Why do you come to Gransnet?

I can top that one roses! A few years ago, in the days when I cared enough not to have hairy legs and bits, I kept a tube of Veet at the side of the bath. Next to the shower gel, shampoo and conditioner. I'm as blind as a bat and you can pretty much guess what happened. I didn't lose a lot of hair but, because I hadn't realised what I'd done for a few minutes, the Veet had begun to work and my hair was quite badly damaged, especially around the temples and hairline. I've never felt such panic! OH laughed his head off.

I'm comparatively new and nervous but can anyone explain the phenomenon that is Rigby please? He or she seems to post very rude remarks to anyone and everyone and I don't understand why you all put up with it, why it happens, why we should bother, just let he or she stew in their own juice?

Not to everyone Mazza, there are a group who escape the rudeness, take no notice if you have been on the receiving end , Rigsby does 'sigh' quite often , perhaps a medical problem ?

Keep posting X

Mazza245
There's not much you can do but keep reporting the obnoxious posts. But imagine how misarable it must be to be Rigby.

I like the chat, the recipes, the competitions, and on the forums: the the the and the . I take what I like and leave the rest.

And the friendships, virtual and real. I've made a very good real life friend that lives close by, and met other lovely women in our meet ups.

My reasons for joining GN? Well. I'd been referred to some articles on Mumsnet by my darling god-daughter and thought, being of an age, I'd investigate Gransnet. I 'lurked' for a while before deciding which threads to post on and, while I enjoyed reading sensible points of view on the news and politics, I decided there was too much 'nastiness for the sake of it' to add any comments I may have. I still lurk there occasionally though, but don't feel strong enough to participate when there are more personal and preferable demands on my time.

I enjoy the chat threads. I've missed the company of work colleagues since I retired 7 years ago so look forward to 'hearing' about the daily lives of other posters.

I like to be able to offer help to others, whether that is suggesting possible alternatives or solutions to their problems, or just offering a (virtual) shoulder to lean on in their times of stress.

I value the opportunity to express anonymously about how I'm feeling about certain personal things, and have felt the invaluable support of others.

I have not joined in with the word games etc but do enjoy crosswords, solitaire, jigsaws etc on other sites. IMO there're too many word games on GN for me to keep up with but I know others value them and therefore I feel they're important.

BTW, I sometimes lurk on the 'Argy-Bargy-Cafe (ABC) but ATM am too tired to contribute. Maybe after the school holidays commitments ... LOL

My imagination couldn't stretch to that Mazza ? But there are people who are happy if they can boost their ego at the expense of others . There are lovely people here which more than makes up for unkindness

The Argy Bargy is still open and serving gin and guiness chasers swanny, nip in for a swift half!

Why do I come to Gransnet? Masochism, I guess.

I'm off to The Argy right now Chewy for a nightcap... I can show you my new outfit, very tasteful it is, head to toe faux leopard skin.I call it my 'pulling ' dress.

Almost exclusively for the political threads. I really do appreciate the sharing of knowledge by other members.

Just occasionally for the advice (counting my blessings on that one) which has always contains stunningly thoughtful and helpful posts.

Books - I'm now reading Generation Cherry thanks to GN.

I lurked for ages before posting, I guess many others do the same

Why draws me to the site? Well, I miss the chatter of a workplace, can feel lonely at times, so enjoy the 'chatty' threads. It's a useful place for information and advice, it's good to feel there is the potential to help others and I love the books and competitions.

I rarely visit the games threads, have also lurked in the argy bargy but not sure I could keep up. I had hoped the political threads would be educational, well, guess they have but not in the way I hoped. There is simply no need for personal attacks

I feel myself very fortunate to correspond with other posters via email and to meet with a lovely GN member.

But I'm now unable to the read the shampoo bottles anymore
Yes - why don't they write SHAMPOO and CONDITIONER in great big letters on their identical bottles for those of us who don't wear our specs in the shower?

Or even VEET!

Azie09 hello!!

