Is it me, or is GN not so much fun as it used to be?

Surely, if you are not enjoying the threads available the answer is to start one about something funny that you do enjoy. If no one joins in then it is only you who wants it - if a majority of other posters take it seriously then it is either not funny to others people or you haven't posted in a way other find funny. People will invest time on a forum only on what they are interested in - it is very democratic I don't think attempting to destroy a "serious" thread is funny - it's basically trolling but start your own on a funny topic and all join in - that is if you all agree on the funnyness of it Otherwise you probably have to go with the ebb and flow you find on forums.

Did others used to be told by the teacher to "put your thinking cap on?
I will away and put mine on and think of something really funny with which to start a thread.
I may be sometime.

It has to work both ways, though, Gracesgran, the solemn posters should keep their politics and moralising out of the fun threads.

Yes, a lot of moralising going on these days.

I can't really comment on whether GN is not so much fun as it used to be because I am a relatively new member. When I joined I soon realised there were those who liked to reminisce, those who asked for support, those who started in depth discussions and those, like myself, who just dipped in and out of threads which interested them. Just like in real life I guess. At least it gets people talking.
With such diverse membership there's bound to be a difference of opinion and some posters might blow their own trumpets more than others. Likewise the doom and gloomers may need this medium to mull things over when no one in the real world wants to listen to them.
And annsixty 's last post got me thinking, does it take comments from the male species to inject some fun into threads too? (Don't answer that one, you bright sparks!) Who knows?

The best bit of advice I was given by an "older" established (?)GN member was to use the "grin" or "wink" faces etc. faces when I didn't want to be taken too seriously. Thank you for that, hopefully I now sound quite fun-loving.

"Perhaps we've become like those old couple you see in cafes with a cup of tea and a toasted tea cup who sit there and can't think of anything new to say to each other"

!!! Oh God! Are we actually supposed to talk to our old fellers?! After all this time?!

I hate having to use a grin or a wink to show something's not meant to be taken seriously. Pathetic-ness on the part of other posters if they need it.

Speaking as someone who is interested in debating topical issues,- even if they do become contentious, I really don't like the implication that I - and others like me - have no sense of humour.

I think I have a good sense of humour but if I want a laugh and there isn't one available on Gransnet I'm sure there's something on the TV or Youtube that will fit the bill.

Just start some new threads if you don't like the ones that are on offer.

Posters who tend to talk down to people - especially when they consider a particular thread to be their domain - could do with a 'pat on the head' emoticon.

Then I could reply with a two fingered one.

If only

Oh I would like and use that one. See post up thread.

Actually I do use that a lot in the privacy of my home to some posts. It saves upsetting people.

? ? Oh jb are we pathetic for using emojis? ? Personally, I love them ??? and will continue to use them, though the GN ones are a bit restrictive for my needs ? ? ??

⌚️Time to get up and face the day ??☀️?☕️?

merlot, I really like you. You might be my favourite.

Why not use this V if you're brave enough. I wonder if the mods would allow it?

No!!! Read the flippin' post jud. It's pathetic to need a grin or a wink to show you that something is being said in jest.

Why can't people read stuff more carefully? Growl.

Erm.....there is the one finger emoji on my iPad collection Merlotgran and Annsixty but I'm too much of a lady to use that! ?

I used that once fffin. It got deleted and I got the snotty email.

Or even a ?

I am not sure I share the same sense of humour as everyone on here although I am sure I would with some. My mother used to say I was a "serious" little girl" and I think I grew into a serious women - to me life is serious although that has never stopped me enjoying it and laughing and giggling with others about things that do amuse me. We have had threads like this before. We are a community. Sometimes people come and sometimes people go and the we feel the mood change a little.

In answer to the OP "Is it me, or is GN not so much fun as it used to be" It can only be you. If you are not enjoying something do something about it. The question infers that you expect to be entertained in a way that suits you. Forums don't work like that ... but I do hope you do find something that pleases you. There is such a cross section of threads - I don't go on many of them - that I find it hard to believe there isn't something for everyone; what there wont be is everything for a few.

Lighten up jb! Just posted that for fun ? ????

You need a flippin' magnifying glass to see those iPad emotis, so I wouldn't worry too much about which one you use. The one intended to show shock looks to me like someone bending over and showing their arsehole bare backside.

I am now going to stop procrastinating and get this house sorted.

Thank you, jingl [warm and fuzzy emoticon]

He he he!

"No!!! Read the flippin' post jud. It's pathetic to need a grin or a wink to show you that something is being said in jest. hmm"

OH come on JBF, we have been here long enough to realise that appreciating a jest requires a sense of humour.

But just in case