http://www.anfearrua.com/viewdoc.aspx?id=3327

Some lessons here for us all I would say...

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 11/09/2012 13:17:19    1264065

This was posted as a new thread but as the subject is the same it has been incorporated here.

Box13
Posts: 33
Galway
11/09/2012
15:34

An Fear Rua

Sorry to see the demise of An Fear Rua. Below is Liam Cahill's statement in full: "Exactly twelve years ago this month I set up An Fear Rua-The GAA Unplugged! I have now decided to discontinue it. I have immediately closed the 'Speak Out!' forum but the Content Zone will continue for the moment. An anonymous internet forum is an anachronism. It has been overtaken by the arrival of 'open identity' forums such as Twitter and Facebook. This model of internet comment is no longer viable, if the comment is to be within the law at all times as well as the bounds of good taste. This has been a labour of love. In hard cash it has cost me more than €150,000 over the years. If I costed the time I've spent managing it - at even the average industrial wage - the total cost or investment would be the best part of €500,000. I have never made more than €10,000 a year on average in advertising revenue, despite trying the services of five or six ad selling agencies. It is simply not possible to make this site a paying proposition. In that context, my decision is also influenced by the unreasonable sense of entitlement displayed by a growing minority of Registered Users. There is a sense that they can just register under a pseudonym, pay nothing towards the upkeep of the site or towards an insurance against libel matched by a total lack of any attempt to even understand - let alone accept - that I have a right, and a duty, to administer this site in accordance with the law and in the interests of everyone who used it. I thank all the decent people who supported the site over the years. I regret that it has come to this and I wish you well in the future." One or two of the "keyboard warriors" that frequent Hoganstand would do well to remember Mr Cahill's words.

Administrator (None) - Posts: 2275 - 11/09/2012 15:40:41    1264217

Sad to hear.

Culann (Dublin) - Posts: 2306 - 11/09/2012 15:53:01    1264227

...they must have been lacking a 'Snufalufagus' on there to help keep the revenue stream ticking over!!

Regards,

Snufalufagus...Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 11/09/2012 15:54:59    1264228

Yeah I used to be a poster till I was removed or thrown off it never knew why. He does have a point would we all freely say what we do if we had to put our real names to our comment? We do on facebook etc so why not here? Interesting question

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4954 - 11/09/2012 15:59:41    1264235

Sorry to hear......Can we except an influx of new residents on HS?

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11594 - 11/09/2012 16:00:26    1264237

Snuffy - no doubt the WUM's were driving up the cost of obtaining insurance against libel.

Box13 (Galway) - Posts: 56 - 11/09/2012 16:03:42    1264239

While I never posted and only madde one visit I'm still dissapointed to hear the bad news.

KELF (Kildare) - Posts: 775 - 11/09/2012 16:19:33    1264254

Well it's funny because AFR was a post first and punish after system whereas on HS our posts are read before being published. That's fine with me. I can only imagine some of the stuff that never makes it through on here. In fairness I have to say most people here don't cling too closely to their anonymity and regularly say what clubs they're from or disclose info about themselves. I know I do. Anyone who actually knows me and read my posts would know exactly who I am. Everyone on here also knows how to spot a WUM and there is a good degree of self policing by posters to keep a decent spirit on the board although that is harder during the summer. Hopefully we can keep that and ensure HS keeps going and we can keep enjoying the banter.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 11/09/2012 16:24:05    1264262

I emigrated over to AFR becuase every hurling thread descended into farce on here because of Thurlesblues. Not sure if that is still the case but looks like I'm back here.

Puddersthecat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1692 - 11/09/2012 16:31:48    1264271

Well I'm not anonymous that's my last and first name combined. I'm like that Portsmouth fan.

Just talking to a friend about An fear rua watching the Hurling final and he believed apparently erroneously that it was a cash cow.
Feel for the guy really must be a labour of love.

ARock..can't imagine why they would eject you either..

Tyronetim (Tyrone) - Posts: 1254 - 11/09/2012 16:32:36    1264272

arock
County: Dublin
Posts: 1048

1264235
Yeah I used to be a poster till I was removed or thrown off it never knew why. He does have a point would we all freely say what we do if we had to put our real names to our comment? We do on facebook etc so why not here? Interesting question
_________________________
Because, believe it or not there are still some of us out there who don't do Facebook, Twitter, MSN, etc. Why would you want or even need to know peoples real names on here, what purpose would that solve?

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 11/09/2012 16:35:05    1264275

Sad to see the site go. only posted a few times on it. seemed to be a good site
Maybe its going will be a warning to some here who're posting style needs a look at
And it also could be a warning to the mods on this site.
Any chance they could look into changing this site and allowing posters private message each other, have a like button. a report button for posts people find offensive/are against the law etc
Allow posting 24/7

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 11/09/2012 16:37:41    1264278

Puddersthecat
County: Kilkenny
Posts: 1672

1264271
I emigrated over to AFR becuase every hurling thread descended into farce on here because of Thurlesblues. Not sure if that is still the case but looks like I'm back here.

I used AFR for hurling and Hoganstand for football broadly speaking. Although I'd still comment on hurling here and football there too. I think hurling has improved slightly on HS but it's still mainly a football site.

Sad to see AFR go as there were some very good posters on it, particularily for hurling I thought.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13803 - 11/09/2012 16:44:07    1264284

Lads Even if we put our real names up I still reckon none of us would know each other so what difference does it make? Anyway sad to hear that hopefully hoganstand doesn't do the same thing.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 11/09/2012 16:45:44    1264285

I agree with Ormo especially the 24/7 bit

It think that an administrator is an expensive overhead ( not to mention several) now a days in a forum like this. I'm not so sure it's finished perhaps it just lost out to HS. I agree that people need to be careful when being critical of amateur players, the PROs get well paid and it goes with the territory.

The sense of entitlement is a phenomanon that you see here, some poster seem to herd and decide that their view of the world is right and that other styles of comment must conform or else the comment itself will be ignored and the poster ridiculed. (is that a bit judgemental of me I think it is)

Actually some people are 100% serious and some less so but the entitled scorn on the dissenters

it takes all types and it wouldnt be the same without the peculiar mix that is the HS and long may it continue!

ochonlir (Cavan) - Posts: 4343 - 11/09/2012 16:58:36    1264299

ormond the guy going out of business was citing users who pay nothing looking for extra services, so we'd better all be on our best behaviour or we might end up without our own site. I contribute occasionally to a couple of Scottish Football sites and again most the sites over there are gone from being anonymous to the Facebook Identity format. I wouldn't have a problem with Hoganstand doing that as it might flush out a few WUMS but I suppose a determined WUM could set up a false Facebook page and continue on his merry way.

corkcelt (Cork) - Posts: 4388 - 11/09/2012 17:04:58    1264307

Welcome back Puddersthecat

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11594 - 11/09/2012 17:17:41    1264322

The only time I thought HS was a bad place was after mayo beat Dublin in 2006!....most will agree that the stuff posted here about Dublin was seriously shocking and totally uncalled for.....(funny how this year or last year there has been no 'fantastic' stories of Grannys getting beaten up by Dubs after games)!!

Apart from that, I cant say that there is any badness on here! If ya cant take the normal craic and jibes, whether its lads going on about the north, puke football, top 3 teams, worst underachieves or whatever then God help us!....totally harmless!

Regards,

Snufalufagus....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 11/09/2012 17:49:14    1264359

I for one am not sad to see AFR's demise. Am I allowed say that in this free country of ours?

ballydalane (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1256 - 11/09/2012 18:29:36    1264394