How marked first couple of years
Oct 12, 2009 at 3:34am
WMIPSFSQuote Edit like
Post Options
Post by QPR Report on Oct 12, 2009 at 3:34am
And to repost my initial introductory posts to this board two years ago
QPR Report October 12, 2008
Board Welcome: Focus & Purpose - Problems/FAQs
Welcome to the just-created - and not yet officially launched - QPR Report Messageboard.
I: Why Yet Another QPR Messageboard:?
www.qprreport.blogspot.com has been in existence as a news blog for some 3 1/2 years and has attracted a fairly sizable daily audience (as QPR website audiences go) - making it I believe, the #1 QPR Site in terms of Daily Visitors (after the Official site).
People can, and not infrequently do, post comments on the QPR Report blog. But for years, I've resisted having a QPR Report messageboard. There are a number of very fine existing QPR messageboards including QPR dot.org - .org - Loft For Words - QPR Net - We Are The Rangers Boys - Independent Rs - LSA - Vital Football QPRFans and of course, some overseas fans sites.
So whether this new message board is really needed is a legitimate question, which remains to be seen. Be that as it may, this messageboard now exists and will be a test of the adage: "If you build it, he will come." But ultimately the determinant of "success" for this new board is not whether masses of people visit and become regular posters (although obviously there are no objections to that!). The real criteria for success is whether it meets a niche for an indeterminate number of posters, who derive enjoyment from posting on and reading the board. And that, time will tell.
While hopefully reading and posting here, hopefully
people will continue posting on the assorted other QPR message boards. I certainly shall!
The FOCUS OF THIS NEW MESSAGEBOARD
The intended focus of the QPR Report Messageboard is QPR matters, on and off the field.. Playing, mangerial, boardoom matters, nostalgia etc, as well as generic Football ("soccer") matters of general interest.
There is not an "official" QPR Report Messageboard perspective on how to view QPR matters. Both critics and skeptics and defenders and boosters are equally welcome. People are not going to get banned for having different viewpoints from that of myself. They will get banned for nastiness towards other posters or for character assassination.
What This Board Does Not Want to Focus on:
- Don't want ad-hominem attacks on other posters, or attacks on other messageboards. Really want people to be able, as the cliche goes, to "Disagree without being disagreeable." Tolerance of other perseptives and viewpoints.
- While not into "PC," racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, etc - even in jest - is not permitted and won't be tolerated.
- Not interested in this being a moderator-driven messageboards, or posting topics just to build up readership, or posting popularity. If there's something to talk about, that's great. If it's quiet, so be it.
- If you want to post links from other message boards re subjects of QPR or football-in-general interest; feel free. If the information is of interest, QPR fans here should be interested.
- Not Interested in Posts on non-Football Matters
- Concerts and rock bands and films, etc,
- "Babes of the Day" - Jokes - How to spend time at work or on weekends or parties - Not about World Events/Crises/Tragedies and politics - - Not about messageboard cliques and Friendships and animosities.
Sorry: No Prizes/cash awards given on this site!
Conclusion
In summation: The role model for my messageboard are those sites which offer people a board, for those interested ; who post when they deem fit, and then leave to others to use and post on topics of their choosing. The "Granddaddy" of this approach would of course, be "Battletank" who founded the QPR.org more than a decade ago, and for many years that was "THE" site for QPR fans to go to.
So welcome and hopefully you'll enjoy reading and posting! And if you don't, the news blog will always be available for you!
October 12: The Introductory, Very First Post
A very warm welcome: This site will soon be officially launched, and up and Running!
Feel free to just read. But even better, feel feel to post (for which you need to register, which will take just a moment), and then return frequently (or as rarely as you choose).
Hopefully this site will meet a certain niche for QPR fans. But I'm not interested in posting and starting threads just to make this site appear more busy and popular; etc. My messageboard "role model" will be those moderators who post as often as they choose fit, but don't seek to dominate their boards, or to make the boards about themselves.
Nor is there any belief in the exclusivity of this site. However succesful this board eventually becomes, I intend to continue posting elsewhere. And I encourage all of you to do so also.
