The pervasive toxic negativity on here

It's getting beyond ridiculous, and is really spoiling the place.

Just to be clear, the whole point of a forum, since time immemorial, is a place to exchange and discuss different ideas in a constructive manner. But when certain people criticise every single thing the club does or doesn't do, without giving a moment's thought to the context of the situation, it gets extremely wearing.

A recent case in point is missing out on Michael Duff. We have no idea how close or otherwise we were to re-employing Duff. There were posters on here claiming we were "too slow" yet in the same post that we were "tinpot" for not offering him as much money as Huddersfield. Well hang on, it can't be both. We either didn't make a move in time, or (more likely) we spoke to him but couldn't match his financial demands. Personally, I'd have loved to see Duff back, but if we've got a budget and we're sticking to it, I don't think we can really criticise the club for that. The moaners seem to be very good at spending other people's money.

When it looked like Duff might be coming back, quite a few people pointed out, very reasonably, that Duff had a much better defence than we have now. Fair point. But certain posters who wanted Duff and gave the club pelters for failing to secure him are now up in arms that about a potential Stendel appointment because Stendel's promotion squad was so good that their gran could have coached it to promotion. Hang on, the same rules have to apply to everyone. Both Duff and Stendel would carry an equal level of risk, as they would both be working with objectively weaker squads than they had before.

It seems that certain people have such an agenda against the club that any option we miss out on would have guaranteed us promotion, whereas whoever eventually does get the job is the cheap option / 5th choice / a panic appointment (delete as applicable).

And as for some of the reactions to Hourihane potentially coming in as player-coach, they're mind-bogglingly stupid and narrow-minded. Yes, he's inexperienced as a coach but he'd be surrounded by people who've been coaching and managing for years. Nobody's going to put him in charge of the first team tomorrow. And even as a bit-part squad player, he'll be invaluable. Experienced, eager to teach those around him, a real winner. And ten times the player Herbie Kane will ever be. I just can't remotely find anything negative or even particularly risky in the appointment.

Yes, the Neill Collins sacking and subsequent Thalhammer saga were farcical in the extreme. Inexcusable incompetence, and something that the club was rightly questioned for. But claiming we're "slow and unambitious" compared with Mansfield because we didn't sign Lee fcking Gregory, for example? Some people need to give themselves a proper shake.

 

Entitled snowflakes who are old enough to know better. Or not.

 

Stop making sense man. It's something that we are not used to.

 

I've reverted to just dipping in and out throughout the summer because it gets draining.

You've got to try and disagree with the right person in order to get a reasoned debate going.

What epitomises the forum at the minute, is that the first 3 replies to a thread about Man City are all people slagging off our own club. It harps back to the days of Dr Z and Thereev turning threads about patio furniture into a Lee Johnson character assassination. It's boring.

 

Agree with you 100%, it's monotonous to read. Usually multiple threads telling us all how sh*t everything is and if anyone says anything positive they are a "happy clapper".

Has definitely impacted how much I visit and I rarely bother to post anymore.

 

It's also noticeable that a number of posters, the ones who's views tended to be level-headed and logical, have cut down on posting or stopped altogether. I know that some of them are still reading the BBS, because they appear now and again on the "likes" listings, but they're not participating very much in discussions.

I might even be one of them. Not that I'd describe myself as level-headed or logical, mind...

 

Alot of people on here prefer to wind people up then say its just banter instead of embracing people's opinions and information they share.
The forum has unfortunately gone down hill

 

110% this ^^^

 

I thought it was worse during the season to be honest.

As soon as we conceded we were rubbish, Collins Out, Shut Up Happy Clappers. The match day threads were almost silent for the times we then came from behind - which was a fair few times.

It got draining at times.

 

Use the ignore function. The forum is much better when you don't have to read the same tedious drivel.

 

A very brief flyby.

I've not looked at the bfc website or at the forum for a very long time and only checked to see reaction when Collins was sacked a couple of weeks back.

