My DD visited at the w/e and was quite interested in Gransnet and how I saw it. I said it felt like we were an intimate group of women (and some men) who give each other support, bounce ideas off each other, share jokes etc., in other words like a group of friends. Of course, at the same time we all know Gransnet is open to anyone who wants to have a look. But added to this DD (who is a psychologist) tells me that there is currently quite a bit of concern amongst professional bodies over the way some researchers collect their material over the net. Not only do they trawl websites like ours for opinions and attitudes but sometimes they might even create an identity for themselves and post a question in order to get responses they can use in their research.
This isn't illegal but it is seen as unethical by, for instance, the British Psychological Society.
Don't know if this matters but thought I'd mention it.