October 13 2008:
Well I guess the board has started. Welcome everyone. All guests are very welcome and feel free to register and post. If you know people that you think would enjoy this site, feel free to invite them to visit. There is no "official" perspective about QPR matters on this site. And you're very welcome to disagree with anyone and everyone (just nicely!)
If there are any board "teething" problems as I learn my way, apologies
Thanks
October 15: "New QPR Messageboard"
qprreport.blogspot.com/2008/10/new-qpr-message-board-qpr-report.html
As noted elsewhere, I'm going to try and install an element of "interactivity" with what's being discussed on other fan messageboards ( - as opposed to "The other boards don't exist" philosophy)
[But to emphasize: NOT to denigrate other boards/other posters but to consider/discuss/debate what others are saying or asserting.]
If you have any suggestions or criticisms regarding this messageboard, feel free to pm me (or email me at
qprreport@hotmail.com )
And again, guests are very welcome to just read. And if you don't want to post, then of course, don't post. But on the other hand, you are welcome...
The Moderators: Many Thanks To Those Who Agreed to be Moderators.
By having Scott Jones (formerly WATRB moderator) and Myu (current WATRB Administrator http://www.wearetherangersboys.com) and Adam Boxer (who runs Vital Football/QPR http://www.qpr.vitalfootball.co.uk) and Lonegunmen (from QPRFanz http://www.qpr.co.nz); Wally West (QPR Italia qpritalia.splinder.com ); Bill Power (BP); and G-d willing, others to come; and with a focus solely on QPR and football: This board is trying to send a message that we're all QPR fans who just may have different perspectives and opinions about what's best for QPR, etc.
And by avoiding politics and "Current Events", this site hopefully will be a haven for people who disagree - sometimes very vociferously - on so many other issues.
Welcome visitors/guests to this site. Feel free to read. Feel free to post.
You won't be betraying another site. You can use this site and use the other site (In fact post on all of them). They'll understand. And You'll feel good
Quite a few readers post their comments on the QPR Report Blog. Often their (your) comments are interesting. But if the comments are posted here, instead on the blog, others will read them here; and can engage in a two-way exchange of views.
* Of course Claiming QPR Report as THE #1 QPR Site is completely presumptious! It's impossible to determine and depends on how one characterizes "#1"? How does one quantity it? The most visitors at any one time? The most visitors in a day? The "best" written? The most original content? The one that leaves QPR fans happiest? The most posters? The oldest and most distinguished? The one with the best bits of QPR news? The one that's first with the news?
Anyway Battletank's .org deserves a #1 for being really the first QPR board. Others deserve it for other things.
- And ultimately the bottom line: What does it really matter? Fans will go where they want; and if they're happy... Some sites don't strive for most readers? They strive to meet the needs of those who want to use the site. In reality every QPR fan site of every size is deserving of respect.
Very, very, very rarely a post may be edited; or a comment deleted. For which I apologize in advance.
What we will endeavour to do, is that IF a comment is edited or deleted in any way, the fact that there has been such a change will be noted. And which moderator did the change
And G-d willing, others to come.
Certainly those involved with the other prominent QPR sites have an open invitation regarding this board.
Profound thanks to all of them for agreeing to be moderators of this Board. It is very much appreciated.
On the QPR Report Messageboard, what are traditionally called "moderators"- and while having all the moderator "powers" - are intended to be more like an Honorary Board of Directors or Advisory Board - and make them representive of the QPR world across the spectrum and across the world.
I am deeply appreciative that these other QPR site people have agreed to sign on. And of course, I am very grateful to BP for also agreeing.
As I said in greater detail in the "Welcome to the Messageboard Focus and Purpose" (
qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=8 ) This site is going to focus solely on QPR and football and without any board "agenda" or point of view.
This board is trying to send a message that we're all QPR fans who just may have different perspectives and opinions about what's best for QPR, etc. By avoiding politics and "Current Events" (not to mention social activities, films, concerts and dating), this site hopefully will be a haven for people who disagree - sometimes very vociferously - on so many other issues.
