| Board divisiveness 09:47 - May 31 with 43986 views | PhilTWTD |
Getting more than a little fed up with the recent fractiousness on here. There seem to be two groups of posters some of whom's main interest in being on here is to have pops at the other. That then leads to someone reporting a post, PMing or emailing me about the other.
Not really sure what to do about it, does seem some posters have unhealthy obsession with others, which is causing the rest of us, especially me a problem. I could ban all those involved on both sides en masse, who I'm sure most other posters could name, but that seems a little draconian and no doubt none of them would feel they had any blame.
Any thoughts? A number of those regularly involved with up arrow this post and tell me I'm right to call this out, as happens every time I make a similar request for the bickering to stop.
This site is always going to be a broad church of people from different backgrounds, ages, genders and views, so not everyone is going to agree with everyone or see everything posted as in the same way and I think there needs to be a bit more tolerance.
But more than anything far less winding up and chipping away at other users, deliberate attempts at subverting other people's threads etc.
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| Board divisiveness on 11:34 - May 31 with 2459 views | Whos_blue |
| Board divisiveness on 11:11 - May 31 by Parky |
Just my opinion, but I’ve never understood why anyone would be on a football forum discussing politics, it literally only ever ends in disagreements and spats. |
I'm not sure this is always the case Parky.
Some of the political threads are genuinely enlightening and I've learnt a lot on some subjects.
I always think it's the approach that is key. If you're genuinely inquisitive, you will get helpful responses from a range of view points. Likewise, if you offer an alternative view in a mature way there are very few problems.
If someone does come back in an aggressive way in a thread, as happened to me recently during the KM contract threads, I just ignore them. They're people I have no interest in engaging with and I don't need the hassle.
I certainly agree with you though when you mention spats and score settling.
That is often when the board is at its worst. [Post edited 31 May 2024 11:38]
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| Board divisiveness on 11:38 - May 31 with 2430 views | Guthrum |
| Board divisiveness on 11:11 - May 31 by Parky |
Just my opinion, but I’ve never understood why anyone would be on a football forum discussing politics, it literally only ever ends in disagreements and spats. |
From my perspective, it's a community forum for fans of Ipswich Town. Who will have views on all sorts of topics relevant to life.
After all, non-football topics also include music, humour, mental/physical health, charity, travel, reminiscences about the town/county, current affairs (as distinct from partisan politics) and so on. All of which have value to the TWTD community. Would (IMO) diminish the place to see that excised. |  |
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| Board divisiveness on 11:39 - May 31 with 2426 views | SitfcB |
| Board divisiveness on 11:01 - May 31 by Parky |
Revert it back to a football forum, no need to discuss politics etc on a forum specifically created because of football.
Yes there is a football category and general, but it doesn’t stop people and their agendas crossing over.
Some people on here never input anything to do with football, which I struggle to understand why they’re here. |
It’s never been a football only forum has it?
I enjoy the uniqueness of TWTD and the non football threads are enjoyable, if it was football only the place would die a death or hardly be active like some forums do.
People just need to not take this place so seriously. |  |
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| Board divisiveness on 11:40 - May 31 with 2409 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Board divisiveness on 10:59 - May 31 by Herbivore |
Think you've handled yourself with pure dignity in this instance, Glassers. |
Thank you Herbie. |  |
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| Not sure there’s much you can do…. on 11:41 - May 31 with 2402 views | Ryorry |
| Not sure there’s much you can do…. on 10:43 - May 31 by PhilTWTD |
This suggestion there are organised cabals out to cause mischief I get from both 'sides', so to speak, which is unhelpful in as much as it becomes self-fulfilling.
Pointlessly downvoting everything one poster posts - or trying to subvert their threads - is a pain. And I have recently spoken to certain users about it. As you say, posters need to behave like adults. I really shouldn't have to intervene all the time and be dealing with emails and PMs at midnight to deal with personal spats.
This post has been edited by an administrator |
"I really shouldn't have to intervene all the time and be dealing with emails and PMs at midnight to deal with personal spats."
Jeez Phil, you shouldn't be having to compromise your work/life balance and, let's face it, your own health (since we now know stress is damaging).
You kindly had an amnesty so some previously banned posters could join in the promotion celebrations with the community on here. If bannees took advantage of that to go back to their old ways, shame on them.
