Iâve just had a notification that Iâve been registered on this forum for a year and from a quick scan down the notification so have Col and Flanman. I, like many at that time, was dragged over here from the BBC 606 site by the now departed, but never forgotten, Northolt. Well, what a year it has been. QPR, under Neil Warnock, were powering towards promotion with only the FA capable of stopping us, the Faurlin affair had just broken. History shows that promotion was eventually won both on the pitch and secured off it. We then had the long summer of uncertainty, the initial tranche of free transfers, the eventually take over by Tony Fernandes and the return of Amit Bhatia, the panic buys with the impending shutting of the transfer window and the long awaited departure of Paladini. The euphoria that greeted the home victory over Chelsea slowly dissipated as the team slowly slipped down the table resulting in the sad but inevitable departure of Neil Warnock, the man responsible for our return to the big time. Mark Hughes arrived and made significant signings in the January transfer window, but we are still awaiting an improvement in results. Well, we all know that history and have no control over those events, but what about this forum, how it has developed and how we control this. A year ago, as we were all finding our feet, the forum was quieter than it is now. Northolt kept us fed with updates from other elsewhere on the net (a function now provided by Norway, Nines and many others), the rest of us chipped in with opinion and speculation. Brixtonâs well thought out opinions and level headed common sense saw him become everyoneâs favourite poster and was a âshoe-inâ when Mango was stood down as a mod. As QPRâs season started to be wracked with disharmony, so was this forum. This was probably inevitable as all we had experienced previously as a âfamilyâ was success on the field and had all stood defiantly together against the FA and then the Goons. In-fighting broke out and the posts became more insulting. Throughout these processes new posters were arriving all the time and were rightly challenging the âauthorityâ of the incumbent posters. With the on-field results getting more disappointing, the disagreements on this forum increased and well reasoned arguments were replaced by plain, old fashioned insults. It became very noticeable that the original posters were becoming quieter and, much like QPR with the influx of mercenaries, the soul of the forum was in danger of being lost. I think both club and forum are at a crossroad, both are losing their soul. New is not bad, it is in fact essential, but the new has to appreciate the history and style of what they are joining. Just as QPR is not Chelsea, this forum is not the Rangers Boys. On this forum we embrace a variety of views, we do not dismiss them out of hand, and when we do disagree with someone we do so with a well reasoned argument not an insult. I still believe that this is the best forum on the internet, but am rapidly losing patience with it. If this forum continues to show a complete lack of respect for other peopleâs opinions and if posters continue using it as a replacement for twitter with posts stating that they are just off for breakfast, it will do so without me. Iâve enjoyed my year here, and hope that Col, Flanman and other have too. I hope to enjoy many more too. I formed some good bonds with other like minded people, some formed more through constant disagreement rather than through shared opinions, but still respect. Should this forum continue down its current path I donât see that happening. Some of you may care about this, some of you will not, but I donât think Iâm alone in these views. Is it too late for not606?
Roller I agree with some of your points, but you speak as if it is the forums fault and not posters? I don't think we want any more to leave, im fairly positive and when I see a ton of negative threads like there are after matchdays () it annoys me so I tend to just post elsewhere The QPR forum is one of the biggest on the site so you can expect disagreements and insults
He doesn't mean any disrespect. Wubba just likes sharing his dining experiences On a serious note, that's a good read you slapped up there Roller, as ever. I would certainly prefer if you hung around as you are a stalwart of the Site. Happy anniversary me old chum!
Well stated Roller! I also fell the same way as you. i also have been here for over a year and at times thought of leaving, but got over that felling! I do think our forum is getting too political and PC. Lets face it this is for US to to have a friendly chat between football fans of any club is it not? Hay , Ho ! off we go to see off Liverpool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! well we can all dream! night to you all. James the one. Portugal! Well you have got Swords on your side so that is a good thing is it not?
Sorry Swords, wrong! I left before he did that, and as you know he was wrong as I think he had been got at by the riff-raff! But dose that matter now? that was then, this is now! By the way, Swords what are you doing up so late? trying your luck again????????????????? he he!
I stand corrected. Me trying my luck? An X-Rated Website is the best I get these days and even that has its risks; The viruses busted my last two Computers! Gone are the days you only picked up viruses for actually doing it, now you can get them from looking at it!!
