Why The Animosity?

[Wheelsinline]

As a keen supporter of the sport who has recently got his love for it back after a break of a few years thanks for a good friend I thought I would try to keep up with all the goings on, not only on here but other sites also as well as social media. Recently, especially on twitter there has been a lot of negative comments about the forum from riders and also managers which I was very suprised about in reality.

 

The reason for the thread i suppose was to ask the question why you think that this is happening? Are supporters not allowed to have an opinion in a sport which to me(especially domestically) needs to pull together with both clubs and fans playing their part? Is it just isolated incidents I am seeing from Primadonnas who don't like being told they are wrong or listening to those who pay their wages?

[BWitcher]

An example of the out of touch way the sport is run and governed.

[The White Knight]

An example of the out of touch way the sport is run and governed.

 

Could you elaborate on that please BW? :unsure:

[Local Boy]

As a keen supporter of the sport who has recently got his love for it back after a break of a few years thanks for a good friend I thought I would try to keep up with all the goings on, not only on here but other sites also as well as social media. Recently, especially on twitter there has been a lot of negative comments about the forum from riders and also managers which I was very suprised about in reality.

 

The reason for the thread i suppose was to ask the question why you think that this is happening? Are supporters not allowed to have an opinion in a sport which to me(especially domestically) needs to pull together with both clubs and fans playing their part? Is it just isolated incidents I am seeing from Primadonnas who don't like being told they are wrong or listening to those who pay their wages?

 

Unfortunately this forum has a history of posters that have at best been misleading in what they write and at worst positively vitriolic. On top of that in the past some promotions have clearly used the forum as a tool in their war against fellow promoters (i.e. the BSPA.)

 

I have not posted for a long while because it became clear that most of the posts that covered anything other than match reports were usually based on half truths or on what people wanted to believe rather than facts. If you respond to anything that you later find out is wrong then fundamentally you have wasted a chunk of your life; mine is too short to do that

[BWitcher]

Could you elaborate on that please BW? :unsure:

 

The governing body hates Social Media/forums as it exposes the way the sport is run.. or not run.

[The White Knight]

The governing body hates Social Media/forums as it exposes the way the sport is run.. or not run.

 

Ah - I see. I think I agree with you on that.

 

Thanks BW.

[E I Addio]

The governing body hates Social Media/forums as it exposes the way the sport is run.. or not run.

 

While I cannot disagree with you on that I also agree with Local Boys's post that there are also a lot of vitriolic posts based half truths, untruths and figments of imagination. It never ceases to amaze me that some quite serious flaws in the running of the sport get minimal comments on here while one might also find a thread based on tittle tattle can run for pages.

 

Of course those running the sport could do a lot more to confirm or deny certain important items ( I am not talking about every insidious piece of gossip that crops up), but even if they did there would still be those who howl disbelief because it suits their purpose.

[manchesterpaul]

Maybe there is some animosity from the promoters when in a positive thread about the sport - Birmingham's recent large crowd - out of the blue came this comment (i'll not name the poster as it's just one example of many)

 

"Why dont they give the attendance numbers ? typical Speedway promotion - supermarket carrier bags full of cash and nothing declared to the inland revenue!"

 

I think a lot of promoters display great restraint too be honest.

[jimmy jimmy]

If you read forums for all sports, they are frequented by those who want to vent their spleen about how badly everything is run. According to a number of football forums Arsene Wenger has no idea how to run a football team and they would do it so much better.

 

Just go to your local track, enjoy the night out and the racing and remember it is, for us fans, a bit of fun!

Edited July 29, 2013 by jimmy jimmy

[BWitcher]

While I cannot disagree with you on that I also agree with Local Boys's post that there are also a lot of vitriolic posts based half truths, untruths and figments of imagination. It never ceases to amaze me that some quite serious flaws in the running of the sport get minimal comments on here while one might also find a thread based on tittle tattle can run for pages.

 

Of course those running the sport could do a lot more to confirm or deny certain important items ( I am not talking about every insidious piece of gossip that crops up), but even if they did there would still be those who howl disbelief because it suits their purpose.

 

I do agree, however, that's the same for all sports and indeed for all aspects of life. Nothing has changed, just that your average terrace/pub conversation now plays out on forums etc. It's how you adapt and change that is the key. The absolute WORST thing you can do is go on the attack, thus tarring all supporters with one brush. That will simply alienate your customers.

[manchesterpaul]

If you read forums for all sports, they are frequented by those who want to vent their spleen about how badly everything is run...

 

Very true and as in all walks of life people tend to find it easier to pick up a pen to complain than praise. There's a great difference being concerned with something and putting forward constructive criticism or asking for an explanation than just griping and insulting.

