Saints vs Brighton - Weds 31st Jan (7.45pm KO)

As someone guilty of maybe ‘responding’’ often more ‘agressively’ than appropriate, there are a couple of things that may offer some mitigation.

First up, I cant fully agree with Pap that having met someone, once it should change everything… because most on here have not met Barry so can only judge based on what we read. … (and I am sure Fred West’s neighbours thought he was a great bloke who kept a tidy garden :lou_wink_2:)

I suspect, probably quite accurately, that the real ‘Barry’ is your typical bloke, loves his kids and family, (if young kids, probably knackered all the time), down to earth, enjoys a social pint and would be worth a good chin wag with… but that is not what is posted, and as posters who have never met him, its only natural that opinions are formed based on what is posted, rightly or wrongly.

Next up is that I dont think anyone wants to stiffle freedom of speech, as the ethos of this place is to give all their platform. That is fair enough, but i think what many have taken issue with is not his right to express a POV, real or trolled, but that its often the same one on multiple threads… and in some respects beyond banter, especilly Barry’s’WUM threads that questioned tolerance and integration that went on for ages to challenge all of us ‘wet liberal’s’ - it may have been good trolling but it was also a turn off and you will lose folk who just cant be arsed dealing with it.

Finally, is there a Sotonians position on when freedom of speech should be curtailed ? Although in principle exposing folks POVs is an opportunity to counter with rational debate, I dont believe every platform should be about that. For many these forums are just for a bit of banter, a laugh and maybe the odd debate, so if we were for example inundated with racist shit, EDL or BNP ignorance, I for one would not stick around if it was acceptable no matter how good the put downs. Its not what I come onto the forum for.

Quality over quantity is all well and good if you have a critical mass, otherwise you just end up replying to yourself! :lou_is_a_flirt:

's’what 'appens when no comedy in the title… :lou_lol:

God knows there’s enough crap going on in this world without adding to it so I am all for more humour.

As for Barry not down voting anyone, I’d rather he did and cut out the repetative, simplistic, ritualistic whinging.

Nice points Goatie but Kat has left the building.

She simply holds some pieces of paper these days

Couldn’t disagree with your points more, @areloa-grandee

What you’re saying, essentially, is that text-based communication, which strips us of so much of the information we normally rely on, such as tone of voice, body language, etc, is somehow equivalent. It isn’t, and anyone with a lick of human experience will realise that.

While there have been a couple of exceptions, the people that moan most about other posters are those that have never made a drinks meetup. That’s the prerogative of the individual, but its not really in keeping with the genesis of this site.

Nor is it realistic to say that you are just as clued up based on your interpretation of what people have posted. I appreciate that some people don’t live very near the ground, but when we’ve had @dubai_phil and @smiler (Australia) turn up for drinks, and we’ve been running close to three years, you’re never going to sell the idea that just communicating on here gives you all the information you need.

And if you refuse to meet up for drinks, don’t worry, pap can still find out who you are by stalking you to the ends of the earth like he did with SWDP :lou_wink_2:

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Unfortunately, you have missed my point entirely. The point being that IF all you have to go is what is written, it can be pretty damning as there is none of that context, and even if you HAVE met someone and know they are genuinely nice and decent and good guys, why does that excuse them from posting like a twat? We are all probably mosty OK folks, but its does not stop you or me posting like a twat at times and and that would not change whether I knew you or not. The point being precisely beacause there are none of the other behavioural nuanced signalson on dsiplay in written online communication, you should be even more aware of how you come across - no different from work email, when you can still enflame folks you know very well by a poor choice of words…

As to the bit in bold, I never hinted you could, in fact the complete opposite - it seems to methat you are suggesting that if you get pissed off with what Barry writes, its your own fault because you have never made the effort to go have a drink with him and if you did you woudl be happy lettinghim write his stuff because he is not really like that? My point being that evenif he was my best mate, if he wrote the stuff on here that he does I woudl still say hes being a twat…

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Oh, you mean that lad that went to school with many of us for four years? Some of us even longer?

The person who stalked his former classmates, without ever letting them know who he was?

The bloke who disappeared into thin air the moment we worked out who he was, and would therefore be associated with all the nasty shit he said?

This is what I meant by button pushing meta. And you’re fucking useless at it.

How’s about closing this thread Pap?

I think we’re done.

Me, I’m off for a beer…see y’all later.

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I do see where you are coming from Cobs. I will admit I have previous on calling out the person as opposed to the post or posting style, easily done. Hence the point earlier that I have no doubts bazza is a decent bloke, loving family and all, but IMHO, that does not excuse some things that are posted or style etc.

What’s worse than “fucking useless” that must be me.

I tried some on @fatso the other day and it was totally ignored.

In fact my button pushing meta has got my 2 pts per post (on average), way worse than @themightyostrich

And, yes, I am trying to get some levity in this thread…

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Okaaaay. I suppose you’re right, it is totally cool for the owner of a website to track down someone who uses an alias (I assume because they want to remain anonymous) and then suggest they might out them on their website. That sounds totally cool to me.

Do I really have to go out for a drink with you lot just to confirm my suspicision that you are all a bunch of fucking helmets?

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Oi, leave me out of it will you…I thought we were getting on great guns too :lou_sad:

Well, if you did you might be pleasantly surprised.*

* You wouldn’t be.

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Yes.

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No it just confirms it.

Hmm. It would seem I’ve two choices.

Continue to trust in the counsel of my long established school friends, all of whom thought the SWDP’s posts were fucking weird and stalkery.

Or a random, newly self-declared expert on the subject I’ve never met.

Would you mind awfully if I stuck with the people that I trust, know and respect?

Almost the whole forum liked your post. That hurts :slight_frown:

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Don’t bring your dirty BBC tactics on here. @saintbristol