Just like to say.....

Reporting to GHNQ just makes things nastier unfortunately.

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.

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

Well thats my wrist slapped

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?

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.

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

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

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.

Thank you dustyangel.

Is someone making a mountain out of a teacup?

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

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).

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.

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!). You shouldn't be losing sleep over an internet forum, though. I hope you can sleep ok tonight

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

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

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.

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

That's reassuring!