Diversity

People on the new members' thread introduce themselves by saying something like Hi, I'm a newbie, I live in the North West, I've got two grandchildren, looking forward to some interesting discussions, or words of that ilk. The wouldn't see the need to add, Oh btw I'm black/ Asian or whatever.

Why do we assume there aren't many non-Caucasians? There are loads of posters on the forums who don't publish a profile. It's just as likely there is the same proportion of non-Caucasian posters as there are in the general population, by which I mean those general populations to which Gransnet posters belong.

Gransnet started in the UK so that will provide the first 'general population'. I believe non-Caucasians are still, as one might expect, fewer in number than Caucasians in the UK.

As Gransnet it spreads the populations it covers will diversify.

Plus, there are thousands of Gransnet members who never post, probably the vast majority never do.

In short, there's no way we can make assumptions like that without more evidence than we have.

I can understand that Annie.

Your friend would most likely quietly leave GN when otherwise nice sensible grans think there's nothing wrong with golliwogs.

I expect people, particularly Over 50s, will go where they feel comfortable.

I have a dear internet friend of many years, a retired nursing sister. She has quietly left several forums we have been on together in recent years, immigration flares up so she just leaves, she came here from the Caribbean years ago.

I thin you may have a point with your second paragraph jings
I'm not sure about the possibility of an existence of a black version but agree it would be sad if it were so.

But isn't that the beauty of GN. Unless someone chooses to flag up a diversity we're all an image in our heads.

For example, the picture of yourself you posted jingl didn't look at all like I imagined you to look and I've reverted to the image I had built up of you.

And no....don't ask

Quoting absent. "There are probably not many Afro-Caribbean, Asian or Middle Eastern members."

Yes. I wonder why that is? Are they perhaps more self contained in extended family units? Could it be they are not so inclined to "silver surf"? Or perhaps there is somewhere out there, a black version of Gransnet (which would be a bit sad IMO. Although if they are happy, why not?)

I wonder.

ELEGRAN! I've made that pic into my desktop background. Looks lovely in tile effect. That's the first bit of my decorations sorted.

Your picture is very nice too Tegan. Not sure what they actually are though

Oh! That is a very pretty picture Elegran. Thank you. Yes. This is the time of year when my name comes into its own.

I did deliberate for a little while Ann whilst unable to sleep, over which plural form of 'forum' I should use

And our own soontobe is as different as they come. Good for her. We should just "go with it", as my five yo grandson told his dad when he was worrying about something.

I love the word fora, janea it is new to poor ignoramus me ( now that's diversity, an uneducated GNer) and I shall try to work it into conversations as often as I can

Agreed. There is diversity already. Anyone who thinks there isn't can generate more diversity, surely? If diversity on the forum (or anywhere) is about differences and you applaud diversity (I do), be different and celebrate/share as much of that difference as you like.

People also like to conform to whatever 'sets' appeal to them. That's fine too. People are people are people and the variety of characters and personalities is massive anywhere and everywhere. Just dig in and you'll find it.

Actually, studies show that women do not talk more than men. Just saying.

Now I'll read the rest of absent's post.

Good post absent. I missed all this as we had DGC here!

It is difficult to assess how "diverse" Gransnet is. It is obvious that there are far more female than male posters; perhaps because, as a rule, women tend to be chattier than men and quite often have started threads concerned with "things female" – or not. We have, from time to time, compared Gransnet to the old-fashioned picture of women chatting over the garden fence as they hang out their washing. The age range is quite extensive and those born and growing up pre-war come from a very different upbringing from the post-war baby boomers. Educational levels vary hugely from those who left school as soon as they reached whatever was the school leaving age at the time to those with doctorates. Some members, probably the majority, are grandparents but there are those who are not. Some have been courageous enough to post about their own mental health issues; some have been similarly brave to post about physical and/or sexual abuse. Some have talked about caring for disabled children or chronically ill partners and we have shared the grief of those whose loved ones – parents, partners, children and grandchildren – have become terminally ill or died.

It is very clear that Gransnetters have extremely diverse political opinions and religious beliefs. It is equally clear that there is diversity in income and social class – sorry, but it is still a serious issue in the UK and I am not trying to put anybody down. It has also, over time, become clear, that Gransnetters have a huge variety of different aspirations, although those of us who are grandparents have a degree of conformity about our hopes and fears for our families.

We tend not to talk about family income but there are certainly Gransnetters who are feeling the pinch or whose adult children are feeling the pinch and they tell us about it. There are those who are clearly managing okay and some who have described themselves in terms that suggest they are fairly wealthy, perhaps even rich. When we talk about where we live, we tend not to describe what is ridiculously called "leafy suburbs" or, indeed, country mansions. However, there have been posters who seemed to define themselves by the number of bedrooms in their houses and the size of their gardens.

There are probably not many Afro-Caribbean, Asian or Middle Eastern members. I, for one – and I am sure there are many Gransnetters who would agree with me – would welcome them. Perhaps there will be more down the line. We know that we have some members whose sexual preferences are different from the "norm"; after all, if you're a granny, the chances are that you are heterosexual, although not invariably. Not all gay people want to wave a Gay Pride banner everywhere. Once again, I, for one, would welcome them.

We certainly have members whose physical health is failing and disabling. I admire their courage and strength of purpose and feel compassion for their pains and difficulties.

Diversity – I think so.

I heard about Gransnet via the Oldie, Eloethan.
The magazine was given its own forum within Gransnet which certainly ruffled the feathers of those members who had joined at Gransnet's inception.
A bunfight ensued which put me off actually posting anything for months.
The Oldie Borum as it was known never really took off, and I think it was culled when the mobile site was developed and the number of fora reduced.

I've just returned from a night out and agree that this thread has, perhaps understandably given some rather strange posts, gone completely off the subject.

I agree with lefthanded's comments re how diversity of background, experience and opinions can, unwittingly, sometimes be discouraged. It was interesting that he at times feels like an "outsider" on a site which appears to be predominantly female and which often has a female perspective on certain issues, and he points out that some men may not feel comfortable on Gransnet for that reason. He also suggests that people from various religious or ethnic groups may feel similarly uncomfortable.

I thought that Elegran's suggestions re reaching out via articles in a more diverse range of newspapers and magazines might address some of these issues. Her comment led me to try to remember how I came to know about Gransnet and I think it must have been through a newspaper, magazine or online article - possibly featuring Mumsnet, with Gransnet as a by-line. This led me to wonder if there have been articles in, for instance, The Mature Times, The Voice or The Oldie. Not knowing exactly how Gransnet is able to make itself known, perhaps it is the case that these sorts of publications would not be interested in taking articles relating to an online site for older people?

Please do Galen Diversity takes many forms.

Hell's teeth! I left this thread on page 3 after making a serious post about diversity, and when I come back it's on page 8, but the other 5 pages are like a giant bunfight!

Now I feel a bit of a twonk for thinking this thread was about a genuine subject, but I think it's actually just an excuse for some members to have a go at each other. More fool me I guess.

Shall I take a photo of all my strings of pearls and let you decide which I should take? They are certainly diverse!

First few of mine.....

Jingle bell

Night night Lara. mwah!