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
Bourbon, brilliant post mate. I like your advice to clients: Don't say anything you wouldn't want published in newspapers or TV. Wise.
We often merge the idea of "freedom of speech" with a "I can say whatever I like" mindset.
That's a nice idea. Well intentioned. Almost a wonderful child-like simplciity. But there are always consequences.
It's like a toddler is "free" to crap all over the floor and walls, but that's an anti-social outcome for others. And the adults need to come and clean it up, and hope the sweet boy can be potty trained, grow out of it, or need to wear nappies and have minders. It gets more difficult when that toddler is middle aged who feels it's his right to be free to say and do as he pleases.
I like what Jason Ryles said when he was asked what was the biggest lesson he learned as a head coach. One was to watch his words. Words are powerful.
Words are not just words. They reflect what's between the ears. And with enough habit patterns they can become the programme that leads to who we are becoming and shape the world around us into war zones and angry Victim-Blame Games, or opportunites to learn and grow. The choice is our own. We can't blame anyone else.
I learned a long time ago that everyone has different opinions and views on things. Not everyone will agree with you. For me i won't get into an argument on anything i'll simply change the subject or walk away its not worth it. Things can get heated on here but everyone is entitled to their opinion. All in all i liked reading the banter.... merry xmas to all.
This whole discussion is healthy and it is always going to be subjective ? as it should be.
Personally I am of the view that ad libbing and spontainiety is the best way to post. i.e. react with the first thing that comes into your head and then review it, if you don't like it,delete it. If you are not confident with what your saying, don't say it!
You could not withstanding be making a comment that is "searching" I often do that because I am not sure what the writer is getting at.
Contrary to what some people think it is not a popularity test or opportunity.
Does the effect of drawing attention to yourself cheapen the input.....well that is where ego can take you, but someone once said "ego" is not a dirty word.
I think we take ourselves too seriously sometimes, I prefer everything to have some semblance of humour, this is a forum where a group of people come to be interactive with like minded human beings. Like minded automatically qualifies we will not always agree. That is what humanity is about.
When people discuss racism in this country, they confuse it with culture. Racism in the United States is abhorrent but they still have the same culture wars we have. Once people can get over skin colour they can start thinking about culture, anyone who thinks otherwise.....straight out the back door and don't let them in again. If they cannot get over skin colour, they have no chance with culture.
When I wrote my blog about "Two Old Men on a Jetty" it was about culture and how we need to judge everyone on their respective merits, skin colour never came into it, never will in my mind. Surely we are over that, the issue was culture and its virtually something that some "red necks" will never understand!
Don't change the forum just don't let the red necks get comfortable, we are actually telling them what they have not learnt yet.....we need to keep telling them till they understand what they don't understand.
My feeling is this forum is an opportunity mainly enforced around a love of our football team, how we respect those comments is driven by what we may say on other subjects.....it helps create respect.
PS I am pretty broad on swaring but there are some words I don't use, one is a word that women hate and if you use it then I think we will always have trouble attracting women to the forum, it starts with a C*** and ends with a T . It is the one word you don't use in mixed company......yes I am old fasioned....sometimes.
When you say rednecks, is that anyone right of centre? That centre being far more left than it was ten years ago.
You know Stranger, when I wrote that I actually was slightly concerned that it had a racist undercurrent.....but then I thought that is taking political correctness too far. Most people know what is meant by the comment in a subjective manner.
What you do raise just the same is this right and left description that is becoming a plague, elsewhere on this blog I stated that I was probably right of centre but I have some basic left views as well. I am not against socialism but agree that social value's have integrity, but carry negatives with it as baggage.
I really dislike "political correctness" not withstanding. The "woke" shit and anything that goes with it!
So you cannot lock me in but what you can do is form your own opinion on my values that I represent here such as the "old man blog" I thank you for the opportunity to making me a "subjective example" LOL
Clear headings
-
12
-
13
-
14
-
15
-
16
of 16 Next