Shadow Leader

H

harry

At the Start
Joined
Apr 16, 2005
Messages
5,694
Your water jump thread shows that you're down here.
I want to let you know that with others you make this forum what it is and i want to let you know that I love your posts nutty or brilliant!!
Let's hear it for the minx :luv:
 
I know what you are saying Harry and I endorse it in respect to SL even in her most intolerant moments. But I think we all have to admit that

THIS FORUM IS FAST BECOMING A HEAP OF SHITE.

I mean just read the 'Departures' or 'Yarmouth' topics. The moral guardians of middle England are poised to smite 24X7. I can't be arsed putting any thought into racing posts anymore and risk death by cut and paste or a some smug reminder that somebody on here knows the person who cleans the toilet in the pub round back of Paul Nicholls place.

My interest in TH is dying on the vine - not that it matters a whit. I only generally read posts if I see one of the Irish guys, or DO, SL, Fudge, Colin, Chrisbeek, Harry, Suny Ven etc have posted. I've left out many names, but I'm sure you know what I mean.
 
Correct an - the horsey type to punter ratio on here is too slanted in the former camp for me, hence the popularity of the topics you mentioned.

Although it has to be said it was a very good forum during Cheltenham.
 
AC,

As a relatively new poster but long time lurker, i agree re your comments.

'I know x in Lambourn said that...'

'My horse with ....'
 
So what types of post are wanted?

You can't have Cheltenham week posts when the racing is of a very low order.

Would our Irish friends be interested in comments on races at Fakenham, Hereford and Taunton and their like.

If so, I can certainly do that as I watch quite a lot of racing on the box............I do sometimes drop off, mind you. :shy:

Seriously it would be nice to have some input about what people want from the forum.

If the posts above are aimed at Headstrong, I have to jump to her defence.

In all honesty when she first posted on here Heads used to get under my skin.

But I have met up with her on a number of times both at the races and " shock, horror" in Lambourn and I have changed my opinion of here and realise where she is coming from.

I think there is room on this forum for people from all sorts of background, in fact I think it is absolutely necessary that this is the case.

I don't think Heads' and my background could be much more different and I differ strongly with her on most subjects but that doesn't make her input less valuable than anyone else's.

Please show a little tolerance.

If you think the forum is being swamped by posts from 'Lambourn insiders' redress the balance by putting up punting posts.

Headstrong readily contributes on the punting posts and she certainly backs more horses in a season than I do.

By the way, I'm sure that Heads will be on here soon robustly defending her corner, she's not one to avoid a discussion/argument.
 
I think it's me they have a problem with, Colin! Sadly for them, I ain't going anywhere. Well not yet anyway! :)

An Capall threatens to leave this forum at least once a year (or is it twice?) and yet he always stays. He is normally unhappy about some aspect of it too. You just can't please everyone can you. :D
 
Nice that those that are quick to criticise ie. An Capall, has only started one thread on here recently about some free tickets he had on offer. You have mentioned only two threads that have got up your nostrils. Avoid those two threads and start some great threads of your own. Easy eh? :) Stick to just following those people that contribute who have something worthy to offer as per your list and just block everyone else.

As for the others of you, it's easy. Start a thread of your own about the racing subject matter of your choice... and off you go! Quite simple when you think about it isn't it? shrug::
 
I wouldnt mind any posts about any racing, Fakenham, Hereford, or elsewhere as long as they are interesting. This place used to be vibrant, now it is sleepy with the only bits of excitement being the spats that seem to break out. It might be that is the way forums go, but I think that several of those worth listening dont bother posting, out of a couldnt-be-bothered attitude.

As for An Capall threatening to leave the forum. I havent ever seen him do so, since I have been here and I didnt see it in this thread. My suspicion is if he is to quit posting here it wont be announced.
 
An Capall raises some fair points and the general well being of the forum should be discussed as long as it is dealt and treated in an adult and civilised way.

All I would say is the forum was super over Cheltenham and the co-incidence there was that people posted!!! It does help!

Looking around,since Cheltenham most of the forums have been dead.
 
No chance of that then Aiden :D

I'm not sure about the call for quality myself. I used to start the odd thread, and indulge in what I thought were well worked through hypotheses/ debate/ researched and reasoned arguments etc all that happened though is people complained about them being too long, and the usual suspects who only read half of them, would then seize on the first bit they took issue with (regardless of context as they didn't continue to read the rest) and start kicking off.

