*WARNING* The media trawling GN for people to interview about the effects of Coronavirus.

Not everyone who posts on Gransnet is who they say they are.

That is a very important fact for us all to remember.

It is astonishingly easy for hoaxers to construct a fictitious character and then develop the story surrounding them as they wish.

Sarah

What did you do?

Did you delete the account of the person who sent Mary doll the PM?

I had a similar experience - a registered user sending me a pm and adapting my reply in an advert.
I had revealed a few personal details in my pm replies.
I reported my suspicions and GNHQ said they have dealt with it.

Ta

Thank you POGS, sensible as usual. You can see where I am coming from.

To be able to send me a PM, the journalist/researcher made a decision to join GN, perhaps with the intention of finding news stories.
She said in her PM, that she had been on for a year, loved reading all the threads, but I've never ever seen a post from her. Must be a lurker. .

This thread is not about the virus, there are plenty of those already.

Well it is a case GNHQ are very happy to use us for financial gain and we all have signed up to that so we cannot really complain.

However I think when a PM is sent to a poster, as has happened to Marydoll, does that not raise a question e.g that can only happen if the sender has joined GN as a member? Or am I mistaken.

We only have to look at the following thread to understand this is the case:-

Coronavirus - are older people being treated as expendable.

LaraGransnet (GNHQ) Thu 12-Mar-20 10:05:23
We've been contacted by some media channels wanting to know how you feel about this? Any thoughts?
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When I asked on the thread ' which media channels' answer came there not. I then went on to engage in the thread so it meant I both knew and accepted what I was doing by participating. I do however admit to thinking if I have been a ready made fool for doing so as it may have been media outlets I would on any other day avoided.

Such is GN.

By the time a vaccine is ready there'll be another weird and wonderful virus doing its rounds. I don't think we'll ever catch up on one that's befitting what's floating around in the here and now.

The point I'm also trying to make is, that people are not always who we think they are. They are anonymous, hiding behind a keyboard.
That's why media requests are supposed to go through GNHQ, so that they can vet them. It is about keeping us safe, (as well as generating revenue!)

Those of us who have had PMs from scammers, such as Will and the others, are well aware of the need to be careful. For the many who are careful, there will be always someone who is taken in.

I suppose the fact that there is no vaccine for it maybe makes it worse?

Maybe not a bad thing for Chanel 5 to do some interviews with those who have said they are terrified and petrified etc.

There has been such a lot of conflicting information on the various threads about Coronavirus, all stated as "facts" that it could be a pointer to the media of how their scaremongering reporting is affecting people so much.

We don't see this level of heightened anxiety for the season flu bouts that go around every year, yet that has a higher death rate than has so far been reported for Coronavirus. Why is this? It can surely only be the reporting of it which is leading to people seemingly believing that it is a guaranteed death if you catch it.

So, yes, actually, I think it would be good for some people to share their views, and Gransnet is as good a place as any to find the most worried demographic.

It was a bit of a sneaky approach. Infiltrate a good natured, pleasant thread and slip in your request.

GNHQ do not allow media requests, unless they go through HQ.

It didn't bother me, I admired her ingenuity in trying to get a story. She actually admitted that she expected to eventually get a result.
I wasn't daft enough to respond and I always consider how much I want reveal.

I just wanted to alert people to the fact that they were trawling looking for candidates, it is not at all a surprise to me.
There are posters on here who reveal children and grandchildren's names, photos of children in identifiable school uniform, along with a lot more personal info.

It is quite easy to get carried away and reveal too much information in the cosy environment away from the political threads.
However, is is up to posters what they choose to reveal, we are all adults here, that is unless it's the school holidays.

However, people have to remember, we may not always be who we say we are.

Perfect timing, to find out how we feel about everything that is happening now. Yesterday's news isn't even fit for wrapping fish and chips these days.

It's hardly a good time for interviews though, when avoiding the virus is top priority!

Actually I don’t see the problem regarding their approach.

To be fair Marydoll you and others give out so much information, photos, and updates on life's ups and downs, is it any wonder that the media will take an interest.

That's not a criticism by the way, just an observation.

Channel 5 is a reputable national broadcaster, of course they will follow a story.

Yet another reminder that GN is a very public site, for all to peruse.

Of course and the two PMs. The posts have been deleted, not sure if GNHQ have responded to the PMs.

Out of interest, being nosey, have you reported this to GNHQ Mary doll?