(knocks on cupboard door, thinks that perhaps Azie has curled up in there and gone to sleep, well it is 11.30 pm, time all civilised people were in bed unless they are working on behalf of us all she adds hastily not wanting to be controversial.)

I'm working on behalf of the nocturnal sleepless party. DH snoring away and me wide awake as per usual.

I'm the foreman of the nocturnal sleepless party. Miserable isn't it?

It is chewy . Now perhaps what we should be doing is putting our nocturnal resources to good use.

I'm relying on you, as foreman to come up with something useful .

No pressure then Gillybob !
We could consider ways to improve GN? Or discuss the merits/pitfalls of Brexit and then have our very own bun fight?

Catching up in the midnight hour after a busy day and too much real coffee late at night! Sad to see the childish bickering on yet another post, but glad it hasn't won the day.

To answer the OP:

Friendly chat
Advice / support
A good laugh here and there
Being made to think

Thanks GN!

gillybob and Chewbacca - just raising a virtual glass ..or two - might aid sleep!!

There's been a lot of ganging up on this thread, and it wasn't Rigby who decided to use Lara's request for information as an opportunity to have a bit of a dig.

I joined Gransnet as soon as it began; our family had just had a traumatic bereavement leaving my daughter widowed and me stepping up to help her with my little grandson. I loved the camaraderie and the general supportiveness of the various threads, the various highs and lows that people shared, the advice asked for and given and the development of a virtual community. There were some heated differences of opinion and one or two 'flouncers', but pretty much as you get in all communal situations. Gransnet was at times a bit of a lifeline for me. I entered (and won) a few competitions, I joined the book club (which is brilliant), I took part in various webchats with interesting guests and I have many purchases that were recommended on GN.
Recently I've once again been through the mill, both with my health and with all sorts of extremely difficult family situations unfolding. This has resulted in me having hardly any time to catch up with Gransnet and I've really missed it. By September I hope to be in a position where things are better and I can get a bit of my life back - in the meantime I try to have a look on GN every now and again. To say I'm feeling fragile at the moment would be a huge understatement so I steer clear of the somewhat combative topics/threads.
So, my top three reasons:
1)Opportunities for giving/receiving support and advice.
2)Being part of a virtual community.
3)Being challenged by differing viewpoints.

I joined for the forum long ago too. I value Gransnet for the conversations and the insights into other people's lives and views.
I don't think I would call the comments about the political threads or even about one individual "ganging up" or "having a go". We were asked what drew us to Gransnet, and while they considered their answer, it was natural that posters also thought of what they did NOT like, as well. The replies were made spontaneously by several people separately, not in concert. I noticed unfamiliar names, perhaps posters who would normally be loath to express an adverse opinion dared to do so on this particular thread.

I love GN now... I started a few years ago I got welcomed by a number of people felt very happy that I had found a circle to belong to I started putting my toe in the water, posting occasional things and seemed to get completely ignored as older members talked 'past' me I felt so invisible and unaccepted I felt a real outsider I persisted but eventually felt it would be impossible to penetrate into this established group I went into a GN shell and stopped posting or even looking at all for maybe a year or more than I tried again I just slunk back quietly and watched for a bit then someone said how they felt when they posted ( often ignored and as if they killed every thread and an outsider) that was me and I realised I wasn't alone and unacceptable it wasn't 'me' and I decided to have another go I gathered my strength and I joined in so Azie I understand your post completely

I still don't know or retain a lot of peoples history and I don't always look at the name of the poster I m answering just the problem so I don't understand all the goings and froings like on this thread but aside from that I love all the hints, tips, advice, and humour and the tv programme thread I m very passionately opinionated about politics but not always so learned about facts so I keep well away from that thread, as I would be slaughtered

I don't do any games or competitions or extras just the forums

I have made one friend ( through our fear of dentists) and we write regularly and hope to meet up one day she doesn't post much either for the reasons I ve already talked of but we are really on the same wavelength and that's so nice I don't cringe at the argy bargy that's life and I can take it or leave it, the cliqueness got me but I feel I can ride that now I m not sure if I m accepted or not but I will keep on posting now (from the fringes)