Eels Blogs

So over the past few days there has been some comments made about the site and our policy of what content goes into the main blogs

Firstly, I want to make this plain and simple. If you don't like the policies of this website, you have two options:

1) Message me. I set the policies and the moderators act on behalf of those policies.

2) Leave the site.

In the off-season, we let more non-football content through on the main page. However, I do not want nor will allow controversial topics that divide the membership of the site to run through the main blogs section of the site. 

I do this for a number of reasons.

1) Ultimately we are a supporter base and creating reasons for division is not the aim of this website. Arguments that take place over non-footballing issues tend to spill over into football related blogs. It gives people ammunition to make cracks at people for their beliefs.I want 1Eyed Eel to be a site that unites the supporter base not divides it.

2) This is a football site. It has an identity based around the Eels. When people come to the site they expect to read about Parramatta and Rugby League. On another front, outside of the main Eels site it ranks first on Google for the term Parramatta Eels. That has been one of the major reasons for the site's growth. When non Rugby league content appears on the front site, it impacts the site from an SEO perspective. It impacts the site from a commercial perspective because Google starts showing adds that aren't related to the content. It is very important from a sustainability and identity point of view that the front page is Parramatta and Rugby League

3) That said, we are pretty tolerant in the off-season of non-footy blogs as long as they are not divisive because there wouldn't be much to talk about otherwise. We've had some great blogs about a whole range of issues and topics that have strengthened the community and have been fun to read. That's ok.

Personally, I have no interest in coming to this site to read religious/political/race debates. If I want to talk about that there are literally thousands of places on the Internet to do that. However, I get that some people here want to talk about it with their online mates and so we created groups like The Current Affairs group for that content. And I don't particularly like, either, having my view of people affected because I may disagree with their stances on certain issues. I'd like to think of everyone here as just Parramatta fans.

This policy has never changed. You people are not the one that has to deal with the texts and the messages of people who take offence at content which I get at all hours. I am. And from November to March it's my peak busy period for my business and that's what happens almost every time a discussion on religion or race is allowed to run. I simply do not have time or the inclination to deal with it. And so I rely on my moderators to keep the policies of the site in place. It is very clear on the front page and in the code of conduct that those discussions are not allowed outside of the groups for all of the reasons I have described about and it pissed me off to no-end that people chuck a tanty and then turn on the mods who's volunteer time is the only thing that allows me to keep the site running during my particularly busy part of the year.

If you have an issue - man up and talk to me directly rather than making snipes against people who are generously helping me out. There is a phone number to reach me at listed on this site. If you genuinely have an issue then call me.

And how dare anyone suggest this has anything to do with the coterie. What is it with people wanting to tear down anything from people trying to build up something that helps the club. The coterie has been very specifically designed to be disassociated with this site for these exact kinds of reasons.

You all know this. Again if you don't like it, then approach me about it via the inbox or chat function. I have always, and will always, treat every reader's feedback seriously and genuinely but everyone on here has to understand that I operate this site on a footing that I am professionally and personally comfortable with and that when you try to undermine that, you undermine me and the site.

Phil Sim