Topic: Rodgers and the Mods

[TepidT2O]

Indeed, it's the users that make RAWK, not the Moderators.

For which I would like to apologise.

[Crimson_Tank]

For which I would like to apologise.

You better appologize. 

[macca888]

We've always tried to get match goers as mods, mate. I was going to 30+ a season when I became a mod, but times change, and so more recently I haven't been. It'll probably pick up again next season. But the problem with having a load of match-going mods is that after a shit game, we're all in the pub getting pissed, and the knobs on here run riot.

Look, everyone just needs to take a look at this thread to demonstrate just how hard it is to get the balance right. Some advocating for having their opinions heard - whatever that opinion is. Others want much tighter moderation, more deleted posts, more "censorship", I suppose. Yet when that happens, it's cries of "Nazis" and other such shit that gets thrown our way. The whole moderation thing is subjective. It's impossible not to be. Is it reasonable to not allow people to slag off Rodgers after we're battered by fucking Stoke? Is it reasonable to not allow that discussion? No. We try to let it flow, and delete anything that becomes disrespectful and OTT... but it's not easy. Because everyone's opinion on OTT / disrespect is different. Some find questioning the manager AT ALL to be disrespectful. Others might think it's OK to call for his head as long as they don't call him a c*nt. You get this spectrum of people at the match as well as on here.

There used to be a time when the rule of thumb for moderating was to compare the post-match threads to the chats we'd have in the pub after the game. Posters would self-moderate to that sort of standard too. But that time has been and gone. We're trying to "fix" the things about RAWK that are broken, but we can never keep everyone happy. Our choices in terms of moderation are 1. Try to maintain the balance between allowing respectful opposing opinions while maintaing support for the club, 2. Become an anything goes site, or 3. Tightly moderate everything and force everyone to conform to our own view of "The Liverpool Way". Whatever happens, people are going to have a dig.

You know I'm in the old school camp, so I just avoid those threads like the plague because I think it's impossible to stem the tide and can't be arsed trying to reason with unreasonable c*nts. Venting after games like Palace and Stoke though is understandable. It doesn't matter whether you were on here or sat in a boozer outside the Britannia, you'd have a face as long as ET's phone bill. Constructive but respectful misery like Brentie's about the team, and Al's about the owners is sound and no problem at all. All adds to the debates and like it or not, there's some really good exchanges between the likes of Al and Craig over the owners regardless of what side of the fence you're on concerning our clueless, know fuck all about football, hedge funded, Yank overlords. But shite like what Rodgers' oral hygiene routine is, what bird he's shagging, whether he's got a portrait of himself or a Samuel L Jackson picture over his hearth and whether he's renting his fucking gaff of Gerrard or Rigsby repeatedly to slate him when it has got fuck all to do with the results, the tactics, style of play or formation? Nah. They should be fucked off and banished for ever more. You could ban about three people and it would get rid of at least 50% of the nasty, snide posts on the main forum that have got fuck all to do with realism, constructive debate or any type of respect for the club, the players or the manager. While you're at it, you could also ban me, Chopper and Nick and get rid of about 92% of all the inane drivel on here too if you fancy    The mods are all sound and do a brilliant job in very difficult circumstances, apart from Jim, the custom title altering twat.

[Hinesy]

Indeed, it's the users that make RAWK, not the Moderators.

This is a brilliant point from Tony, to be honest I would agree with the OP, the site is full of 'toxic' (buzzword of the week) posts from people who genuinely seem to enjoy saying "Told you we were shite", perhaps as a way of alienating their own feelings from the hurt a result at Stoke causes. Who knows. But Tony and Chopper are both righ the fans have changed and feel entitled to 'outdo' eachother on how viscious they can be, and secondly that's reflected on here.

We get accused of being 'sunshiners' and ignoring the 'truth' somehow, yet when we allow bile and outpourings of frustration, just as we also feel by the way, we are then told the site is losing quality and its standards.

This season has also hit all of us hard, energy, momentum and hope all taken a battering and as Jim points out, we are fans too and it hits us hard too. So what to do? As ever, we will try to remove abusive posts but allow reasonable debate. The problem is we can only moderate what we're given and everyone I guess, has to take some responsibility. We also try to provide a platform for better writing and other areas of discussion but again if people aren't motivated to help out then the site is again, nothing more than a reflection of what is put in.

[Hinesy]

There's a reminder in the main board and we will ensure the main RAWK rules are met.

[jooneyisdagod]

This is a brilliant point from Tony, to be honest I would agree with the OP, the site is full of 'toxic' (buzzword of the week) posts from people who genuinely seem to enjoy saying "Told you we were shite", perhaps as a way of alienating their own feelings from the hurt a result at Stoke causes. Who knows. But Tony and Chopper are both righ the fans have changed and feel entitled to 'outdo' eachother on how viscious they can be, and secondly that's reflected on here.

We get accused of being 'sunshiners' and ignoring the 'truth' somehow, yet when we allow bile and outpourings of frustration, just as we also feel by the way, we are then told the site is losing quality and its standards.

