I am a very new member of Gransnet. I found the site by chance when googling retirement. I have found a great deal of helpful information here, and it is also good to realise when you are struggling that you a not alone. The Kitchen is lovely, and makes me laugh; lovely people who smile in the face of adversity.
I think debate is good, although I wouldn't post on the majority of threads that address such subjects as politics etc. they are far too heated for me but I like to read the comments. I imagine a lot of newbies would be worried about posting anything tbh seeing the replies from some posters. For me I just move on and read something else.
From observation some posters seem to lack any empathy whatsoever, not sure whether these are new people or not I haven't been here long enough but I do think one or two have been here a long while and it is just their MO. I wonder too if these are younger members, but I don't know.
All in all, I think it is a good site with really helpful information from the majority, there is always someone who has had experience of the question posted, which is excellent.