How many of you

I am sure GN has given many the support and information they were seeking.
Having to involve your nearest and dearest in your problems maybe something you do not relish doing.
With GN you can be anonymous.

Don’t have a partner anymore but my two DDs know I’m on here and they think it’s great cos they are on Mumsnet and tell there friends. I look forward to reading the posts everyday and getting involved if I have any input to give.

I mention Gransnet to friends who I think might like to join, I think it is a bit of ‘me-time’.

I don’t really discuss it with Mr FF as he isn’t a great social media fan, although he does play internet chess and has online chats with other chess players around the world between games.

I have found GN wonderful, sharing and getting ideas, and find it invaluable for putting my own family worries into perspective or getting a different view on them. Haven’t ever tried the recipes or the games .... will look them up, must be more adventurous!

Am also a member of Mumsnet but so often the default reply of many on their site is very strident, ie recommending never see so and so again, or sue the b.....ds, etc.

I do love reading objective comments from people on GN who just know the facts of a situation as described by the poster without getting involved in personalities or past history.

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My family and friends who know are seriously surprised. I'm not a great social media fan in general. This was innocently divulged when I was asked about recent purchases of a cordless vac and a window vac. 'How did you decide?' 'Read very helpful and interesting reviews n GN'. 'What's GN?' Ominous silence followed on every occasion. They're surprised but didn't comment. I look in every day. Like everyone else, I can find it stimulating, informative, eye-opening, uplifting, saddening and fun in general. On the 'nasty' days I just move on (somewhat sadly) and when I've no relevant contribution to make on other threads I still read them with interest. A general thank you to all those who have benefitted me and know not is being expressed now. I look forward to continuing indefinitely.

DW thinks I spend too much time on Gransnet, although she looks at it too. I think she prefers Mumsnet. DDs know I look at it, and I think they know my nom-de-keypad, though they would never look at it themselves.

My H knows I'm on Gransnet and I've told some of the family too, but none of them know my GN name which is nothing like my real one. I sometimes discuss threads in a general way with my H or read out funny comments but generally he thinks it's just one more way I waste time on my smart phone or ipad (and he's right!)

Yes it's quite secret for me. I sometimes tell DH about something I've read but I would hate him to start reading what I wrote. To me it's personal. He doesn't understand on-line chatting. To him that's a pointless activity.

I'm glad that this thread came up . Only this morning I was beginning to think that I spent too much time on here , and maybe I should spend more time with ' real people '. But I say things on here that I wouldn't say anywhere else so it's a huge help , plus 2 ongoing threads this week have made me cry . I'm glad to be here reading everyone's stories - good and bad . I occasionaly tell work colleagues and family about them .

My OH thinks that I know you all in person ! It doesn't help that when during one of our heated political discussions I may say something like "well, durhamjen agrees with me" or tell him how lemongrove made me laugh earlier

Its not secret, but my dh has somehow worked out my nom de plume so hope its not as obvious to my children as i want to remain anonymous if i can.
I do spend too much time on here though, it is too addictive. Things which need doing dont get done and i need to try to limit time spent on the ipad.

DH knows I am on GN, I tell him some things, and he was amused by bits I read out to him back when the Olympics thread was going. He doesn’t know my username, but I doubt he’d bother looking anyway. He posts regularly on a musicians site, so is not bothered by me being on here. I haven’t told anyone else I’m on here though, so I guess that is my little secret.

I share the really funny things or the things that have either made me change a preconceived idea, or shown me that there is at least another valid point of view.

I only share med DH and I don't tell him the few personal details other gransnetters tell.

Yes, I do have a secret life on GN, although my daughter does know because I told her about a Meetup that was really good. She thought that was really good.
DH not sure if he has remembered or not. Probably not.

I do share, however I also feel like a huge outsider here too though as I post so sporadically, my posts being general comments and observations rather than committing to joining in. So I guess that’s why.
Perhaps I need to feel more connected ?

Gransnet is the ONLY social media I go on. It’s great and yes I definitely keep it secret!! We all need a little anonymity!

I have generally a secret life here.
There is some right rubbish goes on but when someone wants advice or to chew over a dilemma you can usually find someone, with different points of view which can help.
And there can be someone to have a rant to when you are feeling upset. Which I seem to be doing a lot lately.

I first joined when my DD had just anounced she was pregnant and I was lurking for a while until DGS1 was born.
When I announced I was now properly a gran I was amazed at the greetings and congratulations etc. I had not expected that.
I thought well, these are all grans they know what we are doing what is there to make fuss about.
We do not seem to have many new grandchildren to celebrate on here for a long time now.

Dogsmother it's fine just to read and add your bit now and again, as long as you get something out of it you are most welcome

That's a pity dogsmother that you don't feel connected. I felt that way at the beginning, then decided to take the bull by the horns. There are so many nice people on here. No-one is going to ridicule you.

I do tell the OH about some Gransnet threads of general interest but generally it is a ‘for me’ thing. I don’t have any friends to talk to so it is a lifeline.

I occasionally tell DH about something relevant or funny that I've read on a 'forum for grannies', but his PD has made him so self absorbed that he won't give it another thought. He's also not very into technology. He can just about use iplayer. DD2 knows about it, but not my username. I haven't told anybody else. Strangely, until I read some your comments just now, I'd never thought of it as being on social media. I've always thought that I didn't do social media.

My husband would think it funny but I don't think he would be very interested in my online life, Gransnet or otherwise. He's a scientist so what can I say, now if I was corresponding with Prof, Stephen Hawking he might be interested.

Granny buy, I so agree, It's only just dawned on me that GN is that infamous " Social Media! "
But it's good fun though and often a great help.

How do people feel meeting up with other GNs in person? It sounds fun but I've never done it, don't you form an idea about someone and once you've met them, does that change for the better or worse? I'm intrigued

I've wondered that too Menopaws. I've seen that there have been a couple of meet ups not too far away from me but I haven't gone because I didn't recognise any of the names of members who were showing an interest in going. But you're right about the mental image you form about posters and I've often wondered if the image matches the actual person when you meet them.

It's a bit like Tinder for oldies without the sex!