This forum is hugely popular, greatly appreciated, and properly used/respected by the overwhelming majority of people. Seems to be only about 2%, high-maintenance posters causing 98% of the problems. I really think for the sake of your health (& family) & the future of the forum, some clearer & harder boundaries need to be set - if people realised that with a third strike they'd have no access to the site they obviously love (as they keep returning despite bans, sometimes multiple bans) - I suggest that might make them think a lot harder before mouthing off for a third time.
Be kind to yourself, not just to everyone else. |  |
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| Board divisiveness on 11:41 - May 31 with 2395 views | J2BLUE |
| Board divisiveness on 11:31 - May 31 by bazza |
Grown men on the internet discussing having to bring in yellow cards and naughty steps. Sounds like it’s time to employ super nanny!! |
Phil! Phil!
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| Board divisiveness on 11:44 - May 31 with 2369 views | WeWereZombies |
| Board divisiveness on 11:38 - May 31 by Guthrum |
From my perspective, it's a community forum for fans of Ipswich Town. Who will have views on all sorts of topics relevant to life.
After all, non-football topics also include music, humour, mental/physical health, charity, travel, reminiscences about the town/county, current affairs (as distinct from partisan politics) and so on. All of which have value to the TWTD community. Would (IMO) diminish the place to see that excised. |
There would also be the issue of how you define whether a post is about football, could something as innocuous as 'Brighton has some decent restaurants' get a post removed because it was not specifically about football ? Would pub recommendations disappear ? Things work about as well as anything could at the moment. |  |
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| Board divisiveness on 11:45 - May 31 with 2361 views | Whos_blue |
| Board divisiveness on 10:56 - May 31 by GlasgowBlue |
Disagreements are fine. There are a few posters who swing the other to me politically on here who I have had robust debates with but never fallen out. Where the line has be be drawn is the personal abuse and trawling of social media accounts.
The person who was banned last night has a history of going though my twitter and Facebook account then making derogatory comments about my appearance or employment. Some of them libellous. I happened again last night. Add to that the constant snide remarks about my family members. Dubtractor may recall pulling him up for this in the past when he started posting about my daughters. I started to screen shot this abuse some time ago and looking back at it it’s obsessive and vile . I’ve had to lock my social media accounts which I shouldn’t have to.
Since his return I haven’t down arrowed or replied to a single one of his posts yet he continued to chip away at me from day one which culminated in last night’s personal attack.
I would imagine that the board will be a much more harmonious place in his absence and you won’t need to start another thread like this Phil. |
I'm not looking to stir the pot but am genuinely interested to hear who got the hook last night? | |
| Distortion becomes somehow pure in its wildness. |
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| Board divisiveness on 11:47 - May 31 with 2337 views | bazza |
| Board divisiveness on 11:34 - May 31 by Whos_blue |
I'm not sure this is always the case Parky.
Some of the political threads are genuinely enlightening and I've learnt a lot on some subjects.
I always think it's the approach that is key. If you're genuinely inquisitive, you will get helpful responses from a range of view points. Likewise, if you offer an alternative view in a mature way there are very few problems.
If someone does come back in an aggressive way in a thread, as happened to me recently during the KM contract threads, I just ignore them. They're people I have no interest in engaging with and I don't need the hassle.
I certainly agree with you though when you mention spats and score settling.
That is often when the board is at its worst. [Post edited 31 May 2024 11:38]
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You sound far too normal. yellow card. |  | | |
| Not sure there’s much you can do…. on 11:47 - May 31 with 2336 views | PhilTWTD |
| Not sure there’s much you can do…. on 11:41 - May 31 by Ryorry |
"I really shouldn't have to intervene all the time and be dealing with emails and PMs at midnight to deal with personal spats."
Jeez Phil, you shouldn't be having to compromise your work/life balance and, let's face it, your own health (since we now know stress is damaging).
You kindly had an amnesty so some previously banned posters could join in the promotion celebrations with the community on here. If bannees took advantage of that to go back to their old ways, shame on them.
This forum is hugely popular, greatly appreciated, and properly used/respected by the overwhelming majority of people. Seems to be only about 2%, high-maintenance posters causing 98% of the problems. I really think for the sake of your health (& family) & the future of the forum, some clearer & harder boundaries need to be set - if people realised that with a third strike they'd have no access to the site they obviously love (as they keep returning despite bans, sometimes multiple bans) - I suggest that might make them think a lot harder before mouthing off for a third time.