 

Just go to your local track, enjoy the night out and the racing and remember it is, for us fans, a bit of fun!

 

Exactly and if watching on tv and you don't like the commentators, no harm in a passing mention but no need to vilify them at every opportunity. Certainly no matter how much i dislike a commentary style above all i'm enjoying the speedway and hugely pleased at getting to see it on the screen.

[SCB]

Maybe there is some animosity from the promoters when in a positive thread about the sport - Birmingham's recent large crowd - out of the blue came this comment (i'll not name the poster as it's just one example of many)

 

"Why dont they give the attendance numbers ? typical Speedway promotion - supermarket carrier bags full of cash and nothing declared to the inland revenue!"

 

I think a lot of promoters display great restraint too be honest.

But if promoters were more open, there would be less speculation and less need to hate us/the forum.

[E I Addio]

But if promoters were more open, there would be less speculation and less need to hate us/the forum.

 

Its a bit of a circular problem really. Its difficult for a promoter to know how open to be. For example, it seems very bad PR to me for absolutely no information to be given on any punishment or lack of it regarding Pooles cancellation of the Lakeside match. On the other hand their are a number of posters who seem to think they have a God-given right to know every detail of a promoters business. As Bwitcher says, the trick is how to handle it properly.

[Bryn]

But if promoters were more open, there would be less speculation and less need to hate us/the forum.

 

Well then 'SCB' why don't you go up to and query whatever's troubling you with your own promoter (whoever that might be!) face to face rather than posting over forty thousand times on this forum? They won't bite!

[SCB]

Its a bit of a circular problem really. Its difficult for a promoter to know how open to be. For example, it seems very bad PR to me for absolutely no information to be given on any punishment or lack of it regarding Pooles cancellation of the Lakeside match. On the other hand their are a number of posters who seem to think they have a God-given right to know every detail of a promoters business. As Bwitcher says, the trick is how to handle it properly.

And thats were a half decent PR person is worth their weight in gold. Speedway really lacks in this area (along with many others!)

[BWitcher]

Well then 'SCB' why don't you go up to and query whatever's troubling you with your own promoter (whoever that might be!) face to face rather than posting over forty thousand times on this forum? They won't bite!

 

I'm sorry Bryn, but this is precisely the sort of attitude that has led speedway in the UK to be where it is.. the promoters and their associates line of "why don't you".....

 

It's the promoters who should be following the "why don't you" if anyone, they're providing a service, thousands are clearly unhappy with it.. telling those unhappy customers "why don't you" will only lead to them being more unhappy, perhaps walking away for good.

 

"Why don't you" promoters do something pro-active and engage with your fanbase, they don't bite either, but they do pay you the money to keep your businesses alive.

 

Edited to add, that's not an attack on you Bryn, just a general observation of promoters around the country.

Edited July 29, 2013 by BWitcher

[The White Knight]

I'm sorry Bryn, but this is precisely the sort of attitude that has led speedway in the UK to be where it is.. the promoters and their associates line of "why don't you".....

 

It's the promoters who should be following the "why don't you" if anyone, they're providing a service, thousands are clearly unhappy with it.. telling those unhappy customers "why don't you" will only lead to them being more unhappy, perhaps walking away for good.

 

"Why don't you" promoters do something pro-active and engage with your fanbase, they don't bite either, but they do pay you the money to keep your businesses alive.

 

Edited to add, that's not an attack on you Bryn, just a general observation of promoters around the country.

 

I hope you noticed I've 'Liked' a couple of your Posts BW.

 

I'm getting a headache. :rofl:

[BWitcher]

I hope you noticed I've 'Liked' a couple of your Posts BW.

 

I'm getting a headache. :rofl:

 

Its this heat WK, it's getting to us all!!

[Leicester Lion]

 

 

Well then 'SCB' why don't you go up to and query whatever's troubling you with your own promoter (whoever that might be!) face to face rather than posting over forty thousand times on this forum? They won't bite!

Or maybe they will. I can't help feeling there's something sinister in the old "say it face to face" line. Even if the undertone is my own imagination, the "say it face to face" line only confirms that promoters don't take seriously the comments made by the paying public on forums such as this. Some of those comments may be purely vitriolic or ill-thought out, but many are made in good faith and arise from reasonably held opinions by people who care about the sport they pay good money to watch.

[Wheelsinline]

. The absolute WORST thing you can do is go on the attack, thus tarring all supporters with one brush. That will simply alienate your customers.

 

This was the point of the OP in reality and a point I have brought up to a few on twitter. Not all members on ANY forum are there just to pour scorn and pick faults out of those trying to earn a living out of the sport. Some genuinely just love to watch racing and read about it, They dont deserve to be called jokers and hypocrites from those that should know better.