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Post by thecuregalore94 on Mar 1, 2016 15:12:14 GMT
Afternoon Gas,
I write in regards to the very forum on which I'm posting this - Gasheads.org.
Something that greatly irritated me, as I'm sure it did all of us, was the shutdown of the BRFC fans forum on the offical club website many moons ago. No doubt another one of Higgs' cunning schemes to get fans onside by suppressing their right to be critical of their own club, but alas since - let's call it 'Watertightgate' - I haven't gone back to it.
Despite this straight red card in the face of fan feedback and basic democracy, I can't help but feel that having the prime forum for all things BRFC as here on Gasheads.org divides the fanbase. One of the first things that came to mind when Higgs jumped ship from SS Administration was 'hang on, does this mean we get our posting rights back?'. I grew up with glee listening to losses to Rushden and Diamonds on the Gasplayer Radio, shovelling what was then Division 3 s**te with the promise from my dad that things would get better and Ray Graydon might disappear mysteriously. But the point was that it was on a central forum and no matter how bad it got all Gas were united in the same place.
I visit here each lunchtime at work, rarely posting but enjoying perusing what threads are under discussion. Checking just before posting this, Gas Guzzler has accumulated just over 94,000 posts and I can't shake the feeling that if we were to focus our passion back onto a central, 'official' forum it would let the new board see the faith we've got in the blue and white quarters and willingness to back them. Rather than portraying us as different branches of supporters drifting off into offcast rebel groups, we should be seen as a united largescale fanbase who backs their club to the hilt and enthusiastically embraces the new ownership.
It would be a significant gesture to return to something that was ruled by the previous board with an Orwellian authority, and ideally I would have all of the threads we've built on here moved back to the official forums and let us take it from there in one accessible place. I am not asking for the death of Gasheads.org, I am just putting out there my thoughts on moving things back to the official site and invite your thoughts on the topic...
Churz
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2016 15:18:29 GMT
Happy here, thanks.
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Post by CountyGroundHotel on Mar 1, 2016 15:20:54 GMT
Afternoon Gas, I write in regards to the very forum on which I'm posting this - Gasheads.org. Something that greatly irritated me, as I'm sure it did all of us, was the shutdown of the BRFC fans forum on the offical club website many moons ago. No doubt another one of Higgs' cunning schemes to get fans onside by suppressing their right to be critical of their own club, but alas since - let's call it 'Watertightgate' - I haven't gone back to it. Despite this straight red card in the face of fan feedback and basic democracy, I can't help but feel that having the prime forum for all things BRFC as here on Gasheads.org divides the fanbase. One of the first things that came to mind when Higgs jumped ship from SS Administration was 'hang on, does this mean we get our posting rights back?'. I grew up with glee listening to losses to Rushden and Diamonds on the Gasplayer Radio, shovelling what was then Division 3 s***e with the promise from my dad that things would get better and Ray Graydon might disappear mysteriously. But the point was that it was on a central forum and no matter how bad it got all Gas were united in the same place. I visit here each lunchtime at work, rarely posting but enjoying perusing what threads are under discussion. Checking just before posting this, Gas Guzzler has accumulated just over 94,000 posts and I can't shake the feeling that if we were to focus our passion back onto a central, 'official' forum it would let the new board see the faith we've got in the blue and white quarters and willingness to back them. Rather than portraying us as different branches of supporters drifting off into offcast rebel groups, we should be seen as a united largescale fanbase who backs their club to the hilt and enthusiastically embraces the new ownership. It would be a significant gesture to return to something that was ruled by the previous board with an Orwellian authority, and ideally I would have all of the threads we've built on here moved back to the official forums and let us take it from there in one accessible place. I am not asking for the death of Gasheads.org, I am just putting out there my thoughts on moving things back to the official site and invite your thoughts on the topic... Churz What haven't you gone back to? The official forum? Doubtful as that doesn't exist in any form now and probably for the best as well (think many clubs for legal reasons stepped away from hosting a forum). |
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Rex
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 3,287 
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Post by Rex on Mar 1, 2016 15:22:21 GMT
Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live... at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FORUM!
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Igitur
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 2,294
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Post by Igitur on Mar 1, 2016 15:29:04 GMT
These forums in the end attract different groups who may not want to post alongside others and that's the way of life, so you need more than one forum. NH was not really denying democracy as there were other forums for people to go to; having been banned from the official one I joined the then version of this one and it's fine for me. |
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irishrover
Global Moderator
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 3,372
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Post by irishrover on Mar 1, 2016 15:41:40 GMT
Personally I always thought the club was wrong to have an official forum in the way in which they did and I used to argue it on that forum!
