I have supported Blackburn Rovers since 1992 (im 23) and disabled. I joined the official messageboard a year ago, and after a short while i had 2 people making fun of me and swearing at me for being disabled... I then complained to the website Admin named 'Lee' and he copied the message i sent him and pasted it to the main messageboard and made fun of me for it. I believe the 2 regular users were his friends. I didnt want to cause problems so i switched over to the unofficial messageboard. But after a while i started getting hassled by the admin on there named 'Ste B', he eventually temporarily banned me (but never took me off) even though board member users and a moderator objected, saying id done nothing wrong and it was wrong. I had been stuck with nowhere to talk to my fellow supporters for a year because of this. Until just recently when i got a new pc, new IP Address, meaning i could get back on. A few days later he banned me again for 10 years! I need help? What can i do?
2007-12-20 01:56:27 · 22 answers · asked by Thomas (from the UK) 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ People with Disabilities
I had the fact i was disabled in my profile and somebody went onto it. Found it out and then abused it.
I had something along the lines of "getting to games is difficult for me because im disabled"...
These 2 messageboards are the only ones i can talk about my club properly and i feel trully hurt about how i have been treated.
I dont have the IT experience to create my own messageboard.
I have made a formal complaint to them via email and have also sent a complaint to one of the messageboards in question.
I think i might write to the director of the club as i have copies of some of the vicious messages that were sent to me!
It all reminds me of people being picked on on the school playground you know! Just because im different.
I cant ring the local paper as the club is not local to me. I also dont want to put them in a negative light as i still love them!
I was banned because i complained about the treatment i received. Then the 2 people were able to abuse there position.
2007-12-20 02:32:02 · update #1
As i said, i didnt say i was disabled, but then again, i dont keep it a secret and i had created a topic to see if there was any other disabled supporters out there i could chat too.
Yes im afraid it defines who i am quite heavily as i am only able to leave the house 1 or 2 times a week because of it. I cant travel long distances without having huge panic attacks. I have condition that causes my muscles in my legs not to work properly and it can be agonising allot of the time as well as effecting my balance. I also smashed my kneecap in 2 on the rare occasion i went out earlier this year which has caused problems as you can guess.
Like i said i was banned because i objected to someone making fun of me for being disabled.
I didnt make any derogatory comments about the club or anyone on the board.
Me being disabled hasnt stopped me supporting my team. I have supported them through thick and thin. Relegation and winning cups! Blackburn are my team and i will always support them...
2007-12-20 02:39:40 · update #2
Roxy this is the sad thing, the only 2 boards that have disabled users are those 2 which is why i was enjoying chatting on there. Id made friends...
It really sucks as im not a nasty person at all...
2007-12-20 03:02:48 · update #3
I have just received a fairly pathetic reply from the club official who spoke to the messageboard admin.
Basically shifting the blame to me. Apparently i was the one causing the problems. Members of staff at the football club have nothing to do with unnoficial messageboards. Even though the person in question admited that the Rovers admin spoke to him.
ITS LIKE THE PERSON WHO REPLIED TO MY EMAIL DIDNT EVEN READ WHAT I SAID!?.
The blame has been completely shifted on my shoulders, apparently its all my fault...?
He even banned me immediately to stop arguments kicking off on the messageboard apparently, which is amusing considering i was banned 2 weeks after i left the final message on the messageboard. Bit of a gap!
"I'm sure there are more than two Blackburn Rovers websites out there
where you can converse, but maybe you need to look at how you behave
online if two sites that are independent of each other have both barred
you"
I will post my original email...
2007-12-20 03:31:25 · update #4
"Firstly id just like to say that i rung the telephone line you have and
you didnt have any staff present who could help me with my problem.
I am writing this message with regards to both your official
messageboard and your unofficial messageboards.
About a year and a half ago now, i signed up to the official
messageboard to chat with my fellow Blackburn Rovers fans.
I while later i had a problem with 2 of its members, who were making fun
of me for being disabled, because of where i lived, they were swearing
and saying some quite hurtfull things to me. I followed the
messageboards advice, and messaged Lee the site Admin about the problems
i was having. To which he replied something along the lines of dont be a
whimp. He then left a message on the messageboard for all to see
refering to my complaint, which made it near enough impossible for me to
stay on there".
Message continues...
2007-12-20 03:32:48 · update #5
"I chose to do the 'adult' thing, and move across to the Unofficial
messageboard. During the next week, unknowingly, Lee banned me from the
official messageboard, i have no reason why.
I was happily chatting with Rovers fans on BRFCS, when suddenly i
started getting complaints and quite rude messages from the site Admin
on there Username Ste B. Saying i was posting too much and that he'd
been getting complaints, which later were revealed to be false from one
of the sites fellow Moderators.
Over the space of quite some time, i was (i can only describe as)
tormented by this person. In the end, he used his position to
temporarily ban me till the end of the year (2006). He however never
removed the ban. I had moderators and other site members message me in
support, saying that what was happening to me was wrong and unfair.
I later found out Lee Grooby had messaged Ste B to warn him that i am a
'trouble maker' which is completely false... I have supported Rovers
since 1992"
2007-12-20 03:34:52 · update #6
"(im 23), i am also quite severly disabled as i have already
mentioned so using the net is quite important for me as you can imagine.
BRFCS recently had a facelift, and i was able to sign back up to chat on
there, however Ste B noticed i had signed back up and used his position
to ban me again till the year 2017?! I had done nothing wrong, i never
swear on messageboards and never break the site rules.
