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
Well it's been tested and that's exactly why it died. Imagine if advertising only reached people who'd already brought the product. Do you know why people discuss politics ? Why don't you make the whole site in the cave ?
Because we’re a footy site, Mark. One-Eyed Eel.
Again, I genuinely enjoy the discussions, but the reality is most don’t. If you don’t want to take part because the other 5,000 members aren’t exposed to what you’re saying, that’s fair enough. It just isn’t for you. There are plenty of religious and political sites dedicated to that.
Personally, I’d still participate even if it were a group of 12, as long as there were genuinely varied perspectives. An echo chamber where everyone agrees with each other is pretty dull.
Think of it like this: imagine a town crier standing near your house every day with a megaphone, preaching “end of the world” stuff, singing rainbow songs, talking about a woke revolution and “time to take a stand" and save the world. You’re sick of hearing it, so are your neighbors, but his group insists it’s important and that you should have to listen. What would you do?
Yes, something like this has been tried before and it failed. But what was its purpose back then? It wasn’t designed to cater for all non-footy discussions, especially current affairs that could otherwise sit on the main site. I’m not claiming this will work. I’m saying the intent is different this time, and it’s worth giving it a go. If it fails, it fails. And then a decision can be made from there.
Mark, if it's just my personal bubble, I want them all discussed, preferably respectfully.
But it's about putting the needs of the many above the needs of the few, especially if it's an ego thing where the few need everyone to be looking at us.
For me, I'd still participate, even if it's a small group. Atm there are 100 members. Hopefully, some more will join up. We'll see. Maybe provide some UN figures with ABC/Guardian quotes...lol
Do it then, why even ask when the minds made up. Been here long enough to know footy threads sit idle for days even weeks during the offseason. You keep saying it's egositical driven why people don't use the cave to talk politics. Sounds like you're just trying to discredit one side of the arguments opinions with your opinion as to why they object to the concept.
Its purpose was exactly the same as what you're trying to do now. Appease people who can't manage to not click on threads they don't like. I think it's pretty safe to say that the adults know the political shit stays in the offseason unless there's an election or a unplanned event .
"Because we’re a footy site, Mark. One-Eyed Eel"
out of genuine curiosity can you go and find the sites 5 most popular ever threads with most replies ?
Mark, I can't filter the blogs by replies, but in terms of views & clicks 96% of the top 100 are all footy related usually R&R.
Finch incoherent on a talk show was no.1 (12,000 plus record views). So footy player dramas are top dog things like signing news, losses and rumours.
The top 37 are all footy related in some form or another.
The highest ranked non-footy blog came in around no.37-38 about some big 3m flatty being caught in the Parramatta River (1 reply). There were three others in the top 100: Folau (588 replies), Eels jokes (13 replies), and Dennis Prittard (15 replies).
It's a quick sweep to get an overall feel.
In your opinion what do you think the majority of members want?
It's hard to say politics is a no go zone, just about everything in life reverts back to politics somehow.
So if we ban political and religious discussions does that mean that sex, gay, soccer, union, cricket, LGBTQ, fishing, and illegal substance topics and camel 🐪 topics are still ok
Haaha, Cumberland Eel. Looking for loopholes and specifics. Smart. Basically, all non-footy discussions might end up in The Cave. But, if you want to add a blog on lawn bowls, cheese rolling, volcano surfing or a camel story, I doubt you'll get in trouble. It might end up in the cave if it involves Charlotte and Wilbur in the barn.
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