WAMF
Bencher
SER8, I wanted to say well done for the post on MWSE.
For those that can't view it, I've pasted it below.
I'm confident you won't mind me sharing this here but in case you would like me to remove it SER8, please just let me know.
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Well I've got home and thought about this issue, this is what I came up with.
Quote:
Rather than abandon the Sea Eagles Forum for members, management has decided to clean it up and make it a pleasant place for healthy debate and constructive, fair criticism.
However, a strict watch will be made over all postings to ensure some of the gutter attacks on players and officials of the club, are eliminated.
Some postings on players in recent weeks has been unacceptable and as a result there have been several immediate bans imposed. The bans are non negotiable.
Being a member doesn’t entitle anyone to slander and belittle a player or administrator.
This attitude won’t be tolerated on the official web site of the club. The majority of users of the forum are genuine Sea Eagles supporters with a passion for their club.
Most have a sound knowledge of the game and are willing to debate issues without denigrating people who regularly visit the site. A player out of form doesn’t need to be told he is pathetic or useless by someone who has never pulled on a football boot.
And the coaching staff who delivered a premiership to the club less than two years ago certainly don’t need to be told how to do their job!
Forum members are requested to contact media manager Peter Peters on 99703000 or [email protected] if they have a forum issue.
If you are suddenly locked out of the forum please don’t call reception and complain. Contact the media manager because he is the person who has banned you.
Enjoy the forum for all the good reasons. Have your say on your favourite club but please don’t slander anyone in the process.
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Admin
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Limited
… ‘gutter attacks’ on players and officials – Admin you make it sound like Parliament!
This quote is one of the more remarkable official announcements by the Sea Eagles in recent times, unfortunately notable for its lack of logic and clarity. It reads like an attack on a political opponent, yet it is directed at . . . paying members!
It is said that some postings have been unacceptable – what are the criteria?
Slander is referred to more than once. Has publishing written comments ever been slander (even before the distinction between slander and libel was abolished in this state)? As for defamation, I thought there were a number of defences to an action for defamation. Such as, for example, that the material is substantially true. Or … how about … the defence of triviality (the defamed party is unlikely to sustain any harm)? Or what about, the defence of honest opinion (see s31 of the NSW Defamation Act 2005)?
It simply muddies the waters to use emotive terms like ‘belittle’ and ‘denigrate’.
It is alleged that most fans have a sound knowledge of the game. Is this a requirement of membership, or participation in the forum?
We've been informed that coaching staff don’t need to be told how to do their job. I would be truly amazed if Des Hasler was upset about forum comments. But if he was, and he went on the forum and made his feelings known, I’m sure he would get a tremendous response from members. (I recall a former very prominent club official was not above participating on the forum on occasion.)
So players who are struggling for form don’t want to know what some (repeat, some) fans are saying? Well how are they going to cope with live fans on the hill?
This dramatic crackdown and the mass banning can only lead to speculation about the ‘real’ motive. Is it the case that the NRL are pressuring clubs to ‘purify’ official forums? Or is it the case that the club simply is aiming to close the forum, due to the cost of monitoring or some other reason? If any of these are true why not just tell us . . .?
It is hard not to think there is a hidden agenda when Admin's own announcement refers to unacceptable posts “in recent weeks†– why were they tolerated at that time, yet suddenly not tolerated now? And why have a number of members been banned in the last 24 hours for simply disagreeing with this policy, using words that could not conceivably be deemed defamatory?
I see that forum members (I assume that means club members) are requested to contact the media manager if they have a forum issue. Does this mean it is forbidden to also raise these matters on the forum? (guess I'll find out!)
My opinion is that increased fan participation in the club is essential for the clubs future, and a lively and popular online forum can play an important role in achieving that.
For those that can't view it, I've pasted it below.
I'm confident you won't mind me sharing this here but in case you would like me to remove it SER8, please just let me know.
--------------------------------------------------------
Well I've got home and thought about this issue, this is what I came up with.
Quote:
Rather than abandon the Sea Eagles Forum for members, management has decided to clean it up and make it a pleasant place for healthy debate and constructive, fair criticism.
However, a strict watch will be made over all postings to ensure some of the gutter attacks on players and officials of the club, are eliminated.
Some postings on players in recent weeks has been unacceptable and as a result there have been several immediate bans imposed. The bans are non negotiable.
Being a member doesn’t entitle anyone to slander and belittle a player or administrator.
This attitude won’t be tolerated on the official web site of the club. The majority of users of the forum are genuine Sea Eagles supporters with a passion for their club.
Most have a sound knowledge of the game and are willing to debate issues without denigrating people who regularly visit the site. A player out of form doesn’t need to be told he is pathetic or useless by someone who has never pulled on a football boot.
And the coaching staff who delivered a premiership to the club less than two years ago certainly don’t need to be told how to do their job!
Forum members are requested to contact media manager Peter Peters on 99703000 or [email protected] if they have a forum issue.
If you are suddenly locked out of the forum please don’t call reception and complain. Contact the media manager because he is the person who has banned you.
Enjoy the forum for all the good reasons. Have your say on your favourite club but please don’t slander anyone in the process.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Admin
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Limited
… ‘gutter attacks’ on players and officials – Admin you make it sound like Parliament!
This quote is one of the more remarkable official announcements by the Sea Eagles in recent times, unfortunately notable for its lack of logic and clarity. It reads like an attack on a political opponent, yet it is directed at . . . paying members!
It is said that some postings have been unacceptable – what are the criteria?
Slander is referred to more than once. Has publishing written comments ever been slander (even before the distinction between slander and libel was abolished in this state)? As for defamation, I thought there were a number of defences to an action for defamation. Such as, for example, that the material is substantially true. Or … how about … the defence of triviality (the defamed party is unlikely to sustain any harm)? Or what about, the defence of honest opinion (see s31 of the NSW Defamation Act 2005)?
It simply muddies the waters to use emotive terms like ‘belittle’ and ‘denigrate’.
It is alleged that most fans have a sound knowledge of the game. Is this a requirement of membership, or participation in the forum?
We've been informed that coaching staff don’t need to be told how to do their job. I would be truly amazed if Des Hasler was upset about forum comments. But if he was, and he went on the forum and made his feelings known, I’m sure he would get a tremendous response from members. (I recall a former very prominent club official was not above participating on the forum on occasion.)
So players who are struggling for form don’t want to know what some (repeat, some) fans are saying? Well how are they going to cope with live fans on the hill?
This dramatic crackdown and the mass banning can only lead to speculation about the ‘real’ motive. Is it the case that the NRL are pressuring clubs to ‘purify’ official forums? Or is it the case that the club simply is aiming to close the forum, due to the cost of monitoring or some other reason? If any of these are true why not just tell us . . .?
It is hard not to think there is a hidden agenda when Admin's own announcement refers to unacceptable posts “in recent weeks†– why were they tolerated at that time, yet suddenly not tolerated now? And why have a number of members been banned in the last 24 hours for simply disagreeing with this policy, using words that could not conceivably be deemed defamatory?
I see that forum members (I assume that means club members) are requested to contact the media manager if they have a forum issue. Does this mean it is forbidden to also raise these matters on the forum? (guess I'll find out!)
My opinion is that increased fan participation in the club is essential for the clubs future, and a lively and popular online forum can play an important role in achieving that.
