Saturday 4 July 2015

You could have knocked me down with a feather!

Have you ever wanted to know what it takes to be permanently banned from a forum set-up specifically to allow members to have a say, more or less without administrative interference?

Me too.

With this in mind, I put the KTFC Forum to the test. 

From what I can vaguely recall, the KTFC Forum grew out of a bit of a spat on Poppynet when a few members fell foul of the Administrators.  Apparently it wasn't OK to have all-night sessions of boozed-up threats of violence and harass anyone you didn't like.  Who'd have thought it? 
 
KTFC Forum soon became home to a mixture of Poppynet cast-offs, agitators, keyboard warriors and generally mouthy sorts.  AKA common or garden Poppy fans like you and me!

Opinions on KTFC Forum seemed slightly more forceful than on Poppynet.  Perhaps due to the perceived lighter administrative touch.  Perhaps due to the fact the some members seemed to personally hate the club management and be particularly narked when Baillie and Machin managed to fumble their way to yet another win.

Given the more turbulent nature of this forum, and it's original intent to offer a platform for all Poppies opinion, no matter how outlandish (a forum where an away win could generate 8 pages of blind hatred), I thought I might struggle to earn myself a permanent ban. 

Not a bit of it!



This week I received this message from one of the KTFC Forum board's big-wigs,

"You have been permanently banned from this board.

Please contact the
Board Administrator for more information. (Tried -no reply...)

Reason given for ban: Constant digging at the forum / Always seems to be bullying people's ideas or picking faults rather than making contributions and suggestions towards the topic."




It seems that threats, abuse, pointlessly copying and pasting individual sentences from the official site, anger and vitriol AREN'T enough to earn a ban.

However,  suggesting that if supporters want something doing or changing that they perhaps look to do it themselves rather than expect someone else to do it for them IS enough to get a ban. 

It seems to be OK to demand that unspecified funds be raised in an unspecified way for an unspecified share of an unspecified stadium we don't have.  But it is NOT OK to question such a vague notion, or make the reasonable suggestion that if you think it's a good idea to raise these funds, why not instigate it.  Rather than sit around and naturally assume someone else put the effort in and do it all for you.

So, if you want to join the "I've been banned from a forum that doesn't ban people" club my best suggestion would be to hold back on the hateful posting (it's sooo last season) and merely raise the odd, innocuous question.  Providing the administrators don't agree with you, you'll be banned in no time!

4 comments:

  1. That forum is very funny, I particularly like the poster that thinks he's some kind of celebrity and believes it's our God-given right to have League football and a big stadium.

    I do have to ask though, why you would feel the need to post on there to dig at them when you already post on Poppynet and on here? Leave them to it, there's no need to be petty.

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  2. I greatly enjoy debating with fellow Poppies, but, I take your point. In any case, I can't post on the KTFC Forum now anyway.

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  3. That forum is full of nutcases. I have always wondered why there was a second forum for a fanbase so small. Seems very unnecessary!

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  4. Hi GL,
    the question is do you know who banned you or are they anonymous, as I am today. My feeling is that these forums should be maintained by the club who then take responsibilty for content and apply the rules fairly and with a method of appeal. I dislike the cosy old pals forums as much as the rude, outspoken ignorant ones.
    Keep up the good work ;-)

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