magpie_russ
The Club used to provide us with unofficial assistance in the form of access to Club press releases, delivery of fan mail to players etc. John May, Richard Stremski and Karen Gilbert were all very supportive (Richard Stremski even took an active role on the bulletin board for a while until it became obvious that his presence was changing the the nature of the board and he withdrew). That changed with the new administration or the change to Sportsview, I'm not sure which. Since then they haven't wanted to know about us - and probably genuinely don't know about us.
Magpiera
I'll reply to you in a new topic. I need to discuss your proposal in more detail.
Clemo
One of the originals, been around for years. Clemo, it's been an honour to know you, you are truly one of the Collingwood faithful. I'm also going to miss your commentary as well.
Joffa
Thanks Joffa. I see your grief over the Club as a positive sign. We need to let go of the old Collingwood, grieve for it, and start again. I ascribe to the theory that the Club must die in order to survive. Let's face it today's Collingwood is very different to the suburban working class team that we (or at least I) grew up with. Volvos, Versace and the loss of VP have stripped away our connection with our roots and a total lack of performance has cut the connection to the 'glorious' past. Our past is glorious and always will be and Collingwood will always be Collingwood, but, as some have already said, Collingwood's future lies in our ability to draw the line and start again. We all know the feeling of 'Collingwood is Collingwood', but the performance orientated kids growing up today don't know it. Unless it moves forward Collingwood dies with us. Anyway - I digress...
CJ
It has been one of the hardest decisions I've ever made CJ. Even ignoring the loss of community, the site has been a part of our daily lives for so long that it has become a part of who we are. Nick has just turned 16, he had just turned 11 when he started with his first page. The site has existed for a third of his life and has become a part of his identity, it must seem to him as if it has always been there. So the decision to end it was not one that was taken lightly.
Fletch
Thanks Fletch. I'm sure we do love the Club more than the players do. Players these days can't afford the type of loyalty that we expect of them - they are professional footballers and career considerations conflict with club loyalty. The loss that I mourn is the loss of loyalty of the Club to its supporters - and that's what I mean by undeserved. I can totally identify with Alf's cynicism.
*miss_magpie*, ash, CQ, and michy
I'm going to respond to you as a group, because the five of you represent a larger group which arrived last season and totally changed the nature of the bulletin board. You dragged us, kicking and screaming, back into the real world and breathed new (but very different) life into the bb. Thank you.
Spidergirl
Although a part of the previous group, I need to single you out. This person barracks for 3 clubs (I think) other than Collingwood, is one of only two Collingwood people ever to be threatened with being barred from the bb for violence and has an attitude of "This is what I think and if you disagree you can go and get ****ed". You would think that she would be one of the most unwelcome people ever to arrive here. But Spidergirl, your love and knowledge of the Club and of football, your totally honest approach and the "take it as you ****ing get it" attitude have won me over and, I think, won a lot of others over as well.
Unfortunately, the private forums are part of the site and will go when the site does.
Broadie
Your post almost brought me undone.
To be totally honest, I was really pissed off at the lack of support for
email@magpies.net. It was a reaction that I'm prone to - "If they don't value it enough to provide support when I need it, then what the **** am I doing?", and considering that I wanted the mail service to stand on its own two feet, one that was illogical. What that reaction provided was the catalyst I needed to push me into making the decision. It would have made a difference if that enterprise had been more popular, but I think any demand that is created now would be artificial and temporary. I have often considered paid membership of the Bulletin Board, but felt that it would destroy the nature of the board and probably cause its very rapid demise. Financial considerations (time and money) have been the biggest factor, but family pressures are also a significant contributor.
It is an ending and it is like losing old friends. Nick won't discuss it on here at the moment, but I'm sure he will respond before too long.
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