THE FORUM AS IT IS NOW

[Sutch]

Agree with Sid, IMO football now is becoming more and more upper/middle class infested with every season that goes by. Now this forum won't allow swearing or abuse towards a manager? But it's alright for said manager to disrespect fans seasonly is it? The AKBs must be loving this, I bet Wenger is sitting there reading this thread as we speak with his coffee served in an Abou Diaby printed mug.

EDIT - Also the "Y word" isn't allowed now? Laughable.

[Henry Norris 1913]

might as well take this forum down tbh . at the moment I don't think it was worth it

[BaconSarnieGooner]

As someone who has been on the forum under certain alias' and with the latest reincarnation to fit in with some of the banter this season (flash will know from the Norwich train ) it's good to have the forum back. For me, the personal abuse is something that needed to be cut out, and more mods were required (even though I'm somewhat gobsmacked that Jayson has been given the gig due to the nature of some of his posts on here) but as Frank said, I do fear the forum has gone too far the other way in terms of censoring swearing, like the new layout though

[BaconSarnieGooner]

Also with the swearing ban in place I'm amazed Augie and Mikey are still on here

[Mike1]

OK. I hear what people are saying about the swearing ban and I am prepared to reconsider it, but would ask for two things in exchange.

Firstly, we drop the subject on here for now. Its hugely frustarting to have put in so much effort to get the forum back up and running - which is what everyone said they wanted - only to find everyone moaning and groaning about something which, in the grand scheme of things, is surely a relatively minor issue. If all you want to do is moan, then quite frankly I'd rather you found somewhere else to do it. Apologies if that's too honest for some of you to take.

Secondly, those who disagree with the ban, PM me a two line rule which makes it crystal clear when swearing is acceptable and when it isn't. As I said somewhere else earlier, the difficulty in coming up with something unambiguous was the primary reason for introducing a complete ban as that's far easier for everyone to understand and therefore easier to monitor and moderate. If someone can convince me (and the mods it has to be said) that this is possible then perhaps we can make a change.

I will say that nothing is likely to change this week though as I'm away for a few days, I've got a lot on at work and there's a new issue of The Gooner to start thinking about. However, I will promise to look at it as soon as I have an opportunity.

Mike

[denhaaggooner]

Thank God the forum is back its like people say you never miss something until it is gone and i have missed this so much ! Gutted about not being allowed to say the y!! word coz i always liked saying tosser in its more well know oxford english dictionary term

[bradders]

I cant find the titties

[northbankbren]

Now the actual reason for the forum being closed down im not 100% about, but from what i've heard about, im worried.

A certain supporters group complained about a certain thread, and that was it.

A name which Wenger was called openely on this forum for years by most, all of a sudden was too far.

The insult throwing, which i agree took over the forum (along with the bloody in-jokes which only one or two could understand, which took over almost every thread, i presume this will also be cut down on ) , but i do not believe this too many insults thing is the reason the forum was shut.

In all honesty Im worried that blunt and yes brutal critisism of Wenger on the forum, which must have brought on complaints, forced the owners to basically censor the forum....

The whole "family" forum line doesnt wash either....since when?

I really hope that these opinions dont brake any of the new rules, but im suspicious that the most open arsenal forum, is now being censored and wonder why?

[Irish Gooner]

I really dont understand or agree with the fact one person can do what he wants with this forum even if it is against the views of the regular posters.In essence this is just like Wenger at the club, having one person in complete and utter control accountable to nobody.

You dont get a great reception here Mike but I'm not being funny here, the forum has been taken away for 5 weeks at least and it has returned unrecognisable to the old one. As such its not a surprise everyone isnt happy with this. One poster in particular has become a moderator and I can see he is already relishing in dishing out warnings and threats for no reason.

The fact is this forum is no different to the official forum. The one we all slagged for years. And another group RedAction many of whom were never favourites on here succeeded in closing the forum down.

I cant see much of a future for this forum in its current state. I guess thats life and we all have to move on at some point.

[M-50]

I really dont understand or agree with the fact one person can do what he wants with this forum even if it is against the views of the regular posters.In essence this is just like Wenger at the club, having one person in complete and utter control accountable to nobody.

You dont get a great reception here Mike but I'm not being funny here, the forum has been taken away for 5 weeks at least and it has returned unrecognisable to the old one. As such its not a surprise everyone isnt happy with this. One poster in particular has become a moderator and I can see he is already relishing in dishing out warnings and threats for no reason.

