The Blue Room

[SoFo]

The Blue Room, the bulletin board on the EvertonFC.com web site, has been taken down due to offensive and abusive content. Anyone who has been on it knows that some of the content is offensive and abusive, no doubt written by barely literate 10-year-olds. But I am capable of just ignoring that stuff, and I found the Blue Room useful and fun. I mourn its demise, and I hope it returns.

[BuddhaNYC]

obviously, people can not communicate without some source of trashy language..really is a pity that immature people 10-50 yr olds can't just talk about something without insulting people

[thetoffees]

I can't say I ever went on it but surely it couldn't be monitored like most other forums?

Or was it SO bad they couldn't stop it?

[SoFo]

I can't say I ever went on it but surely it couldn't be monitored like most other forums?

Or was it SO bad they couldn't stop it?

It was moderated, and the truly and obviously offensive statements were removed as soon as they were observed. And I think that for a wide-open bulletin board, where a lot of crap is expected, it wasn't that bad. Once you saw a thread had deteriorated, you could just stop reading it. This is how real life is, for better or for worse.

[IU34]

Racism should not be accepted to any extent. No problem the Blue Room now ceases to exist.

[SoFo]

I wrote the following letter to the club today. This is a printed-out letter, sent in the mail:

>>Sept. 18, 2009

Mr. Ian Ross, PR and External Affairs
Everton Football Club
Goodison Park
Liverpool l4 4EL, U.K.

Dear Mr. Ross:

I don’t know if you are the right person to contact about this, but as you may know, the Blueroom portion of the EvertonFC.com web site has been closed, due to “persistent abuse of the forum.” This decision was made several weeks ago as “the only option left available.”

Some of the postings in the Blueroom were abusive, but most of those were clearly juvenile in nature. Put a 10-year-old in front of a computer, and this is the kind of stuff you will get, sometimes. I found it easy enough to ignore.

In spite of the abuse, I found the Blueroom to be beneficial in terms of following the club from a great distance away. We have only a handful of Everton fans here in Chicago, and I am not in contact with them daily. On the Blueroom, I could read from and converse with Everton fans at any time. I even met some of them on my trips to England to see Everton games.

I hope the Blueroom, or something like it, can be reinstated. Perhaps, in addition to the posted guidelines for acceptable use, the moderators could make examples of unacceptable use, by inserting into objectionable posts text such as “Unacceptable use: Language” or “Unacceptable use: Racism” or “Unacceptable use: Personal attack.” This way, people would see the post, see the admonition and begin to realize what is acceptable and what is not.

One of the things that makes me an Everton supporter is the zeal of the fans. The Blueroom helped me experience that. Now it’s gone and I miss it, warts and all.

COYB<<

[thetoffees]

Ian Ross is probably the right person to contact - any response?

[SoFo]

Ian Ross is probably the right person to contact - any response?

I did receive a letter in the mail Friday. I will type in the contents here when I get a chance.

[SoFo]

Here is the response I received from Ian Ross:

22/09/09 [Sept. 22]

Dear James,

Thanks very much for your letter.

The problems we have with the Blueroom are manifold.

I agree -- it is a fantastic facility ... especially for those loyal fans who are distributed across the globe.
It was suspended after a VERY serious problem arose -- I can't go into details but, trust me, we had no option.

The solution is, as you rightly point out, firm and decisive moderators...the problem being, that just isn't a viable or affordable option; we would have to employ additional staff to monitor 24 hours a day etc....

However, we are working with our web-design team to come up with a new form of "platform" and we remain hopeful it will be back up and running in the not too distant futire.

Thanks again for taking the time to write.

Cheers,

Ian

My comments:
(1) I'm pleased that Mr. Ross apparently read my letter and responded to the points raised in it, instead of having a computer belch out a form letter. This is why I sent in a printed-out, mailed letter instead of an e-mail.
(2) I wish I knew what the VERY serious problem was that arose.
(3) It will be interesting to see what the new "platform" is.
(4) Getting a personal response like this that recognizes my concern, even though it doesn't solve it, reinforces Everton's position as the People's Club, at least until some zillionaire buys the team.

[Rocket]

SoFo,

Until/unless Everton resolves their problems operating the Blue Room you're always welcome to post here at BigSoccer.

And if you know how to contact some of the Blue Room regulars, it would be neat for them to join us here (provided they behave themselves :D )

[spider_kin]

yeah. we have some hardass moderators up in here :D ;)

That was a very nice response from the club... it did take into account your letter and while it didn't really address your issues (explaining it better/reinstating it) it did at least acknowledge that they feel your frustration and do want to fix it somehow. :)

[11.sheedy]

Hi guys

Im an english blueroomer - Ive had an email from the club, as i think most members have today, stating theyre looking at reinstating it and asking for volunteers to moderate.

The problem was racism. Despite the usual rubbish and arguments that were part and parcel of the forum, a couple of members wrote a lot of quite vile racist abuse aimed at saha after he missed a penalty in the game against Burnley.

Looks like it might be back up soon so i look forward to chatting with some everton fans from the USA when it does!!

Got tickets for sundays game and i cant wait, good result tonight too with so many players out!

take care guys

[sarabella]

yeah. we have some hardass moderators up in here :D ;)

That was a very nice response from the club... it did take into account your letter and while it didn't really address your issues (explaining it better/reinstating it) it did at least acknowledge that they feel your frustration and do want to fix it somehow.
I'm as nasty as they get, eh? :p

[spider_kin]

i can barely get a post out without getting told off ;)

we love our moderators in here!

[SoFo]

Hi guys

Im an english blueroomer - Ive had an email from the club, as i think most members have today, stating theyre looking at reinstating it and asking for volunteers to moderate.

take care guys

Please keep us posted on this.
I don't recall getting an e-mail, but I may have accidentally deleted it.