Be kind to yourself, not just to everyone else. |
Thanks Ryorry. | | | |
| Board divisiveness on 11:48 - May 31 with 2337 views | SitfcB |
| Board divisiveness on 10:48 - May 31 by PhilTWTD |
Can I also point out that this has been the busiest month on the Forum we've ever had. |
Our pleasure.
Get we get some statistics from Gav? Busiest day with how many hits? Overall month totals? | |
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| Board divisiveness on 11:56 - May 31 with 2273 views | PhilTWTD |
| Board divisiveness on 11:41 - May 31 by J2BLUE |
Phil! Phil!
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I was thinking recenty that in order not to get booked for showing imaginary yellow and red cards, players ought to carry real yellow and red cards in their pockets. | | | |
| Board divisiveness on 11:58 - May 31 with 2244 views | Whos_blue |
| Board divisiveness on 11:39 - May 31 by SitfcB |
It’s never been a football only forum has it?
I enjoy the uniqueness of TWTD and the non football threads are enjoyable, if it was football only the place would die a death or hardly be active like some forums do.
People just need to not take this place so seriously. |
Agree.
Agree.
Not so sure Sitters.
I think I understand what you're trying to say with your last comment, but it can never be as simple as that.
We all have things that grind our gears that other's can't see what the fuss is about. Contracts, this player, that player, pot holes, cheese etc.
The Gaza thread would be my go to example. It's just not possible for some posters to not take that seriously.
I know you don't mean that, but to broadly apply that rule is problematic.
I think it would be better to recognise when an issue is important to a poster, for whatever reason or how cranky we think it might be, and just accept that and post appropriately.
Maybe a bit too lefty bumfester for some, but that sums me up! | |
| Distortion becomes somehow pure in its wildness. |
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| Board divisiveness on 11:59 - May 31 with 2233 views | Eireannach_gorm |
| Board divisiveness on 11:18 - May 31 by Pinewoodblue |
The only problem with visible yellow cards is it would be seen as an invite to get them banned. |
That's a bookable offence now.
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| Board divisiveness on 12:00 - May 31 with 2230 views | Whos_blue |
| Board divisiveness on 11:47 - May 31 by bazza |
You sound far too normal. yellow card. |
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| Board divisiveness on 12:00 - May 31 with 2228 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Board divisiveness on 11:10 - May 31 by PhilTWTD |
Not done quite that well, unfortunately. |
Ah, sorry to hear that. But Skodas aren’t that bad - just mind the potholes. |  |
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| Board divisiveness on 12:04 - May 31 with 2184 views | Swansea_Blue |
I doubt it will ever stop while we have other forms of social media. A lot of the sniping is lifted straight out of the Twittersphere, just recycling arguments on there. The view points are often just copy and paste jobs, ‘proven’ using information from Twitter, which is often completely unchecked and mostly misleading (deliberately so).
So the answer is for people to stay off social media. Not that that’s helpful to you Phil. | |
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| Board divisiveness on 12:08 - May 31 with 2154 views | CrayonKing |
A couple of suggestions:
1. A clear code of conduct (anyone remember netiquette?) stickied at the top of the board. As you implied, some people aren't even aware that they're part of the problem. Make it clear what the rules and expectations are and dish out appropriate bans if they're not followed.
2. This one's a bit more controversial. Get rid of downvotes (possibly upvotes too). Some people take them way too seriously and get wound up by them. If you disagree with someone then articulate why, not just hammer the downvote button.
Anyway, that's my 2p worth. Thanks for all the hard work Phil, Gav, Mark. Been using this board for nearly 30 years now, on and off, and it's a core part of being a town fan. It would be a shame if it changed too much. |  | | |
| Board divisiveness on 12:12 - May 31 with 2121 views | Bluespeed225 |
With an election coming up it’ll be all out sniping from some boarders , posting links to articles that favour their views, throw in Gaza, Trump, Putin, and it’s a lively old tinderbox. The glow of celebration after promotion we all felt soon left once some were a bit board. Just ban any political post and the person who put it up. Zero tolerance. No need for it on here. |  | | |
| Board divisiveness on 12:15 - May 31 with 2082 views | ArnoldMoorhen |
| Board divisiveness on 10:18 - May 31 by BiGDonnie |
PM me all the accused addresses. I’ll sort em for ya. |
But what if they hide all their mugs and cups before you get round to theirs?
Have you got a Plan B? | | | |
| Board divisiveness on 12:15 - May 31 with 2086 views | SitfcB |
| Board divisiveness on 11:58 - May 31 by Whos_blue |
Agree.
Agree.
Not so sure Sitters.