Yeah, cheers Roller. Happy Register Day! I too was one of the throng that answered Northolt's call to do a bunk from 606 that day. It was a bit cold and empty at first but it's like he got the fire going. It's been burning nicely ever since albeit refuelled with new logs along the way. We're probably the charcoaled embers at the bottom, long lasting but not as dramatic as the flames on top! I reckon it'll keep going for a good while yet with people coming and going all the time. Find myself more of an audience these days. Read a lot more than I write... particularly the quality posters (they know who they are!). Always interesting to see what newbies are coming with... much of it repeats of what we'd done previously but some new stuff worth commenting on. Nothing wrong with a bit of positive discrimination!
I jhave the unenviable position of being able to read this site or post only on weekends so I miss a lot here and I lurk a lot more than I post, but that said, this was one of the best posts I have read here and echoes a lot of what I've been feeling lately though I lack the ablitiy to put it in as eloquent words Will look forward to continuing to read these posts and occasionally make my own modest contributions - probably Wednesday (I have occasional access to computers other than my emploayer's on Wednesdays. My empoyer blocks not 606 in its entirety so i need access offsite and my limited social life in Toronto provides mostly on Wednesdays) COYRs
Having been one of the first of the 606ers to join 14 months ago, when this site was very quiet, and then seen it take off when 606 finally closed I have to say it is still the best football forum to be part of. Yes, there will be periods of transition, when some posters leave, for whatever reason, but new posters join and contribute and the forum evolves in it's own way. It's never going to remain the same and perhaps that is a good thing as the best thing about this forum is it's diversity of characters and the quirkiness they bring to it. Compare it to 606 and I'd take Not606 any day, the Beeb and it's ridiculous 'house rules' was a the proverbial 'sledgehammer to crack a nut' and constant pain in the arse to put up with. Our forum is much more relaxed in style and all the better for it, a bit like an 'internet pub' where you can drop in for a chat or banter as and when you like. It also provides lots of info for true supporters to keep you feeling involved. I also think the comments of some posters are part of their character and help make this forum the type of place it is, if someone is off to lunch and says so its not a crime is it? Equally, there were some comments last night on the Muamba thread that were perfectly valid but not appropriate to such a thread, but it's a small price to pay for having such an open forum and long may it continue...
I look forward to Rollers posts Happy Birthday Understand it's gets gritty on here as we are all plugged into a QPR family A full range of opinions always healthy
To respond to a few of your comments... Sid, I am using the word forum as the collective noun for the posters on this site, it is incorrect English, sorry for any confusion. I welcome the disagreements, it would be dull without them, I baulk at the comments when there is no level of respect for a someone with a different opinion. Wubba, I wasnât referring to your lunchtime experiences which I enjoy as much as anyone on here. It is the more mundane nonsense, of which âIâm off for breakfastâ is just an example, from those that use this site as if it was twitter that leaves me cold. James, I donât agree that this site is too politically correct, there have to be boundaries which everyone respects and Iâm glad that you have toned down some of your views. Maple, thank you. The âeloquenceâ as you so kindly put it comes through effort rather than ability. I believe that anyone can improve their writing if they try. Sooperhoop, hard to disagree with anything you say, maybe Iâm just looking for too much, but a manâs reach should exceed his grasp. Yes this forum is better than the old 606, but I fear it is going downhill. I donât want to stand by and watch that happen as it has been a big part of my life over the last year, as it has to many others out there. However Iâm not so stuck up my own arse that I actually think anything will change because of what I say.
Good post. I think that like anything in life, the forum is organic and will change according to those who contribute. I also came over from the old BBC 606 site but was waiting to see which forum was going to be the leading one before registering. If I remember correctly there were a load of start up forums that quickly faded away. The only thing that's ever browned me off was the introduction of adverts - soon fixed up by registering. I never have any expectations of what this forum should be, or try to be. I just enjoy hopping in, reading some great views and posting where I feel I have something to contribute. As for the Muamba thread last night, I think that there's some really good comments there. I learnt something about Agonal Gasps last night from Nines; and Imaz and Frank Jesus made some great points, albeit that some might find these inappropriate. I think the variety of thoughts here are refreshing.
