Has Gransnet changed for the worse?

I've only been on the site (actively) for the past couple of years, so can't comment on how it has changed from the early days.
I agree that sometimes posters are unnecessarily offensive on occasion.
However, I do really appreciate the variety of topics discussed here. I occasionally have a peak at Mumsnet, and find it rather depressing that there is a lack of political discussion or 'serious' topics there. I guess we have a little more time to think about and take an interest in varied subjects.

Ah yes mcem I see what you mean.

There are strong opinions on some threads - both left right/remain leave/liberal right wing. I swerve them if I’m not up to it. There are plenty of ‘ask a gran’ or ‘good morning’ forums so there is a choice. I’m a relative newbie of under 2y so I cannot comment on any change from how things used to be. I too think some of the original gang on GN are some of the most vociferous on some forums. Perhaps it was ever thus?

Your values and viewpoints are probably not the same as mine mcem but that doesn’t make either of us nasty people.

It's funny how anyone who shows the least bit of patriotism or national identity is branded a 'racist'. We are expected to embrace the modern 'ideal' of globalisation, and multi-culturism without complaint, and those who do not comply are made to feel like narrow-minded bigots.

I'd have to flag up as an example the last few posts on the thread about the joy of brexit this month!

Scurries off to have a look.....

Framilode that ties in with what I am saying.
No-one wants everything bland and vanilla. I am not advocating the school of thought that says "If you can't say something nice, say nothing."
It's the lack of manners and compassion that makes reading some posts so utterly unpleasant. Include in that, the increase in nit picking when a poster makes an innocent mistake in spelling or grammar.
I've been posting since day one and although aggressive and fairly stroppy posts have always appeared, I do believe that the atmosphere has changed, particularly over the last couple of years.
A lack of trust in GNHQ, brexit, an influx of extreme right-wingers have all contributed to what I see as a real deterioration.
I'd have to flag up as an example the last few posts on the thread about the joy of brexit this month!

It is possible to simply ignore posters whose comments are racist or unacceptable in other ways. This is a luxury not afforded to us in real life!

I like a good discussion so don't want it to become too vanilla. However, there are some posters with terrible manners who lack compassion. These tend to be the ones that also have extreme views.

I think that there are a lot of very polarised views on GN on the subjects that you mention mcem but I'm not sure that it's just from new GN members. Brexit, Shamima Begum and other mainstream new items are very decisive subjects and therefore attract strong reactions from both sides of the arguments. When I first joined GN, about 3 years ago now, the majority political stance seemed more to the left and I can remember there being some very heated, and often aggressive postings, from both sides too.

It's like life... swings like a pendulum!

HAPPY is an ironic word to choose in this context!

I agree to an extent mcem some posters are very exercised about Brexit and manage to drag it into every thread whether or not its relevant.
There has been a lot of ill feeling about the ISIS girl as well. I wouldn't like to see GN become bland and boring though.
There must be a happy medium.