Hi all, after the events on the Redhill post there has been a huge amount of deliberation and thought on the direction of this forum on my part as admin, my thoughts are that if it is to remain a viable and enjoyable board we need to ensure that the focus is kept on the actions and events 'on the pitch' ( not literally! ) for better or for worse.
Over the 2 years I ( and other well respected by everyone members ) have dealt with several threats and early stages of legal action ( from all different people and due to all different situations you can imagine ) and intense pressure on all sides to have it closed down, pressure from one side to ban certain members and pressure from another to allow it to be a 'free for all' as well with many comments appearing that approach if not cross the line of libel. This intrudes heavily on real life situations as well as on here.
I have resisted all these pressures but the Redhill post debacle was a stage too far even for me.
So I have decided to act unilaterally ( and taken a leaf out of the actually very well moderated Rye forum, RIP ) and put a temporary ban on two members of this forum to try to prevent situations like that occurring in the near future. One has had many many warnings on here and the other possibly should have as well...
The first account I refer to is Chrisb but the second is myself. As my reacting angrily to his provocations have probably made things worse ( which I'm sure was the point )
So neither of us can post for up to 2 months. I believe that is fair. Then we will see what the situation is like then. I will still monitor the board as admin to ensure no libel etc is posted which would still cause legal issues but won't post during that period.
Sure plenty will disagree with this but hopefully the majority will find it a slightly less mad place and more enjoyable for a while. There is always the other forum for discussions about off the pitch matters if required.
This is not about censorship ( who censors themselves? ) but about seeing something I created try to pull itself around.
May I ask, when you talk about events 'on the pitch', can I presume this also extends to the manager's team selection, tactics, substitutions, signings etc. ? If not, it's going to be a pretty dull forum if we can only talk about players performances, the ref and, of course, what a lovely pitch we've got.
I fully appreciate how difficult forum moderation is and belong to a forum ten times madder than this one, however (playing Devil's advocate here) it does seem certain things cannot really be discussed on this forum. I do realise though that exactly where to draw the line when an individual's integrity is at stake is impossible to judge.
Sorry, don't agree, particularly you Dan. Why should you step down? Very strange, as all you do is good for the club. I am pretty sure everyone will agree. I know this is a serious matter to some Dan, but you are over reacting by banning yourself.
I'm starting a bring back Dan campaign and getting X factor style tee shirts printed immediately. Does this mean no more predict 6 As well? #bringbackdan
Difficult situation but i can see Dan's point.
But 2 months is ridiculous.
Till Jan, 1 so WE can all start fresh.
And reading the forum rules once again................
cant see any need ban anyone as long as no libel comment. sometime thing said that might offend but we live in demoracy and as long as storys not made up dont see a problem. there are sometime wind up merchants on here but think most reasonable people on here can see those post. maybe chris b deserve ban when he mad that story of owner being done for abuse but never see anything in paper. he has mad views at time and has agenda but we all now that. as said above this could be very dull now and is most exciting thing about our club at time
Difficult situation but i can see Dan's point. But 2 months is ridiculous. Till Jan, 1 so WE can all start fresh. And reading the forum rules once again................
What is ridiculous is Dan banning himself ,,,,very honourable Dan but don't do it ,,, you put a lot of work and time into this club , for nothing ,this forum will be crap without you ..,,,, it's Christmas ,,, this isnt what most of us want to see ...I've said this before but there are probably less than 30 regular posters on here but the amount that view it is much higher and most people would see why you feel like you do but I think youve made a mistake here mate .....chin up mate ,,,, #bringbackDan
cant see any need ban anyone as long as no libel comment. sometime thing said that might offend but we live in demoracy and as long as storys not made up dont see a problem. there are sometime wind up merchants on here but think most reasonable people on here can see those post. maybe chris b deserve ban when he mad that story of owner being done for abuse but never see anything in paper. he has mad views at time and has agenda but we all now that. as said above this could be very dull now and is most exciting thing about our club at time
Peter if I can just correct you it wasn't Chris who made the comment about the chairman being charged.
My first post for ages but had to comment on this. I stopped posting on here because of the 50% of rubbish that was posted on here. I posted many times on the previous forum but in the last year this place has become a boxing ring for some. I can understand the frustration of the fans as the clubs fortunes have tumbled massively since relegation but some people just go too far personally and unfortunately Dan has made a sacrifice that has surprised many including myself. For the record I'm not a DW fan by any stretch of the imagination but sometimes you have to put up with these things unless you have the money to buy him out. JohnW is a prime example of someone who's not happy with the clubs fortunes but always gets his point across whatever the score without trying to get in to a keyboard war with other members, some people should really take a leaf out of his book.
Whats happened to the once thriving supporters unity we once had........
My first post for ages but had to comment on this. I stopped posting on here because of the 50% of rubbish that was posted on here. I posted many times on the previous forum but in the last year this place has become a boxing ring for some. I can understand the frustration of the fans as the clubs fortunes have tumbled massively since relegation but some people just go too far personally and unfortunately Dan has made a sacrifice that has surprised many including myself. For the record I'm not a DW fan by any stretch of the imagination but sometimes you have to put up with these things unless you have the money to buy him out. JohnW is a prime example of someone who's not happy with the clubs fortunes but always gets his point across whatever the score without trying to get in to a keyboard war with other members, some people should really take a leaf out of his book.
Whats happened to the once thriving supporters unity we once had........
Welcome back Sanjay! Your last sentence : we once had......... Still i think we have them, despite the results lately.
People care about Hastings United but sometimes choose to ventilate that not only at a different way but also on a sometimes very personal way. Nothing wrong with that, i think it shows commitment if it is not going too far.
What Dan's reasons are to do this are personal ones; let's hope it makes a difference. Like i said till Jan. 1.
Will not stop me from posting; will do it the same way. Hope others will also and continue but please accept the forum rules. And that i think does 99% of the forum members!
Dan - can see why you've done what you've done but you should not ban yourself. You reacted to comments you felt strongly about. The Redhill posts generally contained sensible yet very different points of view, and people on both sides get cross if they think those with opposite views aren't prepared to listen. If things aren't going well, on or off the pitch, people will express views putting forward their own thoughts and feelings. They will always have their own agenda, whether it be for change, or more of the same. The difficult thing is where to draw the line. If it is felt that a post is over that line, then sanctions have to be taken - that has to be if a post is libellous or defamatory. The trouble is that we have a level of hostility between people on this forum that won't go away, and that hostility raises it's head every time we fail to win. Therefore, on and off the pitch are inextricably linked. Tough one, Dan but think you should reconsider your ban.
Although I am not a supporter I have been interested in your team ever since the centre forward was threatened with being thrown off the pier for missing a penalty in a cup-tie back in the early fifties. I agree that several comments have been OTT lately but do not think there is any need to ban anyone. I know ChrisB but am not a friend, or even casual acquaintance, but I think he makes several valid points on the forum. It is certainly one of the most interesting football forums regarding Sussex teams.
I'm sure Chris will revel in his ban anyway. Let him post. Most of us know what to expect from him. We just need to rise above it, and not give him the reaction that he is obviously trying to provoke.
Totally unrelated to this thread (but it may lighten the mood)........ Have a look at last Saturday's video from the Burgess Hill v Horsham match on footballwebpages. I really admired the Horsham fans' black humour regarding their team's plight.
What have WE got to moan about ?