I have had a very bad year as i had an accident, which means i spend
even more time at home then normal! I now have nowhere to talk about the
club i love. All seamingly steming from the abuse i got for being
disabled.
I hate the way the club is being portrayed and represented by these
people.
All i want to do is chat to fellow supporters, i am from the south so
fellow supporters are fewer in number.
I would really appreciate some help as i really feel i am being treated
badly.
T.Evans"
------------
I feel sick, i really dont deserve any of this, its really got to me.
2007-12-20 03:36:13 · update #7
sylvia h, i did complain to the club directly via email, however i received a reply that indicated that the member of staff didnt even read what i said.
They basically backed up there member of staff and indicated it was all my fault and that loads of people had been complaining about my behaviour. When in actual fact it was me doing the complaining about how i was being treated, so think they just got rid of me to cover it up or shut me up...
chiliswo... thankyou for that list, i will contact some of them after Christmas.
I just cant believe its come to this, i hate to have the thing i believed and trusted in portrayed in this light.
Most of all, after the last year of hell that i have had, i really didnt need this.
I didnt cause any problems signing back up and i had people i was friends with chatting to over a year ago welcoming me back and saying they missed me. Its just really horrible. Especially over Christmas!
Oh well, thanks for the help everyone
Mery Christmass!
2007-12-20 10:48:52 · update #8
Tech, no it wasnt that. I checked my account activity.
One thing i forgot to mention was another member of the messageboard was banned by the site Admin for objecting to what was happening to me and also objecting to how the site was being controlled.
Tom
2007-12-20 12:32:20 · update #9
Chas B why the hell come out with a comment like that?
Im only level 1 so cant reply to the comments directly so have to add details to reply to peoples comments...? Thats why it looks so long.
2007-12-21 17:13:31 · update #10
Stay away from that message board and use a different one with another ID, tell no one you are disabled.
2007-12-20 02:53:05 · answer #1 · answered by Roxy. 6 · 7⤊ 2⤋
Even though Blackburn Rovers don't endorse the messageboards you could still write to the Board if you know the address because this is shedding bad light on the club.
We don't really know how to help you with this as we don't go onto messageboards like these but we would advise that it would depend on which messageboards you are on whether or not to have it in your profile that you are disabled. This is something you could tell people as you get to know them better. We are both disabled and have never hidden the fact but there are some occasions when people just do not need to know unless you are planning to meet up with them or something.
Unfortunately there are some folk who are bullies whether or not they are online and with the added "bonus" of anonymity bullying occurrs frequently on some sites.
Don't let these no-brainers put you off your support for Blackburn Rovers. Good luck in finding another forum to talk to good supporters.
2007-12-21 09:06:12 · answer #2 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If there is abuse being posted on the website of Blackburn Rovers Football Club and this is directed at you, for no apparent reason that is acceptable to the ordinary reader, it might be defamation or even libel.
Write a letter, outlining your grievance to the Chief Executive of the Club, making sure that you quote the passages you have taken offence at, asking for an investigation of the Moderator of the site.
If you receive no reply or are not satisfied, ring the local paper and ask to see a reporter.
Name and shame if you are in the right.
2007-12-20 02:09:39 · answer #3 · answered by MANCHESTER UK 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Follow chilsworth's advice. Also write to the Chairman of Blackburn Rovers, he will probably stop the message board using the copyrighted name.
2007-12-22 03:47:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
nI thought we have answered this question before. I don't believe they banned you or anyone else for being disabled. I would think the most likely thing is that you have been banded for what you put on the board. I suggest you review what you are writing. In any case life is not about football or message boards so why don't get on with something else
2007-12-27 01:19:52 · answer #5 · answered by Maid Angela 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm at a loss to understand this as how did they know you were disabled on a message board. But if this has happened why don't you write to the director of the club with your complaints. I am sure they will soon sort it out.
2007-12-20 02:03:46 · answer #6 · answered by focus 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Contact these folks:
Disabled Rovers Supports
Guy Wignall - Chairman 01254 237985 GuyWignall@aol.com
Christine Peacock - Vice Chairman 01253 860949 CCDPeacock@aol.com
Duncan Gardiner - Secretary 01254 693793
Terry Kennedy - Treasurer 01254 209791
Lisa Farrell - Committee Member 01254 690021
Julie Wilkinson - Committee Member 01254 883125
Mustak Patel- Committee Member 01254 696216
2007-12-20 05:45:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 11⤊ 0⤋
I find it difficult to understand ,1) were you banned for being disabled ?or 2) for complaining about being hassled,?or 3) did you pass a derogatory comment about the club,?Personally I would forget Blackburn, there are plenty of decent clubs in your neck of the woods to support. Further I do not see why being disabled should stop you supporting any team, nor do I see why in those circumstances you need to disclose it.
2007-12-20 02:22:07 · answer #8 · answered by SAPPER 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Not much you can do about it. I got banned from a "HIV" board for offering the following advise:
"When in doubt, protection is the safest route"
The question was regarding how soon someone could go back to unprotected sex after a Negative testing.
Good luck.
2007-12-20 02:09:18 · answer #9 · answered by Guessses, A.R.T. 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
More likely you were a victim of a hacker that took control of the message board.
Calling the members over the phone is better to resolves the issue then over the internet.
2007-12-20 12:06:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I know it's hard but you have to back off and let them be. I had to back off a Pregnancy support site cause there were nothing but stupid woman on there who were racist and dumb. They called me all kinds of names. I fought on line with them on the boards but it got me nowhere. Its best just to let those losers be. there is nothing you can do.
I'm sorry
2007-12-28 01:57:50 · answer #11 · answered by USMCgrlandMommy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