I know this will probably sound stupid

(what's new says Mrs F!) but have I got this right or has my 'satire' filter gone awry?

Lots of postings on the BBS seem to suggest, either directly or indirectly, a 'big brother' approach by Barnsley FC, or more to the point by certain personnel/employees at BFC. There is also the feeling that not all is well between some BBS posters and said BFC personnel/employees, or vice versa as the case may be. But they are only suggestions/hints/veiled messages, nothing of any 'concrete' substance.

My deduction is that the BBS is being 'monitored' by the club/personnel/employees and that some BBS'ers are being 'taken to task' by said club/personnel/employees. Tis only my simple mind making this connection and I may well be wrong, but could somebody, either from the BBS, or the Football Club, come clean about exactly what is going on? Or is that too much to ask?

 

That seems to be part of the problem

"no one wants to say much". How can that be? This is a BBS with its main interest being a football club. Is there some form of unofficial censorship taking place? And, unless there is some form of legal action pending (is there?) then why can't someone just come clean about what is happening?

 

RE: That seems to be part of the problem

Well said.
I guess this just confirms what I've been thinking. Looks like we are in big sh#t if we have people running the club who would do this kind of thing.
I say expose the gits and just take the consequences. If that means this forum shutting down, then so be it. There is absolutely no point it continuing if the club is exerting influence on the running of the board and what is said on it. I'll suppport any stance site admin want to take (and fight alongside Windy for our freedom of expression).

 

I would imagine

There's a fair bit more at stake than just the closure of an internet forum.

 

P.S.

To tie this with the other thread about suggestions made on this board: I agree wholeheartedly with the club not taking any notice of suggestions made on here. I've always thought it entirely ridiculous that the club should be talking to representatives of this board. Anyone at the club can read what's on here if they want and take on board any suggestions that seem good - we don't need to be "in" with the club's hierarchy. As I've said before, I thought this had all been put to bed after problems with this sort of thing ages ago.
If people want to get organised and make a contribution then they should do it via the supporters' trust. I would, except I can't take them seriously when their advertising poster has elementary grammatical errors on it!

 

RE: I would imagine

I actually doubt that very much. We are talking about childish power games as far as I can see. Unless I've missed something very libelous that wasn't removed.

 

I wouldn't like to see this Forum close

and have enjoyed reading and sometimes contributing, to this and previous boards for a few years now. There is some drivel posted (we're all guilty of that at times) but there has been some absolutely first class posts on a whole range of topics that far, far outweigh the cr*p. I have laughed out loud, had tears in my eyes, felt proud and humbled by many messages from some exceptional contributors to this Forum. I find it sad in the extreme that, however it has arisen, the BBS is struggling to maintain its 'integrity' exclusive of any outside interference.

If there is undue influence being exerted on the forum administrators and contributors then exactly what is the problem? If it means that 'reasonable' free speech/expression is no longer to be allowed what are 'we' to do?

It just doesn't feel right at all.

 

libel

What exactly is that? Just a concept. For instance, you could say anything at all about me on here and I couldn't do a single thing about it. Well, I could threaten to hit you, but I have neither the desire nor the ability. Not that you could say anything that would particularly bother me and I doubt you'd want to get so nasty that it would have a chance of doing so, but suppose you did. Could I sue you for libel? Could I buggery, I haven't got the money. Taking someone to court is a rich man's sport. So if I was stinking rich I could threaten to sue you over just about anything. There are no laws to stop people from suing. You can take anyone you like to court; you've just got to pay for the privilege. Trouble is, the people defending themselves have to pay for that defence and that's where it gets tricky. Do you spend thousands defending yourself or just apologise and keep quiet?

None of that applies to me like, as I have absolutely nothing to lose. Doesn't mean I'll start having a pop at people, but it does mean I'll defend my opinion.

 

Let's not get too despondent

I'm in a bad mood cos my darts pub team lost again in the league this evening (we wos robbed).
I'm sure that it is all just a matter of people under pressure behaving irrationally (that was supposed to sound encouraging!!)

 

Interesting

cos in my original post I was going to use the word 'bullied', but thought it may be too strong so changed it to 'taken to task'. If the picture you paint is accurate then 'bullied' could be more appropriate.

How very, very sad.

 

I'm not suggesting that is happening here

Just that taking people to court is not an option open to the majority of us and defending court proceedings against us isn't really an option either.

bright red suggested fighting the good fight and I think most of us would want to fight for freedom of speech, but when it comes down to it very few of us are able to do that.

 

RE: libel

Well, I could sue for libel if my reputation was at stake and get support from my union. That would probably lead to an out-of-court settlement if I had an obvious case. I can't see that happening on here mind but if you don't think that that is likely then what else is at stake? Are you implying more threats of violence as "Foreigner" says?

 

Que sera sera

and although I am 'unhappy' about the way matters seem to be heading (with respect to the BBS), I am not about to become too despondent. Just a little confused (probably mi age) about it all.

 

RE: Que sera sera

With that I'll go and dream of "pillow talk" with Doris Day!

 

I'm certainly not suggesting threats of violence

And definitely not from anyone at BFC. I'm not even suggesting court proceedings for libel, but if censorship is taking place then that is the obvious progression for the censors. What I am suggesting is that if it came to that then the site admin of this BBS would not have sufficient funds to defend themselves. It's easy for us to say let's get this all out in the open (whatever ‘this’ is), but what if there were repercussions? The fate of this BBS may be the least of site admin’s worries.

 

Hee hee

just done a quick 'google' and would you believe it, but the Doris Day BBS is called "Pillow Talk Forum".

If I went off to 'pillow talk' with Doris, it'd probably be Doris Stokes that replied. "Is there anybody there ....."

 

Yes, you're right.

That's pretty much what's going down.

Can't see it happening but if this forum did close another would take its place and another after that. I have a domain paid for and waiting and I dare say I'm not the only one. I've no desire to be on the admin team but it's there if needed for someone to run.

They'll never stop us voicing our opinions, there's more than one way of saying everything. They don't hold the cards. We do.

Funny thing is up until all this shabby business I didn't have a bad word to say about Cryne and Shepherd. Well done fellas, you've made a militant out of an advocate and I doubt I'm the only one.




.

 

And no doubt you are right too.

in that the BBS would resurrect in some shape or form should the unthinkable happen. But that again comes back to some of the points I was trying to make earlier, in that it is a bit like treating the sympton but not the cause. And that may be partly due to the fact that 'we' don't know what the real cause is.

Exactly what is going off? Lots of hints, veiled messages, but nothing that actually pinpoints what is happening. It's almost as if there is a 'fear' pervading this board. Perhaps that is what was intended.

 

RE: Nothing to fear

Can't see why this BB should be a problem for the club.
Unless some posters are telling Porky Pies. The club does have legal redress in the Courts if anyone is liabled. That is much more effective than closing down a site because of one racist bigots comments.

My number one concern is the the lack of coaches at the club and their level of qualification. As a grassroots FA Coach myself I don't know how we have kept Academy status. The club has not as far as I know stated the level of Qualification our Academy coaches hold. The FA are quite strict on the qualification held at grassroots level and more so in the Academies. I would feel reasured if the Club would tell us the Qualifications our Academy coaches hold. I don't want to know which individual holds what, only that we have someone in there who does hold the relevant qualifications. No one from the club as ever come on here and challenged my comments. I wonder why! Why aren't the Academy coaches posting on here to state their position?