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It's been ages since he was sent to Coventry and it feels horrible to think that someone is being excluded from the 'gang'.
Is this place really missing anything without him?
Not really. It's nice not having threads taken over by Elf all the time.
Which 'gang' is that then?
Oh and this thread will be pulled.
Thats the problem with these forums, "the gang", its not a gang its a public forum for those with an interest in mountain biking.
ignoring whether the ban is justified or not, could someone who knows him let us know that he's OK as it did sound like he wasn't in a great place. ..
I have it on good authority he's alive and well, and abusing Man U fayns on twitter.
He's fine.
Surely if he's that bothered about coming back he can/will in another guise?
How do you stop a person who wants to from signing up again when all you need is an email address which isn't hard to come by 😕
I think he'll be lurking somewhere biding his time 😯
IP spy stuff would spot him innit?
If you could unban him it would save me having to read all his regular email tirades
Why should I be on the receiving end of it, when you lot get off scot free!
Will somebody please think of the children!
Not really. It's nice not having threads taken over by Elf all the time.
^^^^
THIS
Besides, he's probably too busy figuring out some pseudo-urban way of spelling 'narcissism'.
I've preferred the place without him to be honest.
cynic-al - Member
IP spy stuff would spot him innit?
Most folk have dynamic IP addresses
He didn't take any of my threads over...
I don't know why he affected that spelling thing, he is actually very clever. Um, he's a really nice person too, kind, funny, thoughtful (ok, as well as sometimes being annoying).
I was always interested in people's reaction to him, rather than upset by what he said.
Yes, I know it's a forum open to everyone but some of us have met more than once for rides, including me, so I do feel a sense of group.
loverly around here at the moment. just the right amount of bickering and actual advice and debate.
I went out with him the other night - he does miss the forum, as I would. He's generally ok though, it seems.
better you than me Binners 😉 I can sense some twitching in the deepest darkest depths of East London at this thread.
Folk thought the patios was him being serious, it was a wind-up - and clearly a very effective one, was not it, spacemonkey?
druidh - Member
Most folk have dynamic IP addresses
Mine must be pretty lazy, I always got found out when I created a new log in from a new email addy after a banning.
LOL @ binners, know how you feel! 😉
He's a good bloke that tries a bit too hard to be the devils advocate at times, and his total "anti-establishment" attitude rubs many people up the wrong way. He's as harmless as they come, a genuine nice bloke that would go out of his way to help others out, just that sometimes he forgets that sometimes if you do want to play in somebody else's playground, with their toys, you have to abide by the rules or face the consequences! Much as many of us don't agree with all sorts of things in life, we have a mutter of discontent then just get on with things in general and accept them. People like Elf in society are the ones that challenge the social status quo, the ones that will fight for things that they believe in and we need people like that otherwise we'd live in an autocracy.
BUT... He needs to remember this is a Mountain Bike forum, and it's run and moderated by a group of guys with a Private Interest in it, and they not only pay for it but moderate it too. So basically, we have to abide by those rules or we aren't allowed to play!
Get him back. It's boring without Fred.
He's probably ina good place because Liverpool are playing well.
[i]He's as harmless as they come[/i]
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAA!
I'd started to forget he existed. No big deal really as far as I am concerned.
It's nice not having threads taken over by Elf all the time.
Agreed.
cynic-al - MemberFolk thought the patios was him being serious, it was a wind-up -
So have you been told where the bodies are buried?
I think folk would have taken him more seriously if he dropped the patois (struck me as a sign of immaturity). Undoubtedly an individual with some intelligence but bloody hell he did go on & on & on sometimes......
I imagine there's a lot less of this going on in the world
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Folk thought the patios was him being serious, it was a wind-up - and clearly a very effective one, was not it, spacemonkey?
I'm guessing you mean pathos? Either way, he liked the sound of his own voice too much IMO and became too absorbed in performing to [s]an[/s] his audience. Having said that, I've no doubt he's a sound bloke one-to-one and I'd happily saddle up with him on trails any time.
Sorry "patois".
Which 'gang' is that then?
the big hitters.
Bit of a COCK, nae loss...
In the interest of balance
he is not the only thread-hijacker - no, almost all the threads get derailed, and by many different people
chiefgrooveguru - Member
"It's nice not having threads taken over by Elf all the time."
