Hello, GNHQ here, (waving a white flag).
We need your help. As many of you have probably noticed the conversations over the past few days have been increasingly tense. The questions posed have been so interesting and worthy of debate but so often the conversations have derailed and turned into personal attacks (the veiled ones can be particularly unkind). We hate deleting threads when people have taken time and effort to contribute and it must be equally wearing for you all to wade through mean-spirited posts. We'd really like to get back to conversations that include debate/disagreement but that also show a bit of respect and consideration for other posters even if you disagree with them.
Thank you for reading. 
GNHQ
Hello, we've been watching this thread that was intended as a plea for us all to be a bit kinder to each other, with sadness. Whitewavemark2 - in response to your earlier post, we are being as transparent as possible. We're sure you understand that we can't discuss any particular user's specific circumstances but other than that you are getting our 'side of things'.
As we said in the beginning of this thread, we hate deleting posts, and particularly entire threads, but will do so if necessary. You will always see a number of posts and efforts on our part to try and get the threads back on track before we take any such action.
Thank you seacliff for your suggestion (and smileless). Just to clarify there are plenty of discussions before anyone is suspended from Gransnet (aside from obvious spammers of course).
To those who suggest we simply delete the offending posts, that is our first course of action, but in extreme cases, the conversation becomes impossible to follow because of all the deletions and if the personal attacks simply continue then the thread does become more about personal point scoring and less about talking about the issue. We do it as little as possible though and were hoping with your help we would have to do it even less.
For those who have suggested that we allow people to fight their own battles, for some that may be possible, but for others who may be feeling vulnerable, or bullied it may not be as easy. None of us have any idea what the people behind the keyboard may be feeling or what they may be going through. This is a general observation by the way, not referring to any posters on this thread. We want people to feel welcome, to voice their opinion, and to join in. If a user feels they are constantly badgered by another poster, or a group, they will leave, and not be able to experience all that Gransnet has to offer.
Thank you for all your contributions to this so far. Hopefully we can make this a more welcoming site for everyone. 
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