All suggestions welcomed. And Thanks Again.
I hope this happens and that this board will grow. Time will time. All I can do is provide the forum and try and make it interesting - and hospitable for posters. So that posters don't get attacked for having views that go against the board majority; and so forth. By restricting to QPR and football in general; and excluding subjects which may be important or trivial but are not for this board.
And hopefully, to learn from mistakes - as I've made at least a couple in my postings. I've made more than one already, but I hope to learn. All advice (public or private) is welcomed. Can't swear to always take it; but certainly would like to hear it - even if it might not make me happy to read.
Read more:
qprreport.proboards.com/thread/7444/marking-years-messageboard?page=1#ixzz2hgG4TetS
"We Few, we Happy Few, we band of brothers"October 12, 2010
Today marks two years since the QPR Report Messageboard was born as a "companion" to then several-year-old QPR Report Blog. My goal for this board was for it to be a quasi-blog/quasi-messageboard - yes with Macmoish-style "copy and pasting" - which would focus solely on QPR and football matters. No politics. No current events. No popular culture. No babes of the day. And with a board civility which would serve as meeting point for people of all perspectives.
So after two years: I'd first like to take this occasion to thank everyone: The various QPR Report Moderators both active and honorary (including two early moderators no longer associated with this board); Beyond moderating and trying to set a tone to the board, the various stylystic changes to just how this board looks is due to the activity of my fellow moderators.
And of course, I'd like to thank the posters, the signers on; the visitors. I'd even like to thank the "Detractors" - who have striven so strenuously to denigrate this site - and have failed so miserably in their efforts! A clear exemplar of Nietzsche's "What does not destroy me, makes me stronger." And the counterpart, makes these detractors look even stupider and more pathetic.
I'd say in most respects, this site has more than matched my original hopes and aspirations. As the board has developed and evolved and grown (and matured) and gotten hopefully ever-better: I would say (or at least hope) that it has become increasingly a communal site, rather than a site reflecting the views and interests of just one person or a small "clique."
To the degree that this board continues to grow and improve, lies very much in the hands of the posters rather than me or my fellow moderators
The moderators attempt to be unobtrusive, not trying to pursue an agenda; or direct discussion, etc. And of course with only discussion board, we don't try and minimize topics wedon't like. We might (and do) make mistakes, and we try to learn from those mistakes; we may disagree but we're never going to deliberately make up stories or facts. We're never going to act as the conduit for anyone at the club. Right or wrong, we will always be completely independent - and not confuses QPR owners or staffers as being the true essence of what is QPR. And criticism of staff people is not criticism of our club.
There's been an interesting phenomenon: Unlike most other QPR boards, we have been the subject of concerted criticism, denigration and attack on the part of a few people (who really need no naming). Thay have both come onto this site and tried to deliberately instigate; or have posted a slew of anti-QPR Report posts elsewhere. in some instances the very inanity -even quasi conspiratorial nature of some of these anti-QPR Reports postings, reveal so much more about the posters putting out such material than it does about QPR Report.
We've also seen various threats of a legal kind. Something I never thought would come from one QPR fan to another.
Do I wish even more people would post here? Of course? Do I wish more people who "find" something of interest on this site and then post it elsewhere, would acknowledge this site? Again, of Course! Do I wish that there was far more cross-fertilizing between various QPR Sites? Once again, of course. But that's a choice every site and every poster has to make.
Now I am obviously cognizant of the fact that these kind of anniversary posts often invite laudatory comments (which certainly won't be banned!) But as always, this site does strive to improve, so suggestions for improvement are always welcome.
Anyway thanks again
However much we continue to grow, I hope this board will never adopt the hubris of "We're #1" and always retain the ethos of "We Few, we Happy Few, we band of brothers."
Onwards and Upwards
Marking Two Years of QPR Report: An EvaluationFirst a big thanks to everyone who has visited this board and especially to all who have posted.
Thanks to everyone who has agreed to become a moderator. (And yes, the future will hopefully see yet more moderators
) And an invitation to anyone who visits to join in and offer your perspective.