Agreed.
+12
it was a wind-up
No, it was f^&%ing annoying and just not necessary.
fred who?
the big hitters.
Ah....STW's very own version of the Freemasons.
spacemonkey - Member
it was a wind-up
No, it was f^&%ing annoying and just not necessary.
LOL, see how well it worked? Get over it!
no, almost all the threads get derailed, and by many different people
Nail on head.............except others now get the chance. It's called diversification or progression of discussion and IMO this place is considerably better for it.
I read a dreadful thread about casual sex the other day.
I mean, the OP actually said "no" to a willing female!
LOL, see how well it worked? Get over it!
Nothing to 'get over'. Merely stating an opinion.
Been a better forum since the ban imo
Christ Al. are you sure it was just a drink you had with him 😉
His real life and on-line persona are rather different, and until you've met him for real it can be tough to 'enjoy' his on-line character. Although I always rather liked him....generally 😉
Not too fussed seeing him back either, other's may be opinionated but at least they seem a bit genuine, he just seemed to go out of his way to wind people up.
Seems like only yesterday mister cynic and fred were at each others throats, what changed?
I don't know why he affected that spelling thing, he is actually very clever.
Is that why he got banned ? He did explain the reason for his spelling once. When he was younger he struggled with his spelling so he would write phonetically, partly as a joke to cover up his poor spelling I believe. As he got older his spelling improved but as he had got quite good at writing phonetically, and it amused him, he carried on. I quite liked it, and all the more so because it wound up petty pretentious people who like to endlessly moan and whinge about the most trivial things imaginable.
I've preferred the place without him to be honest.
It would be interesting to see how his ban has affected forum activity, since the central charge laid against him appears to have been "negative use of the forum", unless I'm mistaken.
Personally I would be very surprised if it has indeed had any effect. I generally find the forum a little less interesting and probably post a bit less as a result. But then I also miss the likes of AdamG and Lanesra, so I presumably find disreputable people interesting.
spacemonkey - Member
Nothing to 'get over'. Merely stating an opinion.
You seem to be a pretty wound-up primate, in my opinion.
I read somewhere that the things we most dislike in other people are the things we dislike in ourselves. It's a good opportunity to have a little internal appraisal.
But I know he went on and on and on too.
By gang, I didn't mean the 'big hitters', I meant those of us who had met for rides specifically and, I suppose, everyone else generally. As I said, I have a 'group' feeling about this place because I think we all have something in common, apart from humanity of course.
I must go to bed, it's waaaaay past my bed time. Good night all.
It's obvious from this thread that Fred has an effect on people here for good or for bad. God knows he can get on peoples/my tits. The main thing that keeps drawing me back to stw is the different characters and to see what's goin on and what opinions people have on stuff and all the little arguments AND agreements (and to ask or maybe answer questions about bikes stuff obviously!) That's what makes this chat forum interesting to me, and Fred was one of the more interesting parts of STWs rich tapestry.
I liked most of his contributions... But did he not go absolutely bat**** crazy after he got banned? Seems like he burned his bridges in that case
edit:
damn, how do you do that video embedding thing!
Whatever he said, someone else responded and many threads turned into bickering matches between him and someone else. On many occasions people would tell them to go away and discuss it via PM but they couldn't resist and just ruined the discussion for everyone else.
Not why I come here so their absence (for the reason above) is an improvement for me
The forum is a far, far better place without him.
Good riddance.
the [u]central charge laid against him[/u] appears to have been "negative use of the forum",
We're being modded by Scotland Yard are we now?
We're being modded by Scotland Yard are we now?
Not that I'm aware of - why to do say that ?
Because you want to make a petty pedantic point ?
generally I liked the old boy, he did have this tendency however to wind everybody up to a fever pitch which could have kept the average punter at bay from the forum. I've always tended to have sat back and left the bighitters to get on with things though when this was happening. On the other hand I can understand why Mark might be a bit fed up with Fred and why he got banned.
there are people on here whose point of view and opinion I sometimes strongly disagree with, they may not swear or call people nasty names or whatever but I may not like where they are coming from. Ce la vie. But Fred can't let it go. I reckon he is an ex-fred cos the mods just can't handle someone so naggingly forthright and neverending in their opinions. It's just not "STW" brand. and yeah, he can take over cos he's bored, he can lose the plot sometimes, then it blows over and he's "back in the room". So what? It all adds to this peculiar forum to me. bring on the Freds, it's good to get another perspective no? I suppose cos I know him quite well I have a different view on this.
spacemonkey - Member
We're being modded by Scotland Yard are we now?
