Has Gransnet changed for the worse?

I agree to an extent mcem some posters are very exercised about Brexit and manage to drag it into every thread whether or not its relevant.
There has been a lot of ill feeling about the ISIS girl as well. I wouldn't like to see GN become bland and boring though.
There must be a happy medium.

HAPPY is an ironic word to choose in this context!

I think that there are a lot of very polarised views on GN on the subjects that you mention mcem but I'm not sure that it's just from new GN members. Brexit, Shamima Begum and other mainstream new items are very decisive subjects and therefore attract strong reactions from both sides of the arguments. When I first joined GN, about 3 years ago now, the majority political stance seemed more to the left and I can remember there being some very heated, and often aggressive postings, from both sides too.

It's like life... swings like a pendulum!

I like a good discussion so don't want it to become too vanilla. However, there are some posters with terrible manners who lack compassion. These tend to be the ones that also have extreme views.

It is possible to simply ignore posters whose comments are racist or unacceptable in other ways. This is a luxury not afforded to us in real life!

Framilode that ties in with what I am saying.
No-one wants everything bland and vanilla. I am not advocating the school of thought that says "If you can't say something nice, say nothing."
It's the lack of manners and compassion that makes reading some posts so utterly unpleasant. Include in that, the increase in nit picking when a poster makes an innocent mistake in spelling or grammar.
I've been posting since day one and although aggressive and fairly stroppy posts have always appeared, I do believe that the atmosphere has changed, particularly over the last couple of years.
A lack of trust in GNHQ, brexit, an influx of extreme right-wingers have all contributed to what I see as a real deterioration.
I'd have to flag up as an example the last few posts on the thread about the joy of brexit this month!

I'd have to flag up as an example the last few posts on the thread about the joy of brexit this month!

Scurries off to have a look.....

It's funny how anyone who shows the least bit of patriotism or national identity is branded a 'racist'. We are expected to embrace the modern 'ideal' of globalisation, and multi-culturism without complaint, and those who do not comply are made to feel like narrow-minded bigots.

There are strong opinions on some threads - both left right/remain leave/liberal right wing. I swerve them if I’m not up to it. There are plenty of ‘ask a gran’ or ‘good morning’ forums so there is a choice. I’m a relative newbie of under 2y so I cannot comment on any change from how things used to be. I too think some of the original gang on GN are some of the most vociferous on some forums. Perhaps it was ever thus?

Your values and viewpoints are probably not the same as mine mcem but that doesn’t make either of us nasty people.

Ah yes mcem I see what you mean.

I've only been on the site (actively) for the past couple of years, so can't comment on how it has changed from the early days.
I agree that sometimes posters are unnecessarily offensive on occasion.
However, I do really appreciate the variety of topics discussed here. I occasionally have a peak at Mumsnet, and find it rather depressing that there is a lack of political discussion or 'serious' topics there. I guess we have a little more time to think about and take an interest in varied subjects.

Yes mcem It was reading those last few posts on the Brexit thread that prompted me to post on here. The usual suspects.

RosieLeah - I agree with you 100%. Sadly we seem to be in the minority. ??

I've been around on GN for a few years now. I don't think the overall tone has changed much. There were always threads that attracted polarised views. I generally just give them a miss. The disagreements are so predictable. However, there is an increase in daft nit picking but that seems to be by certain specific GNers so I just ignore them as I would in real life. It's not possible to get on with or even like everyone and at our age we don't actually have to!
Lots of nice enough threads to be going on with.

I am a very new member of Gransnet. I found the site by chance when googling retirement. I have found a great deal of helpful information here, and it is also good to realise when you are struggling that you a not alone. The Kitchen is lovely, and makes me laugh; lovely people who smile in the face of adversity.

I think debate is good, although I wouldn't post on the majority of threads that address such subjects as politics etc. they are far too heated for me but I like to read the comments. I imagine a lot of newbies would be worried about posting anything tbh seeing the replies from some posters. For me I just move on and read something else.

From observation some posters seem to lack any empathy whatsoever, not sure whether these are new people or not I haven't been here long enough but I do think one or two have been here a long while and it is just their MO. I wonder too if these are younger members, but I don't know.

All in all, I think it is a good site with really helpful information from the majority, there is always someone who has had experience of the question posted, which is excellent.

I received a PM for a spelling mistake I made- totally unnecessary. That is the kind of nit picking which should not happen.

Yes, definitely, very sad but I think it reflects the state of the UK now, no unity, everyone at each other's throats, spiteful comments. It doesn't take long for a thread which started well to turn into yet another slanging match. I've been a member on and off for years and I would say things have definitely got worse.

Charleygirl! Good heavens. I'd worry about the sort of person who felt that was called for.

I think it’s only Brexit tbh.The insulting tones from stroppy
‘Remainers’ have blighted the threads for the last two years.

The adage ‘ if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything’ is a ridiculous Victorian saying, aimed at children.
A forum is all about views and opinions and we can’t all agree with each other, but can keep the insults under wraps.
It doesn’t matter if posters are right wing, left wing, or in the middle.

The country is divided , leavers and remainers, far left and right

Correcting spelling mistakes etc is a no no.

I think its more friendly than it was a couple of years ago when I joined.

As always MissA, I would have to agree.
In regard to the rude and bad mannered posters who point out someone's spelling or grammatical mistakes; it would be nice to ignore them but, sometimes, rude and bad mannered behaviour has to be called out. And as for sending someone a pm to point out a spelling mistake.... words fail me. Perhaps a good response would that spelling and grammar can always be improved upon, whereas rude and ignorant behaviour rarely is.

lemongrove Though I don't agree with your views I always read your posts with interest. They are well thought out, succinct and avoid personal attacks. You have questioned my views but never in a nasty way.

That is how the forum should be, respecting the right of others to hold opposing views whilst defending your own.