Are we older, wiser and nicer than Mumsnet?

To reply to the OP - yes, I am certainly older and wiser than most members of Mumsnet, but from the few times I have looked at the site most of the members seem very nice. I may join.

I think some older people think they are wiser as they have more experience of life.
My father and myself were / are a bit more open minded.
My father's ex just said lap tops and mobile phones were a load of rubbish.
Dad had a more open mind and would take a look.
He took a long time to learn but he did see the advantage of things like the internet.
What I did find mysterious was her grandson collapsed in the park on one of the days and she did not object to me making a 999 call on my mobile phone.
Dad then followed me and got a pre pay mobile phone and used it to call an ambulance to a young person a few weeks later.
His ex never got a mobile phone at the time she was with Dad.

Frank

I think on the whole GN is comprised of a lot of supportive, helpful people. However, as in any mixed group, there will be disagreements and in some cases heated debate. I am saddened when things are reduced to name calling as I think GN's are better than that. If I have a face to face heated discussion with someone I would not resort to name calling, so why do it on a forum.

I agree with johanna and gracesmum. The Margaret Thatcher threads have shown a thoroughly shameful degree of spite and unpleasantness by some members, and trying to justify it by proclaiming their right to express an opinion does nothing.

Hear hear, G'mum.

Older and wiser maybe, but on present performance I think we fall a long way short of what we could be.

Childish comment.

Ooohhhhh - is it a competition? Full of rancour = doesn't agree with me !!!

Older, wiser AND nicer than Mumsnet?

Well , reading the Maggie Thatcher threads , perhaps not.

They ( the threads ) give the impression of a load of over fifties full of rancour.

What a heartwarming thread from Mumsnet, baubles. I love postcards too.
A great link and one that highlights thoughtfulness and kindness.

this is a lovely thread from Mumsnet

Bags - a great link. But about the press and attitudes to women spot on!! And yes if you want to see vile, really vile comments, look at those on the DM - but I expect there are others as well

My thoughts about the mumsnet thing as well "anno".

I think the younger uses of social media are probably less polite than our generation.

I am disgusted by the anonymous nasty trolling that goes on say on Youtube, but I suppose there were always "saddos" who sent poison pen letters. Its just quicker, easier and cheaper with t'internet.

I have found that some of the younger generation fire off hurtful comments into the ether without enough thought. When we wrote letters, there was time to reconsider before actually committing them to the post box and some therefore never got sent. DH and I have learnt the hard way to not respond to some of DDs emails - if we responded in kind the family would never recover.

Interesting, Bags. Quite a lot of what she says could apply to Gransnet too.

This is what mumsnet is really like

My first couple of forays into Mumsnet left me rather bemused. I didn't like the tone of the threads I looked at, however I've read a few lately that have had me literally laughing out loud. There is also genuine concern and support for people in emotional turmoil.

I've changed my opinion about it and I've learned a thing or two

I particularly like the expression 'cat's bum mouth', I know someone who regularly does that. We ought to have an emoticon for it.

Had a look at Mumsnet and found it quite aggressive in its nature.

I surely do not understand how they find the time to be on the internet so much, as when my DS was little there certainly was not too much time to fiddle.

Very much so! No question of it.

I feel some posters are very condescending on the political and news threads.

I think mumsnet has that strength too, kitty.

I think we are less judgemental, probably because we've had more life experiences. We do have spats and some people have really entrenched political views but we are able to put that aside and be supportive first and foremost. I have had so much support lately from so many people and that is rhe huge strength of gransnet

She's a journalist, NextStopWaverley. The Mumsnetters had been discussing her before she joined - it's rather like the Gransnet thread about Liz Jones.

sel yes all sorted thank you.

I think we have mellowed and dont feel the need to be so attacking in our posts, or is it that we are past the stage of worrying what other people think?

How did they know who she was ? If she had stayed anonymous behind a user-name they could not have criticised her face, husband and work.

Gransnet is not as feral as Mumsnet. Occasional spats, yes, but not the infighting and free-for-all insults that go on there. Later generations are more prone to say exactly what they are want, without weighing up the power of their weapons first.

In some ways that is good,freeing up the impulsive praise and support that makes the recipient stronger, but firing a virtual nuclear bomb at someone as a first reaction is a little extreme.