Should the GAABOARD Shut Down

[Sandy Hill]

I read the article. He is mostly correct except the GAA can't really do much. Perhaps it could ask Hoganstand to shut down their forums (mostly toxic and of no use) and clubs/counties but an independent forum like this?

To be honest when I started here it was really informative, very witty and bullshit intolerant. If you came in acting the maggot you got a few slaps to knock the corners off you and on we went. It's still the best place I've found if you're looking for information but the bullshit has largely taken over.

Ultimately I don't know what the answer is. I'm still here I suppose.

I find this place mostly informative. It's just a shame some PRACTICALLY ALL threads degenerate into handbag stuff. If two contributors are having a ding-dong there should be a rule that it can't go on for more than three replies; it gets fierce tedious wading through page after page of it.

[Lar Naparka]

Donaghy has a completely valid wider point, but his solution is ridiculously ill-informed. The GAA obviously has no authority to shut down this or any other website or social media platform. Its up to the members here and the moderators to keep the standards up by cracking down on trolls and abuse on a couple of fronts. There are the arseholes who post inflammatory shite just to get a reaction; the ones who offer no substantial discussion beyond personal attacks. And then, the stuff Donaghy is on about, the ridiculous and over the top personal attacks on players, managers and referees who are doing their very best at an amateur sport and are not here to defend themselves. The stuff on the referees, in particular, gets very sickening, especially when its geniuses who have had the opportunity to study a replay in hi-def, slowed-down footage from all angles before making their "criticism".

+1
That just about sums it up for me.
I find nothing wrong with what Donghy said about the problem but I don't think he understands the way the internet, and that included social media outlets and discussion forums , are structured.

[ck]

These former players (incl GPA) see themselves as more important than the rest of our GAA community. Donaghys remarks are just more of the same.. he was probably asked about Caroline Fleck thing in a GAA context, and instead of giving an intelligent analysis he jumps at censorship and denying the ordinary man a voice (Ridiculous and ill informed response). Only high profile people like him are worthy of comment via the media?

The issue is how people behave, not the fact that there are platforms to give the ordinary man a voice. The day these platforms are shut down will be a sad day for free speech.

[rosnarun]

These former players (incl GPA) see themselves as more important than the rest of our GAA community. Donaghys remarks are just more of the same.. he was probably asked about Caroline Fleck thing in a GAA context, and instead of giving an intelligent analysis he jumps at censorship and denying the ordinary man a voice (Ridiculous and ill informed response). Only high profile people like him are worthy of comment via the media?

The issue is how people behave, not the fact that there are platforms to give the ordinary man a voice. The day these platforms are shut down will be a sad day for free speech.

this is all part of society coming to grip with the World where any one can publish to the whole world that they think your a **** .
Censorship as a tool is not a realistic proposition for technical and other reasons.
People are just going to have to learn to live with online Criticism . Fair or otherwise , and learn how to filter it. and Presume others can as well
Like a restaurant  on trip Advisor if it gets 1 bad review out of a 100 people have to have enough cop to know that's on the  reviewer whereas if Half the reviews are bad then its probably a shit restaurant

[JoG2]

These former players (incl GPA) see themselves as more important than the rest of our GAA community. Donaghys remarks are just more of the same.. he was probably asked about Caroline Fleck thing in a GAA context, and instead of giving an intelligent analysis he jumps at censorship and denying the ordinary man a voice (Ridiculous and ill informed response). Only high profile people like him are worthy of comment via the media?

The issue is how people behave, not the fact that there are platforms to give the ordinary man a voice. The day these platforms are shut down will be a sad day for free speech.

This is the bit I agree with

"I have no issue with people saying stuff if they can be held accountable for but this being able to say stuff and not be held accountable is wrong."

Abuse being hurled from an anonymous name doesn't serve any purpose. Just take a look at the Tyrone thread when this topic was mentioned, or just the Tyrone thread in general. Would these posters post with their real name attached, I highly doubt it.

I've got plenty of good info on this main board through the years and from private messaging folk, but you do have to wade through a serious amount of muck too. Needs alot more moderation

[greatpoint]

Donaghy was on OTB this morning talking further on it, but if I'm honest if anything he's made his viewpoint less clear. He doesn't want GAA forums banned now he just wants us all to have our real names and addresses attached to our accounts via our passports. He seems to use social media and forums interchangeably so I'm not sure how much he actually understands about his issue.

[GetOverTheBar]

Donaghy means well but he's effectively asking for censorship.

Some people use this place to spew all kinds of crap, it's not really something I get but it is what it is, the internet and forums/social media etc isn't really something to take serious - I think too many people take the internet as a reality.

The vast majority of things I read here are from good Gaelic people and long may it continue, I enjoy reading the discussions even when I don't agree with the points made and there are some people on here who I actively look out for their posts because they are informed and passionate about the games. I don't need to know their real names or faces to appreciate that.

There are always going to be negative people in the world, the fact they stick to or prefer the internet and on forums where you can choose not to go or indeed mute if you wish to read other posts is fine by me. Better than some drunk in Croke Park ruining the game by telling me player X is a useless so and so.

[Aristo 60]

He should probably seek legal advice..."what ya tink about dat Joe Brolly?" would be his opening line at the first consultation.