It's less consistent IME
Some of you are living in cloud-cuckoo land.
Do you actually believe that suggesting one of the STW staff might be a paedophile is (a) acceptable or (b) likely to be forgotten?
You'd hope the place would be run on less personal grounds, what wiv dem rules and all...
His real life and on-line persona are rather different
What's the point in that then ?
This is a mountainbike forum, not an improv class.
Lighten up Ernie.
Is that why he was banned? If so he deserves it.
He was an interesting poster and certainly not as abusive as some others on here have been. Also he would argue against the mob mentallity that can happen here, if he believed in something.
Plus he organised group rides, quite a positive on an mtb forum.
I dunno Ambrose tbh.
His real life and on-line persona are rather different
Yup, in real life he talks more. At least on a forum you can get a word in edgeways by posting something.
I've yet to hear of someone meeting him and not liking him btw.
i had some good yarns with the elf and a few petty squabbles an all.
but over all the forum is better since the elf was snared thrown in a sack and sent from the shire.
and anyways he will always find an outlet for it.
holds bevy aloft to the elf.
personally I always found him OK, a little weird, but OK. funny.
I can see why he got "baned" though, There was a girl on another forum I use, just the same, argued all the time about everything, really got on a few girls tits and the mods (and lets be honest, all the decent forums have mods) just got rid of her cos it was too much like hard work keeping up with her.
live by the sword, die by he sword and all that
shouldn't this be in the Wanted forum?
Haven't we already had this thread a few times?
Haven't we already had this thread a few times?
It's a well loved classic thread aracer.
To be treasured along with other threads such as, what vacuum cleaner, trade unions, people you hate on TV, what is there to do/see in London, other road users who upset you on the way to work, useless politicians, show us your dog, etc.
I just can't get enough of a good subject matter.
I like it here, good place to come for a natter/advice/argument.
Fred is a self obsessed little turd and I hope he is banned for life.
Until I sas this thread, I hadn't even realised he'd gone!
I liked elf, he's funny and didn't seem to take the place seriously like some do. And he said nice things about one of my photos that was all out of focus and blurry.
mcboo - MemberFred is a self obsessed little turd and I hope he is banned for life.
That's rather offensive mcboo - why do you feel the need to talk like that ?
As it happens I've got a fairly low opinion of you, I wouldn't however use metaphors such as "little turd" to describe you. Nor would I want you banned for that matter.
So why don't cut out the distasteful language and make this place a little bit more pleasant ? 💡
Could I politely ask everyone to read [url= http://helpguide.org/mental/grief_loss.htm ]this[/url] and then move on, please?
No I don't feel the need to sugar coat thanks Ernie. While we're being honest, you aren't my favourite in these parts either but I wouldn't accuse you of being a bully or deliberately setting out to spoil the forum, though if you reduce your average post length to under 3000 words we'd all appreciate it. TJ another one who I have locked horns with and who gets a lot of stick on here, but again adds much more than he detracts.
Fred I had to make a rule of ignoring after while, which clearly I am breaking here. If I was feeling charitable I'd say he needs to go talk to someone.
haha McBoo get a grip and relax man! wow this forum is serious shizzle!
Personally, I liked him.
I knew when to appreciate his posts and when to not take them so seriously - the London gezza vernacular amused me no end.
He was a supportive of some good causes on here and often displayed a humanist touch.
No matter how you get around it, if people are debating the fella’s absence a good month after he was baned .... well, that might tell you something ... better him than some boring git droning on about what tyres at Afan.
I think if given the opportunity he'd come back into the fold, chastened and moderated.
No I don't feel the need to sugar coat thanks Ernie.
So I noticed. My question was why the need to use such distasteful language ?
....if you reduce your average post length to under 3000 words we'd all appreciate it.
No I haven't got any plans to do that. Have you considered not reading my posts ?