Have you belonged to other forums?

[Gemini]

You may belong to others now!

I have been a member of several online communities over the last 20 plus years.
As my life moved on, the forums I belonged to moved on and changed, to meet my needs. Having said that, I'm not a quitter, at least 2 of the forums, maybe more, closed and I was there until the bitter end

The first was a slimming forum, There I met Lizzie48, another friend who lives in York (we didn't discover this for some time!) and my friend who was murdered in Israel. I have several others I met there as FB friends still.

Next I belonged to a menopause forum. This was mainly American and I have good American friends I met there, including my lovely North Carolina friend.

The next were forums relating to my sexuality. I needed support that my straight friends couldn't give me, especially as most of them had no idea. One was linked to a (no more) UK lesbian arts festival. I met another of my close York friends on that forum (she was witness at our wedding)
For a while I was on a forum specifically for women who were or had been married and realised they were attracted to women. When you think you are the only one in the world it is quite an eye opener to realise how many such women there all all over the world! This was American based and I met my NY friend who we have visited, on there.

The next was Grannynet. My DD was 7 weeks pregnant with my first grandchild, and I needed other grannies to share my joy, so another community was joined. When that folded several years later we formed GransRus.
Now I am here , and here I intend to stay I also dip in and out the the DIBB, the Disney forum. I have had useful information and advice there but it is huge, and I don't feel part of the community at all, as I have with all other forums I have belonged to.

[Daisy]

Gem - an interesting topic. It sounds as though you've sought out forums and joined them to meet specific needs, but have then stayed with them because you gained other 'rewards' in the form of new friends through them.

Yes, I have and do belong to other forums. I joined a photography forum around the time I first got a digital SLR camera. I still pop in there occasionally and there are several members I keep in touch with, united by our interest in photography. I joined a couple of photo sharing sites - not discussion forums, but a way of sharing photos with others. I belong to the RHS gardening forum, but haven't used it enough to 'belong'. I belonged to an American forum dealing with specifically dogs with diabetes - this was when Clyde developed the disease and it was/is such a helpful, lovely forum. I can't remember how or why I joined Grannynet - but I'm so glad I did as it lead me to many new and lovely friends and eventually GransRus.

Apart from GRU, the photography site is the only one I feel I've made real connections with. It's a very large forum and I got to 'know' people by spending time there and chatting, getting involved, asking for and giving critiques, advice and encouragement. In other words, I got involved and invested myself in it.

[Oma]

I was on a forum about 15/16 years ago but I can't remember what it was now , then I joined Grannynet then of course this wonderful forum where I have lovely friends for life I like to think .

I have racked my brains but can't for the life of me remember what the other site was , I remember I left because it started to get quite bitchy and people were being awful bullies t some people ,I don't like that , it was a bit like the other grans forum but I don't think it was for grandmother's it may have been a craft forum but just can't remember now .

[Nanto2girls]

I've been a member of several forums, including Grannynet
I'm a member of Moneysavingexpert, because of the competitions thread.
Loquax is another forum i'm a member of,thats another competition site.
Some forums i joined are no longer active.
GRUS is where i spend most of my time.

[Mimi]

For my sins I belonged to Grannynet and anyone who was also a member knows only too well how that turned out.
I am a member of Moneysaving expert

Oma I know the forum you are racking your brains about by I'd better not mention it , you never know who is lurking about!

[Plantaholic]

I joined and am still a member of Gransnet, I have only posted once. They still send me emails. They were a bit bitchy about Grannynet, do you remember.?

[Gemini]

I do Plant! They said we all wore twinsets and posted glittery pictures I think!!
Fair play on the glittery pictures I suppose....

[Avo]

No, I started on grannynet and followed over here when it was set up. I enjoy the forum but I’m not disciplined enough to go on it every day! I often forget! My husband is on a Motorhome forum and is on it for hours!

[Sum1Ls]

Rather a lot I’m afraid. Grannynet of course and now this. And a wildflower group, an industrial history forum, a couple of hyper local hubs, HPB (Plant will know about that), and HPB outdoor activities, Burmese Cats, Ship of Fools, Thames Discovery and Greenwich History Society. I don’t post much anywhere, only when I’ve got something to say. But I suppose some people might think that’s too much!

[Daisy]

Sum1 - you are a very busy lady, so I'm not surprised your online activities cover a lot of your very varied interests. Ship of Fools sounds intriguing!

I also love the photos of your walks in and around SE London on FB. Most of the places I never dreamed existed, and they're often hidden gems.

Avo - my OH isn't on any forums, but he spends a lot of time on EBay, so it's probably a good job! At least you know what your OH is up to when he's talking Motorhomes.

Plant - yes Gransnet were a bit bitchy about Grannynet, but sometimes they're bitchy to each other as well!

[Lizzie48]

As Gem says, we were members of a slimming forum, how I got to be a member I can't remember. Then this and I am on FB for lipedema.

[Gemini]

Lizzie I read an article about Slimtime (the original one we were on) in the Sunday paper. I kept the clipping about it for a while, then joined!

[Lizzie48]

I have no idea Gem, will see if I can jog my memory!!!

[Glammanana]

I am on a couple of doggy forums and Money Saving Expert also GN from when they started but they are now too political for me and I only post when something of interest is posted usually home & beauty as that's my thing.
Best has been since joining this forum quite a long time ago now before the change of name xx