Gino 1959 wrote:Because some things need said.
But you're not really saying anything of note, I think we all get it that you dislike 64, and have the rest of us down as adorning fans who see him as the messiah but lets face it a fair few posters on here now, haven't a clue who you are, other than the bloke that comes on from time to time to stir the pot, let alone what your gripe is, perhaps it's time to say what you want without the cryptic posts or leave it alone.
You seem to yearn for a time on here when you say was a better time and other than Silky and Riot no one else really crossed the line, well that's not true, you yourself reported 3 posters to me for racist posting, 1 was banned (Silky) the other 2 had warnings, so that's now 4 posters, another poster was issued a warning for constant racist posts,(i'll go into more detail later) that's 5, another 2 posters were warned about constant abuse, 1 apologised and carried on as normal, the other posted another abusive post in their very next post and was banned, then had their sons membership banned for using that, this was after they posted some very personal things about Twiggs on here, causing him some great embarrassment, that's now 6, they are the one's off the top of my head, it was a busy time to be a mod on here, however the worst one was when we had one poster who had sort legal advice on a comment made by another and was going to sue the said poster as they were told they had grounds to do so, they were asked to have a few days to think about it rather than do it in anger, they came back and said for the good of the forum they wouldn't pursue the matter as long as the other poster got a warning, which they did. Now that's at least 7 posters who crossed the line in my memory, so perhaps as Nick alluded, it wasn't all goodness and light on here as you would have us believe . Don't get me wrong we also had many laughs, some great banter and many very good debates at the time, perhaps somewhere between what it is now and what it was then and we'd have the perfect forum but that's probably too much to ask.
You mentioned other "leavers" you haven't said who they are or the number of them, who too have a gripe with 64 and what you all think he has turned this place into, I have been thinking about who you may still be in contact with as you said on one of your previous visits, something like, music is now the way forward, so I'd imagine it would be ex members who also were prominent on the MD thread.
Lets start with the 2 who I know didn't like 64.
Twiggs. Now Twiggs was his own man and had fall outs with most on here but one thing you could say about him was, you have your spat but once it was over it was forgotten and he moved on. This thread was started by Norm about 64 nearly reaching the number of posts made by Twiggs, you said it was about quality not quantity, well to be fair, when I was a mod on here we had more complaints and reports about Twiggs than probably all other posters put together, mostly of a racist nature(alluded to above),he once posted some nonsense about "gay friends" annoying one poster so much, he actually came out on here as being gay, as he was so annoyed by his comments. Some members left, stating because of his position nothing was ever done about it and it was all double standards, another poster once made a post about him, stating how many great posters on here had left over the years because of him and his antics. It all came to a head on one thread when we had 5 separate complaints with again 2 posters threatening to leave if something wasn't done, 2 mods also offered their resignation when Twiggs said he wouldn't step down from his post as they couldn't be part of the double standards, after all it was him that had set the rules that he wanted upholding so it could be seen as a family forum, no swearing, hence the swear filter, no abusive or racist posts etc..so lets not be fooled all his posts were top quality.
Martyn (GW) Martyn was a mod at the same time as me and he did an excellent job, we got on even sharing texts from time to time, only our last post to one another did we have any kind of fall out, which was a shame, I'd like it to have been on better terms when he left and I'll hold my hands up, I should have PM'd him rather than post on here. You could well be in touch with him as he likes Twiiter I believe and he had similar musical tastes as you.
So even though they really disliked each other I could see you still being in contact with them but separately not in a group and I believe they share the same opinion as you on 64.
Now the ones I'm having trouble with.
Armley. Great poster who would speak his mind and would tell someone exactly what he thought , he put 64 forward as a mod when it was put out to members to nominate people for the position and said so a few times on the thread. So I can't see him being one of the disgruntled.
BarryAnorak- Comes back from time to time, says he's very busy which is why he doesn't post regularly, so doubt he's one either
Dr Leeds- Like Barry an educated poster with a great wit and good sense of humour, I believe he used to meet 64 at games for a chat and I never saw that he ever had any issue with him but could be wrong. So possibly.
Jo - Could see you being in touch but couldn't see her having a problem with 64.
Now I'm struggling to think of any more regular posters at that time who have left and who'd you still be in touch with.
So when you state other"leavers" which to anyone who doesn't know could make it sound like 10's of people, when infact it is probably only 2 or 3 but unless you name names we're never going to know. I'll be honest what I don't get is why you feel the need to post at all, if I was disgruntled with this place like you say you are, I'd be gone wouldn't even read, if you have a happy fulfilled life why would you even give it a second thought, I think you need to let it go but you'll obviously disagree.
Finally; if it I was 64, I'd offer you a deal, you have a word with the other leavers and if they want to be returners, come back and make the place what it was before, then I'd step away and let you get on with it, if not thenyou leave it alone and accept the fact it will never be what it was and most likely will never be andyou don't post these kind of things again, you walk away. But that's me, I'm certainly not speaking for 64.