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Genuine fans |
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23/01 |
Having read the chairman's
notes in last night's programme about the comments on here I thought I might
ask a question. What makes a genuine fan? There seems to be
thing about being a genuine fan at the moment. It seems if you have an
opinion that isn't the same as the official club opinion and you choose to
voice it, you get slammed as being not a genuine Boro' fan. Points being put
forward are valid if not popular and the Club and the do-gooders on here
should take note. As for using pseudonyms, t is understandable given
the level of abuse you can receive after voicing an opinion. I have
been coming to watch The Boro' man and boy for over 20 years now and I feel
I should be able to put my feelings across - however unpopular they may be.
To be deemed not a genuine fan after all these years I find most offensive.
If the chairman doesn't want my money and support as I have an opinion I
will spend my time and money elsewhere.
Lee Gill |
|
23/01 |
Lee I think you missed the
point. There are a number of people who use this forum to undermine
the Club - in effect, to stir up trouble. This happens in all forums
and I'm sure other club chairmen hate it too.
There are a number of
ways we can stop this. I can make TurkTalk a registration only forum
and force people to supply their email addresses on registration. That
way I can also ban people easily who may prove offensive (until they
register another email address) or I can shut down the forum entirely (as
some other clubs have done). Both solutions have been suggested in the
past and I have refuted both.
The forum is here for fans of Gosport
Borough to have their say - good or bad. We are having a lively debate
about Pikey at the moment on another thread and although I have thought a few
comments are a little inflammatory, on the whole I have let them go. Pikey
is a big man and if there is concern from the supporters then it is right
that this is passed on.
However, there is another side to this
website. The Club is a business and as such we need to promote ourselves.
We hope that people who visit the site may be interested enough in the Club
to come to a game or offer us sponsorship. We have even had players
offering their services because our online presence was more impressive than
another local club. But how does it look when those visitors look at
the TurkTalk pages and find we're all grumbling about how bad things are?
No other business would allow it's customers to publicly slate the company
on their own website and that's where the chairman and the Club are
concerned - our public image could easily be tarnished by postings from
people purporting to be "genuine fans".
Rest assured though, I intend
to keep the forum running because (believe it or not) sometimes it does do
some good! Genuine fans posting genuine comments will always be
welcome.
Site Manager |
|
24/01 |
Well put.
Jon Hodge |
|
|
A genuine fan is somebody who
hauls his a**e off the sofa on a wet and cold Saturday afternoon to stroll
down to his football club and take the match in. He does this year
after year no matter how well or badly they are doing because he cares.
Well maybe he doesn't care and but doesn't have any friends or social life!
Actually he could just be an anorak or maybe he just wants to get away from
the missus for a brace of hours. Anyway, the point is he does this in
preference to all the other stuff he could get up to. Now being a Brit
and especially living in Gosport he will have a good old moan about
everything to do with his beloved Club (there's something they put in the
water in Gosport). That doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy going, it just
means that he has to be nice to people all week at work and come Saturday he
can get it all off his chest if anybody will listen and consequently feel
much better. Now the point is that with this website he can have a good old
mank everyday of the week now. This will not only make him feel better
but also gives a lovely glow of pride and a feeling of ownership with the
Club. It also allows him to have a brisk and lively debate with other
fans who would normally shun him if they spot his approach in the bar soon
enough. As such I think that this site performs a useful public
service and should receive a grant from the Council after they have shaken
another 4% from us. The Site Manager would be able to tell us but I am
sure that there are many Wessex and BGB fans who read this site and chip in
from time to time. We are very fortunate to have this forum and the
chance to voice our (lightly censored) opinions. Pikey is a big man
and has resisted the temptation to have a go at his detractors. He has
been around the bazaars long enough to know that even if Jose Mourinho took
over people would moan and say that previous managers were better.
Keep up the good work.
Skumbanana |
|
24/01 |
I'm quite happy if the council
tax payers of Gosport are willing to chip in an extra 4% and then pay it to
me in the form of a grant. Especially as I live in Fareham!
Oh and
to answer your question Skumbanana - there are in the region of 500
different visitors to the site every day. As our average attendance is
in the region of 150 (and not all of those have access to a PC), I have to
assume that there are quite a few non-Boro' people looking every day.
Site Manager |
|
24/01 |
Very witty Skumbanana - your
comment made me chuckle. Some good points too from you Mr Site
Manager. On the point of bad publicity for the Club, with all the
negativity on here then maybe a few fans forums are needed. I couldn't
attend the last one but I understand that it was a success. The Club is
bigger than any one person and as long as we are all civil to each other I
see no reason why any fan concerns can't be answered by the manager and
chairman. After all, this Club is for all the people of Gosport.
Not everybody will agree on everything but all this nonsense of not being
genuine fans has to stop. It's not a contest to see who loves the Club
the most - we all love The Boro'. Maybe if fans have questions to ask
but are too shy to ask they can put them on here and the chairman and
manager can answer them either here or in match programmes. Up The
Boro'.
Lee Gill |
|
24/01 |
Why does a genuine fan have to
watch The Boro'? I'm now 89 and an accomplished Silver Surfer who
enjoys the web banter. I've watched over 500 games at Boro' in my time
but sadly the batteries on my cart won't reach the Boro' and back!
Skumlad - please think again. Are real supporters the ones who
currently turn up week in week out or might there be many more in the Boro'
province who simply can't make weekly pilgrimages due to getting old?
I suggest real fans are the ones who don't moan and help - hence the word
"supporter"!
Lional |
|
28/01 |
500 visitors! I didn't
realise we were that popular. I will have to start charging for my
poems. You could maybe consider picking up a few subs from the council
or maybe even be on the council. If you go on the independent ticket,
no more houses in Gosport, open up the railway again and freeze the council
tax, you will get elected easily. I could be your campaign manager
(who needs Saatchi and Saatchi?). Lional - I would consider that a
genuine fan has to turn up and watch The Boro' play. However if you
are really 89 and have watched 500 games then I would consider you exempt
from my comments. You have suffered enough!
Skumbanana |
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28/01 |
If you want to know what a
real fan is read Tim Lovejoy's new autobiography because what he says is
absolutely true. Lovejoy is a legend.
Lovejoy |
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30/01 |
I confess I had to look up in
Wikipedia who Lovejoy is (it's brilliant, never let me down yet). This
is because I am too stingy to buy Sky and also apparently his book as well.
So what is his definition then? I still think that there should be
some money changing hands between a fan and his Club though (apart from
Lional). Maybe we could have a whip round and get Lional some new
bigger batteries or maybe a turbo version of his scooter?
Skumbanana |
|
01/02 |
Skumbanana - with all your
footballing knowledge and opinions you do surprise me that you had no idea
who the legend Tim Lovejoy was.
Soccer USA |
|
05/02 |
Ah Scoccer USA, I haven't Sky
you see and I have to admit I hardly watch the telly that we do have.
However after reading Wikipedia all is solved. It is so useful and as
I say hasn't let me down yet. Mind you, I still haven't seen him yet.
Maybe I will visit one of my more affluent friends when this character is
on. I'm not sure that football knowledge properly sums up what happens
inside my head though!
Skumbanana |
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