I have done recently having realised this, but for it to actually work you'll need literally everyone on the same wavelength. The vast majority of threads sink now because it's the same argument between him and another member - it's hard to ignore when the majority of posts on any one given thread are either him or quoting him.
I have only recently got into the whole internet forum thing, to be honest before I screwed my foot up and spent a while sat around at home, I didn't really realise they existed. I only post on here and a rock climbing forum (the cause of said buggered foot), but I read SaintsWeb and a couple of cycling forums as well. One of the 1st things I noticed on all these forums is that they all have their crazies, but the reason I chose to post on here and not SaintsWeb is let's face it, there's less of them! Even if you only occasionally read SaintsWeb I bet you could name 3 or 4 regular posters you would metaphorically cross the street to avoid if you could. The comparison with a pub is a good one, and I know there's a couple of people that make everyone groan when they enter my local, but they are tolerated, and i'm not sure the place would be the same without them. If you ever need an idea of how bad it could be, check out the Cyclingnews forums, 99% of the posts are aggressive and most are plain libellous, no views than that of the "hardened posters" are tolerated.
I tried to encourage everyone to ignore him, on the basis that if no one got into an argument with him then he wouldn't actually be that annoying. But as Dan says, it's impossible to get everyone on the same wavelength and there's always someone who bites. I'm done with tolerance, he's ruining this place.
I agree, but do you think people that post are actually like that in real life? Generally the more crazy they appear on the internet the more quiet and down to earth they are in the real World, most people trying to be themselves whilst on the internet are in fact in their real World, if you get my drift?
Dont agree at all with banning him. He wasn't rude to people (no more than people were to him), he didnt break any rules. He just had a strong opinion and was very stuborn about that. Yes he said the same thing on most threads well so do most people with the oposite opinions. It just seems that if someone is negative there viewed as a wum, or poor fan. What really ruined all those threads were people going 'Waaahhhhh i hate you your soo horible and negative waah wahh'. Either have a debate with him or just ignore him, then the threads would be fine. I think most people on here would love a forum where everyone had the same opinon and just agreed the whole time, I disagreed with gmi but he was alot more interesting than a lot of other posters.
The forum specific problem is that if someone you wish to ignore, for any of the reasons already stated posts so frequently and in turn, because of the nature of their posts, gets quoted repeatedly by other users, you have very few threads left that haven't simply descended into unfathomable slanging matches or a mundane repetition of baseless conspiracies. I believe that the forum itself is worse off for tolerating any poster of this nature, but that's just my opinion and I was interested in yours. EDIT And in the length of time it took me to post this, the point has already been made several times!
Exactly its a two way thing. If people either just ignored him or if they did reply were sensible and explained there point without getting angry then they could have a debate and most likely just agree to disagree. As for the thing about getting quoted does it really upset people soo much just to see a post by someone? That's a bit sad if people cant even bare to see a post from someone they dont like.
And if everyone in the world was totally selfless and altruistic, then anarchism would work. You have to be realistic though.
You clearly don't understand how GMI works. Disagreements happen on here regularly, obviously. He's only become active recently and the forum was going strongly before that. People have tried responding to him with reason, I have literally not seen it work once, and ignoring him only works if everyone does it, which isn't going to happen.
Yes okay but then your basically admitting that its his and others faults for the problems (and the posters above you). Hes the obvious target and yeh taking him away will probably solve the problem. But is it really fair? Why shouldn't the people who make stupid replies get banned there part of the problem. I think basically it all comes down to the fact that no one likes his opinon. There are a lot of positive people on here who have been stuborn in their beliefs and reiterated the same thing time and agian (fair enough thats not a bad thing). Because most people agree they dont get shouted down and so the threads dont descend into meaningless name calling. But it could be the other way round. I agree gmi could have been more tactfull but I think this decision basically sends the message that unless you agree with the majority you have to be carefull or you may get banned because people dont like your opinion. Having said that I know that gmi played his part and could have made it easier for himself but I still dont think it warranted a banning.
They are but he deliberately goads people into replying. When I told him I would no longer respond to him in one thread he just insulted me, no attempt to reason with my argument. It's difficult not to get drawn into a slanging match with him so it's harsh to blame people for responding.
Ok I hadn't seen that side to him and I agree people who insult people for no reason tread thin ice, most of what I had seen of him was provactive debate but not just plain wummery or insulting.
Couldn't be happier that he is banned. This forum has been great for the last couple of years, I have really enjoyed reading it. I have barely read it for the last month because every thread was ruined by GMI. I respect his right to an opinion, but he literally brought nothing positive to any thread that he posts in. He was on my ignore list for along time, but when every thread is about four pages of "post not visible - user is on ignore list" it ruins the forum. All of the threads today are already much better without him. If you have a differing opinion to someone, then you talk about it, that's the point of a forum. But when someone consistently acts like a child, instead of decent discussion it ruins the whole thing.
TBD - GMI never insulted anybody any more than others insulted him. He was a daft poster in some ways and a bit annoying but easily ignored if you really wished to, but imo he was no more insulting than a few of the others were to him. Anyway i am sure that Barry Sanchez as he was on the old 606 will resurface as something else - he has been around for ages on various Saints forums. I have always got the impression that he is a true Saints supporter - just a daft and pessimistic one !
Have you not noticed his resurrection as 'that double take in vegas' which as I have just noticed has been banned again.
No i hadnt - he is some boy ! Anyway enough of GMI for now - just about to leave to for the Hawthorns. COYR !