IMO, it's barely worth bothering therefore. TH is essentially a couple of sentances laced with pithy one liners, and the usual vitriol. I doubt very much that despite protestations to the contrary, people are really that interested in going much beyond this. I certainly see little evidence of it anyway. A classic example of indicating left and turning right.
 
"I wouldnt mind any posts about any racing, Fakenham, Hereford, or elsewhere as long as they are interesting."

It is the perception of what is interesting to others that is the problem, I think, Garney.

As you can see by my previous post, I am not convinced that people based in Ireland would have much interest I what I might think will run well in a race at a minor 'British' meeting however detailed and reasoned that post may be.
 
Rather than trying to second guess what people will or won't like or be interested in, why not just post anyway - about what you are interested in?

Naturally some posts will attract more attention than others, but at least give discussion a chance to prosper rather than just sitting on the sidelines.

All of us will have individual or groups of posters whose style or opinions don't agree with our own. However the more we sit back and don't participate, the more it will appear that it is those posters who are dominating the forum.

A little bit of adult feedback wouldn't go amiss either and I hope that that is the spirit that anything that has been posted on this thread will be taken. Too often people are bottling things up until it resorts to sniping, whereas in the real world they would simply take that person to one side and explain how their actions are concerning them.

On top of that, if anyone has any ideas about what they would like to see on the forum, new sections, comps etc. Post it up or let the mods know.

The success of this place is dependent on the ideas and contributions of all of its members, not just a select few.
 
Originally posted by Warbler@Mar 30 2008, 11:38 AM
No chance of that then Aiden :D

I'm not sure about the call for quality myself. I used to start the odd thread, and indulge in what I thought were well worked through hypotheses/ debate/ researched and reasoned arguments etc all that happened though is people complained about them being too long, and the usual suspects who only read half of them, would then seize on the first bit they took issue with (regardless of context as they didn't continue to read the rest) and start kicking off.

IMO, it's barely worth bothering therefore. TH is essentially a couple of sentances laced with pithy one liners, and the usual vitriol. I doubt very much that despite protestations to the contrary, people are really that interested in going much beyond this. I certainly see little evidence of it anyway. A classic example of indicating left and turning right.
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I tend to agree although not many other forums seem any better.

I reckon I must have spent at least twenty hours working out Grand National ratings and typing them up, and have posted them on four forums. I think I've had a total of five responses, two of which have been on here.

I couldn't believe the race was only a week away and debate had already appeared to die a death so I hoped putting some concrete figures would enhance the useful items based on stats.

I feel it was hardly worth the effort and I know wxactly how Warbler must feel when he spends hours analysing a race or meeting, puts together his conclusions and posts them here (and elsewhere) to minimum response. OK, I accept they're not everybody's cup of tea (but reckon anyone who ignores his posts is missing out on a lot of valuable research) and the same goes for my own musings.

However, this is a racing forum, FFS, and I'd much rather read Warbler's stuff than sh*te about who's bitching at whom, who knows whom, who's sh@gging whom, who wants to sh@g whom, whose house is plummeting in value, whose shares have gone t*ts up or whose t*ts have gone south.
 
I agree with your viewpoint, DO but maybe you need to bear in mind that not everything about horse racing is about betting.

I don't bet because I breed the feckers that many of you do bet on and that's enough financial risk for me, thanks, so I'm genuinely not interested in your ratings or anyone else's, although I defend your right to post them!!

I have no idea if An's comments about the Yarmouth thread are aimed at me - hopefully not as my suggestion about restricting races on the basis of trainer criteria resulted in a deafening silence.

Personally, my view is that the ability for entering into genuine debates on here has largely disappeared. Most comments seem to generate an immediate personal response from some quarters when the orginal comment was a general one, the response being based on who made the original post and not what the post actually said.
 
You're very sweet, Harry!

I do find myself thinking very much along the lines of AC though I'm afraid - although I'd stop short at calling the place a heap of shite! Believe me, there are far, far worse forums out there - some not a million miles away.

It's not so much the topics that put me off, it's the constant sniping responses that anything whatsoever that I post seem to perpetually generate from the same quarters.

