Spivs, respect and necessary change in the online Rangers community.

[amms 0]

See, I go away for a week and sanity breaks out online!

I enjoyed both D'Art and Zappa's recent posts.

 

Part of the problem is anonymity, other than Andy (and he's a 6'9" former professional cage fighter so he's scared of no one) and arguably Frankie all the rest of us use pseudonyms. I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be using my 'real' identity, for a start I'm work just now, it might be lunchtime but it isn't always when I pop on. But I've wondered how much of the personal abuse would die away if we had to say it in our actual names, for anyone to find via Google for all eternity.

For any issues I've got with Leggo and McMurdo they at least don't hide behind a made-up name and silly avatar, like I do.

[Frankie 8,182]

Some people us anonymity for suitable reasons - others do not. Not much we can do about either but it's a shame when those who do have their personal lives scrutinised by mischief-makers.

[bossy 0]

On FF at least, quite a few of the 'regulars' know each others real identities and have often socialised in the real world. Personally, I have never made any attempt to hide my real identity and have had pro-Rangers articles and letters published under my real name.

 

I think that anonymity needs to have its limits. When it is misused and abused it should be lifted. If you have something to say then you really need to have the courage to say it under your real name.

[Zappa 0]

Some appear all too happy to muddy the line between free speech, censorship and abuse all too easily...

 

I'd like to see your examples of that Frankie because you seem to have something in mind, but I suppose it's probably not appropriate to be more specific.

[andy steel 0]

But I've wondered how much of the personal abuse would die away if we had to say it in our actual names, for anyone to find via Google for all eternity.

 

It's a good point - all that huffing and puffing over Sectarian Electric Thought-Crime could have been saved if, instead, they had brought in a law requiring everyone to use their own name.

 

In fact, that is one thing which Rangers messageboards could do off their own bat to improve the overall tone. Re-register under your real name or else you no get posty, mate. We could take the lead and set an example with which to show the likes of Spiers and the SNP govt. that we are taking steps, taking action, so get off our backs and see what others are doing instead, for once.

 

It would be a really smart move and I can't see any reasons against it. If someone desperately wanted to share info but didn't want tp be revealed they could always pass it on to someone else to post.

[andy steel 0]

I'd like to see your examples of that Frankie because you seem to have something in mind, but I suppose it's probably not appropriate to be more specific.

 

Jim Spence & his cabal leap instantly to mind, Z.

[crucible 0]

It's a good point - all that huffing and puffing over Sectarian Electric Thought-Crime could have been saved if, instead, they had brought in a law requiring everyone to use their own name.

 

In fact, that is one thing which Rangers messageboards could do off their own bat to improve the overall tone. Re-register under your real name or else you no get posty, mate. We could take the lead and set an example with which to show the likes of Spiers and the SNP govt. that we are taking steps, taking action, so get off our backs and see what others are doing instead, for once.

 

It would be a really smart move and I can't see any reasons against it. If someone desperately wanted to share info but didn't want tp be revealed they could always pass it on to someone else to post.

 

Cool, you want to go against all advice given by various bodies about staying safe on the net and advice not to divulge personal details, unbelievable.

[Zappa 0]

The optimistic replies to Zappa's post rely on there being a large body of online fans who are actually decent and sane, who outweigh the nutters. That hasn't been my experience

 

It's quite difficult, maybe even almost impossible, to build an accurate picture Andy, but I don't think I agree with your experience.

 

I mostly only visit & post on Gersnet, but I've had FF & RM accounts for years and after starting posting again on both of those sites when Gersnet was down for a week or so recently, I've noticed how remarkably different all 3 sites are.

 

I think it's obvious that the larger forums have more nutters and that's to be expected since logic dictates they should. The larger forums must also be a total nightmare to moderate due to the volume of posts and threads at times, but that's no excuse for anyone allowing the abuse mentioned in the OP.

 

Judging from the replies here and also on FF & RM which bossy mentioned earlier in the thread, it's clear that while the responses vary significantly, they actually vary exactly as I had anticipated with there being clear differences. I'll reply on both of those threads this evening and see where they go.....

[bossy 0]

I mainly post on FF but I find that Gersnet tends to be a more 'thoughtful' forum. FF has the advantage of being a much larger forum and a wider range of viewpoints. RM, in my opinion, tends to be the worst for abuse, posters shouting others down and lack of moderation.

[Zappa 0]

I was particularly disappointed by Mark Dingwall's negative comments in response to my original. But your post demonstrates that within the Rangers support there are people who have had more than enough of all this nonsense.

 

I didn't get a chance to read the responses to your original over there before it was removed D'Art, so I can't really comment on that other than to say that it's a shame I didn't get the chance to read them.