This season has also hit all of us hard, energy, momentum and hope all taken a battering and as Jim points out, we are fans too and it hits us hard too. So what to do? As ever, we will try to remove abusive posts but allow reasonable debate. The problem is we can only moderate what we're given and everyone I guess, has to take some responsibility. We also try to provide a platform for better writing and other areas of discussion but again if people aren't motivated to help out then the site is again, nothing more than a reflection of what is put in.

I really do appreciate your sentiment. Unfortunately, many of the complaints from people about falling standards are in my opinion causing these falling standards. One, they create an environment where the message boards resemble more of an echo chamber than anything where people with differing opinions are hounded by others in threads. I've been on this site and posting for nearly a decade, so I'm not saying this is a recent phenomenon or anything like that. I think this has continued for long. But I don't blame the moderation because the members have a major input in how the site is run and I think far too many members conflate criticism or even asking for a managerial change with abuse. There are similar issues with commenting on players and it's unfortunate. If people question the wisdom of a certain signing, the usual suspects are out in force with the usual platitudes. I think the lack of dissenting voices makes this a duller place than it was. The freedom of speech argument is vital. If you want a vibrant forum, you need people with opposing views. Often those that don't agree with a certain line are hounded and there's no chance for a proper debate. I for one don't lay any of the blame at the moderation team's feet, but I think if things were allowed to run for a bit longer, the wheat will separate itself from the chaff.

For what it's worth, I don't think 'negativity' should ever bee a banning offence. Some people are worriers and others are not.

[Hinesy]

Appreciate your post mate. For the record we have never banned anyone for negativity. However persistent and consistent negative posts that don't move an argument forward or are just bloody whining will get you booted off eventually. This is a Liverpool fan site first and foremost. We should also point out that some of the best posters on here are long term moany bastards.
Finally I agree with you, the membership have to take some responsibility too.

[Pheeny]

For what it's worth, I don't think 'negativity' should ever bee a banning offence. Some people are worriers and others are not.

I agree totally as I'm sure the Mods do,it's the old saying "it's not what you say,it's the way you say it"

[Pheeny]

We should also point out that some of the best posters on here are long term moany bastards.

Thanks, I didn't know I was one of the "best posters"

[Hinesy]

[TheTeflonJohn]

Thanks for the input, it's been an interesting read and highlights the difficulties the site faces. Just for clarity, my main worry was the abuse that has come Rodgers way recently.

I just think a line should drawn when it comes to abuse. That in itself can be tricky because some people, while not directly abusive, will consistently be negative and give out snidey negative comments about the club, manager, players etc.

There's a fine balancing act here and one I don't envy.

[KillieRed]

I think you need to open threads with title like:

"Rodgers is Shite"

"FSG are Evil"

and delete any mention of them in other threads.  Of course I wouldn't be the one doing the work...

[Maggie May]

Thanks, I didn't know I was one of the "best posters"

Well be that as it may.  I'm not at all that arsed about your mind.  Its your body that spikes my interest.  Got any sweaty vest piccies? Yum. 

[Pheeny]

[24/7]

Tempted to rename this thread to "Rodgers & Hammers Time".

You'll Never RAWK Alone?

ohshutup

[Crimson_Tank]

This thread is going round and round like Carousel

[Pheeny]

Oh for fuck sake you two...

[Mutton Geoff]

Well while away from here after some person who wasn't being very nice (Redacted by mod) told me i havent got the guts to fight for this club, i decided to weigh up if it was worth being involved with this place anymore, and in the end the good outweighs the shitheads in the main site, so i am back. (and we welcome this... added by mod!)

i must agree with the comment that the last few weeks have been dominated by the same four or five posters with a massive and sometimes abusive often disrespectful Anti- Rodgers stance and seek to bring down every thread to a level they can function in and i know its difficult as a mod tried running a couple of forums in the past and it aint easy, but some of these posters who dominate all these threads need reigning back to give the better posters and tepid a chance to get involved in any discussion, lately it was like open warfare on any person who defended Rodgers at all.

[Jake]

OK which bastard changed my CT

[Harinder]

OK which bastard changed my CT

Not me but

[Pheeny]

Great to see you back Mutts.

[Crimson_Tank]

Welcome back Geoff.

Le Jake.   

[afc tukrish]

OK which bastard changed my CT

Sometimes, they own up. Other times, like Harinder, they revel in reflected moderatorial glory...

[Hinesy]

The main board is actually not bad at the moment. We tend to notice the shite more than the good stuff as we've been spoiled in the past, but hopefully it'll turn better. (I sound like Rodgers now)

[24/7]

Hinesy Out!

[Mamadou]

The main board is actually not bad at the moment. We tend to notice the shite more than the good stuff as we've been spoiled in the past, but hopefully it'll turn better. (I sound like Rodgers now)

i see great character in your post :p

[BlackandWhitePaul]

Well while away from here after some person who wasn't being very nice (Redacted by mod) told me i havent got the guts to fight for this club,

What the hell would he know?   

[Hinesy]

I think we're done here thanks.


https://youtu.be/i9MytO0O_q0

[The 5th Benitle]

OK which bastard changed my CT

Well that would be grassing.

[John C]

Well that would be grassing.