SeaEagleRock8 link said:
[quote author=vidmar link=topic=181313.msg235971#msg235971 date=1249880380]
People become members so that their dollars contribute to putting a team on the paddock and have the infrastructure to support that.
Being able to post on the forum is just an additional benefit of membership (as is cheap travel to away games, discounted merchandise, MWTV viewing, member insider emails, free functions and a range of other value adds)
And that is based on . . . what? Some poll, or is that just your guess?
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As there are now around 4,000 Screaming Eagles members and I don't see 4,000 posters I would hazard that many (as per Pete's post) don't join up to use the forum.
I'm not sure why the forum was having problems (And not sure why people assume it was switched off?)
Dan is right re the forum being taken away and comparison to season ticket however I know of at least 2 occasions why it was switched off...
1. During the early stages of the Brett Stewart case (As the club can't moderate the site 24/7 there was concern that something would be posted that may predjudice the case)
2. During one of the owners stoushes when all manner of slanderous and derogatory remarks were being posted about both the owners and other posters - the site was closed to allow everyone to calm down and to stop the news limited journos getting a whole load of quotes for easy column inches (Re the season ticket analogy -The rules and regs of a season ticket say that the card can be revoked if it is misused (This will no doubt include breaking the ground rules eg Cause trouble at a game, invade the pitch, don't finish the free sandwiches that are on offer etc etc)
Jethro - not sure when you last looked the the MWSE site? There are plenty posting on there that can in no way be labelled as blinkered
Still unsure why we can get the best part of 70,000 wearing maroon and white to the GF and many more filling pubs, clubs and homes around the Penisular but not more than 4,000 willing to punt in $59 to be a member and support the club financially...?
And before people start wheeling out the "Who is a true supporter" line take time to consider that the club will likely run in financial deficit this year and we can't always be dependant upon the Delmege and Penn consortium to bail us out or rely on some big sponsor(s) lobbing the odd lazy million in our direction?