Is trust an issue on Gransnet?

I don't think people invent alter egos.I think they just elaborate and enhance who and what they are. I told you I was a cynic.

Although I do wonder about one or two posters (not on this thread)

I am what I am, it would be way too complicated to invent an alter ego.
DS's friend has a Ferrari, it is actually older than his wife who is 15 years younger than him.

Women are too honest

Not quite the same, I know, but I can't imagine how those men (never heard of a woman doing it) who live a double life with two separate families, neither of which knows about the other, manage it! Sometimes it goes on for years and years...

I have always thought that it must be very difficult to live as Walter Mitty although it is probably a lot easier in a virtual life than in real life.

...as true as I'm riding this unicorn!

And that Annsixty sums up the pointlessness of this thread.

It has never occurred to me that people on here are anything other than what they say they are.

I really don't know where trust comes into a forum.We can choose whether everything posted is true or not but it doesn't make a difference to my life if it isn't all true.If we were being asked to invest,either financially or emotionally in someone it would be different but we can read,reply or not and then it's done. I have to say I do not believe everything I read on here, but that is the cynic in me and it doesn't do me any harm.

Well I know that I am really me. I nipped my arm and it hurt !

I have met quite a few gransnetter's in the flesh Stansgran and they were all very nice although not sure about that weird vicar

I tend to put finger to iPad without thought and do not preview unless I'm struggling with stupid emoticons and then notice me grammer and me speling. I've never met a gransnetter in RL to my knowledge although one frightened my little cotton socks off wanting to meet and confessing she made notes of what people said. But she no longer posts.

She's behind you !!!

Following you around, Anya! Yes, you are right.

There's more to trust than possible trolls.

I get irritated when I see that genuine people send long and well thought out replies to somebody who ends up to be just playing around. The vast majority of GNs are caring people, there are one or two who want to make mischief and then vanish but they are in the minority.

Hello, Juliette and welcome!

I agree that one needs to take most posters at face value to begin with, but over the years I have become happy to trust most people I "know", and more (but not all...) that I am now meeting, and now that I have met quite a few my trust has been confirmed in many ways.

Phoenix is right, sometimes a post doesn't ring true, or you feel that someone is deliberately stirring things up, but it usually gets sorted out.

I think this topic has arisen (and I welcome it) because of comments on another thread.

Pittcity, sure thing, would love too, just one condition. You must come in your alter ego as a leggy, sexy blonde. oops sorry, I shouldn't assume that you are not a leggy, sexy blonde. You will be safe in the Ferrari, not enough room for hanky panky.

I'm sure that GN is to be trusted but it is an open Forum and I have never put anything really private on it. I just can't! I read what others write and am amazed that they write such private things on an open Forum.

There is the private messaging available and I have used that. I am not a groupy anyway and I'd rather write to one person if it is something important to me.
Which doesn't mean that I don't enjoy GN, I do, and I realise if everybody was as closed up as I am then GN would not thrive like it obviously does.

Ana Have you never see the posts about Absent's leaving do and some meet ups in the Northeast before she left?

There was mention of that a few weeks ago on one thread. I don't know what went on but it appears to have been memorable.

I have met several of you in the real world and found you all to be lovely genuine people (or Oscar winning actors).

Pompa can you take me for a spin in your Ferrari at the weekend?

I know that some other forums (fora?) display a count of messages posted alongside the usernames. I have often found that useful. It isn't a precise measure of how trustworthy people are but it does give you some idea of how committed they are which can be helpful sometimes.

I agree with ninathenana and don't think that it really matters.
I know that there are meet ups but I am unlikely to go to one- it is a virtual world to me and I don't mix it with the real one.
I like the anonymity and also don't post too many personal details.

Oh dear - perhaps there are only a few members all with multiple personalities -i'm gettng paranoid now!

..or rockgran they appear, yet again, under another name!