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Gransnet in 2024 - have your say!

(263 Posts)

GNHQ have commented on this thread. Read here.

AnnieGransnet (GNHQ) Mon 04-Dec-23 10:09:22

Hello, everyone.

As we approach the end of the year, we at GNHQ are thinking about what we can do to improve the site for everyone in 2024. Simply put - we think we need a makeover!

What we’d really like to know is does Gransnet hit the spot, or is there something you're itching for. What features do you love, (or not) and is there a gap we need to fill? We’d also like to know if you think Gransnet reflects who you are and if not, how can we make it more ‘you’?

If you were in charge at GNHQ for the day, what changes would you make? Anything from the layout or the topics to even the name Gransnet (AI suggested ‘nananook.com' grin) - we want to hear it.

Your opinions matter to us and we’re all ears.

Thanks,
GNHQ

shandi6570 Tue 05-Dec-23 08:32:26

I’m surprised that no one else has said what I’ve been thinking since this thread appeared and that is that this is a forerunner to us being amalgamated into Mumsnet, as their facilities are ‘what we have been requesting’.

Be careful what you wish for.

Luckygirl3 Tue 05-Dec-23 08:51:24

Automatic opening at last post on a thread. Mumsnet do this - it is very useful.

Joseann Tue 05-Dec-23 09:04:55

shandi6570

I’m surprised that no one else has said what I’ve been thinking since this thread appeared and that is that this is a forerunner to us being amalgamated into Mumsnet, as their facilities are ‘what we have been requesting’.

Be careful what you wish for.

Setting the superior tools of the Mumsnet website aside, what would be the advantages or drawbacks to us GNetters in terms of being part of the discussions if we joined Mumsnet? I don't use Mumsnet, so I am interested to hear how we would fit in.
Would their name also need a change to something like Mumsnet and have beens?

Musicgirl Tue 05-Dec-23 09:51:00

I’ve just started using the bookmark tool. Thank you for mentioning this.

Calendargirl Tue 05-Dec-23 09:56:28

I’m also on Mumsnet, but don’t look at it very often as I just don’t like it.

I’m afraid I feel ‘too old’ when I see some of the comments (and language).

AnnieGransnet (GNHQ) Tue 05-Dec-23 14:40:43

Hello, everyone - thanks so much for taking the time to comment. There are many very interesting and useful insights here, which we are going through in detail. Please continue to add your thoughts as we're monitoring the thread.

A previous poster made an interesting remark that Gransnet doesn't represent the members because many people are not grandparents. This is something we have given considerable thought to and are considering how we can best address it. We know other sites are more focused on demographics (e.g. Spring Chicken) rather than parental status and perhaps this is more attuned to our users. Most GNers are women though and we think this is a really important factor too - as women-centric spaces online are certainly not in the majority.

Just to clarify - there'll be NO nannanook.com! <shudder>

Galaxy Tue 05-Dec-23 14:44:26

Dear God I love MN/GN 's approach to womens spaces online I sometimes think Justine should be made Queen.
I will stop crawling nowgrin

creativeness Tue 05-Dec-23 14:50:04

I’m agreeing with all the above suggestions that have been suggested

Casdon Tue 05-Dec-23 15:25:34

Joseann

shandi6570

I’m surprised that no one else has said what I’ve been thinking since this thread appeared and that is that this is a forerunner to us being amalgamated into Mumsnet, as their facilities are ‘what we have been requesting’.

Be careful what you wish for.

Setting the superior tools of the Mumsnet website aside, what would be the advantages or drawbacks to us GNetters in terms of being part of the discussions if we joined Mumsnet? I don't use Mumsnet, so I am interested to hear how we would fit in.
Would their name also need a change to something like Mumsnet and have beens?

I find Mumsnet impersonal, it’s okay if you want to see a hundred different opinions about something, but it doesn’t have any cohesion, which means there’s less meaningful debate about topics, and it’s a lot more shouty than Gransnet. It’s also much more difficult to get to know peoples perspectives on issues, and the ability to name change between posts seems very odd.

Joseann Tue 05-Dec-23 17:15:24

Thanks Calendargirl and Casdon, it rather sounds as though amalgamating with Mumsnet would change the dynamics then. Not for the better either.

Callistemon21 Tue 05-Dec-23 21:38:42

Please, please could you remove the annoying adverts and videos - they are so old and we're bored now!!

The same makeovers, the cakes must be stale by now, we are fed up seeing the swimming picture on the home page. Time for something Christmassy, not a summery photo.

Please update the site.

We are feeling neglected, forgotten, like second-class citizens.

