Troll hunting and thread deletions

What has saddened me, and yes, irritated, is when (often) new members seem to set out to cause division - either in a passive/aggressive way so that nothing they actually say seems that bad, but the effect it has on the site dynamic becomes unbalanced. And the less subtle, aggressive, hostile type who clearly cares little for the feelings of others. I don’t mean that to sound cliquey but if you join a group you don’t do a “Meghan” and put backs up from the word go, being critical and expecting everybody to see things from your point of view, do you?
There is often a pattern as others have noticed and after a bit, things settle down a bit, but feelings get trampled in the process and there are frequently casualties. You learn who your friends are and who to perhaps avoid in the future.

Charleygirl5 she was very shaken by it. It was a decade ago and I think now there is much more awareness of internet safety,and not just for childeren.
Yes if someone is offhand with me I tend to just step back. It can be hurtful but sometimes you just have to take the view you cant agree with everyone. Like others have mentioned it is concerning for some posters who come here for help and support. Thankfully there always seem to be gransnetters who step in so to speak when someone is being unpleasant. ?

Callistemon I am in touch with the person who left and maybe after a break she may rejoin.

That's good, Charleygirl.

Perhaps taking a breather is a good idea!

The Internet is a weird and wonderful place lol

Dorsetcupcake I have seen the flower giving a couple of times and I find that a tad scary.

Callistemon I am in touch with the person who left and maybe after a break she may rejoin.

The 2-3 times I have been hurt personally I stay away from certain posts but I have never considered leaving. I would be giving in and that is what some people may want.

sometimes a particular style comes through

Yes I think that is true!

Apologies, have read the couple of pages I missed ,I think initially I was just a bit confused trying to work out what happened. Abusive PMs horrible. As for members who deliberately have different identities I have been on the receiving end of that by someone who was incredibly good at it in the end it was so disconcerting I left that particular site. They were very clever,but sometimes a particular style comes through.
I'm sure there are many reasons why people do it. For some it's a fantasy land where they can be someone they are not in real life. Others I think are just unpleasant people who in real world would delight in spreading malicious gossip or in another era write poison pen letters.
A timely reminder to be wary of online privacy. On the site I left one lady thought she had been reasonably careful but a follower had managed to gather enough clues to send her flowers! Quite easy to do if someone is determined enough and the "victim" has enough of a social media /internet presence but minimum privacy settings☹

Not always these day Callistemon!

I'm not sure it's necessary to leave. There have been times in the past when I've been a bit fed up with the way some threads are going so I've just backed off for a bit.

Leaving means you have to register again if you want to come back and that means a new user name.

Can't see the point.

At least you can get a sensible answer, Chewbacca!

Some new posters or one with more than one account

And at the end of it all; I just don't get the point of doing that! Why? What purpose does it serve? To have a conversation with yourself on line? You might as well sit and chat to yourself in the bathroom mirror!

Oh, not more, Madgran!

"some new posters have upset the applecart somewhat"

I do agree that there seems to have been a significant increase in unnecessarily unkind, harsh posting , provocative links and unpleasant thread derailing over the last 18 months or so I think. I know of posters who have given up and left. It's a pity

Some new posters or one with more than one account

Dorsetcupcake

I think this is more than posters becoming tetchy and disagreeing; somehow some new posters have upset the applecart somewhat.
To put it mildly.

Maybe she'll come back. Things do tend to calm down after a while.

One GN has been in touch with me and she has left- not entirely over this spat but she went quietly and gracefully not wanting to make a song and dance about it.

That's sad, Charleygirl
Whoever the poster was, it sounds as if she was someone who would have been an asset to GN.

merlotgran

Sooty and Sweep are trolls?

Who knew?

Best post of the day merlotgran!!
??

I m sorry but I don’t believe this is anything to do with Covid or lockdown it crops up every now and then and then settles down again
We have a little splurge of rubbish posts then things go back to normal apart from the deleted threads and about three posters everyone else comes across normal and lovely 90%of the time

Dorsetcupcake what a positive post.
However, may I suggest that you read all of the thread, however tedious it may seem. It might give you a better insight, as to why some of us felt the need to contact GN and why GNHQ have become involved.

I must admit I havent read all of this thread so apologies if I've got the wrong end of the stick!
I must have been on Gransnet nearly five years although I dont think I posted much before this year.
I've always viewed Gransnet as a very positive place , I think it still is.
Up until recently I always looked forward to my daily email and usually just read the threads on that. Now I look on more forums that I think might be interesting. They are interesting, informative and entertaining. There is also a great deal of support and kindness on here.
Recently I have been more aware of more bickering. Sometimes it's just a difference of opinion which is fair enough. Sometimes however there feels there is an underlying unpleasantness where on a thread a few posters seem to pick on another poster and be quite demeaning or unkind. Maybe it's always been there and I just havent picked up on it.
I do wonder if it's a more general problem. I'm also on a diabetes forum which very similar in nature to gransnet and usually very supportive. Over the past few weeks however people seem to be increasingly angry.
I'm currently on a thread there concerning Covid safe workplaces with schools in particular being a concern. As time goes on people are becoming increasingly angry. If we were in a real room coffee mugs would be slammed on tables and doors slammed!
Everyone is angry/ concerned/ scared. I cannot imagine there is anyone who has not being affected by Covid to some degree. Sadly we have gone from what appeared to be a genuine concern for others during lockdown to people taking a stand and increasingly showing hostility to those who dont agree with it. Not everyone of course,thankfully there is always good in the world.

Especially when they're in a group GrannyGravy.

Marydoll totally agree but then again most bullies are cowards.

Oh Phoenix I feel you have material there for one of your much loved threads

In appreciation of the long standing member

One of the main points raised here was unsolicited , nasty PMs.
That's a different, cowardly ball game, I'm afraid ☹️