Just thought I'd get some feedback on this. We are not teenagers on here and should be able to discuss current topics of this sort without falling out, hurling insults, or generally trying to put people down. Unfortunately our forum is not so very active that we can afford to bin 2 threads which, between them, had attracted over 16,000 replies without leaving a bit of a void afterwards - particularly over the summer period when things get quieter anyway. If we are to have political threads, or other controversial ones, then we need a code of practice which we can all stick to, without exception. Can we establish such a 'code' ? The forum needs to be a pleasant place to be - but if the result is that we have to stick to uncontroversial themes the whole time, then it could get very boring very quickly. Either we need a broad spread of threads which appeal to all tastes, or we need to establish a set of rules of respectfull interaction between us. Can we compile such a list ?
My experience over the last few years makes me come to the firm conclusion that any code will be undoubtedly be skewed towards the views of the controlling clique. A broad spread of views has not been welcome on the political threads in the past, I very much doubt anything will change.
I think that if you took the trouble to get to know us as individuals you would realize that we are all very different. For a clique to exist there would need to be some planning behind it, which there isn't. All we need are a set of rules which all take notice of - you are as welcome to contribute to that as anyone else is.
Those two threads lost loads of decent posters from different sides of the spectrum. There's political threads all over the forum so posters can go there. I would prefer they're never resurrected on here.
If we go down that road again, clear code of conduct at the beginning of the thread and if you break it your post is pulled no discussion.. Is the only way to proceed IMO.. However I am very wary as clearly all posters have to buy into it.. And there is no evidence of that at all currently.. I would add that there has been much more posting on the other threads in the past few days and more goodwill. We are a small group, let's not further damage what we have...
Maybe those who want that sort of discussion can go to such threads? I am not sure which ones you mean though?
I know that there are some political threads on other clubs forums Dan - we both use the QPR forum from time to time. On their forum they have many more posters than we do and trouble makers tend to get lost in the crowd, which isn't the case with us. The problem is that those 2 threads drew a great deal of response (16,000 posts in all - and they weren't all from 2-3 posters, and the majority weren't abusive) - so there was interest in them. There is no football at the moment and so we are left with a void - so anyone who has an idea for a new thread (whatever the subject) should just try it and see what happens.
Premier league forum, horse racing forum, other clubs (QPR one is excellent) but I get it's not ideal.
Your definition of 'trouble makers' clearly proves my point. Anybody that posts an alternative view to the narrow spectrum sanctioned by the clique is simply not tolerated. That is why we have found it impossible to greatly expand on the number of participants. Recently a casual visitor stated he felt 'unwelcome' due to the animosity he received when he posted views supporting Brexit or even daring to admit he was a Tory!!! The political forums had been hijacked by an influential few.
He was not a casual visitor - turned up to pick a fight with Toby and then decided he didn't like the fact we all voted remain Your attempts to play the martyr are truly pathetic btw.
I love this nonsense about cliques - makes those who keep using it sound like insecure teenagers. Sweet
You're a fine one to talk. It's good for you that there's not many pro Brexit posters on here because when there are you get chronic indigestion.
I can see that this thread is going the same way as all others SH. which is a great pity - unfortunately you are prepared to point the finger in all directions other than your own. You know well enough that the definition of 'trouble maker' does not refer to a persons political opinions but rather to their ways of expressing them. If you concentrated your time on simply expressing opinion, rather than insulting and belittling others then we would not have come to the stage of having to close threads. I admit that I, and others, have answered insult with insult, which maybe was a mistake because you appear to relish this type of discord. Having seen that my overtures, and attempts to find a standard which we can all agree upon have fallen on deaf ears then I give up. In my opinion closing threads which have produced so much worthwhile quality debate in the past simply because one poster cannot behave himself in a civilized manner is a great shame - a bit like closing a pub because of one customer - but so be it.
A completely ridicules post which highlights the lack of acceptance to alternative views. You conveniently forget the other posters which you and the rest of the clique have driven away by your intolerance. You are not seeking to debate but simply to construct an anti Brexit, anti Tory platform.
Your definition of a clique appears to be as follows - you insult or belittle enough people and then, when they react, they appear to be a clique ! Yorkie is absolutely correct in his last post - a pub would ban the one customer, not close down the whole shop. Present your alternative views - read the answers to them and try to counteract them with debate and you will be amazed at how open we are on here.
