A Cold,"cliquey" Forum

Mark, you wrote - "trying to take the piss?" - in relation to Triptych's Oaks post which joined an Oaks post of your own.

How you came to the conclusion that she was taking the piss was, in my opinion, an over the top reaction and it all spiralled from that point.

The only explanation I can think of is that your ego took a little battering when you saw the "rival" posting and its growing replies.
 
On the subject of manners, Mark: I posted up a fair bit of info when you said you'd lost a load of books in your house move. Whenever anyone on here gives me a reply to any requests for help, or an answer to a question, I always thank them. You managed to omit that little gesture. It probably isn't much in itself, but while you might have been busy with your house move, I see you've managed to find the time and energy to expend on the above. A little thing, but it goes toward my forming impressions of new members.
 
There is a bit of the burgomaster / torch weilding villagers about this forum IMO. If a newbie gets into an argument with a regular there's a tendancy for the regulars to gang up on the newbie. I remember Ian Davies when he joined saying he had read elsewhere that this was an unfriendly forum where new members were concerned. I can't remember why Jejquade was banned but when Singspiel turned up why did so many feel the need to go on and tell singspiel she was jejquade. I mean, who cares?

Having said all that, I think most forums are the same.
 
Mark -the forum needs new blood or it will go nowhere.If your posts are honest and genuine they will get a response 99% of the time.
 
I wouldn't know about other forums, HT: I pop into Final Furlong now and then, and they're always very friendly, but there isn't the level of posting there that goes on here and keeps topics alive for long. I couldn't give a pile o'dung who or what Singspiel and Jejquade are or aren't, but the latter came onto this forum on the offensive, and as the posting style is identical, one can't help but think they're the same. But to be honest, I'll take Merlin's advice, so frequently offered to us, and not bother reading them.

I think we've got a cracking lot of newbies on here, who are now well settled into the place and contributing wonderfully.

For what it's worth, when I found the now extinct Ch.4 forum, I made an unflattering response to a posting between BrianH and the late Alan Morgan, who were into a heavy reminiscence from dim and distant days. My post went something along the lines of "Zzzzzzzzzzzz... wake me up when it's time for a change!" and I was given a thoroughly good mauling by both of them, who told me if I didn't like what was posted, to sod off elsewhere. We've set up a 'welcome' section here, where we ask newbies to post and TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT THEMSELVES. It's not mandatory, but it goes a bit further than some, I believe, in attempting to actually note and positively welcome newcomers. If newcomers don't take a look at how the forum interacts BEFORE they get stuck in, they risk the sort of response I got!

I think we've still got a very good mix of personalities, bearing in mind we're all supposed to be racing-crazy!
 
Originally posted by Honest Tom@Jun 6 2005, 01:15 PM
There is a bit of the burgomaster / torch weilding villagers about this forum IMO. If a newbie gets into an argument with a regular there's a tendancy for the regulars to gang up on the newbie. I remember Ian Davies when he joined saying he had read elsewhere that this was an unfriendly forum where new members were concerned. I can't remember why Jejquade was banned but when Singspiel turned up why did so many feel the need to go on and tell singspiel she was jejquade. I mean, who cares?

Having said all that, I think most forums are the same.
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"applause"
 
Originally posted by Honest Tom@Jun 6 2005, 01:15 PM
There is a bit of the burgomaster / torch weilding villagers about this forum IMO.
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Having missed out on the Middle Ages, I for one would be delighted to see some sort of "witch burning" in public thing. I would suggest a parade through the streets of Glasgow followed by a public burning at Hampden Park. Perhaps after the burning we could engage in some sort of crucifiction type thingy as well.

Pay per view anyone?
 
Witch%20Hunt.jpg
None shall escape!
 
I remember Ian Davies when he joined saying he had read elsewhere that this was an unfriendly forum where new members were concerned.
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The same Ian Davies who got kicked off here for using a second username to make numerous personally abusive posts?
 
