Message To The Moderators

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

Fair enough point I will agree that there is quite often destructive (as opposed to constructive) criticism....

Edited September 4, 2013 by Don Juan DeMarcus

[3spirit]

Everyone is entitled an opinion,if this is a truly democratic forum.

 

The moderators are in place to uphold the virtue and the gravatis of the posters, and to balance what is deemed unacceptable.

 

So where is the problem?

 

I can understand Nigel's[Windsor Rebel] reasoning.He believes to be a true supporter you must be positive and pro-active for the club.This opinion is noble and just.

 

The trouble is, this forum will become staid and totally inane,if posters just post plaudits about how great the club is. I know it's out of context but this is how Hitler came to power because nobody had the gall to challenge him.

 

Good debate highlights deeper practical viewpoints,not always seen with a one sided opinion.

 

However,I think Nigel has a very valid point about putting a real name to controversial threads we post.

 

My only reservation about this,though,is a couple of seasons ago,a player wanted to punch my lights out for my opinion on him !

 

So the problem really is, from a safety point of view, how do we legislate such a move to our authenticity, without starting rows between people face to face and possible confict.

As some of us have moved on from the playground ! ! !

Edited September 5, 2013 by 3spirit

[Mark44]

Wasn't Anthony Thomas by any chance lol

[Curtis]

My only reservation about this,though,is a couple of seasons ago,a player wanted to punch my lights out for my opinion on him !

 

So the problem really is, from a safety point of view, how do we legislate such a move to our authenticity, without starting rows between people face to face and possible confict.

And there is the issue really...... this is a public forum that is possibly read by hundreds of people, not four or five of your closest mates.

 

What you might say about players, management or the club officials privately with your mates over a few pints is one thing, but if you would not be willing to say them over the public announcement system to 300 fans on a matchday then they really shouldn't be said on here.

[readingrebel]

Football forums primarily exist to discuss everything about your football club including good and bad performances.

 

So is it possible to discuss bad performance/s without being detrimental to the players and management?

[Mark44]

I am torn in this conversation..........

 

On one hand I agree with those who believe in freedom of speech and that this is a forum fro everyone and is an unofficial place for supporters to come. Therefore why shouldn't supporters be allowed to post their views.

The point around players and management reading these posts also, I believe they should see this as motivation to spur them on and prove a point which I'm sure a lot of them do. I remember being at St Neots after we won 1-0 there and speaking to a certain Mr Bateman who basically walked in and said "Right, wheres that cookham rebel then"

 

However, I believe that these comments could come across as unrest between players, those who run the club and supporters. If I was a potential supporter ( A local business), would I sponsor a club where the fans and management are at each others throats (seemingly) or would I support a team such as Burnham who are in a higher league albeit with no support but no signs of unrest either. With that in mind I wonder how MYFC view some of the posts on here being our main sponsor?

[Slough Kitman]

RR That's it, there is a difference between discussing and having a pop at someone.

 

If I came on here and said " RR you had a bad game I think you would have been better to do X,Y,Z"  No Problem.

 

But if I came on here and said " RR your sh** and the manager done so and so, he should go and bring in Joe Bloggs"  This is a Problem.

 

So I say Real Names Only.

[Sue]

I agree with SK about how things are said.  Freedom of speech is one thing, but down right nasty unhelpful comments are another, they really dont help.

 

People are entitled to an opinon but do it as a grown up and as nicely as possible, as I said before think how you would feel if it was your son out there on the playing field. Yes you might have a few words to say to him back home but would you like him publicly humilated on a message board.

 

Post's like Hotspur's and Older Ram's are just childish and deliberately put on here to wind up people, so from now on unless things change on here to real name posting I will be joining Martin and pushing an ignore button.

 

And thanks Pete, me run off with Warren no way, he's a veggie for a start, would never work !!

[readingrebel]

I have no problem with supporters airing their views on this forum after poor/bad performances. After all isn't that what football forums are all about?

 

What I do have a problem with are posts that only contain negativity to the point where the whole post is just based around slagging the players and managers off.

 

Players know when they have had bad games and I'm sure when they come onto the forum after a poor performance they don't expect to see glowing tributes. 

