Locking the forum

Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 9:07 am

With all the stuff going on I was thinking of locking the forum, this would not see any changes to how people log on or browse if already members.

This would change for people that haven't setup user names, they wouldn't be able to read anything apart from maybe the initial rules screen. This would mean if anybody wanted to read or post on the forum would have to join thus we'd have more control on who's watching us.

Its up to you

Newbie User Online: Joined: 22 Sep 2009 Posts: 11

Given some of the candid e-mails flying around on the brigade system at the moment, perhaps a mass email informing everyone of the existence of this site might encourage more to join, and feel their comments could be made without fear of being monitored / getting in trouble. In saying that however, if there are any "big brother" types looking out for inflammatory comments, they would just join anyway.

Youd like to think everyone is sensible enough to make their points without compromising themselves, but there are some vindictive people out there who might jump upon any "over enthusiastic" posts.

Did anyone else see Taff from Wallington's parting shot email to Coleman, Dexter and the rest?

Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 12:15 pm

I could put it that when you wanted to join you would have to inform my staff

of Name, Watch and Station which would cut down people posting anonymously but that wouldn't be foolproof and someone could just use someone else's name and join that way.

I can however even now see their email address and can see IP address if there is ever any problem but the whole site is open at the moment

Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 4:58 pm

I see your point, but if folks don't want managers to see their comments and associate them with an individual, then they can post under a username as most of us do.

The Brigade can't do much about that, they can't trace you, an IP address is of no use to them, and even the Police have to go to court in order to get the I.P to release the registered user for serious criminals such as Paedophiles etc.

I can't see Dobson or Coleman getting anywhere because someone has called him a tosser on a forum!

Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 5:11 pm

I agree about advertising the forum and pushing it more. Perhaps the FBU could push it, a kind of joined up forum, lets face it, it can only do good by upping communication.

We have a London Taxi trade forum, run in the main by RMT members, within a year we were organising drive ins, protests, campaigns, social nights, all because a couple of thousand people got together online, who before were just individuals.

Why not approach Paul Embery?

Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 10:25 pm

I for one would not like to see the forum locked, however I think I can understand your reasons why you would want to do it. Making people register would only lead to lots of usernames and people hiding behind them.
I think the idea of this forum getting more publicity is a good thing, although going via the union I do not agree with. Somehow if it was linked via the union they would want some sort of say in it and how it is run and even if they disagreed with a post ask for it to be removed. Its up to us to get the word out and get others on board.

Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 10:30 pm

Taff shoots from the hip and I thought he hit the target spot on!! It would be interesting to know what they thought of the e-mail.

Newbie User Online: Joined: 22 Sep 2009 Posts: 11

Also promoting the forum might lead to easing the rumours when disputes such as the one just gone arise. I find it a bit frustrating hearing rumour after rumour, and the FBU London website doesnt really keep members bang up to date with what has happened. This is not a criticism of them, as Im sure they are always tied up trying to prise even an ounce of goodwill out of the management.

What is clear though is that the forum provides opportunities for people to say what they know, and how they know it, without using the brigade system.

If we encouraged any of the fbu reps to post regularly, I beleive this would greatly increase the number of users signed up to the forum.........?

Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:55 am

Taff shoots from the hip and I thought he hit the target spot on!! It would be interesting to know what they thought of the e-mail.

Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 5:13 pm

OK

I am very happy for any of you to promote this site through the brigade email system. I can't post brigade wide through my account (at work) so if anyone wants to copy the banner and link and send it round the brigade I am quiet happy for it to happen

I would also like to see a Union rep (high one) come on here and use it to voice their opinions too.

I will not however have this site used just for the Unions voice and they wouldn't have any say in what was removed or what stayed (that is also my view if any senior officers decided to make themselves known or if it had a official brigade presence.

I can't post brigade wide through my account (at work) so if anyone wants to copy the banner and link and send it round the brigade I am quiet happy for it to happen