The fact is this forum is no different to the official forum. The one we all slagged for years. And another group RedAction many of whom were never favourites on here succeeded in closing the forum down.

I cant see much of a future for this forum in its current state. I guess thats life and we all have to move on at some point.

You still holding a grudge for one little spat you had at me?

[Mike1]

I really dont understand or agree with the fact one person can do what he wants with this forum even if it is against the views of the regular posters.In essence this is just like Wenger at the club, having one person in complete and utter control accountable to nobody.

You dont get a great reception here Mike but I'm not being funny here, the forum has been taken away for 5 weeks at least and it has returned unrecognisable to the old one. As such its not a surprise everyone isnt happy with this. One poster in particular has become a moderator and I can see he is already relishing in dishing out warnings and threats for no reason.

The fact is this forum is no different to the official forum. The one we all slagged for years. And another group RedAction many of whom were never favourites on here succeeded in closing the forum down.

I cant see much of a future for this forum in its current state. I guess thats life and we all have to move on at some point.

As I've said elsewhere, neither REDaction or any other group or individual was responsible for the suspension of the forum. It was my decision and mine alone. I'm sorry if you feel that's wrong, but as I'm the one who pays the bills, I'm the one who cops the flak and I'm the one who receives the threats of legal action, that's just the way it is.

The easiest solution would have been to shut the forum down completely and get rid of all the hassle which goes with running the forum, but somehow I felt I'd have been letting people down if I'd done that and the supportive emails I received convinced me to give it another go.

The upgrade was necessary and long overdue to try to combat some of the attacks on the site which Rob has to deal with on a daily basis, so I'm sorry if it's not to everyone's liking.

The rules were put in place to provide some guidance to posters and moderators to avoid us having some of the problems we've had in the past. The rules are not set in stone and I've already said I'll reconsider the one on swearing, along with any other sensible suggestions which can be controlled.

If people don't like the forum as it is now, then that's their perogative and if there is a significant decline in the numbers using it, then it will quickly cease to exist. I feel I've shown a commitment to try to make it work in the longer term, but if there's not enough people with me on that, then I'll have to accept it's failed.

[Rosie_titters]

Mike,

you are doing a great job, and yep the forum is a bit different from the past - but it would be sorley missed by alot of gooners who come on here

ignore the jibs, coming your way. If people don't like the forum, than put your hand in your own pocket and invest in your own forum and then you can swear and be as close to libel action as you want

give the bloke some credit, for paying for this site and trying to keep it open for fellow gooners

[Glitch33]

Mike,

you are doing a great job, and yep the forum is a bit different from the past - but it would be sorley missed by alot of gooners who come on here

ignore the jibs, coming your way. If people don't like the forum, than put your hand in your own pocket and invest in your own forum and then you can swear and be as close to libel action as you want

give the bloke some credit, for paying for this site and trying to keep it open for fellow gooners

This ^^^

If people really want something different with their own rules (or maybe none) then start your own forum.

[T.S]

Mike,

you are doing a great job, and yep the forum is a bit different from the past - but it would be sorley missed by alot of gooners who come on here

ignore the jibs, coming your way. If people don't like the forum, than put your hand in your own pocket and invest in your own forum and then you can swear and be as close to libel action as you want

give the bloke some credit, for paying for this site and trying to keep it open for fellow gooners

Finally, someone with an ounce of sense

[Henry Norris 1913]

Mike,

you are doing a great job, and yep the forum is a bit different from the past - but it would be sorley missed by alot of gooners who come on here

ignore the jibs, coming your way. If people don't like the forum, than put your hand in your own pocket and invest in your own forum and then you can swear and be as close to libel action as you want

give the bloke some credit, for paying for this site and trying to keep it open for fellow gooners

I don't think saying "diaby is sh*t" will get the forum in trouble though, will it? seems a bit lazy just to throw an all swearing ban on the forum in the hope that does the job. I appreciate the site being back up what is the point if it isn't the free for all it once was? thats what the mods were proud of, allowing free discussion, even if it meant letting babatunde, red member etc post whatever they like in trying to wind people up. Now its been taken away from us and been renamed and sanitised - it's like moving from highbury to the bowl and making the loud bloke behind you on saturdays that spends his 90 minutes abusing the opposition fans a moderator!

what next? grassing forum members that were posting in an aggressive manner?

what has happened to just having a bit of banter and a laugh?