I think it's fair enough that forums exist independently of the club. If the club want to reach out to them then they know where they are. But, you can see why there would be conflict of interest between a fans forum and the club even in the most harmonious of times. Keeping that distance always seemed sensible to me.
Suddenly destroying a long-standing internet community in the way in which they did is a whole other issue though. Getting rid of it wasn't neccesarily that bad in my view but the club should have given time for those using it to set up an alternative place to post.
Ultimately though it seems sensible to me to keep the business centred bit of internet engagement separate from the organised chaos of 'social media' which is what this ultimately is in a limited form.
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Post by a more piratey game on Mar 1, 2016 15:50:48 GMT
I believe clubs have moved away from having official forums, due to perceived potential liability concerns arising from hosting the discussion
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Post by CabbagePatchBlues on Mar 1, 2016 16:36:47 GMT
Forums are much better when self-regulated. Let's keep it that way
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Peter Parker
Global Moderator
Richard Walker
You have been sentenced to DELETION!
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,920
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Post by Peter Parker on Mar 1, 2016 17:25:06 GMT
What is official but a name. I used the official forum 15 years ago up until such time I was banned and it changed immeasurably over that time. Posters came and went, more people joined and it got bigger and it was a different entity when it closed than it was previously when it was probably easier for the club to manage.
Likewise ‘this forum’ has had a few incarnations and has changed since its inception, again people join and leave and everything evolves.
People are comfortable with their surroundings, and the characters that exist inside them. Gaschat came about in part because some people didn’t like this forum when the OF was closed.
Leave it as it is
Guess the Gate anybody….
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Post by Gas Since 1957 on Mar 1, 2016 18:17:12 GMT
Personally I always thought the club was wrong to have an official forum in the way in which they did and I used to argue it on that forum! I think it's fair enough that forums exist independently of the club. If the club want to reach out to them then they know where they are. But, you can see why there would be conflict of interest between a fans forum and the club even in the most harmonious of times. Keeping that distance always seemed sensible to me. Suddenly destroying a long-standing internet community in the way in which they did is a whole other issue though. Getting rid of it wasn't neccesarily that bad in my view but the club should have given time for those using it to set up an alternative place to post. Ultimately though it seems sensible to me to keep the business centred bit of internet engagement separate from the organised chaos of 'social media' which is what this ultimately is in a limited form. But thinking back on the posts at that time, we can hardly blame the club for closing down the official forum without notice. We'd just been relegated and feelings were, shall we say, running a little high! Multiple libel suits could have been raised at the time, plus there were threats to the board and players - all extremely unpleasant. |
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2016 18:49:11 GMT
I use this one, but do pop onto gas chat now and again and also read various facebook pages as well as twitter. There are so many outlets now and I honestly think that is good.
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nerdgas
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 145
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Post by nerdgas on Mar 1, 2016 19:07:24 GMT
What is official but a name. I used the official forum 15 years ago up until such time I was banned and it changed immeasurably over that time. Posters came and went, more people joined and it got bigger and it was a different entity when it closed than it was previously when it was probably easier for the club to manage. Likewise ‘this forum’ has had a few incarnations and has changed since its inception, again people join and leave and everything evolves. People are comfortable with their surroundings, and the characters that exist inside them. Gaschat came about in part because some people didn’t like this forum when the OF was closed. Leave it as it is Guess the Gate anybody…. I miss the old forum.... well not really. Anyone wanna buy a PS2 for £200? |
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Bridgeman
Alfie Biggs
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,549
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Post by Bridgeman on Mar 2, 2016 0:46:19 GMT
What is official but a name. I used the official forum 15 years ago up until such time I was banned and it changed immeasurably over that time. Posters came and went, more people joined and it got bigger and it was a different entity when it closed than it was previously when it was probably easier for the club to manage. Likewise ‘this forum’ has had a few incarnations and has changed since its inception, again people join and leave and everything evolves. People are comfortable with their surroundings, and the characters that exist inside them. Gaschat came about in part because some people didn’t like this forum when the OF was closed. Leave it as it is Guess the Gate anybody…. I miss the old forum.... well not really. Anyone wanna buy a PS2 for £200? What a classic thread that was, I don't think there has ever been another like it. The official forum as it was known no longer exists and the club are unlikely to want to revive it because the reasons previously posted. I use this one to post on and I occasionally look at Gaschat, some people post on both, very often there are identical threads running. I guess people will use whichever they are comfortable with, it appears just having one forum is unlikely to happen but I understand what the opening poster would like to acheive. |
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Post by richmace on Mar 2, 2016 8:56:48 GMT
These things have a habit of resolving themselves... The more popular social networks and forums grow and take over, and others wither and die. I think it should be left alone. I personally like this one, there is far too much noise on gaschat for me.
