Forum exposure

Barry

Getting the balance is not easy, if we were to close shop for only "named" people would set us back and no commitment that the authorities would start making a contribution.

When I used to go to my old chairman and tell him about the problems I had in certain plants, we would just look at me and say "David if it was easy, I would do it myself"

There is a thin line between genius and insanity and managing it can sometimes be a challenge, so I note your comments but its my job to run the site and will continue to do what I believe is a winning formula and if I feel the need for change I will make the call.

Unlike most other 1st world countries, we still have a constitution that guarantees each person TO THINK WHAT HE/SHE WANTS to THINK....

Most Internet users are viewing their OPINIONS (WHAT THEY THINK - and are rightly entitled to THINK and say what they THINK)

The challenge for the other Internet users is to be mature enough to accept the other internet posters view - even if they THINK that the opinion(view) is !@#$%^
Hence I go with the opinion - IT IS IMPORTANT WHAT IS POSTED

As for the verification of each internet user, it is impossible - allow me to explain
I can open a BETFAIR account
1. using my gardner name - Simon Thabalala
2. take a picture with my Blackberry Phone of Simon and email it to BETFAIR
3. Add credit card from my ex wife and transfer money from her credit card
4. account is active


in another 10 years, we will have replaced PC's,LAPTOPS, NETBOOKS with a iphone, using finger print recognition to do Internet access on every transaction - the only way to authenticate and authorize a person.

It has been around for the last 10 years as part of the Micro Soft offering, a mouse with a hole in the middle to read your finger print, and all new laptops, netbooks are coming out a standard finger print recognition reader.

However, worldwide the IT security is not understood by the CEO's (never came across more than +2 in my life that knew what was going on around him/her when it comes to IT security with authentication/Authorization)

perhaps we must implement the Zimbabwe rules..lol

None of you (Dave, Andre, Umlilo) addressed the main thrust of my argument, which is that until people show the courage to post under their own identity, nothing they say is likely to be taken seriously enough for The Establishment to respond.

My post was in direct response to Tommy's, which addressed getting members of The Establishment to post on ABC's message board.

I have suggested, a few times previously,that the site have a seperate area where persons provide proof of identity to participate,as I personally believe that comments are generally more responsible and more credible when accompanied by identity.
The existing area could continue so what harm can be done?
I am aware of some very relevant people in racing who have told me they would participate,but are not prepared to be slagged by unidentified posters.

Barry,
The establishment in RSA don't follow that strategy.
They should, we all agree.

However, coming back from the early 1970's, the culture in RSA has been to do the Ostrich approached... stick your head in the sand..and wait...the lion will be fooled and go away..
Very few RSA citizens are aware that as far back as 1988/1989 the country could not repay it's international debt..
Very few RSA citizens are aware that we have been downgraded to a -C status..next downgrade is JUNK status..
The 4 major banks in RSA need R600 billion before 2012 to comply with BASEL III - else RSA will go to junk status...????
Like Ireland downgraded this last week from +A to +BBB

But on the other hand, maybe the RSA strategy is the best given the following stats..keep your head in the sand..the lion will pass?
Debt expresses as a percentage of household income..
UK - around 160%
Japan - around 140%
USA - around 120%
EU - around 110%
RSA - around 80%

The same applies to corporations in RSA, the EXCO knows that the majority of JSE listed companies is in trouble..
Escom pays +28% (should be less than 16.5%) of turnover to salaries, SABC could be on 33%..not sustainable..
Why don't they do something...STRATEGY is to be SILENT....

The Racing Industry follows the same STRATEGY

Each country have a different culture..
Indian companies...don't relay the bad news....will never give you a definite "NO"..
Chinese companies....will sell you the goods at COST less 10%....to get hold of your customers..
RSA companies... Silence...hope that the issues will address itself...evolution..see where the road takes us....
USA and ZIMBABWE - print more notes...???

Barry, also consider that some from that establishment are or may already be posting on this site under a pseudo name....? pseudo names allow people to make honest and frank observations without having the worry of being persecuted for it. I think if you invited all of the main posters on this site into one room, you'd be shocked to see who they are!

@Barry Irwin:

'until people show the courage to post under their own identity, nothing they say is likely to be taken seriously enough..'

From the day the platten was invented, newspapers have published articles from questionable, unnamed sources.... nothing different to what people post on this and numerous other forums worldwide.

Wikileaks has made astounding revelations from an unnamed source; no matter where one stands on the disclosures, the info is in global public interest.

YET, they will not reveal the source of their info!

Similarly, why should anyone (a whistleblower) divulge his/her identity on a matter of public / reader interest?

Simultaneously, why should the message purveyor (media, whether IT or other) be victimised as with Wiki Leaks; shut down their servers, threaten them with assassination, close their banking accounts, refer to them as treasonable, etc....?

Herein, I quote Andrewest:
'Unlike most other 1st world countries, we still have a constitution that guarantees each person TO THINK WHAT HE/SHE WANTS to THINK....

Most Internet users are viewing their OPINIONS (WHAT THEY THINK - and are rightly entitled to THINK and say what they THINK)'.

How free is the media in the US? The FBI even taps one's phone with impunity; worse than the Stalinistic and 'apartheid' regimes of suppression of freedom of speech!

@rob faux:

'I am aware of some very relevant people in racing who have told me they would participate,but are not prepared to be slagged by unidentified posters.'

If one is holding a public position, there is an unwritten rule (commentaror's licence!) for such person to be castigated, ridiculed, mocked, parodied, etc like the 'Mampara of the Week' in which Hogarth and shames promiment public figures.... politics, business or otherwise!

Now, does it matter just who is this recalcitrant and wayward Hogarth?

I note that the moribund thread on the RA has been pulled with a number of issues not answered/resolved- is this the way that 'relevant people in racing want to participate'?

umlilo...lest they discovered what their area of responsibility and accountability is? and how big the holes in the net are? and that we (the posters - representative of punters, owners, the un-voiced) know the difference and will hold them accountable...? hmm. just exactly where and with whom does the buck stop?.

@Don:

Exactly!

In the States, the 'American Dream' ensures that the media (press & TV) remains patriotic; no bad-mouthing whether Republicans or democrats.

That condom has been blown apart by WikiLeaks' revelations- not only Americans, but also the rest of the world now sees the scum that the US is-no different to anarchist, tyrannical, despotic regimes which they condemn!

Now, Mr Irwin wants to sell us his sanitised 'media control' to give our forums a modicum of credibility!

Straight talk Mr Irwin:

You dispense such advice solely because of your elitist position... nothing else!

People like you can never identify with the problems and frustrations (there have been so many threads on these issues on this forum alone!) of ordinary punters, owners and trainers (who do not fit into your shoes) who receive no answers/ explanations from the Establishment..... that is no more than an elitist, capitalist, self-centred organism to not just secure itself but also protect its interests, even with token BEE!

That's the bottom line!

In conclusion, I see no difference between the letter of Smiley Moosa blowing his top about 'Top 3...

" and your comment 'based on my experience on line (which I would imagine would be longer than anybody else that posts herein..'

which is not only extremely condescending and self ingratiating, but also an insult to some of us!

I am shocked that a media man of such experince can utter such garbage of speech restriction!

Not, I guess.... you American!

YOU OWE US AN APOLOGY!

@Barry Irwin:

......and my name is Hanif Manjoo!

Should help credibility?

Im Spartacus

lol! sure....