Anonymity

Plain and simple,discuss the topic and dont attack the poster personally.We are all entitled to our opinions.I know of a few people who have left this site because of the personal attacks...it becomes degrading at times.

You may have it right Puffin?
Would just like to clarify, have not left the site, they are still visitors, but not posters. An open Forum is a hard game and many very wary of what they post as it can lead to a hard time.

A good example of a loss to the site was DTD. (Luke Zaki). If a recall correctly DTD posted that certain of the stable horses would win (Perfumed Garden?????) and the horse did not. This lead to serious abuse on the site and resulted in him leaving.

A great shame imo as he definitely added value and helped with selections. Whether this abuse stemmed from anonymous posters is probably debatable. My point is you can cop abuse whether it be from an anonymous poster or not. What difference does it make.

People are always going to be sensitive where there is money and reputation involved.

The flipside to this Trouble is that in dealing with racing issues, ugliness often raises its head which results in the people we want to be heard on this site, shunning it for certain of its posters views.

Ultimately what needs to be decided is this site a site for:

1. the elite, Barry Irwin and co to share their exclusive views
2. A site to exclusively raise contentious issues.
3. A site to find tips
4. A site for people with a similar interest to discuss their views and passion for the game.
5. Or all of the above.

There are people from all walks of life posting here with different levels of interests. I found your old posts to be well written well thought out posts but a lot of the time a bit over my head. I can say the same for Umlilo and Garrik who both seem to be well educated people, as you are as an attorney. I have not been afraid to enter into discussions with neither Umlilo nor Garrick. We have been able to respectfully debate issues without doing any harm.

I would personally steer away from making this site an elitist column for the well educated and the rich as this will definitely not attract new posters out of fear of being ridiculed for ignorant posts. I have no fear of being ridiculed as I am learning and I am not afraid to voice an opinion. Therefore I have no concern with being labled ignorant as I have a lot more to learn.

Thank you for another valuable contribution Adv. Maselle.
I have always stated that we have enough SA experts visiting the site and I have focused more on the U.K. racing, but point taken.
I am on my way to the big "T" and will attempt to give more attention to SA racing, but again would rather hear from trainers and owners that visit the site than my own opinion on who will win a race.

Hi Alcaponee & Trouble Shooter.

Fully agree with your views & tnx for your compliment; many others also deserve it (the silent ones too!).

Freedom of expression is a joke in this country when we analyse the media; TV, radio, press, etc. The 'slants' become so sickeningly obvious and irritating! Just have a cursory look into Tellytrack and Racing Express- where are 'contrary' (not contradictory!) to the norm views?

For instance, why not a full-blown debate / discussion / mobilisation on the viability of a 'third' industry player (BEE et al)?

or, is Responsible Gambling 'responsible' when it comes to the thousands of punters not within the 'circle' who virtually 'squat' in the township betting outlets day in, day out?

Or....

I have changed the home page and as you are aware I am against personal attacks, but I have no control over the posters they are not part of a secret Clan.
You always speak your mind Cat, plus I am not in the habit of deleting posts or banning posters.
It might have become boring, but when I get up at 4.00 to look for items for the home page overseas or local, I don't look for drama, I look for stories relating to horse racing, and maybe that's what's missing?

I am Thomas Bray and I reside near Bournemouth which is in Dorset, England.

My wife, thanks to this website, is now considering underoing complete psychoanalysis in an effort to regain some stability in her life, now
that she has learned her husband has been reclassified as "elite." A
simple woman who has spent most of her adult life compiling statistics
for Bloodstock Research Information Services, she now has to deal with
the new uptick in status. She nowhas to deal with such things as wondering
if she must join a club and lunch with other elite ladies. Things like
that. Thanks a lot!

All kidding aside, my wife did co-found and operate the most successful racing website in the United States for racing fans and punters. She walked away after a few years because the negativity of the posters was robbing her of her life-long enjoyment of the sport.

Also, before many of you had become racing fans or were even born, I had a radio program that was aired twice weekly for 2 hours in 1976 that featured guest and, more importantly, call ins from punters.

I did it for 3 years and thoroughly enjoyed it, because it was very educational.

The reason people come to message boards is to seek knowledge and information and to share their ideas. Without an exchange of thought and information, the racing game would die.

Acting in a rude manner takes the incentive away from people wanting to post. Most nasty people have no courage, which is why they post anonymously.

Barry are you on track or in the States? as I see Shes on Fire can win the main race, will take a photo (if it wins)?

No, I am home in Kentucky. Robin Bruss is there representing me, but go ahead and join him.