including about filibustering and private chats on public threads).

I appreciate that you disagree, escaped, and that you have a right to bring this up over and over again. But diverting threads into further discussions about what you see as the injustice of being called to account will not alter the fact that many do find it annoying, and nor will it stop me from responding, as it feels like a personal dig, based on the infamous 'green trouser suit' thread on which I did speak up about that sort of thing, although I did not report you.

There are often complaints about cliques, and how people can feel intimidated on threads as they know that if they offer their opinion it will be upcast forever. I now have a certain amount of sympathy with that POV . The trouser suit thread was 18 months ago!

Cossy

escaped

Boz I think posters do get told off if they introduce a degree of levity or do not approach subjects with sufficient gravity and depth of intellectual debate.

Oops, yes, Allira, I probably have a yellow card already on this serious thread! Sorry. 🏉

Haha Never, ever, lose manners nor one’s sense of humour!

At least it's not a 🟥

Mamie

I try to be measured and polite, but I do sometimes remember the classic Mumsnet reply to outrageous posts.
"Are you on glue?"

That’s actually hilarious!

escaped

^Boz I think posters do get told off if they introduce a degree of levity or do not approach subjects with sufficient gravity and depth of intellectual debate.^

Oops, yes, Allira, I probably have a yellow card already on this serious thread! Sorry. 🏉

Haha Never, ever, lose manners nor one’s sense of humour!

Galaxy

I do get a bit antsy when people complain about MN/GN in terms if freedom of speech because under enormous pressure they provided a space for feminists to speak freely, when no one else did. They were threatened legally, had advertisers pulling their funding, etc, they have I am sure done more for 'freedom of speech' than most posters on here.

I quite understand that explanation. I thought there would be something of the sort going on . I hope your explanation will make people feel better.

GrannyGravy13

Allira the only swinging I did in the sixties was on a garden swing (late 50’s baby)

😁

I do get a bit antsy when people complain about MN/GN in terms if freedom of speech because under enormous pressure they provided a space for feminists to speak freely, when no one else did. They were threatened legally, had advertisers pulling their funding, etc, they have I am sure done more for 'freedom of speech' than most posters on here.

Allira the only swinging I did in the sixties was on a garden swing (late 50’s baby)

Mamie

I try to be measured and polite, but I do sometimes remember the classic Mumsnet reply to outrageous posts.
"Are you on glue?"

😁

Of course, that would probably be deleted on here as we have to behave with more decorum for some reason.

Why, I'll never know, we invented the Permissive Society and the Swinging Sixties!

I try to be measured and polite, but I do sometimes remember the classic Mumsnet reply to outrageous posts.
"Are you on glue?"

Oh dear, Gran, your name is being taken in vain!

This thread and threads where someone has been reported and had a post deleted are always interesting.

I always look out for the posters I nickname "Gertrude"

'The lady doth protest too much, methinks"

Queen Gertrude. Hamlet. Act 3. Scene 2.

They almost always pop up.

Labradora

For myself the political socio/political threads make me realise when I have a structured , coherent line of thought to present and when I am just blurting out a prejudice , which, sometimes, frankly, I am.
Things can get quite lively but one of the things that I do value about gransnet is robust thought and expression.
I wouldn't persevere in a vitriolic argument though. I tend to disengage if I get really angry.
If any of us realise that that we have really, genuinely upset someone, we should probably calm down and apologise.

Sounds like a very fair sort of take to put on things imo.

I think it's fair enough to accept different people have different opinions and not try and wriggle and squirm to shut them up if theirs is different.

It's not a vicar's tea party - where everyone might decide to talk about totally non-personal opinions and it's all "More tea vicar?"

I think a lot of people like to be in an "echo chamber". Echo chambers have their uses - ie for realising one is far from the only one with a particular way of thinking. They were very useful for sure during Covid/Lockdown/et al - as a counterbalance to all the government instructions and propaganda and many of us needed what support we could get in such a hostile environment as that was for us and some of us experienced enormous amounts of pressure put on us one way or another.

By and large though generally it should be more "school debating society" - ie there's at least one other side to this and so what is it? and not just "agree with the vicar that you'd like another cup of tea".

Some people can't handle other people having different views to themselves - and might be better served finding a "one view only" sort of venue to be.

For myself the political socio/political threads make me realise when I have a structured , coherent line of thought to present and when I am just blurting out a prejudice , which, sometimes, frankly, I am.
Things can get quite lively but one of the things that I do value about gransnet is robust thought and expression.
I wouldn't persevere in a vitriolic argument though. I tend to disengage if I get really angry.
If any of us realise that that we have really, genuinely upset someone, we should probably calm down and apologise.

How do you identify a BOT, pettra? (I'm assuming you are talking about the sort of posts produced by bot farms?)

Caleo not always true.I was on a forum a few years ago that was much stricter on guidelines.
But if GN is more protective it’s probably a mix of being aware of being sued and realising that older people are often more vulnerable in many ways.Being bereaved, being in ill health and in some cases lonely.Having insults thrown at them or pile ons could be upsetting.
If posters stay calm with comments it’s better all round.

Allira

CariadAgain
I've never yet spotted a thread started or post made to deliberately create trouble.

I can't say the same for strange threads started, usually with American spellings, with very involved family stories.

I sometimes wonder if they are posted to try to get posters to reveal details about themselves. Best avoided.

It was one of those posts that got me suspended for a week because somebody who believed everything the BOT was posting was true when it was obvious to a blind man that it was tosh.
But I had the temerity 😂 to call it out.
I now have a mental image of a dalec screaming Report Report Report. 😱