Simon Dobbin Verdicts

[AndyT]

Spot on 'GBJ' and 'RHB'.

Not much irritates me in general, but people coming onto threads they have no interest in and saying things like "are we still talking about this" get right up my dander and no error. There, I've said it!

I haven't gone on the Lowestoft thread, because I have no interest in the match at this moment, but I wouldn't recommend it be closed down.

Threads run their natural course. Unless there are libelous issues posted or sub-judice comments, in the case of a trial, I see no point in closing any thread, if I'm honest.

There's always a clue in the title of any thread. We makes our choices from there.

 

[rendalljj]

To those who are convinced of their friends' innocence, what convinces you so?

Is it simply that they told you?

What do you make of the network of message and calls the police have uncovered which comprehensively expose the nature of the planned attack and the discussions which took place after the incident in an attempt to hide their tracks?

It is also somewhat remarkable that one would plead not guilty but at the same time at no point, either pre or during the trial, offer any evidence.

 

[Stuart W]

Personally mate, these days I find 90% of the threads on this site boring (no offence Ken, JC). I don't really care what anyone is listening to. I don't really care what someone has watched recently.

Threads like this, the emotive ones, the opinionated ones, the actual debate threads are be the best

The fact that this thread has had the most traffic & most interest over the past few weeks speaks for itself.

cue this being closed now

Funny, and there's me thinking the main focus of this forum is all matters connected with Southend United, but in particular the team and the club's ambitions. What next, a debate on who shot JFK?

At the end of the day if this is what a large proportion of zoners want to read, then fine by me; but I don't expect to see any football related threads closed by moderators in the future without a damn good reason.

 

[RHB]

Funny, and there's me thinking the main focus of this forum is all matters connected with Southend United, but in particular the team and the club's ambitions. What next, a debate on who shot JFK?

At the end of the day if this is what a large proportion of zoners want to read, then fine by me; but I don't expect to see any football related threads closed by moderators in the future without a damn good reason.

No threads get closed without a damn good reason, football related or otherwise. Posters don't always agree with decisions to close but if anyone cares to check the rules of the site then it will become clear why a thread gets closed.

 

[AndyT]

It's a forum that covers all kinds of topics and all the richer for it.

Some great contributors, funny, emotive, irritating, the whole package.

Let's not try and clip it's wings too much.

 

[GBJ]

Funny, and there's me thinking the main focus of this forum is all matters connected with Southend United, but in particular the team and the club's ambitions. What next, a debate on who shot JFK?

At the end of the day if this is what a large proportion of zoners want to read, then fine by me; but I don't expect to see any football related threads closed by moderators in the future without a damn good reason.

The mods moved this origional thread from the Pub, to here. I've got no preference where it resides, aslong as it stays open, and allows those who want to discuss the issue, to do so.

You say if a large amount of zoners want to read it, it's fine by you, however, you're complaining about it, despite this being the most busy thread on this entire forum over the past 5 days. Contradiction?

And for future reference, if every single visitor to this site wants to read about Phil Brown's allotment patch, or Nile Ranger's Colombian marching power, they are free to do so, but I won't be sticking my nose in, to chastise them about it. As I said, I find 90% of the threads on this forum, crap. The traffic & interest in this topic, speaks for itself

Let me add, I've got nothing against you per se, (I find you to be a good poster on the whole), but don't I can't fathom grown adults asking for Internet threads to be shut.

 

[Stuart W]

The mods moved this origional thread from the Pub, to here. I've got no preference where it resides, aslong as it stays open, and allows those who want to discuss the issue, to do so.

You say if a large amount of zoners want to read it, it's fine by you, however, you're complaining about it, despite this being the most busy thread on this entire forum over the past 5 days. Contradiction?

And for future reference, if every single visitor to this site wants to read about Phil Brown's allotment patch, or Nile Ranger's Colombian marching power, they are free to do so, but I won't be sticking my nose in, to chastise them about it. As I said, I find 90% of the threads on this forum, crap. The traffic & interest in this topic, speaks for itself

Let me add, I've got nothing against you per se, (I find you to be a good poster on the whole), but don't I can't fathom grown adults asking for Internet threads to be shut.

Sorry, you have missed my point. It is precisely the fact that threads have been closed in the past (and I am not going to trawl through to find examples), which made me raise this. I can't deny that I began reading this thread and in fact put in a couple of "likes" to comments made.
But it seems to me that the vast content of speculation, heresay, third party "evidence", and varying degrees of legal knowledge is making the whole discussion go round in circles. Like I said if this floats your boat then fine, but I hope, Mr (Mrs) Moderator, this is used as a benchmark for future discussions on this forum when things might get a bit controversial.

 

[manor15]

Funny, and there's me thinking the main focus of this forum is all matters connected with Southend United, but in particular the team and the club's ambitions. What next, a debate on who shot JFK?

At the end of the day if this is what a large proportion of zoners want to read, then fine by me; but I don't expect to see any football related threads closed by moderators in the future without a damn good reason.

No threads get closed without a damn good reason, football related or otherwise. Posters don't always agree with decisions to close but if anyone cares to check the rules of the site then it will become clear why a thread gets closed.

