What a Christmas and New Year eh? Northolt PM'd me to say he'd left on 23rd. Spent the whole holiday monitoring posts and contacting him with various attempts to get him back - all to no avail. Then on the one night I get to take a bit of time off, it all kicks off in three cross-board threads with the Norwich board. Oh great! Hardly moderate were they? Odd relationship we've developed with the Canaries isn't it? One minute, it's all best wishes and stuff - and the next we're all ****ing each other off big time. Didn't make for very interesting reading any of those threads. Just people getting it off their chests I suppose. The oddest thing is that Norwich fans seemed as pissed off as we are. Have to agree with one of them who suggested much of our outrage had more to do with the **** run we're on and our increasingly precarious position, than the Barton / Johnson thing itself. If they know that, what was the point of all that drivvel? Neither side were likely to convince the other with loyalist viewpoints were we/they? Anyway, I'll be closing our two cross-threads as soon as I've finished this. Their mod Canary Dave can do what he likes about their one, as mods don't have the powers to delete threads originating on other boards. As for my poor performance as moderator, I do apologise. Points have been made about it not being the same without Northolt. I know that and so does he and the rest of you. Northolt is an extremely hard act to follow. Wasn't just a mod was he? Problem is he's showing absolutely no interest in coming back whatsoever. Question is, is what do we want to do about this board now? Well, until everything fizzles out, there's clearly a need to do what we can to keep things going. As far as moderating is concerned and in order to limit the kinds of farce that happened yesterday, I have selected a replacement who has agreed to help out - BUT we're not willing to formalise the appointment until Northolt's had a bit more time to think things over (not that he's asked for it). Yesterday's ructions simply underline the need for this to happen sooner rather than later, which is unfortunate for all of us. As for the one-stop news reports and similar, we're going to have to find others to find and post these for us. Any volunteers?
No need to apologise, Brix. You've basically been shat upon from a great height by the looks of things, what with the situation with Northolt, the problems with not getting any results, the crazy decisions in the game and the reactions to them, and our anger at the world in general. None of which is your fault, and you shouldn't shoulder any of the responsibility. I know from other boards I'm moderator on that it's a thankless task, and you either get ignored or get a kicking, often both, simply for doing the unpaid job you were mad enough to accept. Keep up the good work, mate - it's good to have you in charge, whether Northolt comes back or not. WLW
Iâd just like to echo what Willy said really. No need to apologise at all mate. Itâs been a pretty horrendous few weeks both for the Rs and for this board, and throughout youâve been nothing but the level-headed and thoroughly reasonable gent that you plainly are. Donât think for a minute that your contribution to this site has gone unnoticed, because it hasnât. I think that itâs the right thing to try and hold the door open for Northy as long as possible, but I think that in our hearts most of us know that that just ainât going to happen. Northy never came across as the kind of guy whoâd leave just for the attention it would get, or the kind of guy to change his mind on something once it was set. Anyway, thanks again Brix. I guess itâs up to all of us to keep this board going and to try to live up to what it has been in the past.
For my pennyworth. I agree, it is a thankless task.... Thank you for doing it, and please hang on in there
Brix, totally with WLW on this. Never apologise for not being around - this is not a 24 hour a day job, and the amount of energy Northolt used to put in ( though greatly appreciated) used to scare me - when did he have time for a life?! Though it is impossible to expect decent behaviour 100% of the time from a bunch of footie supporters, most of us seem pretty decent, and should not need hand holding/policing all the time. Keep the light touch going and look after your sanity! Yesterday was a very good day to take off........
TBH Brix, much as Northolt was an avid contributor I find yours to be the more measured point of view so I am delighted you are still modding. I can't see why it is a problem if a dodgy strand sits around for a while - we can always ignore it. What to do about the board? Nothing except for everyone to keep up the excellent level of contribution. With Notholt out of the picture I suspect others will come forward with news feeds etc. Cheers mate and keep up the good work!