So whoever mentioned the couldn't-be-bothered attitude (Garney, I see on looking back) is, in my opinion, spot on. I grow weary of having everything I type taken apart, not to mention regularly reading several posts that contain comments that are so far from the truth it is unbelievable.
 
Originally posted by Songsheet@Mar 30 2008, 04:41 PM
I agree with your viewpoint, DO but maybe you need to bear in mind that not everything about horse racing is about betting.
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Of course. It isn't all about betting for me either since I only bet on big races.

I'm interested in Ven and Steve M's concurring and differing views on breeding and/or dosage.

I'm interested in the views of our Irish friends who often have a clearer perspective on Irish horses than most of us.

I'm interested in debate which shows a genuine interest in arguing for improvements in racing.

We do indeed have all of these from time to time but we do also have an awful lot of sh*te, especially the personal stuff.

However, I have two people on 'ignore' in another forum compared to none on here, so that must be a plus for this place.
 
I apologise for my intemperate phrasing earlier, but my point remains. I will try restate my point a little clearer.

This was once a broad church with varying views. It seems to me that if there is a genuine debate to be had the topic is soon hijacked and rail roaded into a particularly middle class value set and that any contrary viewpoint is filibustered into anger or submission. I disagree with loadsa stuff, but frankly don't bother adding to the topic as I don't have the stamina or interest to put up with the blowback.

I even find myself missing dear old Ardross these days. At least he was unpredictable.
 
At the end of the day, the quality of racing at a given time generally dictates the amount of activity on a racing forum surely. With regards to the quality of debate, I'm as guilty of the "couldnt be arsed" as anyone I suppose. The petty fueds that seem to simmer pathetically slightly under the surface between a few members aren't that hard to get past for me but do tend to dilute (and at times derail) what sometimes should be a good, lively (but civilized) debate.
 
I find some of the sentiments expressed in many of these periodic arguments depressing beyond belief. No-one's obliged to read threads which don't interest them - or long posts either!

Can I just point out that this forum is called TALKING HORSES. Not Talking Gambling, or Talking Systems or anything else - it's for talking about horses, which include of course all aspects of racing. ALL aspects; and for a few of us that includes the social side, the moral side, and even if I may put it so, the 'sentimental' side.

There are dozens of forums on the web for discussing tips, horse form, and systems - ie dedicated to gambling on horses. I belong to two of them [under another moniker] and I've never had a problem of any sort on either. There are, so far as I know, only three or four which discuss racing and horses in a more general way: The Racing Forum, Final Furlong, TH, and Atacanta [which I see as an offshoot of this, and most of whose members belong to TH or FF].

I've never joined TRF as it seems to me to be even more prone to aggressive mud-slinging and contemptuous put-downs than this one periodically is, though there's much of interest there and I read it quite a bit. It would be surplus to join Atacanta; but I thoroughly enjoy FF on which [one member aside who is also on here] there's virtually no chippiness, mud-slinging or aggression, and what little there is, is sat on hard - and the principals on there are most of them about as far from middle class as possible.

I admit to being opinionated, and I probably post too much, being retired and often unwell - and therefore stuck indoors with too much time on my hands. Better than lurking surely? As I see it, we should all feel free to contribute with knowledge of whichever part of racing we have, or which interests us. For me, the Lambourn scene comes into both categories! I only wish the Irish would be more forthcoming about what goes on over there...

Thanks Colin for the kind remarks. Anyone who's met me knows I love to share any contacts I have or to put people I know together if it can serve any useful purpose, inc just fun - and I've no axe to grind in any way as I've never worked in racing; which also leaves me freer to talk about people in the business than some who still do, I suppose.

Shared enjoyment is what it's ALL about for me... I've made several very good friends through this site [some no longer on here] for which I'm very grateful. Meanwhile I suppose I should be amused that a couple of people who appeared to enjoy meeting racing pros through me have seen fit to snipe, and not for the first time - well, that's life, as is the barely concealed class prejudice which always creeps into these moanathons

:dork:
 
I only wish the Irish would be more forthcoming about what goes on over there...
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Members of this forum have been treated to some fascinating - and accurate - info from Irish stables over the years, not least from Ballydoyle itself. Even just this week we get a list of their 2yos. Hell, we probably know their names better than O'Brien himself right now. I can't understand how you haven't appreciated that, Headstrong.
 
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