Post by Mark Sennett on Dec 29, 2013 1:23:02 GMT
After a couple of days from the big match thought it was only right I replied to a couple of questions that have been raised on the YV forum.
Firstly it is correct that I got into an argument post match with a member of the 12th Man. I was entering the bar post match with family and friends when I was aggressively and very loudly addressed by this individual over the days Yellow Army raffle. I was accused of taking the proverbial for asking other members of the YA to help sell tickets and that I should do it myself as I'm nothing more than an 'arse licker of the club'.
This tone continued and I told the individual I had actually arrived at midday and sold tickets myself for over an hour until my family arrived and then Trevor kindly said he would help sell any IF he had a chance.
I also Made it pretty clear how disgusted I was with how I was being attacked. I then rejoined my family.
In the days following I have read some interesting comments about this incident, myself and OxVox. Let's clarify a couple of key points:
1) no OxVox member is banned by me from posting on any forum and it's laughable to suggest otherwise
2) the following was also posted as being my view: 'YellowVoice members are irrelevant because they don’t have a pot to p*ss in.' - I've never said this and it's factually inaccurate as for example I'm friends with Stewart Donald who is a poster on there sporadically and he's not only wealthy but very generous. This comment was made by a poster who in the past has posted a suggestion that OxVox should take greater notice of its wealthier members. I personally don't care if Oxford fans are poor or rich they have as much right to share a view or vote in OxVox as anyone else. Any suggestion I think otherwise is untrue.
The post then got personal about Tim Rosser and myself in terms of our work lives. Tim's a very successful and likeable businessman and I can't understand why anyone would question that.
My work life is private but I'm happy with my career And have no idea why this is of concern to anyone and my personal finances being discussed on a forum is quite frankly just odd. If I'm rich or poor does it matter? More to the point why use class or wealth as a way to discriminate against someone's ability to have an opinion on our club?
3) OxVox forum was closed as it kept crashing as we all know and needed a server upgrade. This forum kindly offered to host for free. Any other suggestion is a lie. It's funny none of us moderate this forum yet we are accused of banning users!! Again utter rubbish. If posters have been banned ask a mod on here why as it's nothing to do with us. In fact our forum is now seen by more people so there's more chance of criticism
4) Fundraising - a lot of great efforts have been done this year to raise funds. It's a complete myth this is all done individually by 12th man or Yellow Army. Both have done great projects YA (BBQ, walk, Langan fund) 12th man (Merch, programmes, raffle) OxVox also lobbied the club to allow an entrance fee for 12th man bar for non season ticket holders to go to 12th man. We also suggested this donation was applied to TV games. So we all work in unison and total raised is a combined effort by a number of greet volunteers. Totals raised are kept up to date by Trev in general and he's been great at it.
5) I'm growing tired of seeing pointless squabbling and wild accusations being made by a small number of people. The club's mantra is United We Stand and I can't see why some forum posters seem to revel in trying to cause unrest. What does it achieve?
Just in relation to this one unsavoury incident (which I did not start or provoke) there have been derogatory comments made about myself, OxVox, Simon Bradbury, Ian Lenagan and more. How does this help?
I accept as a member of the Trust I am open to criticism and I welcome constructive criticism but when this turns personal towards other committee members (Simon B in most cases) I do take offence. It also crosses a line when I'm shouted at and attacked verbally when with family and friends. Sadly this is not the first time I've had someone scream at me in that bar. Same princip stands when I'm compared to Mugabe. I'm really tiring of this mentality and it isn't constructive in the slightest and is clearly personal - god knows why anyone wants to get personal when we are all volunteers! It makes me seriously question if it's worth continuing to volunteer a great amount of time on a weekly basis if it leaves me open to personal abuse or upsets my family of they witness it or read it online. The comments don't bother me personally I have thick skin (insert joke here!) but it doesn't anger me to see my family upset about it.
