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Just like to say.....

(152 Posts)
j08 Wed 19-Jun-13 17:49:53

...if I suddenly go quiet, I will have been banned. grin

Ten and a half years on Mumsnet followed by Gransnet, and at the age of 71 banning looms! shock grin

Movedalot Thu 20-Jun-13 10:39:58

Got to page 3 now!

Merlot, totally agree with both your posts. I have only ever reported posts where someone appears to be selling something. I wouldn't dream of 'snitching on another gn. Like j08, if I have something to say, I say it openly. If it is personal I say it in a PM and then remember what the P means and don't disclose what I have said or what anyone says to me in a PM.

petallus Thu 20-Jun-13 10:35:27

smile

That's reassuring!

Movedalot Thu 20-Jun-13 10:34:17

feetle I do so agree with you. I think it is acceptable to report advertising and bad swearing etc. which we would all agree with but then some people never get out of the schoolroom grin

GeraldineGransnet (GNHQ) Thu 20-Jun-13 10:26:54

This has been a really interesting discussion and very helpful to us.

Regarding racism and sexism, we do have to delete where comments break the law. Not that we want to be a forum for hate speech, anyway.

I don't think we would delete a quoted remark, Bags - but it might depend on context.

We have occasionally taken threads down because they have been started maliciously by someone who has come on only to cause trouble or because the thread has degenerated into so much personal attack that it has become un-rescuable. But we don't like doing it.

We agree with janerowena that the only way to moderate is with the lightest of possible touches.

We weren't trying to censor anyone's style and I hope we've now explained to j08 what we were rather ineptly trying to say. <crosses fingers>

Bags Thu 20-Jun-13 10:07:14

I'm not sure HQ (or anyone) should censor racist or sexist comments. Of course nobody wants to have such comments directed at them personally, but we ought to be able to discuss what constitutes a racist or sexist comment, surely? And that might mean quoting one. Quoting in order to facilitate discussion is not the same as directing such a comment at someone, but you still "see" the racism or sexism. I really don't need to be protected from that.

glassortwo Thu 20-Jun-13 10:06:11

pet no it wasnt your comment, and even it was I have broad shoulders wink

whenim64 Thu 20-Jun-13 10:03:43

Good suggestion, Bags. You can make an informed choice, then, about how far you're prepared to go. It's heartening to see that there is so much support for you Jingle, especially as you've effed and blinded about our posts when you disagree strongly (but I have never been in doubt about what you meant!). grin You shouldn't be losing sleep over an internet forum, though. I hope you can sleep ok tonight smile

Just a thought......I assume you'll still want to berate posts you don't agree with? It would be a shame if your style was stifled along with the anglo-saxon heckles grin

petallus Thu 20-Jun-13 10:03:30

janerowena that is an excellent post. I particularly agree with your last para.

glassortwo sorry if it was my comment that made you feel your wrists had been slapped. I was concerned and couldn't understand why people were laughing (not just you). smile

I agree that the email from GNHQ was threatening and how can j08 post in her normal style when she has that hanging over her head?

A big problem with reporting someone is that it can be done secretly. Not all of us would do it so GNHQ, who probably do not read all of our posts in detail and therefore miss the nuances of our interactions, will get a skewed view of what is going on and react to that.

It is already irritating that GNHQ have taken to deleting threads because they consider they are too contentious. I wonder now if that is because someone asked them to!

Do we want an atmosphere of apprehension and distrust on Gransnet? I don't. At the very least, people who want to report someone else should be upfront about it and let the complained against one know they are doing it and why.

With all due respect mollie we are not in a playground because we are not children.

j08 Thu 20-Jun-13 09:53:53

Have had an email. It was some new posters who complained about me. Sorry for the fuss. Did try to keep it light.

Thank you very much for the supportive posts. xxx

sunseeker Thu 20-Jun-13 09:52:24

I have never reported any posts by GNs. There have been posts which I have thought were objectionable or which have offended me, but I have either said so on the thread or just no longer read that thread.