Mark, there is a clique on here, and I have probably fallen out with most of them (some, more than once) during my years on here. I even got myself banned for a whole week quite recently. That said, it doesn't stop me posting though as there are some really nice, knowledgeable people on here. One of them is Krizon, I met last week (again) and she really is the salt of the earth, and it's due to people like her I carry on posting on here in spite of those that spout continuing amounts of crap - just to wind people up. I know exactly who to avoid on here, as they normally end up rubbishing any thread I either start or comment on. Luckily, my shoulders are pretty broad, and I treat them like the children they clearly are. Word of advice, just ignore them. Occasionally, I will take them on when they overstep the mark as I can only stay quiet for a certain amount of time. :) Recently, I started a thread about questions for Brendan Powell, and only about 2 of over the approximate registered 300 people on this forum, had a question for him. That is absolutely fine BUT had someone else started it, you can bet your bottom dollar there would have been far more questions. :P

It is generally a nice forum and there are many that really know their horse racing and about horses in general, and I have learnt a hell of a lot from the individuals who post but you just have to accept there are those on here (like with so many forums) that think they know better then anyone else and will rubbish what you say, but stick with it, and you may end up posting in excess of 2000 messages like I have!!! B)

I must admit some of those I really disliked on here to start with due to the constant verbal maulings, I have grown to like over the years. It is just like a good wine, forums and those that post on them, take time to ferment, and also like cheap wine, there are those on here that are just plain bitter and leave a very nasty (bordering on the acidic) after taste. :)
 
Yup, Singspiel, while I am indeed ancient, my brain is still capable of remembering my first forays into the old C4 forum - I also remember looking in for quite a while and making certain when I posted, that it was constructive and not rude or offensive.

Just a whacky way us oldies have of getting to know a new set of folk but there..... seven years later, here many of us all still are, in our Bath chairs, reminiscing and chewing the fat as ever....

I have no idea, much less care, whether or not you're a re-incarnation - I base any responses I may make to your postings on their individual content.

It's just that 'content' appears to missing on most of 'em B)

HT - have to admit I miss Davies !
 
I personally prefer a forum where contibutors respond to posts when they feel they want to, rather than responding to each post just to give the impression of friendliness. I dont think 'newbies' are deliberately frozen out in the forum, it just maybe that the number of thread readers dont feel that they have anything worthwhile to contribute.
 
Mark, I'm sorry you feel this way about Talking Horses. I think it would be a shame if you stopped posting on here, especially for the reasons you have highlighted. I like this place; it is generally friendly and I enjoy the banter that goes on here - that is, after all, all it is; banter. As Songsheet says, it is unfortunate that in the short time since you have joined we have been plagued by trolls, but hopefully that will cease soon enough and the place can get back to normal.
 
Thanks for the unsolicited testimonial, Kathy - another huge wedge wings its' way to you to keep them up! It's a pity Ardross is still slumming in France - if he'd seen your wine analogy, I've no doubt he'd compare the last definition to Blossom Hill! :D
 
A couple of points.

1.As one who complimented Mark on the on the well written and interesting post he made about his son, as well as responding at length I was somewhat disappointed by his OTT reaction to Triptych. Seems that both made a mistake and it's now resolved. Where's the problem?

2.Kathy, I could not think of any useful or interesting question for Mr Powell so didn't post. I suspect many other forumites reacted in the same way and would have done the same whoever posted.The only exception to that if someone who shown themselves in the past as able to handle a tease had posted I might have responded with a sorry attempt at a witticism asking to be informed of the next nailed on winner or guaranteed no hoper.
I'm trying to be helpful, not offensive, in saying -lighten up, it's all too easy to feel people are against you when they're not. I tell you from experience that life is much more enjoyable being positive and when you are positive people tend to respond accordingly.Also when you want to raise a fuss you have more impact.
 
Honestly, Kathy, there I was thinking how calm and peaceful it all was on here and you have to go and write that glowing testimonial about Krizon.


Don't you realise she's our forum secret bite-your-leg weapon for all newcomers on here????? Gate Bitch Suprema? She Who Must Be Feared Most? Our very WMD? Huh? Huh? B)

Now all those newcomers are gonna get super-sassy and start cliques of their own....

