General Chat

Have added to Jeanette's thread and totally agree with you both. Bring back the good old days. M.

Totally agree Trish. Have added to Jeanettes thread but I didn't want you to feel left out. Oh dear - just realised that David had apparently got one too so I suppose I had better go and add to his. Don't want him to feel ignored or he may sulk:)) Chrissie x

Trish Have added to Jeanettes thread but agree with all that has been said here Do you remember the fun we used to have in chat too , the laughs and all the light hearted banter what happened to it all, I miss all that . I do not add to many threads now although I am reading more of them while I am puppy feeding through the night. Jan xxxx

As I said on Jeanette's thread I agree with what has been said here. I saw a thread recently and to me it seemed to have been posted to start a witch hunt and cause trouble. It's about time some people realised that others are allowed to have different opinions and learn to agree to disagree.

If anyone posts anything that is offensive or just plain provocative, then we should simply ignore it and make no response. They'll soon get bored lol! Margaret x

Thanks Gwynne. Jeanette, have just seen your thread and replied.

obvious nudge

It seems we were thinking the same thing Trish! Jeanette x

Ive got to agree with all the sentiments on here I finally have come to the stage, where I try not to to add to potentially explosive threads, I may put across my point of view on a thread as I have done on this one. I often get picked out from all the posters by members giving a snide remark, or put down for my opinion, all in the name of trying to get me to take the bait and argue. I will also defend myself when attacked (as is my right to) but if the people carry on with their snide bullying tactics I will report them to abuse rather than argue with them. There is no point in PM people (to then get accused of being nasty) There is also no point if I find something really offensive on a thread, asking the poster to remove it. In my opinion, every time I have done so, its ended up in an argument because ive been jumped upon for expressing my opinion. Where the friends of the poster, join forces to make you feel like a small child, all whilst giving digs over your head to the next poster. So you are dammed if you do go to abuse direct, and dammed if you post your distaste on the threads. If people were more considerate in the first place when posting there would be no need to send anything to abuse. people would remove or amend postings which were blatantly inappropriate or offensive instead of shouting 'Its my RIGHT to post wherever and whatever I like' Half the arguments and suspensions would be non existent Elaine x

Wow, I put this thread on because I wanted to let everyone know my opinion - wasn't going to argue with any of you who had a different view LOL. Amazed at the response already. So, what can we do about it? The main points that are coming across is - 1. IGNORE SUCH THREADS 2/ KEEP ADDING OUR OWN INTERESTING ONES Let's get started shall we? :-)))) Have a good day everyone - it's lovely out there.

In one of my previous jobs, I had an exit interview. I had been sexually harassed (that sounds very pompous and OTT for a few very rude, ill-chosen and embarrassing comments but I guess that is the definition!) and my interviewer sensed I wanted to tell but was reluctant. I said that, had I been feeling 'better' (I was suffering with depression on and off) I would have dealt with him in no uncertain terms, but because of my state of mind, I was hurt and offended, when perhaps his behaviour would be deemed as stupid rather than offensive. She said that if it offended ME, then it was offensive. I suppose that is the point, if we as individuals find something offensive then, by nature, it IS offensive! When I post on here (rarely) I try to make sure that I say nothing that I would mind someone else saying to me as that is the only guideline I have. As I have said before, arguments, debates, jokes, general madness and fun are fine, but I would draw the line at personal attacks, and I am SO fed up with some people seemingly 'pushing' the GR terms and conditions to see if they 'bite', and then complaining bitterly when they do, and I hate the way that some people are hounded and deemed to have no sense of humour simply because they have a different viewpoint, or that they are 'GR sneaks' - how childish is that! For the record, I have never made a complaint to GR (yet)!

Sheesh Rebs. Thanks a bunch!!! 'Da da di doo doo doo didum do do doo' And now I'm doing what I said ticked me off! LOL - sorry Trish xxx

Mags.....don't complain !!! I've had Jimmy Osmonds 'Long haired Lover from Liverpool' in my head ever since some idiot (Jilly) was singing it on Friday night on a thread. At least Aretha Franklin has class. !!!

*dances round handbag* R E S P E C T You are so right, Rebs, some people here show absolutely no respect for fellow members or 'strangers' who may be looking in. Gwynne

Thanks Rebs LOL - Now have R.E.S.P.E.C.T. going round in my head. I'll be humming it all day - but how true your words are. Mags xx

It is rather wearing. I have been attempting to post light-hearted, and, hopefully, interesting threads, and add to similar, but, regrettably, the other kind seem to be taking over more and more. It is sad. Joy

*waves to Gwynne from soapbox* Regardless of what peoples opinions and definitons are it all comes down to good old fashioned respect. If you disagree with something then you have the right to voice your opinion without ending up the victim of a personal attack. (keeping in mind your own choice of words can influence the type of response you get in return) On the other hand, if you don't agree with a thread - title, contents, whatever. Even if the thread is slighty naughty, as long as it's relatively harmless, if folk are having fun without any aggression or vindictive attitudes, why not respect their right to do so and simply move on instead of reporting it to abuse. Basically, is the world going to come to an end if someones opinion is in contrast to your own??? Respect !!! *steps off soapbox*

I can’t add much to what’s already been said but how I agree with you. It is clear to me what’s happening and it is so difficult to ignore sometimes. What ticks me off most is that while I am more than happy to let them have their ‘fun’ on the threads they put up (because as been said many times before, if I don’t like it I could move on and read something else) it is when other people have their threads disrupted by inappropriate posts. It’s not funny and it’s not clever. And before anyone says that all members are entitled to post where they like, I agree, that is true but most people would make a post that actually related to the thread subject matter. One more thing, all this ‘the boards are sooo quiet’ – it’s almost summer; people have other things to do. It happens every year. The boards go quiet. It has nothing to do with who is 'here' or who is not. Mags xx

Morning all! I totally agree. We’ve always had flare-ups, disagreements, arguments, etc on the boards, but the furore has usually died down fairly quickly and everyone moves on. It’s all changed now though. There are some really nasty people out there who enjoy stirring. Recently, there have been two people who have literally poked fun at me simply because I stated my opinion on the thread clearly. It must have been obvious though, because I had several PMs from other people saying that they were gobsmacked at the way I’d been unnecessarily spoken to. I don’t join in any threads that I think are there simply to antagonise everyone else. On some of these ‘playground humour’ threads, I’ve seen people say things along the lines of, well if I get suspended, then I’m going to go with a bang, sort of thing. They know full well that they’re just stirring. How many of them ever take part in genuine threads? And how many of them are actually doing their family history lol?! Like Trish said, these boards are usually a bit of light relief; when you’ve been trawling through censuses or indexes for hours, it’s nice to come and have a chat, a laugh, have a bit of a discussion. But there seem to be a group of people who are simply here to ‘play’. Maybe those of us who like a good mix of fun (and yes, it can border on the slightly rude sometimes, but not pure filth), chat, quizzes, lighthearted discussion, heavier discussion etc, ought to add more threads and post more often? Mandy :)

I am so glad you have said this, Trish, as even I am finding the whole thing tiresome. It is quite obvious that the objective, lately, is to cause squabbles, trouble and eventually the demise of the General Board. I don't subscribe to bemoaning the 'good old days' because I really believe that all newcomers should be welcomed and, hopefully, contribute something positive and new to us jaded 'Oldies'.......Is the culling of trolls legal in this country? lol BC