This one really cut me in half though and is genuinely making me reconsider my time, efforts and position on this forum. I wouldn't have thought we needed to make it clear how any donations asked for are to keep ShrimperZone alive as a Southend United discussion forum for all of us. Seriously, it might now be time for someone else to take up the reigns and keep this place going. But that’s got nothing to do with this thread.
A very important point this and one which many members would do well to fully take on board.
Firstly, this is - I understand - one of the most respected and active fans websites in the EFL outside the "big" clubs. It is run entirely by volunteers who do not get paid. Now I love our club, as we all do, and when I first encountered the then owners back in 2007-ish I think, I discovered that for the sake of a few hundred quid a year that they were considering closing it.
Back then I had my own business and was more than happy to sponsor the site, something which continued right up until a couple of years ago. I now only personally financially contribute on a monthly basis, nowhere near as much as I used to and probably not as much as others. But I still wouldn't be without Shrimpermoan, sorry, zone. Zone.
And there's the rub. It's not called Shrimpermoan for nothing. Moaning about our team is commonplace, even when doing well for some, but what so many fail to grasp is that the owners of the site are legally responsible for what goes on here. So when moans become arguments, the temperature rises and the risks increase. When someone posts something libellous, it's a huge risk and has to be taken down. When potential hate speech is spouted, it has to be removed, otherwise the owners will face legal action. They are responsible for our behaviour.
Therefore the site has to be moderated. There are several moderators, all of whom do this FOR NO PERSONAL PAYMENT OR REWARD. They give up their time and have to, between them, read EVERY post on EVERY thread to make sure that every post stays within the rules.
Being a mod does not mean they can do what they want. Well, actually it does, but they don't. If they did the site would die. Over the years there have been several well respected and knowledgeable posters who have simply gone away due to what happens on the boards which is a real shame. We only have something to discuss because people post the stuff on the boards and then BECAUSE the mods are there to keep things on an even keel.
Riggers comment about the donations - whilst it may be the case in his eyes - is about as sensitive as Spaceman Spiffs one re Phil Cox and one that wasn't really needed or warranted.
Amoeba-gate is now done and dusted, let's move on. But next time people feel like having a dig at the mods on the boards, just remember, they are giving up their time for your benefit and the last thing we want is for them, pretty much like our team at the moment, to "down tools".
So when someone's post gets deleted, bear in mind there will be a reason for it and consider your own words and behaviour before lashing out at the people trying to make sure you still have a platform to vent on.