HI Brix, WTF i turn my back for a week or so and miss everything. It seems my pre Christmas thanks to you and Northolt for being arsed with moderating was a little ill timed - Northolt stopped using the site a few hours later... I have no idea what has gone on - but clearly Northolt is pissed off which is a shame, i liked reading his stuff and appreciated the time he put in. I hope one day he can come back on and be a regular poster even if he no longer wants to be a mod. As for your apologies - i can't see why you need to, i dont see a big queue of users wanting to spend their time mointoring the board so any time you spend doing it would seem a bonus to us all. It did make me think though maybe it is time for a review of what the QPR not606 members want from their mods... Cyprussyd is fairly relaxed with the overall mod rules - 'We try to keep rules to the minimum but racism, threats, constant wuming and a basic disrespect for fellow members are the things we ask you to be aware of. MODERATION The best form of moderation is self moderation and we hope all members will feel free to debate, discuss and comment freely but will always respect the views and opinions of others. 2 tools we reccomend are the swear filter and ignore facility.' Our board rules seem to have been set with higher standards - The basic standards say that each board should agree a set of basic standards with its members - i don't remember seeing or contributing to this... Maybe we should have this discussion again - it might save you a lot of unnecessary modding if we have the debate again now. Also if we have rules that are different to other boards, then cross board threads are just a recipe for disaster. All the inbred/extra finger/toes jibes aimed at Norwich, and the cockney **** thrown back just replaces the sheep shagging **** with Swansea from last year, personally i find it quite boring, basically reading two people type insults at each other is really uninteresting especially when they choose to use the same old boring cliches, however i'm not sure you need to be wasting your time worrying about moderating it, if people want to spend what precious time they have on this planet typing insults at each other on a football forum i say let them. I won't be reading it and unless the line is crossed and the law is broken I couldn't really give a ****. I equally have no time for the growing number of people who just can't wait to be offended by something. These people shouldn't be allowed to use the internet. My favourite 606 moment from last year was Northolts 'two girls descending the stairs' and the apparent outrage this caused to some ****er in Iceland! Happy New Year to all, including the Norwich and Swansea WUMS.
Just a point, if you want a second mod I will uograde him, that does not stop northolt coming back if he wants to, many boards have 3 mods to share the load. Like I say, just a thought.
You're not a paid employee Brix so don't worry about it, no need to apologise. You and Northolt have nothing but my admiration for taking on such roles, and as yesterday proved, the tribal instincts of what can seem chirpy (no pun intended) and pleasant banter soon turns ugly when one side sees themselves as victims of an injustice. We got the short-straw yesterday and it brought the worst out of both sides. Whilst it was not my cup of tea I believe such threads should be allowed to develop and come to their natural end on the day rather than intervene and possibly spawn more name-calling, bad-mouthing etc. This is a forum for expressing views and, unless they are racist or as sick as some of the items in 'General Chat' we should 'live and let live'. I hope Northolt may reconsider his position but, if he doesn't, that we find another level-headed individual to help you out as a board this busy needs two or possibly three moderators to cover the bulk of the day.
Thanks very much for your support guys. As Willy says, probably not the best time to have replaced an ever present leader type. However, being **** upon from great heights is part and parcel of me day job. Usually handle it with aplomb - thick skin, thicker head and a pretty curtsey at the end(!) - in other words, no big deal. In response to Cannock's suggestions about rules and boundaries, you can access our agreed house rules by clicking on my signature. (Ironically the basis for these were adapted to our needs from Thai's efforts on the Norwich board!) Whilst I try to do most moderating in my posted replies to members getting a bit close to the line, if there is anything in our rules you think needs amending, please PM me and we'll discuss it. Cheers.
I'd be tempted to say only have cross threads for upcoming matches - and then only the one. If that turns nasty then close it. I don't expect mods to have to work 24/7 dealing with childish insults, and this is one way of reducing the potential for that.
Well put Brix, def nothing to apologise for IMO. How two set of fans with such different take on reality honestly think they can convince one another of the opposite is beyond me. Those threads never ends so might as well close them. Good post Cannock, but i can't see a need for a debate re house rules as we normaly behave very well on our board.
By the way, i got some spare time on my hands so i'll try and post as many news threads "Northolt style" as i can if it's welcomed.
Brix - i don't want to make an issue of something that is not an issue for anyone else but just to be clear what point i was making, i know where the house rules are, my point was these were not discussed and agreed by QPR members to my knowledge - they were introduced a few months in and as you say are basically a version of the Norwich board rules (ironic as you point out) and they contain the following point General (non-personalised) banter is fine but ‘wumming’ and/or trading insults is not. This has the potential for quite literally hours of modding and all i'm saying is other boards have different rules, it might be worth a review between the QPR members to establish if all the rules are really necessary or can we as adults cope with a little bit more self moderation? - it might lighten your potential work load. If you are happy to mod on the basis of the rules and the members are happy with the rules then there is no point to my ramblings and i will shut up and go away.
Hi Brix. No need to apologies for anything mate. Any time you can spare doing what you're doing is greatly appreciated. I probably should apologise about some of my posting since the Norwich game. They've always wound me up and, as you say, probably more out of frustration with our current form/situation, I let rip!! Mind you, I don't indulge in personal insults like in-breeding etc....not my style!
Brix no need to apologise chap, it's a thankless task and you manage to remain unbiased and even handed which I'm sure many of us couldn't do. I think yesterday was more a general reaction to our disappointing form of late coupled with intense fustration and the Johnson / Barton incident conveniently came along at he right time. I would suggest that we need another mod here at not606qpr sooner rather than later as its a voluntary post and you can't cover everything. I genuinely hope northy comes back in some form or another but in the meantime let's move on and keep this place as busy and fun as it has been up til now. Keep up the good work Brix and I'm sure we will all support you and continue to provide one of the better forums for all things hooped. It's as encumbant upon us all to keep this board thriving