[seafoid]

The Gaaboard should get an opt-out due to average age. The tech is even older than the posters. I remenver how volatile it was in 02 in the run up to Armagh's Sam, before Tyrone won it.

[omaghjoe]

Donaghy was on OTB this morning talking further on it, but if I'm honest if anything he's made his viewpoint less clear. He doesn't want GAA forums banned now he just wants us all to have our real names and addresses attached to our accounts via our passports. He seems to use social media and forums interchangeably so I'm not sure how much he actually understands about his issue.

He's essentially asking for the moon on a stick.

Anyone can pretty much set up a forum like this, with anonymous usernames etc. anywhere in the world.

How would he intend to enforce such rules on sites which have discussions on GAA topics only as part of a larger community, like boards.ie?

What about those whom don't have a passport of another high level of personal ID like a driving licence?

How would such forums be able to comply with EU GDPR laws if personal data is to be stored, not to mention potential security breaches?

To the best of my knowledge, this forum here is hosted in the USA, and while even before GDPR kicked in, WHOIS info regarding gaaboard.com was obfuscated (though a little more research didn't take too much trouble to work out what county the domain owner is from - no, it's not Tyrone, so stop hassling Ziggy!)

The cat is out of the bag regarding online places like this. If the Great Internet Wall of China and other attempted controls by oppressive regimes, top-of-the-line hired lawyers for Hollywood studios, sports broadcast rights holders, music record labels etc. not to mention general law enforcement policing illegal online material continue to having to engage in never-ending battles to stop critical reporting or copyright theft online, then what bloody chance does something like the GAA have?

If someone nearing retirement age came out with this suggestion 15 to 20 years ago I could sort of give an allowance to them perhaps not knowing how the likes of Internet forums and message boards worked. OTOH someone like Donaghy is of an age whom would have grown up interacting with the internet and should be familiar with how it works - he has no excuse, especially in 2020.

This isn't a dismissal of how online communities like this forum behave and conduct themselves though, and to the general broad public reputation it or anything like it has. However it can only police that within its own boundaries. The one possible saving grace for those critical of forums like here is that most younger generations no longer really bother using them - most users are at least in their mid-30's and most such long running forums like this one have been seeing gradual falls in activity and new members joining up, with a large portion of those "joining" having been previously banned and attempting to rejoin under a new nom de plume. Teens and young adults OTOH tend to stick within certain social media and messaging platforms which can be quite fluid as to where they camp & decamp to.

Yeah but he did move to Kerry when he was about 7 so you'd probably have to give him a little leeway there

[Main Street]

Donaghy is a wee bit tick at times, would that be the Tyrone blood kicking in?

[rosnarun]

Donaghy was on OTB this morning talking further on it, but if I'm honest if anything he's made his viewpoint less clear. He doesn't want GAA forums banned now he just wants us all to have our real names and addresses attached to our accounts via our passports. He seems to use social media and forums interchangeably so I'm not sure how much he actually understands about his issue.

He's essentially asking for the moon on a stick.

Anyone can pretty much set up a forum like this, with anonymous usernames etc. anywhere in the world.

How would he intend to enforce such rules on sites which have discussions on GAA topics only as part of a larger community, like boards.ie?

What about those whom don't have a passport of another high level of personal ID like a driving licence?

How would such forums be able to comply with EU GDPR laws if personal data is to be stored, not to mention potential security breaches?

To the best of my knowledge, this forum here is hosted in the USA, and while even before GDPR kicked in, WHOIS info regarding gaaboard.com was obfuscated (though a little more research didn't take too much trouble to work out what county the domain owner is from - no, it's not Tyrone, so stop hassling Ziggy!)

The cat is out of the bag regarding online places like this. If the Great Internet Wall of China and other attempted controls by oppressive regimes, top-of-the-line hired lawyers for Hollywood studios, sports broadcast rights holders, music record labels etc. not to mention general law enforcement policing illegal online material continue to having to engage in never-ending battles to stop critical reporting or copyright theft online, then what bloody chance does something like the GAA have?

If someone nearing retirement age came out with this suggestion 15 to 20 years ago I could sort of give an allowance to them perhaps not knowing how the likes of Internet forums and message boards worked. OTOH someone like Donaghy is of an age whom would have grown up interacting with the internet and should be familiar with how it works - he has no excuse, especially in 2020.

This isn't a dismissal of how online communities like this forum behave and conduct themselves though, and to the general broad public reputation it or anything like it has. However it can only police that within its own boundaries. The one possible saving grace for those critical of forums like here is that most younger generations no longer really bother using them - most users are at least in their mid-30's and most such long running forums like this one have been seeing gradual falls in activity and new members joining up, with a large portion of those "joining" having been previously banned and attempting to rejoin under a new nom de plume. Teens and young adults OTOH tend to stick within certain social media and messaging platforms which can be quite fluid as to where they camp & decamp to.

supersized at that you were my second Guess!
any figures as to the decline of discussion board  . is boards.ie doing well as more modern media do not allow for much discussion evend media seem to be getting shorter . whats TIKTOK 15 seconds?
Any one here with knowledge how to do an app or would that just lead to even more off the cuff rermarks

[Keyser soze]

Keep er lit lads ...and  this time next year we will be getting a massive wad of funding from Croker!!!