I did a toy with the idea of NOT doing what some might have rather-easily predicted that I would do! Offer a "One Year Flashback: The Launch of QPR Report." But given that I do "Flashbacks" and "Anniversaries" for almost everything else QPR, so why not for QPR Report? And those inclined to mock, would just find something else to mock! And it's probably a useful thing to do.
So hopefully without engaging in too-much navel-gazing: This is more streams of consciousness, rather than a compact "Year Review." Sorry!
I have no interest in this thread becoming either an "In Praise of QPR Report" (or an attack on any other QPR messageboard)
But I am interested in how this site can be improved - as long as such improvements don't entail changing the very raison d'etre which led me to start yet another QPR messageboard. I have no interest in this site focusing on non-QPR/non-football subjects.
I started this site (which I describe elsewhere as a combination messageboard and quasi-blog). I did hope that this site could be somewhat netural. Not that people (including the moderators) shouldn't hold and express views. But that all views should be freely expressed without personal attacks. Has this completely happened? I'll leave that to others. But the hope remains. And that was one of the primary reasons that I asked people from all the other QPR boards to join up as moderators. And I'm very grateful to all those that did (And the offer remains open to those who did not)
Looking at this site as objectively as I can do - I think that as an information source re QPR matters, big and small; curent and past (with the exception of course of "ostensibly In The Know" posts) this is a pretty good site packed with QPR and general football information. and very very often this QPR board (along with the blog) were the first site (and in quite a number of instances) the only QPR site to offer some snippet of QPR information.
Regardless of what other sites do (It is sometimes amusing to read on this other site material clearly gotten from this site) - There is no quid-pro-quo, we'll continue posting on this site links to articles of interest or posts of interest that are on other sites. If it's of QPR interest, then people on this site are probably interested.
I've certainly made some mistakes. I think I learned from them. I think briefly banning Weavie was something I shouldn't have done. But overall with a few exceptions, this site relies on people self-moderating.
Most of the other QPR sites have basically ignored this site. Neither praising, nor focusing, nor criticizing this site. On the rare occasion linking to a post on this site. (This of course is the general norm among QPR Sites) One site however of course has adopted a rather different approach, chosing to mock, denigrate.
Obviously there is a considerably greater number of readers than posters. Would I like more posters and viewers? Of course. This board was designed not to attract the maximum number of posters and viewers per se. It was designed to meet a certain perceived gap. If people are interested in such a board, fabulous. If they're not, well this board is not going to change to try and attract additional poster. This is not a popularity contest.
I regret the decision of certain people to cease posting. Despite our differences - some of which were very strong, I am appreciative of the fact that Scott was I believe this site's first moderator representative' of another site. And whatever else he may have posted, I've always been highly appreciative over for why Scott resigned as a moderator of that other site (even though of course he's back there now). And I was appreciative of Myu's signing on here. Should they ever want to return, the door is open.
Finally a reminder: I as much as anyone have strong differences with certain other posters on other sites. But be that as it may, still want to adhere to the dictum of this site: To disagree without being disagreeable. And to welcome all.
Now whether people avail themselves of this opportunity to post here is not in our hands. And if people very publicly announce their departures: That's their choice. They're not being banned whatever QPR views they hold However I am asking people to be polite. I'm not asking that they neuter themselves!
So thanks to everyone: That I made a number of QPR posters happy with this site is a positive, I'd say.
As I have in my "tag line" to my posts: "Welcome to the QPR Report messageboard: A completely Independent board, which focuses solely on football (QPR and general); never deliberately misleads its readers; actively encourages links to other QPR sites' postings; and treats with respect the views of all posters -regardless of "perspective! Welcome!" - "The dogs bark but the caravan moves on!"
So onward and upward - and G-d willing, the QPR Report Messageboard will still be here this time next year
Thanks again
Mike/QPR Report
Read more:
qprreport.proboards.com/thread/7444/marking-years-messageboard?page=1#ixzz2hgFwoqoYqprreport.proboards.com/thread/7444/marking-years-messageboard?page=1
