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Post by Mark Ash on Mar 2, 2015 15:04:11 GMT
Paradoxically, I think prawns live on crap, so they're a fun symbol of the gentrification of football. I suppose I get a bit nervous when pressure is put upon football fans to abide by the rules of the drawing-room (whatever that was). Some vile and stupid insults are traded, but it's part of that world. There are so few areas left in society where people can just say what they buggering well like. If they make themselves look stupid, so be it. Personally, I barely bother with chanting, but then I'm an old bore. But, as the tentacles of authority and conformity creep everywhere, I quite like to see nutters shouting outrageously unfair and obscene remarks in football grounds and - if they want to - online too. To risk laughing at opponents is ok with me, even if it all goes horribly wrong. After all, it's no different from calling City fans Sh1theads and we wouldn't want to stop that now would we? Man after my own heart. Thankfully human history is full of people who try, often quite successfully to make others live by their own personal moral standards but fortunately, sooner or later they all fail. Ah, the optimism of the young. You're right, but how long is "later" rather than sooner? I know I sound like an old fart, but when I was a child in the 60s, we walked home from infant school - a mile along country lanes, playing and pratting about. These days, our parents would be arrested for that. (Truly!) When will such control of kids fail? Another 50 years? Longer? I must admit, I didn't let mine have such freedom. The control becomes insidious and ubiquitous, so that we can't break from it without appearing disgracefully uncaring or crazy. Similarly, terraces are stealthily being eradicated. If Grimsby go up, I read that they must have all seats, even in League Two, because they once spent 3 years in the 2nd tier and once you've done that, it's compulsory to be all-seater. Why? Health and safety? Or is it because having everyone sitting in rows, with an identifiable seat number, makes them easier to police? Ok, you can take me away now.
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Post by Mark Ash on Mar 2, 2015 15:34:43 GMT
On this - it may be nearer than you think. At yesterday's League Cup final, all tickets had a hotline number printed on them and fans were urged to use it to report any bad behaviour and nasty chants. Ostensibly, this was about racism, but I'd guess they'll accept any kind of complaint. The Premier League is kind of lost to fans now, the only way it'll change is when it realizes it's turned away too many loyal supporters to be profitable and by then it'll be too late. That's what I think anyway. I see more people my age thinking quite kindly of the non-league scene, my football nerd Arsenal mate practically bit my arm off when I invited him to the Mem and was stunned at the sight of an actual terrace. Plus teams like AFC Wimbledon and FC United making a good go of it and teams like Clapton setting new standards in atmosphere, I see a bright future for "real" footy. God that was a ramble, sorry. You may be right, or we may be one of the dying outposts of a lost world: unprofitable, unsanitised... and deemed unacceptable.
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Post by pirateman on Mar 2, 2015 16:08:42 GMT
Unfortunately the premier league gets most of its money from TV. Somebody once said that if no one came to matches they would pay people just to provide ssome atmosphere for the telly. Though with the price of Prem tickets I don't quite believe that.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2015 16:45:59 GMT
The Premier League is kind of lost to fans now, the only way it'll change is when it realizes it's turned away too many loyal supporters to be profitable and by then it'll be too late. That's what I think anyway. I see more people my age thinking quite kindly of the non-league scene, my football nerd Arsenal mate practically bit my arm off when I invited him to the Mem and was stunned at the sight of an actual terrace. Plus teams like AFC Wimbledon and FC United making a good go of it and teams like Clapton setting new standards in atmosphere, I see a bright future for "real" footy. God that was a ramble, sorry. You may be right, or we may be one of the dying outposts of a lost world: unprofitable, unsanitised... and deemed unacceptable. Yeah, we're not overtaking the Prem any time soon that's for sure. I mean that as a sort of refuge for people who want a more authentic, less ruinously expensive experience the non-league has a good selling point and I know people my age are going for it more and more. I have to say that I'd be devastated if we lost the terraces, which I know would be the case with UWE. Leaves me really torn.