The club should not get involved again, they have their official outlets: the website, twitter, youtube etc for communication and gathering feedback.
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Captain Jayho
Andy Tillson
Straight outta burrington...
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 472
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Post by Captain Jayho on Mar 2, 2016 9:29:58 GMT
Mar 2, 2016 11:46:19 GMT 11 Bridgeman said: very often there are identical threads running Yes, but it's amazing the different directions they take! |
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,278
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Post by kingswood Polak on Mar 2, 2016 9:31:37 GMT
The official forum was my first experience of using any type of forum. The biggest plus that came from it, as I see it, was/is the fans forum sponsor club. We managed to get people to meet each other and that then made posters much more polite and less confrontational when they actually could put a face to the nome de plume. I enjoyed it and was very upset when it closed.
The nastiest thing was that @jonthe Stripe was given no notice and so couldn't contact the FFFC members and get contact details. The FFSC has thrived,despite the closure, but it was both nasty and unnecessary to close it, and in the way it was done.
Gaschat, as I believe it, was a forum basically made so that the FFSC could sort out the members and carry on. I tried it but it just wasn't for me and I like this place very much now.
Having said that, if the owner decided we were to have an official forum then I would sign up and purely because it would seem to be a quicker way to the clubs ear but I will continue on here as I've been made welcome and it has made me a better poster, I think ? Lol
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nerdgas
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 145
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Post by nerdgas on Mar 2, 2016 18:27:00 GMT
I miss the old forum.... well not really. Anyone wanna buy a PS2 for £200? What a classic thread that was, I don't think there has ever been another like it. The official forum as it was known no longer exists and the club are unlikely to want to revive it because the reasons previously posted. I use this one to post on and I occasionally look at Gaschat, some people post on both, very often there are identical threads running. I guess people will use whichever they are comfortable with, it appears just having one forum is unlikely to happen but I understand what the opening poster would like to acheive. It was when gashead86? started threatening to end people that turned it into a classic for me... |
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Bridgeman
Alfie Biggs
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,549
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Post by Bridgeman on Mar 2, 2016 19:02:18 GMT
What a classic thread that was, I don't think there has ever been another like it. The official forum as it was known no longer exists and the club are unlikely to want to revive it because the reasons previously posted. I use this one to post on and I occasionally look at Gaschat, some people post on both, very often there are identical threads running. I guess people will use whichever they are comfortable with, it appears just having one forum is unlikely to happen but I understand what the opening poster would like to acheive. It was when gashead86? started threatening to end people that turned it into a classic for me... Ha, ha....yes I'd forgotten about that.....good memory  |
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Post by johnanagram on Mar 2, 2016 20:17:29 GMT
What is official but a name. I used the official forum 15 years ago up until such time I was banned and it changed immeasurably over that time. Posters came and went, more people joined and it got bigger and it was a different entity when it closed than it was previously when it was probably easier for the club to manage. Likewise ‘this forum’ has had a few incarnations and has changed since its inception, again people join and leave and everything evolves. People are comfortable with their surroundings, and the characters that exist inside them. Gaschat came about in part because some people didn’t like this forum when the OF was closed. Leave it as it is Guess the Gate anybody…. Yes but you were clearly a trouble maker. |
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Post by Topper Gas on Mar 2, 2016 20:27:56 GMT
Personally I always thought the club was wrong to have an official forum in the way in which they did and I used to argue it on that forum! I think it's fair enough that forums exist independently of the club. If the club want to reach out to them then they know where they are. But, you can see why there would be conflict of interest between a fans forum and the club even in the most harmonious of times. Keeping that distance always seemed sensible to me. Suddenly destroying a long-standing internet community in the way in which they did is a whole other issue though. Getting rid of it wasn't neccesarily that bad in my view but the club should have given time for those using it to set up an alternative place to post. Ultimately though it seems sensible to me to keep the business centred bit of internet engagement separate from the organised chaos of 'social media' which is what this ultimately is in a limited form. But thinking back on the posts at that time, we can hardly blame the club for closing down the official forum without notice. We'd just been relegated and feelings were, shall we say, running a little high! Multiple libel suits could have been raised at the time, plus there were threats to the board and players - all extremely unpleasant. I've a feeling your timing is out as I thought the OF was closed down over the allegations made about Norborn's his sudden departure, if so, that was surely mid season not after we were relegated? Gaschat is already a sort of OF where you can't really say anything to critical about the club, as such, I can't now see the point of bringing the OF back to life and, if the club did, surely this forum would remain in any event, not so sure Gaschat would survive though. |
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