I didn't see a single minute of football under him so can't comment on what the team was like. I did see both play off games and was struck by how static we were in attack and how disorganised we were in defence. But anyway... that's an irrelevant aside.

As long as I can recall there has been a constant battle of negative versus positive here. That's the undercurrent of this forum. When things aren't good, the negative calls out those who wont see things aren't good, and when things are good, vice versa. You can skim through many posts (and many of us have been guilty of it to varying degrees down the years) and all you'll see are sly digs and trying to wind up opposing views to bite. It impinges on good general discussion and its from both sides. And it almost always ends up getting personal and/or you being placed in a camp that you don't want to align with. Matters should be judged as they arise. If its crap its crap. If its good its good. And they are opinions, just that. Opinions that can be borne out in time, or that can't be proven and are just an instinct. Whether right or wrong.

From the outside looking in, its a worrying time, irrespective of getting to the playoffs this year. The financial reliance on owners putting in huge amounts of money to plug gaps should be a concern to every fan. The annual recycling of coaches, players and administrators is extremely unhelpful... though i don't see how we can readily stop it.

But this sniping battle, well, its in the DNA and culture of this place. I don't see how that will change either. Unless we suffer absolute existential catastrophe that creates a unity through adversity, or we somehow find a path to success that creates unabated euphoria.

Hope everyone is ok and doing well by the way, regardless of the clubs position.

 

Just beat me to it

 

Well said, completely agree mate. Here, here.

 

How is your wife. I know you commented on her health before you stopped posting?

 

All good valid points it’s when they slag off who we might be getting then when asked who they want they have no opinion, another name surfaces the same people appear not wanting them.

 

She's ok, though she had 6 months where one of her chronic conditions absolutely floored her, but she's generally brighter now but life is very very different for us now. We'll always make the most of it because that's just how we're wired. The last 18 months though have just been horrible. Both her parents are now in a care home after we tried for about 6 months to care for them ourselves and we just couldn't do it. An emotional time for her in particular having to sell their family home and seeing £12k a month go out of their reserves. But i definitely don't want to get into politics at this point, or it will rival even my longest of posts.

Good to hear from you and thanks for asking.

 

That was one of my biggest bugbears. Calling for the manager / defenders / kitman to be sacked every time we conceded a goal. Because plenty of teams go for a whole season without going behind in matches. People seem genuinely oblivious to the fact that there's another team of players on the field, trying to do exactly the same thing as our lads.

 

Got to admit mate I have got tired of all the negativity. Most of it unconstructive. I get constructive criticism. And directors/ managers / players will know when things are going wrong.
None of us know what goes on behind the scenes. One or two maybe get hold of a leak and run with it. Journo's get it wrong more often than not speculating rather than fact. It keeps em in a job.
I've more or less given up coming on here after games as it is so toxic. Communications aren't the best in the world. But compared to some clubs it's far superior. Eg Newsbot announces summat on here, and more often than not criticism follows from the usual suspects. Glad i dont sit inside their heads. (Better the devil you do. Better the devil you don't, springs to mind.)
That's not to say I'm a happy Clapper. Anyone who attends meetings and know me. I offer up my views. but I hope in a constructive manner. And allus give credit and criticism where it's due. Championing the fans issues In most cases.
Whereas there are keyboard warriors that wouldn't dare attend meetings and say things they post. 1 or 2 nobheads maybe. Eg "whos so and so shagging to get in the team." Aye o'reight. Just embarrassing to witness. Not funny in the least.

 

The negativity this season has been bizarre.

I’ve seen us score last minute winners & come out of the ground buzzing to come on here & read how terrible we are.

It never made sense to me because this was a huge season for us with losing so many key players. We needed to be united & behind the side to try & help get promotion.

With a rebuild on little money it’s going to get a lot tougher. I just hope whether it’s Stendel or someone else that the fans give up with the negativity & get behind the lads.