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Post by pirateman on Mar 2, 2015 17:23:19 GMT
Unfortunately being disabled I have to sit, but I would be unhappy to lose the terraces. You get a better atmosphere if there is a standing up, singing section and as an old tote boy it's what I think of as a football experience.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2015 17:41:16 GMT
Unfortunately being disabled I have to sit, but I would be unhappy to lose the terraces. You get a better atmosphere if there is a standing up, singing section and as an old tote boy it's what I think of as a football experience. Best case scenario is after all this delay someone takes a look at the plans and says "well if the sh*t can have a safe standing section, so should we". Won't hold my breath though.
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Post by pirateman on Mar 2, 2015 18:16:06 GMT
Unfortunately being disabled I have to sit, but I would be unhappy to lose the terraces. You get a better atmosphere if there is a standing up, singing section and as an old tote boy it's what I think of as a football experience. Best case scenario is after all this delay someone takes a look at the plans and says "well if the sh*t can have a safe standing section, so should we". Won't hold my breath though. They're not allowed to use it for football anyway. Just a demo for the rugger buggers
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Post by Mark Ash on Mar 2, 2015 20:13:31 GMT
That rail seating looks dangerous to me: unsafe standing, I'd call it. Who wants those things in front and behind when people are leaping about after a goal? It's ok for rugby, where there is little passion.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2015 20:15:04 GMT
That rail seating looks dangerous to me: unsafe standing, I'd call it. Who wants those things in front and behind when people are leaping about after a goal? It's ok for rugby, where there is little passion. I agree but if it's the only option, I'll take it.
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Post by Mark Ash on Mar 2, 2015 20:19:15 GMT
That rail seating looks dangerous to me: unsafe standing, I'd call it. Who wants those things in front and behind when people are leaping about after a goal? It's ok for rugby, where there is little passion. I agree but if it's the only option, I'll take it. Me too, but you can't beat steel barriers for stopping big sways, while not giving people things to fall over. Which twat dreamed up those things and called them "safe standing"?
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Post by Topper Gas on Mar 2, 2015 20:36:10 GMT
Not really sure there is any real demand for safe standing, you never see anybody in the national press demanding its return.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2015 20:45:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2015 20:52:25 GMT
Sorry I'm late....
I agree with Huggy.
What's acceptable and common place during the heat of a match surrounded by several thousands of other excited people is (or bloody well should be) completely different than considered written words.
You have time to think about the written word. You can consider it, re-read it and even once you've written it you don't have to send/post it.
Terrace banter should stay on the terrace. Going on someone's forum and being a bellend just makes you....well, a bellend. See Joebeearmy's "mind the gap" thread for details.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2015 21:28:16 GMT
Sorry I'm late.... I agree with Huggy. What's acceptable and common place during the heat of a match surrounded by several thousands of other excited people is (or bloody well should be) completely different than considered written words. You have time to think about the written word. You can consider it, re-read it and even once you've written it you don't have to send/post it. Terrace banter should stay on the terrace. Going on someone's forum and being a bellend just makes you....well, a bellend. See Joebeearmy's "mind the gap" thread for details. Fair enough mate, your opinion and I respect that. However do you think it's possible that you being the moderator of a forum slightly colours that view? If we all hated Belter Joe's thread so much, why do people keep going back on to it to goad him every time we take another step away from the Bees? Could they be getting something out of it? Just my two pence.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2015 21:39:00 GMT
Sorry I'm late.... I agree with Huggy. What's acceptable and common place during the heat of a match surrounded by several thousands of other excited people is (or bloody well should be) completely different than considered written words. You have time to think about the written word. You can consider it, re-read it and even once you've written it you don't have to send/post it. Terrace banter should stay on the terrace. Going on someone's forum and being a bellend just makes you....well, a bellend. See Joebeearmy's "mind the gap" thread for details. Fair enough mate, your opinion and I respect that. However do you think it's possible that you being the moderator of a forum slightly colours that view? If we all hated Belter Joe's thread so much, why do people keep going back on to it to goad him every time we take another step away from the Bees? Could they be getting something out of it? Just my two pence. Well that's my point. I'm sure he thought it was funny at the time but now we find it funny because he looks such a cock for posting it. I'm sure most Barnet forum fans wish he'd never posted that here now. I hope being a mod hasn't really changed my views much but I guess it may have. "Banter" is a very difficult thing to moderate on a forum its true but I still think its unwise to commit to writing on another teams board like that. It's just asking to stir hate/watertaking at a later date. Shrug.