 

People are not breaking the forum rules so what I'd like to see are examples of posts that will be unacceptable to this forum.

 

After the Cirencester away game I read a post that I thought was a prime example of what should be banned from this forum. It contained nothing positive and just set out to rubbish the performance and question the players integrity and characters with words like 'under performers' and 'prima donnas' and for the players to step up or be shipped our sharpish.  

 

This type of post should be totally unacceptable.

[Windsor Rebel]

I have read all the replies to my original post with interest. Now, I am not against freedom of speech, every poster has a

right to their view and to express that view on here. What I do object to is the inane/childish/negative comments

made by ANON posters, just because they can hide behind their anonymity. Would they make these comments if

they were accountable? I very much doubt it.

 

The use of verified/accountable forums is widespread these days in the business world, and believe me, it leads to reasoned

views/debates/points of view and removes the idiots.

 

Anyway, I have told the forum moderators what needs to be done. I cannot do any more than that. If they dont heed my

advice I guess the forum will continue as is, to the detriment of genuine supporters of the club, the players and the club itself

 

Here endeth the first lesson.

[hotspur]

Windsor Rebel aka Smithy says " I AM NOT AGAINST FREEDOM OF SPEECH ", but you obviously are when it does not agree with what you think or the author does not toe the party line.

Men fought wars so you could say what you wanted to - sadly for you England's not keen on dictators.

[Windsor Rebel]

Windsor Rebel aka Smithy says " I AM NOT AGAINST FREEDOM OF SPEECH ", but you obviously are when it does not agree with what you think or the author does not toe the party line.

Men fought wars so you could say what you wanted to - sadly for you England's not keen on dictators.

Hotspur AKA Anon: I will be in the bar at Rugby, come and have a chat about football if you like, I am sure we would all like to meet you at long last.

Edited September 5, 2013 by Windsor Rebel

[Curtis]

Hotspur,

 

Posting anonymously on a public forum is not about 'freedom of speech'.... it is about avoidance of personal legal action in the event of making libellous statements, and lumbering the web-site with any liability.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15364774

[Nathan]

What relevance does that have?

 

If Hotspur (or anyone else for that matter) has made anything approaching a libelous comment, they'd have been warned, had their posts removed and/or been banned in the case of repeat offences. Since this has not happened (to my knowledge), I fail to see what relevance this has to this discussion.

[Curtis]

I've only been reading this forum for the last three or four months and during this short period I have already seen posts which I consider have bordered on being libellous that haven't been deleted (from different anonymous posters).

[Nathan]

Have your reported these to the forum moderators? There are existing rules and procedures to deal with these types of things.

[Slough Kitman]

What relevance does that have?

 

If Hotspur (or anyone else for that matter) has made anything approaching a libelous comment, they'd have been warned, had their posts removed and/or been banned in the case of repeat offences. Since this has not happened (to my knowledge), I fail to see what relevance this has to this discussion.

Nathan          People would take more notice IF they new who it was saying what, Hotspur or anyone else could be a 8 year old saying they're a ex this and that.

If you know the person who's saying these things ie WR and RR I know who is talking.

Personally I don't listen to not just Hotspur but others aswell because they've given me no proof that they know as much or more than me.

[Nathan]

Nathan          People would take more notice IF they new who it was saying what, Hotspur or anyone else could be a 8 year old saying they're a ex this and that.

If you know the person who's saying these things ie WR and RR I know who is talking.

 

I thought this whole mess was because people WERE taking notice of Hotspur, despite nobody having a clue who he is?

 

As I've said, there are already rules against libelous-type comments. The rules can be viewed here: http://www.nonleague.co.uk/index.php?app=forums&module=extras&section=boardrules

[Curtis]

Have your reported these to the forum moderators? There are existing rules and procedures to deal with these types of things.

No.... as far as I am concerned it is the forum moderators responsibility to ensure the rules and procedures are adhered to.

[Nathan]

Yet people moan when they start to think it's getting out of hand?

 

Maybe if you'd reported some of these so-called libelous comments when they were made, something may have been done about it.

 

EDIT - BTW, I'm no legal expert, but I really haven't see anything that has been approaching libel. Annoying yes, but not libel

Edited September 5, 2013 by Nathan