Why did you join gransnet?

thanks Kittylester - I've updated my options to see the bookmarks

As I suspected when I started the thread, the reasons for people joining are diverse.

Teacher11, I love that you joined by accident

I joined because I felt moving towards 60 was a new and sometimes frightening stage in my life when everything was about change. Retirement loomed. My adult children were truly independent. My health although still relatively good was starting to give me the occasional twinge. I wanted advice and support. I also wanted to show off share my pleasure about my grandchildren. I found much more. I've had lots of tips and advice about many other subjects. Thanks all.

I am an elderly gran. DGC x3 are in their twenties now. I have so enjoyed being a member of GN. Such a variety of topics and humorous comments, feel some of the posters would make good friends( won't mention any names!)
Have read books I may not have considered and bought kitchen stuff - soup maker and slow cooker, both used regularly. Even bought a tunic which was recommended- would not have gone into that shop.
So thank you GN, keep us entertained and informed.

teacher I joined 2 years before I became a grandmother - in anticipation!

I joined GN because having come to live in the UK in my 50s, I (unusually) struggled a bit to make friends and so was looking for friendship with people of my own age.

I've certainly found that on here.

It's bit like a big, happy, sometimes dysfunctional, family.

Good luck and stupidity brought me to Gransnet!

I saw a story in the papers about Mumsnet and, curious, typed 'Mumsnet' into Google without noticing that the top search was actually 'Gransnet'. I had joined before I realised my mistake.

However, I am very glad I made this error because I love the site. There are so many sensible, well read, literate, intelligent people on the site and their sense and niceness shines through.

I am retired while my husband works and he is out of the house for twelve hours a day which is a long stretch to be alone. I am somewhat 'people phobic'. I'm shy and reserved and seem to annoy people in the flesh so online contact is great. The topics discussed are spot on, exactly the sorts of things that engross me.

My big accidental fib is that while I am old enough to have grandchildren and my DD is very keen to marry and have children, she has her career to establish first so it isn't likely to happen quite yet. I didn't mean to be disingenuous as I thought I was joining 'Mumsnet'.

Will I be drummed out of the Brownies? I hope not.

Willow, you can bookmark the last post you read and then when you open a thread it automatically takes you to the bookmark. If you look at the bottom right hand corner of the last post you will find a symbol that takes you to some options - bookmark is there.

It doesn't always work on long threads like Soops Kitchen

I think I was looking for an alternative to FB which I was disillusioned with and stumbled on GN last year sometime. I joined and then being the dimwit I am forgot and kept deleting the daily e-mail thinking it was junk about grass!! One day I thought I'd have a look and then got hooked. I work at home and rarely talk to anyone other than my other half and I've never been on mumsnet (probably because my sons are in their 40's) but did belong to a couple of forums years ago. Like Cath9 my son and his family are in NZ so it's good to hear other people's methods of coping with the separation. I too like the diverse range of topics that pop up. Those who feel they are ignored I'm sure are mistaken as some threads seem to quickly run to several pages so it's easy to miss a comment in response. I've learned that it's best to start at the last page and work backwards to the last comment you read then read on - that way you pick up what's been said. Unfortunately (or maybe that should read fortunately!) work gets in the way of me being on here otherwise I'd never get anything done

Heard on radio it been advertised so checked it out and joined it. Find it very interesting and informative. Check it every day so i could say i am addicted to it now.

No you didn't LuckyDucky

Curiosity:

I joined to find if my opinions where similar to, or diametrically opposed.

I joined because I have some family problems and am interested to see how others deal with things. However I have found it very interesting and assuring.

Thank you those who commented on my post, it's a great site to be on and I suppose I can sometimes over analyse. Have a happy evening.

Joined after a friend became a local editor and told me all about it! Have moved away now and there doesn't seem to be much happening on the Shropshire local page

I found Gransnet by chance and have spent many an evening reading posts and giggling away to myself much to my husband's amusement. As well as the humour, there's a lot of wisdom here and support from people of all different walks of life. Always interested to see jinglebellsfrocks input and wonder where she is if there are no comments!

I found the site as an online link and got hooked very quickly! It's great to read all the different points of view and I really enjoy the humour - especially jinglebellsfrocks,

I joined after DD who was on mums net told me about it. I try and follow what is happening with new grans and their babies.

I joined in early 2012 when DD announced she was pregnant. I think I was looking for advice on how to be one. I felt I was a bit of a fraud being on here but not yet a granny.

When DGS1 was born and I announced that I was now a proper granny I was blown away by the congratulations I received. I had wrong assumed that all these other experienced grans would just have taken that for granted with no particular interest.

Now I know better. When someone posts that their DD or Dil is in labour it seems that a lot of us keep excitedly popping onto the forum to see how things are going.

I stumbled across GN a few years ago. I have picked up a few pointers and also tried to give advice on certain subjects close to my heart.

I have met in person some very kind and pleasant people on GN.

My main problem is my addiction! I could be better employed sorting out the paperwork piling up.

I joined when I became a granny - gransnet has been so helpful to me. Just read that post about that lovely girl losing her gran. Big hugs to you, you sound amazing.

christingle I very often don't get an acknowledgment for my posts. I may read a thread and not post. Unless someone has an opinion on my point of view or answers a question I've posed then I wouldn't expect a comment directed at me. Please don't be put off.
I do log in several times a day but if there's a 'group' I'm not part of it

I joined after experiencing some issues with DS2, who had always been so lovely. I found I was not alone and that was a great comfort. I like reading the views of everyone and occasionally have posted. Sometimes posts are acknowledged, sometimes not, but I still feel part of the GN community.
There's such a wealth of wisdom, humour and general information on a vast range of topics.

I did look into MN but found it too hard line somehow. It's GN for me every time.

claireseptember
There's no such thing as too much time on GN !

I Like to see other peoples point of view.

I joined because I was seriously concerned about my DGS's reading skills, (or lack of them?) and I thought I would get better advice here than on Mumsnet, and I did. I got lots of support and his reading is now, at 8, much, much better. Thanks everyone. The confidence I gained from helping him, and the relationship we built up, has meant we now work at his numeracy and computer coding 3 times a week. I am intending to start another thread about learning difficulties in general, but in the mean time I read the active threads and add comments occasionally. I do steer clear of subjects that annoy me, I'm far too easily riled!!