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
I lurked here for quite a while before i started posting. Some blogs are stand alone reading material (eg you, Daz) but most need the comments to be worthwhile. Folks opening the blogs are reading the comments. If replies to blogs were removed the site evaporates. The clicks on blog engagement absolutely relies on the comments...they are entwined
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.
I'm of the view that, whilst this forum has always had it's fair share of argy bargey, it has in recent times become quite toxic and has led to the departure of several well respected members whose contributions added positively to discussion around our footy team.
My wife and I were discussing a similar topic this evening and we arrived at the view that COVID really messed things up. We now live in a world where we require immediate reassurance and remedy when confronted with adverse circumstances, and if we're unable to apply that salve, must find a scapegoat to blame. This, in contrast to the mindset during previous pandemics and World Wars, where folks may have been of the mind that "life happens" and took a more stoic approach. I think this is a reason why conspiracy theories have become so rampant in recent times and those conspiracy theories have certainly found a home on this forum.
I'm also of the view that this forum is no longer a tent of competing ideas and is instead an echo chamber for the knucle draggers that you typically find in the comments section of any right wing publication - i.e. the Murdoch press. Shit, I'm a subscriber to Code Sports and just today, the comments section was screaming that Pat Cummins and Usman Khwaja should be dropped from the Australian cricket set up for no reason other than their political ideation.
I see similar Neanderthal tendencies on this forum, which has become the most inelegant example of the Dunning-Kruger effect I've experienced on social media. We've lost some seriously good people - and it's no surprise there's only a handful of women that contribute to our forum because it's become an entirely unsafe environment. We should be collectively ashamed of that.
I'm no angel - and acknowledge I've had a crack at folks on here from time to time. I've been trying to self improve over the last few years. And, when we lose footy games, I don't think it unreasonable for folks to get on here and express themselves as demonstrably as they see fit.
I say to my clients all the time - if you wouldn't want something you say to be published in the newspaper or shown on television, that's a good yardstick when deciding whether or not you should say it at all. There's never been anything I've said on this forum that I wouldn't say to someone's face - and, to name just one name, Frank the Tank and I have gone at it from time to time, but I'd trip over myself to have a beer with him, even though we probably would walk away, after a handshake, not necessarily agreeing with each other.
This forum is our space - and it's our responsibility to craft it in a manner for which we can be proud. As it stands, we're below par and HOE rightfully calls us out on it.
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.
Great post Bourbon. When confronted with extremist veiws IRL my pushback is not unlike my comments, but I keep forgetting how much Covid had to do with our current situation. Really good post
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.
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