I've been a member of SZ for 9 years now, don't think I've ever seen moderators close a football related thread.

As RHB said, when threads are closed it is usually for legal reasons, occasionally if things are getting ridiculously heated and off topic, or in the unique case of the New Kit thread a few years back when Mork nearly crashed the internet.

 

[AndyT]

.... or in the unique case of the New Kit thread a few years back when Mork nearly crashed the internet.

Did he?! :smile:

 

[Benfleet A1]

To those who are convinced of their friends' innocence, what convinces you so?

Is it simply that they told you?

What do you make of the network of message and calls the police have uncovered which comprehensively expose the nature of the planned attack and the discussions which took place after the incident in an attempt to hide their tracks?

It is also somewhat remarkable that one would plead not guilty but at the same time at no point, either pre or during the trial, offer any evidence.

First ever post I see. And you are?

 

[Willie Coulson's Red Cheeks]

Tbh, this has been a difficult thread to read. Our club has already been dragged through the gutter by the recent reporting of the trial which came on top of the reporting of the actual incident.

I hope that this thread does not get press attention to make matters worse. My feelings are as follows:

1. There can be absolutely no justification for what happened to Simon Dobbin - whatever may have happened earlier in the day. 2 wrongs do not make a right. All those who have tried to suggest that some Cambridge fans "had it coming" after their earlier behaviour seem to infer that SD was in the wrong place at the wrong time because this was going to happen to someone. If you really think this then you should have stayed behind in the '70s and '80s when this sort of attitude was common place. We have moved on and if you don't want to then go and support Millwall.

2. I may be wrong but the "no comment" responses seem to have been a way to avoid a more serious charge by admitting who had actually carried out the assault. All those in court therefore faced a lesser charge which they must have known they had coming by failing to assist the police. There was evidence against them otherwise the CPS would not have brought the case.

3. The scenes outside the court on Friday brought further disrepute to the club. Yes, I accept that the family members of some of the accused may have a genuine grievance but that will be against the justice system and NOT against the wife and daughter of SD. Those scenes were appalling and did a disservice to the club, its supporters and the accused. If you have a grievance and a cause, please approach it with some dignity. You might then get somewhere.

I just couldn't stomach any more of the feeble attempts at justification for what happened and find it hard to take that the focus has shifted to the guilty rather than the victim.

 

[Pak66]

In which case, was any trace of SD's blood found on your friend's clothing?

Of course not!

 

[Another Surrey Shrimper]

Blimey if that's the case lets send all the 100 drinkers in the Railway that night who was looking out the windows to prison also

they should if they saw who committed GBH and haven't come forward with information

 

[* ORM *]

It's a little bit like politics. When the truth is staring people in the face they will still find a reason to ignore it. It's possible that some of the convicted are innocent of some or all of the crimes committed. They chose not to defend themselves which leads me to conclude that they were either guilty or chose not to shop their associates. Perhaps they can reflect on that and appeal if they feel hard done by. Benfleet I sympathise with some of your points but I'm struggling to find any evidence of innocence. Perhaps some of it was inadmissible in court?

 

[davewebbsbrain]

The biggest surprise for me on this thread is that number11 is still about

 

[dannypav]

The mods moved this origional thread from the Pub, to here. I've got no preference where it resides, aslong as it stays open, and allows those who want to discuss the issue, to do so.

You say if a large amount of zoners want to read it, it's fine by you, however, you're complaining about it, despite this being the most busy thread on this entire forum over the past 5 days. Contradiction?

And for future reference, if every single visitor to this site wants to read about Phil Brown's allotment patch, or Nile Ranger's Colombian marching power, they are free to do so, but I won't be sticking my nose in, to chastise them about it. As I said, I find 90% of the threads on this forum, crap. The traffic & interest in this topic, speaks for itself

Let me add, I've got nothing against you per se, (I find you to be a good poster on the whole), but don't I can't fathom grown adults asking for Internet threads to be shut.

I want to know more about Phil's allotment patch !

 

[MK Shrimper]

I want to know more about Phil's allotment patch !

Probably where he's buried the war chest and sprouted a magic money tree.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

I want to know more about Phil's allotment patch !

It's 6ft by 5ft. Well drained loose soil, with a quality fertiliser on top.. A few weeds sticking out. Expect the potatoes to spring up any day now.

 

[londonblue]

i get that, but I dont get the downside of giving evidence. I am genuinely struggling to think of a scenario where I would think that having given evidence I would be more likely to be found guilty. If I could understand that then ( to me) it would put a different perspective on the reasons for not giving evidence.

In general terms I guess the issue comes down to the burden of proof. The defense don't have to prove anything. It is up to the prosecution to prove a person's guilt. It is not up to the defense to prove innocence. Therefore a defendant has the right not to give evidence.

However, specifically to this case: if there were any legal justification for what they did then they should have defended themselves.

 

[londonblue]

Funny, and there's me thinking the main focus of this forum is all matters connected with Southend United, but in particular the team and the club's ambitions. What next, a debate on who shot JFK?

At the end of the day if this is what a large proportion of zoners want to read, then fine by me; but I don't expect to see any football related threads closed by moderators in the future without a damn good reason.

Oh FFS, don't start that one again. We've done it to death.