Thank you 🙂

Parsley3 Tue 05-Dec-23 22:42:09

Callistemon21

*Please, please* could you remove the annoying adverts and videos - they are so old and we're bored now!!

The same makeovers, the cakes must be stale by now, we are fed up seeing the swimming picture on the home page. Time for something Christmassy, not a summery photo.

Please update the site.

We are feeling neglected, forgotten, like second-class citizens.

Thank you 🙂

This is how I feel too. I hope this thread will lead to some changes for the better.

chelseababy Wed 06-Dec-23 07:37:50

Bookmark facility as on Mumsnet

Pittcity Wed 06-Dec-23 09:24:07

chelseababy

Bookmark facility as on Mumsnet

There is a bookmark facility already as pointed out in earlier posts on this thread.

A large header advising that posters read the whole thread before posting would be useful.

Elegran Wed 06-Dec-23 09:38:45

Callistemon21

Jaxjacky

Edit function please, no to like button or name change.
Granny23 and Wales, Northern Ireland, extended to USA, Australia and so on? Unworkable IMO.

I agree.

There have been plenty of threads on Scottish issues, they are very well represented on Gransnet, far more than other countries of the UK or other countries where Gransnetters live.

Anyone can start a thread on anything if they wish.

I think one reason people ask for a Scottish category is that Scotland has a different legal system, school system, house-buying procedures, and so on from that in England and Wales (I don't know about Ireland) Posts about these things often give advice which doesn't apply to Scottish members.

This site is based in the Uk and has a majority of UK members, so those from other countries and continents wouldn't expect advice on legalities etc to be relevant to them.

hollysteers Wed 06-Dec-23 10:01:04

Like/dislike button.
Not losing message when referring to previous pages.
Namechange that doesn’t sound ageist…🤔

JackyB Wed 06-Dec-23 10:36:49

Classics could be better used, but it is for threads that people want to go back to because they have useful information, or because they were particularly entertaining.

I've often wondered what "Classics" was. Obviously not about Latin and Greek, but what then? And if it is intended as described., how do you know when you start the thread that it is going to become a classic?

Here's one that might be easier to implement as it just involves inserting a text: could you put a text at the top when someone goes to "Start a Discussion" reminding them which forum they are in?

Some threads land in the oddest of places, probably because the writer didn't realise that they were in another forum, or are new and weren't aware that there was such a thing as a forum.. If the search function doesn't work, it would certainly help to find things if they are at least under the right heading.

fancythat Wed 06-Dec-23 10:50:50

I hadnt noticed there is a Classics topic!

nanna8 Wed 06-Dec-23 10:58:35

Why on earth would you have a Scottish category? I could, however, understand Irish, being a separate country. I like that it is mainly women, nothing wrong with that and I also like that it is mainly grandparents.

JudyBloom Wed 06-Dec-23 11:00:17

I thought the wholel point of Gransnet was for Grandparents, Just keep the site for Grandparents.

welbeck Wed 06-Dec-23 11:39:19

Kandinsky

Basically -,make GN the same as MN.

no, no, no.
i find MN difficult to use now, and so look at it less often.
i like the simpler layout and navigation on GN.
on MN i have to keep going into settings to change the size of the print, in order to turn the page.
most annoying.
the next page number and arrow disappears under adverts.
and then i have to reverse it all to make it big enough to read easily.
and so on.
so i give up with MN.

welbeck Wed 06-Dec-23 11:45:00

Musicgirl

I would like to be able to immediately go to the latest comments on a thread as we do on Mumsnet, rather than the site always taking us back to the beginning.

it doesn't take you back to the beginning if you use the bookmarks.
and you can always pick 'last' from the page options now on GN.
this seems to have disappeared on MN, which i find annoying.

Doodledog Wed 06-Dec-23 11:55:29

how do you know when you start the thread that it is going to become a classic?

You don't grin. Much depends on how they develop. I think someone has to ask for a thread to be moved if they want to keep it, and the mods decide if it is suitable, but I'm not sure. Usually they are full of links that people might want to keep, or have a lot of posts from someone no longer with us - that sort of thing.

welbeck Wed 06-Dec-23 11:55:44

JudyBloom

I thought the wholel point of Gransnet was for Grandparents, Just keep the site for Grandparents.

on the title page it says, or used to, (i never see it now, going straight to the active list),
aimed at the over 50s.
that seems fair enough and perfectly clear.
many regular posters are not GPs; some are not parents, so will never be GPs.
most are probably over 50, and have much to share, and much in common with people who are the age of being GPs.

welbeck Wed 06-Dec-23 11:57:26

someone whom i knew, from east africa, used to refer to older people generally as,
the grandees.
i rather liked that.
could we be the website for
the grandees.