Ladies and Gentlemen,
This site has never been the most endearing to the club or even parts of our own fanbase. A common piece of feedback I receive privately is that some find it too negative or drama-filled, which is why many choose to stay away. At times we clash hard and put each other down, the club, the players, and even Super, who pays for this site out of his own pocket. Some of this could understandably offend players’ families. In conversations I’ve had with people within the club’s hierarchy, the club takes a fairly open-minded view and accepts that it can’t control what others say or think. That’s a mature approach.
That said, I believe the majority of us are good eggs, mean well, even if some are rough around the edges and a small minority hold more extreme views. Over the past decade, I’ve met many wonderful people through this site, some of whom I now count as close friends and have learned a great deal from. You’re a big reason I’m still here and why I care about this community.
If you’re willing, I’d appreciate your thoughts on the direction the site should take. Ultimately, Super will decide, but it’s helpful to understand how people feel, here or privately, on:
- Current affairs and political blogs: Even if personally enjoy them, these often become the most feral and attract extremist views, especially in challenging times. They can flood the site and turn off many who simply want to talk footy, the one thing we all share. Life has enough dramas.
- Moving these blogs to The Cave: Making them members-only may be a win-win, it allows discussions without overwhelming those who’d want to avoid it.
- Any other ideas for improving the site.
Please don’t comment on political, religious or current affairs issues in this blog. This is about improving the site, not saving the world from an apocalypse.
Replies
First up, the premise you started with is off. The issue isn’t “what the club/players/families think” — who gives 2 f***s? This is a fan site, for the fans.
As for my engagement: I liked a lot of the older posters who aren’t around anymore, and I still enjoy plenty of the regulars like Pops, Fongy, Hoe, Chief and Eli. But there’s also a handful of people I just can’t stand because they’re negative about literally everything (we sign someone = negative, we win = negative, we don’t sign someone = negative).
Thread-wise, I actually think it’s better now than a couple years back. Back then there was way too much fighting. Regular posters would follow each other thread to thread just to derail it with the same insults, pics, have the same carry on and would literally f**k up every thread .
I don’t want this place turning into TCT. TCT has its value (I use it too and like training reports and podcasts ok ), but this site should be different and not try emulate .
Now the big one for me: the forum format. I know it might be part of why this place gets more activity than competitor eel forums (one that has all clubs), but I honestly detest this format . It’s hard to see what’s new, hard to follow threads properly, and it just feels messy. Also If you are none of the regular posters , easier to be ignored when you do post something .
I’d much prefer a more traditional forum setup, look at what The Kennel or the Tigers forum platform use. Both are active, easy to follow and they split topics into sections better so people don’t have to wade through stuff they don’t care about (like politics) just to find footy chat.
You might not want to take what I say on board because I’m a casual to this site and prefer using the others ones even tho less active , but the main reasons I don’t post as much or even read much is due to the platform design and the general negativity vibe.
I’d love to see more of Hoe’s reports, and more of those Pops-style threads that actually get people thinking instead of just whinging
Kenny, well said. You raise some valid points. It is quite difficult to find stuff, though you can use the "search" function. I wonder if the platform we use, Ning, could be modified to make the format more user friendly. I'll talk to Super.
As has been noted its a privately run concern, dont like it? Stop bitching and build your own or go elsewhere. Being negative all the time does not make you a "tough guy". It makes you a miserable prick that gets off on inflicting their misery on others. Its really easy to leave if you dont like the rules.
I know right , imagine having the freedom to he able to not click on a thread with a political or religious title .
There's the soulution, HOE , just come up with a way that these sandy vaginas can not have to enter the chats about politics .
These people are like the sites version of vegans .
I dont exactly know what a "sandy vagina" is but imagine if the butthurt snowflakes had the freedom to STFU and go elsewhere. Oh wait, they do!
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