Yes there has to be some "censorship", none of us would like to see racist or sexist comments, but on the whole I think we are able to deal with objectionable posts ourselves.

janerowena Thu 20-Jun-13 09:35:41

I think some readers just don't know me like others do.

I read quite a few posts before I started joining in, and J08's posts certainly stood out, but made me laugh. The trouble is, it's so easy to take things to heart when it is all written down, even with the use of smilies. What can be seen as a little blunt by one person, is seen as downright rude by another. I moderate a forum elsewhere, and it isn't easy. If one person wasn't banned, then maybe half a dozen would leave. In the end we decided that we would only warn/ban people for racist remarks and anything sexually offensive, ie harassment of a member by another in a stalking sort of way. If someone started up a potentially inflammatory thread, people can choose not to read them, after all.

To all the moderators on here, I would say that you need variety, otherwise you can end up with everyone agreeing, too afraid to discuss anything other than the weather, and a very boring board so that everyone leaves anyway.

Bags Thu 20-Jun-13 09:35:14

I think I would ask for clarification as well, jings. It would probably be useful to know what sort of comments people have been reporting. At least you could then make an informed decision about whether to say such things on GN again, or in what context. HQ wouldn't need to reveal the source of the complaints, just give examples of what is objected to.

Worth a try.

mollie Thu 20-Jun-13 09:19:44

Being a devils advocate here, hasn't GNHQ always said it has the right to moderate and that we need to bear in mind this is a public forum? I've been on other such forums that have fallen apart through bitter in-fighting and it wasn't a pleasant experience even as a by-stander. I also think that Sagazone broke down due to its members insisting on being free to say what they felt and the moderators worrying about external complaints about extreme views. Those are my understandings and I'm sure I'll be corrected if any tiny part of this is wrong.

My point is that somebody has to keep an eye on the playground and we all need to feel there is someone who will listen to our complaints if we have them. Why should GN be any different?

shysal Thu 20-Jun-13 09:17:43

Hope you sleep well tonight Jingle. Hopefully it will all blow over very soon.

Butty Thu 20-Jun-13 09:16:37

I'm sorry to hear that J - and thanks for being 'straight down the line' with me. Appreciate it.
If it were me, I'd be asking for further clarification of the reasoning behind the GNHQ email. It does read as if it's an attempt at censoring your natural style.

feetlebaum Thu 20-Jun-13 09:14:47

Is someone making a mountain out of a teacup?

j08 Thu 20-Jun-13 09:14:25

Thank you dustyangel.

j08 Thu 20-Jun-13 09:11:52

Absent I don't for one moment think you had any hand in this. Or any of the other regular posters. Gransnet is getting very big. I think some readers just don't know me like others do.

Will let it go now. Sorry for the trouble caused.

dustyangel Thu 20-Jun-13 09:10:46

I'd hate to see you go as well*jO8*.

j08 Thu 20-Jun-13 09:06:36

I know I was joking about it yesterday. Seemed the best way to handle it.

j08 Thu 20-Jun-13 09:04:39

butty I have been awake most of the night worrying about this. And that is being honest with you.I have been spending a few days at my son's house and was having a lovely time until thisappeared in my email. I have been thinking all sorts of things in the night. I am wondering amongst other things what AgeUk would make of the the way their forum is being run.

I think there should at least have been a name at the end of the email. Just GNHQ is intimidating. And the "take further action" felt very "official" and threatening. Almost bullying really.

Aka Thu 20-Jun-13 08:48:55

I'd hate to see J08 banned from GN and I am confused as to why anyone should have reported her recent posts and why GNGQ should have reacted like that. Sometimes an explanation would help?

glassortwo Thu 20-Jun-13 07:45:21

Well thats my wrist slapped grin

Butty Thu 20-Jun-13 07:35:08

J I can't tell whether you're really concerned about the message from HQ or not..... are you?

absent Wed 19-Jun-13 23:52:49

I have no desire to see j08 evicted from gransnet but I am willing to admit to reporting one of her posts. It was quite a while ago, extremely unpleasant and best deleted. I would point out that she has also said that she has reported one of my posts which was then deleted.

I think this may turn out to be a storm in a mole hill. I hope so.