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Post by Gastroenteritis on Mar 2, 2015 21:50:48 GMT
Exactly. It also puts Gasheads in a bad light. Win with class, not arrogance. Yes i agree,but it was Barnet fans coming on here in the first place that started it. I have read most of the Gas replies and it is a bit of light hearted banter, nothing more.They are just peed off with throwing away an 11 point lead that's all. I doubt that was a Barnet fan. More like a 15 year old sh** head stirring it up. I think 'mind the gap' and his city logo picture gave it away.
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Post by Mark Ash on Mar 2, 2015 22:15:18 GMT
Yes i agree,but it was Barnet fans coming on here in the first place that started it. I have read most of the Gas replies and it is a bit of light hearted banter, nothing more.They are just peed off with throwing away an 11 point lead that's all. I doubt that was a Barnet fan. More like a 15 year old dung head stirring it up. I think 'mind the gap' and his city logo picture gave it away. Wasn't that the one where our mods altered his pic to a city badge? On the original point: Still can't see the problem. He was goading us; now we're laughing at him. He may yet have the last laugh. It's all part of being a football fan. It is only a game. We're not in the Diplomatic Corps trying to avoid a world war. We're just football fans.
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Post by Gastroenteritis on Mar 2, 2015 22:24:53 GMT
I doubt that was a Barnet fan. More like a 15 year old dung head stirring it up. I think 'mind the gap' and his city logo picture gave it away. Wasn't that the one where our mods altered his pic to a city badge? On the original point: Still can't see the problem. He was goading us; now we're laughing at him. He may yet have the last laugh. It's all part of being a football fan. It is only a game. We're not in the Diplomatic Corps trying to avoid a world war. We're just football fans. No, but it's nice to have other teams have good opinions of us as a decent fan base. Goading the rivals when there is still a long way to go just makes is look like mugs. By all means do it if we were like 10 points clear with two games to go. Buy and large I think we are respected as a relatively decent fan base, I wouldn't want us to be thought of like the City lot. Of course I know banter is part of the game,
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Post by Mark Ash on Mar 2, 2015 22:26:09 GMT
What seemed like a safe idea in the aftermath of Hillsborough has proved itself to be completely unsatisfactory. People in theatres sit and watch, but many football fans have to leap up and in periods of excitement find it ridiculous to have to glue their backsides to a little plastic seat. Others behind are then forced to stand, causing bad feeling and shouts of "Sit down!" Some people like to sit and they can. Some people like to stand and they can't. Quite wrong. Imagine football at its most basic level: you're watching the local team at the park, standing by the touchline. Someone tells you that you can't: you have to sit on a seat.
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Post by Mark Ash on Mar 2, 2015 22:37:30 GMT
Wasn't that the one where our mods altered his pic to a city badge? On the original point: Still can't see the problem. He was goading us; now we're laughing at him. He may yet have the last laugh. It's all part of being a football fan. It is only a game. We're not in the Diplomatic Corps trying to avoid a world war. We're just football fans. No, but it's nice to have other teams have good opinions of us as a decent fan base. Goading the rivals when there is still a long way to go just makes is look like mugs. By all means do it if we were like 10 points clear with two games to go. Buy and large I think we are respected as a relatively decent fan base, I wouldn't want us to be thought of like the City lot. Of course I know banter is part of the game, That's fine, but for me it's entirely about personal freedom. I've never posted on another team's forum; it's many years - probably decades - since I sang anything abusive at a football ground. But if people want to, let them. Certainly many on here - including me - have enjoyed pulling up the Mind The Gap thread every time we've crept nearer to Barnet. But if you're worried about being laughed at if we end up behind them, you can ignore that thread I guess.
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