Very angry about this!!

Ok I think I should obviously clear this up

Were I come from being a whistle blower means telling tales on your friends

I was not aware that whistle blower meant anything other than that.

There, lets now hope this will be an end to it..

Cathy I have read your recent response and I'm glad you think certain people should be reported, but am still puzzled by your first response:

personally I am not too keen on whistleblowers/grass/spy

It was THAT response that I was seeking clarification for.

I think if you'd explained yourself properly when you first responded, cathy, none of this 'misunderstanding' would have happened. What were people supposed to think? And, for the record I've recorded your 'reply' to granjura which I thought was downright rude.

Reported MY post - when YOU are calling me an idiot and my stupidity. How daft.

Your words Cathy:

ok well, well done, personally I am not too keen on whistleblowers/grass/spy

So what is the difference between somebody who whistleblow re a granny being badly treated in a OAP home, a hospital, the street or a private home? Same for children?

PS granjurs I have reported your post

Message deleted by Gransnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

granjura I think cathy was saying that she did think those sorts of abuses should be reported - she must have meant something else.

I think if someone is working in a situation where they can see things happening that are wrong, it is very brave of them to bring it out into the open.

However, I think the behaviour of policemen who infiltrated protest groups and formed sexual relationships and friendships with the people they were spying on is pretty indefensible.

Cathy I find your response quite disturbing. So if you see a child being abused, or a granny beaten - you think it is best to walk away and keep stumm?

Cathy reminded me of some of the people that I worked with when I was a whistleblower on a health and safety issue.
We had a situation where I knew the glue that was being used was dangerous ( printing industry)
The people that I was working with were so afraid of their jobs that it seemed they would rather become Ill than see the company close down.

cathy That's what I thought - I couldn't imagine you were condoning that sort of wrongdoing. I don't suppose anyone feels comfortable "grassing" on their colleagues (and, in the process, possibly being treated as an outcast) but if a whistleblower didn't "grass", then such behaviour would continue.

Perhaps you meant something else?

EloeYes I do of think that police who mistreat suspects and healthcare workers who deliberately neglect or manhandle their patients SHOULD be reported 100%

You're talking about cathy's strange contribution? I agree.

I do get frustrated when a Gransnetter says something contentious, and I support their right to do so, but when challenged by others refuses to comeback and explain their views. There could be a very good reason for their posting which would change our views of them that might, as a result of the posting be a bit or even change our attitude to the subject.

Cathy, where are you?

There are also many times when whistle blowing occurs in private lives.

Ceesnan I don't at all agree with cathy's opinion but I don't think it should be suggested that she would be better keeping it to herself. I was trying to clarify what she meant.

Good for you Frida for your courage. We need more people like you!

Well done Frida there is much too much bad practice going on in corporate companies as well as the so called, caring profession. I have been sent to coventry by a few who did not like me 'grassing' on a person using bad practice and vulnerable people were at risk. Its a horrible feeling but, as others have said, you have your self respect and dignity in tact which is more than can be said for the others.

There is no substitute for self-respect and you Frida can enjoy that. I too am sorry that you experienced so much grief at the time and possibly since, but the fact remains you were right and you did the right thing. That takes courage (we need [dragon] emoticon again here) but will have to do!

Thanks ga you explained that so much better than me.

Jess I should have made it clearer. Public interest in the same sense that 'prosecution in the public interest' means across the board, not just public sector

JessM it applies not only to the public sector, but also the private and charitable sectors: the Act covers whistleblowers in relation to:

a criminal offence;
the breach of a legal obligation;
a miscarriage of justice;
a danger to the health and safety of any individual;
damage to the environment; or
deliberate concealment of information tending to show any of the above five matters.

Ah right when - public interest only so does not really affect the private sector in the main.

You're a brave woman, Frida. It is so wrong for whistleblowers to be victimised and ostracised.

Lovely post Grannybug.