Cliquey

I love Gransnet and like many others have been here since the start . I have never changed my name either !

I spend most of my time alone at work waiting for the phone to ring or a delivery (DH and I run our own Engineering business) and it gets very lonely. I don’t know what I would do without Gransnet. Probably go even more bonkers than I already am.

Just keep joining in Farview you will be made very welcome.

I dont "get" the virtual bar/party/cafe things. Actually, they make me incredibly sad and longing for the real thing

oldbatty; Oh dear! It makes me sad to think that you're sad, but there's nothing to stop you having both.
I thoroughly enjoyed my virtual party recently and everyone was terrific bringing virtual presents and good wishes. I can turn on a vivid imagination when the opportunity arises and as a bonus, the virtual hangover didn't hurt a bit next morning!
OoRoo

Quite late on this thread. I do not think GN is cliquey, but I do think you get clusters of people with common interests and therefore all tend to respond to the same threads on particular subjects and within these threads we get to know each other I could real off half a dozen names that appear regularly on threads I respond to. Political threads are the most obvious example of this.

I also think all of us find at times we post what we consider a deeply considered response on a thread and the thread just flows over us as if we hadn't posted at all. But then why should anyone respond to what we contribute if they don't rate it? It is a bit disconcerting the first few times but I can assure you, you get used to it.

Good post Doodle and I am somewhat the same.

I think I have an over-active imagination and, believe me, it's not always a good thing!

farview I suppose I consider myself a newbie but have actually been on GN for a couple of years. I have not found any cliques but I think people who give out something of their real lives do connect better with others who also open up. I am a very private person, I give little away about m yself but that does not mean that I don't care about others. Some people have touched my heart with their troubles or bereavements and my responses have always bee genuine. It stands to reason that those who tell more personal details will reveal a character that attracts others to them. I flit around in the kitchen and (after buying my fishnet tights and downing a pint of poteen) the Argy Bargy. I have always felt welcome on both ( well some of the characters in the Argy really ?) I frequently don't get replies to my posts but I accept that because people respond more to people they understand. People who let others in to their personal lives are bound to have a more personal response than those who keep their lives more private. You will be welcomed in the kitchen and Argy if you pop in.

It’s true BlueBell that you do need an active imagination for The Argy ( in fact, an over active one is even better.) Cheers!

Farview I hope you’re feeling a little less bleak, I wish you well.

I don’t see Gransnet as being cliquey, just that there are posters who for whatever reason, have time most days to spend contributing to threads and building rapport with others. I skim through every other day maybe and find it awkward to join in at times BUT I love Gransnet, it’s an important part of my life.

for you.

Fairview.....I truly trust that the support shown your post here shows exactly what there is to like here in G N`s......and I hope that not only has the resposes proved valuable, but that your issues are also being sorted.
We all have these "down days" and life can be really miserable when added to your own worries at that time.

Further to the discussion about GN`s mainly living in towns etc..........again Ibeg to differ......I live in the heart of the country,I have loved walking,beach combing,gardening and everything to do with dogs......as a starter.
Whilst have talked at length about my county and have had much interest shown.
My one "complaint" if I dare put it like that, is that I seem to live so far west to the rest of you,plus mainly housebound these days,therefore there is less hope of truly joining in and getting to know any one of you personally.
However I thoroughly enjoy my interaction here and I think in fairness, you recieve what you are prepared to put into the site.
I do wish you well Fairview.

Nor me Oldbatty and pollyp I don’t think I ve got an active enough imagination but I suppose I m a bit of a realist and can’t get lost in make believe but I truely appreciate its a great thread for those that do get into it and can enjoy the pretence
I apologise for the cryptic post back a bit, I pressed the button too soon and couldn’t edit it and it didn’t seem important enough to worry about by the time I realised it was all wrong ?

I dont get them either Old Batty!

I dont "get" the virtual bar/party/cafe things. Actually, they make me incredibly sad and longing for the real thing/

As for killing threads and having our comments ignored I think we all think this. I certainly did when I first joined and found it quite disconcerting. I'm used to it now and it doesn't bother me. We can't personally reply to every comment! Believe me it's been read!

Hill walker I live in the country and enjoy walking (including walking holidays) but I tend not to put too much personal information on here as I try to guard my anonymity!

What a lovely post kupari.

you think" Oh I never thought of it like that!
That's true Kupari, there are some very diverse and interesting points of view on GN!

Farview, sorry to hear you are feeling down just now, I think we have all been there at some time. As to some of the G.N,s being a bit cliquey, well its just that some have posted on here for years and have obviously found people who they have quite a lot in common with.
I enjoy Gransnet because you get so many different opinions when you post, and you think" O'h I never thought of it like that!
For instance see my post ON THE BEACH on chat. It was just an observation that day but reading through the replies you can see we all look at a post in different ways, thats what makes it so interesting.
I live in a small village on the North East Coast so I enjoy reading posts from the Grans who live in towns and cities, and just reading about the different lives we lead.
When my daughter died in February 2016 (BEREAVEMENTS) I had so many kind messages of support and reading the forums in Gransnet has kept me sane on black days (well almost sane!).
So hope you stay with us, and I'm sure you'll find you enjoy the friendship, humour and understanding on these forums. (O'h heck hope I havent come over a bit OTT).
I hope things get better for you soon Farview.

No no Jalima, it's not an exclusive clique; anyone can join! And as Greyduster already has her trouser legs rolled up, she's automatically "in". A squint isn't a prerequisite lemon, but we'll turn a blind eye to it!

That would be the poteen Jalima ( it’s brewed in our cellar from an old Irish family recipe)...not sure which old Irish family though, it could be the Hooligans, but sure it’s very strong alright and has had many a customer off their stool and banjaxed.

Thanks lemongrove, I may pop in again; however, I fell off a bar stool last time I popped in and banged my head, never been the same since.

Thanks *Chewbacca
Is it a very exclusive clique (just us) or can anyone join in?

That sounds ideal Greyd I can certainly do a squint ( as all my photos demonstrate.)

I am, as we speak, wearing rolled up trousers (aka crops) and an apron (I have been baking) so do I qualify? I can’t do a funny handshake, but will a bit of a squint do?

If I am in a clique, will I have to roll up one trouser leg, wear an apron or anything like that? Will there be funny handshakes ( virtual ones of course)?

You can all come into The Argy Bargy Bar anytime, sort of like Soop’s Kitchen but with fishnet stockings and innuendo ( and very good poteen on tap.) You will find it on the chat forum.
A poster ( not on GN now) sniffily dismissed it as the most awful tripe and not worth a mention, so I felt our job had been done.You can de -stress ,there are comfy chairs
Drink and food ( of a sort) and let your hair ( and other bits) down.