I think I understand what you're trying to say with your last comment, but it can never be as simple as that.
We all have things that grind our gears that other's can't see what the fuss is about. Contracts, this player, that player, pot holes, cheese etc.
The Gaza thread would be my go to example. It's just not possible for some posters to not take that seriously.
I know you don't mean that, but to broadly apply that rule is problematic.
I think it would be better to recognise when an issue is important to a poster, for whatever reason or how cranky we think it might be, and just accept that and post appropriately.
Maybe a bit too lefty bumfester for some, but that sums me up! |
Of course some discussions have to be taken seriously etc but when I say that I mean more towards the little sniping and jokey comments that seem to get taken a bit more seriously than needed. | |
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| Board divisiveness on 12:20 - May 31 with 2052 views | WeWereZombies |
| Board divisiveness on 12:08 - May 31 by CrayonKing |
A couple of suggestions:
1. A clear code of conduct (anyone remember netiquette?) stickied at the top of the board. As you implied, some people aren't even aware that they're part of the problem. Make it clear what the rules and expectations are and dish out appropriate bans if they're not followed.
2. This one's a bit more controversial. Get rid of downvotes (possibly upvotes too). Some people take them way too seriously and get wound up by them. If you disagree with someone then articulate why, not just hammer the downvote button.
Anyway, that's my 2p worth. Thanks for all the hard work Phil, Gav, Mark. Been using this board for nearly 30 years now, on and off, and it's a core part of being a town fan. It would be a shame if it changed too much. |
Get rid of downvotes ? I am surprised you do not already have one from DaveU for that suggestion... | |
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| Board divisiveness on 12:27 - May 31 with 2024 views | Whos_blue |
| Board divisiveness on 12:15 - May 31 by SitfcB |
Of course some discussions have to be taken seriously etc but when I say that I mean more towards the little sniping and jokey comments that seem to get taken a bit more seriously than needed. |
Yes. I think that's fair enough. | |
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| Board divisiveness on 12:28 - May 31 with 2014 views | Parky |
| Board divisiveness on 11:38 - May 31 by Guthrum |
From my perspective, it's a community forum for fans of Ipswich Town. Who will have views on all sorts of topics relevant to life.
After all, non-football topics also include music, humour, mental/physical health, charity, travel, reminiscences about the town/county, current affairs (as distinct from partisan politics) and so on. All of which have value to the TWTD community. Would (IMO) diminish the place to see that excised. |
Great points, guess my post was more specific to the countless arguments on politics.
Quite rightly been some fantastic charity posts etc on here in the past too! | | | |
| Not sure there’s much you can do…. on 12:44 - May 31 with 1952 views | _clive_baker_ |
| Not sure there’s much you can do…. on 11:41 - May 31 by Ryorry |
"I really shouldn't have to intervene all the time and be dealing with emails and PMs at midnight to deal with personal spats."
Jeez Phil, you shouldn't be having to compromise your work/life balance and, let's face it, your own health (since we now know stress is damaging).
You kindly had an amnesty so some previously banned posters could join in the promotion celebrations with the community on here. If bannees took advantage of that to go back to their old ways, shame on them.
This forum is hugely popular, greatly appreciated, and properly used/respected by the overwhelming majority of people. Seems to be only about 2%, high-maintenance posters causing 98% of the problems. I really think for the sake of your health (& family) & the future of the forum, some clearer & harder boundaries need to be set - if people realised that with a third strike they'd have no access to the site they obviously love (as they keep returning despite bans, sometimes multiple bans) - I suggest that might make them think a lot harder before mouthing off for a third time.
Be kind to yourself, not just to everyone else. |
I agree, Phil must be pulling his hair out at times…
Another observation I have is that this place is much more tightly moderated than some forums. That’s not a criticism in any way, any more a positive reflection of the care & responsibility Phil takes toward things, but there’s certainly examples where such bickering and abuse would fizzle out unchallenged where moderators either care less (not suggesting that’s a good thing) or are less present. I don’t think that’s the answer either, but some forums seem to be lawless.
As others have mentioned on this thread it’s so often about how you communicate, as it is in real life. Life would be boring if we all felt the same, I’ve had interesting debates on all sorts of topics on here and learnt a lot, I love that it’s not restricted only to football although that’s where 70% of my posts are. Like anything it’s about being respectful of others, disagreeing is fine but there’s a way to do it and to debate without resorting to creepy stalking, insults or personal vendettas. |  | | |
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