GNHQ private forum for those not wanting to be on Facebook

Good questions, farnorth, seems there are more differences between the sister sites than I certainly realised.

Something else Mumsnet has, which GN doesn't, is a 30-days section, for posts which the OP doesn't want to be available for longer than that time.

GNHQ why can't we have that and name-changing, just as MN does?
We can surely cope with any issues of "trust", just as they do.

Is it actually because those things add extra complication and cost to running the website, so you think we can manage without?

And Facebook may suggest it to you, as something you may want to look at.

Anything you post in a closed group on FB is not shown on your timeline and only viewable by group members. GN on FB is not a group its a page- pages are viewable by anyone. If you 'like' a page you get to see its posts in your newsfeed. If your friends and family have liked gransnet on fb even though they might not be members here they will see posts which, if lifted from here, may be about them! Even if you haven't liked a page you can still choose to go to it on FB and read it.

Crafting and Far North, I agree with you. We are not stupid, we know GN is a public site and anyone can read it, if they bother to seek it out .... But if you're a younger person you're not likely to.

However all ages are on FB, it's much more likely a younger family member could come across a link, and realise it sounds very much like their current family dilemma. Some people in their distress give a lot of personal info, enabling family members to identify them.

HQ were sharing these type of posts particularly on FB. Without any care for the consequences. Well unless things change, most won't dare ask for help now. Not exactly what the Jo Cox Foundation had in mind I'm sure.

Totally agree with you crafting. There would be no need for private areas, or GNHQ being more selective in what they post. The solution is just don't link our threads on here to Facebook or Twitter!

There are enough neutral posts on there which will attract interest and possibly more publicity without lifting our threads off here!

I joined gransnet in good faith! No other forums I have joined have lifted posts for Facebook/Twitter.
I personally find it outrageous, that GNHQ will not keep these other sites separate.

Pearl clutching.....like it!! ?

I don't mind that at all.. obviously, or I wouldn't have posted it after seeing the thread about Facebook and Twitter links.
I wonder why some of you people are so defensive about others' opinions? Does it make a whole lot of difference to your use of this site?

Hope you don't mind your things that over 50s shouldn't be expected to do being read by all on facebook.
That's the thread that Missadventure started, but at the same time she wants privacy.

I was under the impression that it did not appear on your timeline if it was a closed group.

Riverwalk You're absolutely right. Group posts go to your newsfeed...but they don't post to anyone's Timeline. That is not how this happened.

Posting something on a Facebook group only makes it available to people who look at that group. However, it will post to your timeline and be seen by the friends of people who 'interact' with the post.

So if you 'like' or 'comment' on the post, it will show in your timeline.

It seems to me a lot of people don't understand how Facebook works.

I think if you "like" or "follow" a Facebook group or page (such as GN) then the posts on that page will appear on your timeline. If the lady in question then has her family as "friends" they would be able to see her timeline and see the post from Gransnet.

I still can't work out what exactly happened - seems GN's Facebook page had a link to a certain thread and somehow the member and her problem were recognised by the family and there have been repercussions.

Did the family just accidentally stray onto GN's Facebook page and recognise themselves, or did the page come up on her timeline so it was there for all to see?

But I don't understand how the latter could happen because surely the member didn't comment or 'like' on her own thread on Facebook!

Can anyone enlighten me?

If what the lady had posted hadn't have been replicated, then her family wouldn't have identified her.
I don't see what the issue is, really
For people who do not care about privacy, the forum wouldn't change at all for them. Access all areas, and they can post as they have been.

The changes you're asking for will not solve the problem the poster had, who was recognised by their family. It may make people feel they are in a more private place, which they are not, and possibly more willing to disclose personal info.

There is no such thing as privacy on an internet forum like GN. 'Members Only' threads are no guarantee of concealment of the post from friends and family. If I post things that can identify me, I might be identified! If that's a problem for me, I don't post it.

I realise it is an open Forum but with not so many readers as Facebook. I know many FB members and none of them have joined GN. In suggesting a more private area of GN I realise this can still be read by others but if GNHQ were to say they would not link threads from this particular section to FB or Twitter, we could go back to where many of us thought we were before all this started. If you read the other thread on this subject you will see how many GN users are upset that they cannot ask for support in the same way. I know we all signed up and GNHQ can do what they like but I can't see why it would be a problem for them to promise not to link threads from a "keep it on GN " forum. After all GNHQ have said they will try and be "sensitive" in what they link so why can't they let us choose what is "sensitive" to us.

To me, the upsetting thing is not whether posters are aware of GN's right to do as they wish with our posts, or whether anyone can come across GN on the web.

It is that GN saw a thread where the OP contained details that were likely to be identifiable, and took the deliberate decision to publicise that thread more widely.

If you are on Facebook, it constantly suggests groups you might be interested in, based on your fb posts and likes.
So GN facebook could easily come to the notice of people who haven't actually looked for it.

Its blurb invites people to chat, get support, and it is affiliated in some way to the Jo Cox campaign to fight loneliness.

Crafting a forum which HQ promises not to link to Facebook & Twitter would still not be 'private' - GN is a public site for all to see, members or not.

So there would still be the risk that an interesting/controversial thread could be picked-up by the media, such as seems to happen on Mumsnet. However, the chances are low - I've never seen a GN thread mentioned in the press.

I can't see them having a totally private section for personal matters - it's a business not a social service.

Well said misadventure it SHOULD BE A CHOICE not a definite... GN could still have their fb and Twitter link and they could still post peoples posts and threads as there will always be some people who don't bother and in fairness there are subjects I haven't got a problem with sharing ie gardening questions, cooking etc etc but other more personal subjects that we don't want shared should have our choice honoured

I think some of the problem could be alleviated if there was the possibility of editing or deleting a post afterwards. I think the fact of being so easily public also stops people at times sharing their own experience which could maybe help a person with a problem.

Those who don't see a problem with threads being posted elsewhere, or are never in a position of needing advice on something more sensitive than "best steam mop" can continue to use open forums.
Others would like the option of anonymity at times.
There is nothing to lose, and everything to gain for everybody.

I belong to a forum which although it has a Facebook page does not re-post things from the forum and you have to be a member to read any posts. They do have advertising and it appears to be getting more people joining all the time. I can understand GNHQ wanting to attract more members but I wonder how many join after reading the Facebook posts - after all they will be aware that anything they post could be seen by any one of their Facebook "friends". A separate private forum would seem to be a good compromise.

Wonder what the legal position would be if something that was chosen to be posted on FB by HQ had serious consequences?