How Long Have You Been On Gransnet?

petra

Yes gaga I do mean ethnicity, and nationality.

5th May, 2011, though I lie low most of the time. I'd often looked at Mumsnet, felt tempted, but thought I was too old. However I did join Mumsnet later, and found that helpful too in appreciating the changes in modern life for the children and grandchildren.

About three years I think. come and go according how busy my mornings are. Great fun, interesting, good information and often good advice. Good post Lilyflower. I didn't know about Greatgran but how uplifting that GN was so majorly involved in finding here. Very sad but it sounds as if she was doing what she loved when she died.

A month or thereabouts, all I can say is ' theres nowt so queer as folk'

without checking, I wasn't sure how long I had been here, but now I know, from reading the posts that it must have been 2013 because I remember reading about Greatnan going missing, very sad, and I think I had only just joined.I have always had my user name, so have never been anyone else [ the concept is hilarious, it may be nice to be somebody else for a change.] I have been to a few meet ups and liked everybody, but haven't been out of my area to do so.Apart from the temporary insanity that seemed to take hold of some posters over Brexit, have always enjoyed a bit of rough and tumble on the politics pages.This Summer though, it's good to give all that a rest.
Have learned quite a few things on here, all the passing about of info is marvellous.Am on a few other forums, but mainly book related or gardening ones.

I've been reading the posts for about 3 years now ( have been a Grandma for nearly 6 years, now have 4 grandchildren). My daughter in law told me about it as she likes Mumsnet.
I've really enjoyed dipping in and out but this is my first post- maybe it's time I got mire involved!!

*more
I didn't realise it was so easy!

I read posts quite a while before posting some made me laugh some made me cry but overall I saw it was supportive . I haven't met anyone but have had some very nice and supportive pm,s congratulations to those who have welcomed new grandchildren this week ??

I joined within a couple of months of it starting, but no longer use my original byline.

I have been here since the start, having been urged to move over from Mumsnet, with a couple of breaks when rude personal remarks on the Politics thread hit me where it hurts. I have had one name change when I became Granny to three (DGS) instead of Granny to two.

Since 2012, but haven't been such an active member. Since leaving work a couple of months ago I now have much more time to read the forums and contribute and read the email topics every day.

Granny23! I never realised that that is what your name means. After all this time! How did that pass me by?

Not like you to miss something Jingle. How many name changes have you had now??? You must hold the Gransnet Record. I remember that we had a 'fall out' right at the beginning when I suggested to you that it was not necessary to post on EVERY thread. Now I realise that it was thanks to you and a few other dedicated, contentious posters that Gransnet got off the Ground at all and has grown into the massive forum that it is today.

Jingle - you are a LEGEND.

Aw shucks!!!

Thank you.

Only been on for a few months. I think I find it easier to express feelings and problems when you are not face to face. There is a family problem that may be looming at the moment and I think when the time comes that I need advice I will be able to find it on here.

I've been here since the first week, and had to change names twice to avoid being identified.
I don't post every day but I always try to read most of the threads. It's a great place, sometimes funny, sometimes crabby but always supportive. I haven't met any grans in real life, but there are several that I think of as friends, and you can never have too many friends.
I've also learned a lot from the very varied topics that have been discussed, and if a question is asked there are always lots of interesting answers!
I love it!

Not right from the beginning, but pretty soon after that having read about it in the press, I used to lurk on MN mainly for book reviews, although never to join in on their forums. I get the impression they were glad to offload some of their older members on to GN. GN is very good for information sharing on anything from health problems to book and film reviews. The political threads are becoming increasingly tedious as the years roll on, I suppose that's to be expected. I have changed my name once since the outset. I remember Greatnan and had a couple of nice pms from her, and was terribly sad at her untimely death. I also enjoyed Frank's posts, never sure whether they were supposed to be tongue in cheek, particulary about Andy his dog. Then he disappeared for some reason

I've got a horrible feeling Frank was barred by HQ.

Yes, I seem to remember he made a couple of misjudged comments which caused complaints (not Bums and Tums stuff).

Grannyknot, I agree about the lack of diversity.
I am mid fifties, and sometimes I have to apologise for being my age!

Frank? I missed that...

I think there is diversity on Gransnet, certainly I can see that many member's lives and circumstances are very different to mine.

But there are some things we all have in common and that is an ability to express ourselves in print and carry on a reasoned conversation through the keyboard and, of course, we all know how to use computers and with few exceptions the computers/tablets etc we use are our own. That does exclude some people and I cannot see a way round it.

I can remember a similar accusation being levelled some time ago, and then as now, I wondered how we can know for certain as our anonymity should not reveal personal details of ethnicity/religion/sexual inclination unless we wish to disclose these facts on, for instance a profile page.
At the time reference was made to photographs posted on site or on the profile page, again this could be random and cannot be taken as a guaranteed statistical basis.
I don't remember seeing a single non white one, though I am relying on memory.
The complaint at the time was
"I would welcome a lot more diversity on gransnet too. Gransnet has barely any diversity."
Apart from a common identity as grandparents (even then not 100%) I get the impression that our membership covers a broad spectrum of ages, political persuasion, religion or not, nationality, educational background , marital status or not. If there is a bias towards being computer literate and articulate, that is self selecting.
You cannot impose inclusivity or diversity, but I maintain GN is open to all, regardless of colour, creed or politics.

DaphneBroon I absolutely agree with you.