Honestly, she only has so many free O & T passes to give out, y'know!! :P
 
I actually found the post that started the thread to be quite bizarre. I haven't been here long and haven't made too many posts, but even in the short time I have been posting I have received several PM's from forum members who have continued discussions offline (sorry Songsheet I owe you a reponse about the nutcase!), and discussion always seems lively. There is also patently a huge amount of knowledge on here. And most importantly I have been made to feel very welcome.

There has been a bit of lively banter from time to time, and ocasionally someone will overstep the mark, but surely we are all adult enough to make a decision to ignore those types of posts, and it isn't necessary to get sucked in when someone is patently on a wind up.

From what I read, many people here have met before. That being the case it is surely not so unusual for those people to engage in what is more like a normal conversation, and carrying on a dialogue which probably isn't obvious to some of us newcomers. 'Cliquey' in the context it is being used, is simply another word for people talking who have history. What on earth is wrong with that. And anyway it seems that when you guys meet up at racing it's not a 'closed shop'.

And as for complaining that people don't respond to a thread or a posting. What a bizarre comment. If it evokes a response it will get one. If it's dull, uninteresting, or a repeat of something on another thread surely it is fair to assume that no one will reply.

My experience of people who think they are on the outside of a clique is that they tend to put themselves there!
 
clickey or not, i enjoy coming here and reading the posts and post myself occasionally.
longer ago i visited other forums too but i never encountered any with the same general quality of the contributions and good humour.

i even find these so called "trolls" - to an extent - entertaining, as long as they do not insult me or others big and intentionally (i never would have come myself to the idea, that singspiel is such a troll, neither do i think that he is a woman, but thats another thing)

i hope, people apart from the mainstream and new people like mark will be kept here and i hope others (like merlin) will return soon.
 
I joined in the "good old days" on the Channel 4 forum too and was told off for my user name which was too similar to someone elses!! I simply apologised and changed it. Life can be hard sometimes but getting upset over postings made on here is a tad of an over reaction.
 
I'm new - signed up a couple of months ago and to be fair I have hardly posted on here due to a busy schedule recently. The other reason is that when I did join about two days into making posts I was pounced upon for making a light hearted comment about Clare Balding's appearance which had all the effect of the thought-police going after me. It was exceptionally offputting and on top of that I was accussed of being one of these "trolls" which I was unaware about at the time.

I'm a member of other forums which I will say I find more friendly (for a start I've never been threatened with suspension/getting chucked off elsewhere, unlike here) and I'm not surprised Mark has started this thread.

However I'm not one to give in too easily and if I fancy joining in on threads in the future I might give it another go.
 
Jump in, Watson Lake. The more the merrier. I can't remember how many times I have been jumped on (though not very often lately ;) :( ) and I just got over it.
 
Hey we cannot all be in total agreement with everyone all the time. The main thing is that most of us have a common interest in horse racing, and that brings us altogether in the first place.
I do think some of you have gone a little over board with this troll thing.
As I haven't done so before I will take this opportunity to say 'Hello' to Mark and keep posting!!
 
RIGHT! I have just noticed that someone hasn't replied to any of my posts that I made late last night. You leave me no option but to continue to hit 'lucky' flushes in the forum poker tournaments until I have deemed that I have received just financial recompense!

Seriously it is the disagreement that makes this place. Look at Sunybay and Aidan (i hope they don't mind be using them as a case example ;) ) and how often an issue is tackled from differing viewpoint to usually a satisfactory ending.

I think that it is clear that the problem is not with differing opinions or individual people, it is with the 'off-topic' throw-away statements that are deliberately designed to provoke a reaction. Personally I cannot see any point in doing such a thing - it is juvenile and patently disruptive.

As for it being cliquey - I have averaged a little over a post a day since I joined yet have taken part in discussions about Politics, Wine, Exploding Toilets and numerous other subjects - is this really a horse racing forum? I am yet to be offended by, or to my knowledge (watch the PM's fly in) offend anyone else.

Not sure why I have written this, but couldn't see a counter-viewpoint doing any harm. Keep up the good work.
 
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