If people want to criticise the OxVox rule change or the RTB then that fine I welcome this. But the facts are in both cases over 90% of members who voted approved these. Any suggestion OxVox has created the new rules for my benefit are also comical it's a set of rules written by Supporters Direct and adopted months ago by most other trusts. In fact this isn't the first rule update we've had and again on that occasion Supporters Direct wrote these and OxVox members approved them (this was before I was even a member!).
In closing I'd say that it saddens me that some individuals want to try and create a sense of unease at a time when players, management, staff, directors, fans, volunteers are really buying into United We Stand and aiming for success on and off the pitch. Can things be done better at our club? Yes they can but a lot of effort is being made in that area and it's very pleasing that the supporters trust is continually asked for input and has its input valued by the club and it's staff. If people would like to volunteer to take over OxVox or aid 12th man then please do step forward it would be welcomed at least that's constructive.
Apologies for the length post and any typos as this is typed via a phone!
Firstly it is correct that I got into an argument post match with a member of the 12th Man. I was entering the bar post match with family and friends when I was aggressively and very loudly addressed by this individual over the days Yellow Army raffle. I was accused of taking the proverbial for asking other members of the YA to help sell tickets and that I should do it myself as I'm nothing more than an 'arse licker of the club'.
This tone continued and I told the individual I had actually arrived at midday and sold tickets myself for over an hour until my family arrived and then Trevor kindly said he would help sell any IF he had a chance.
I also Made it pretty clear how disgusted I was with how I was being attacked. I then rejoined my family.
In the days following I have read some interesting comments about this incident, myself and OxVox. Let's clarify a couple of key points:
1) no OxVox member is banned by me from posting on any forum and it's laughable to suggest otherwise
2) the following was also posted as being my view: 'YellowVoice members are irrelevant because they don’t have a pot to p*ss in.' - I've never said this and it's factually inaccurate as for example I'm friends with Stewart Donald who is a poster on there sporadically and he's not only wealthy but very generous. This comment was made by a poster who in the past has posted a suggestion that OxVox should take greater notice of its wealthier members. I personally don't care if Oxford fans are poor or rich they have as much right to share a view or vote in OxVox as anyone else. Any suggestion I think otherwise is untrue.
The post then got personal about Tim Rosser and myself in terms of our work lives. Tim's a very successful and likeable businessman and I can't understand why anyone would question that.
My work life is private but I'm happy with my career And have no idea why this is of concern to anyone and my personal finances being discussed on a forum is quite frankly just odd. If I'm rich or poor does it matter? More to the point why use class or wealth as a way to discriminate against someone's ability to have an opinion on our club?
3) OxVox forum was closed as it kept crashing as we all know and needed a server upgrade. This forum kindly offered to host for free. Any other suggestion is a lie. It's funny none of us moderate this forum yet we are accused of banning users!! Again utter rubbish. If posters have been banned ask a mod on here why as it's nothing to do with us. In fact our forum is now seen by more people so there's more chance of criticism
4) Fundraising - a lot of great efforts have been done this year to raise funds. It's a complete myth this is all done individually by 12th man or Yellow Army. Both have done great projects YA (BBQ, walk, Langan fund) 12th man (Merch, programmes, raffle) OxVox also lobbied the club to allow an entrance fee for 12th man bar for non season ticket holders to go to 12th man. We also suggested this donation was applied to TV games. So we all work in unison and total raised is a combined effort by a number of greet volunteers. Totals raised are kept up to date by Trev in general and he's been great at it.
5) I'm growing tired of seeing pointless squabbling and wild accusations being made by a small number of people. The club's mantra is United We Stand and I can't see why some forum posters seem to revel in trying to cause unrest. What does it achieve?
Just in relation to this one unsavoury incident (which I did not start or provoke) there have been derogatory comments made about myself, OxVox, Simon Bradbury, Ian Lenagan and more. How does this help?
I accept as a member of the Trust I am open to criticism and I welcome constructive criticism but when this turns personal towards other committee members (Simon B in most cases) I do take offence. It also crosses a line when I'm shouted at and attacked verbally when with family and friends. Sadly this is not the first time I've had someone scream at me in that bar. Same princip stands when I'm compared to Mugabe. I'm really tiring of this mentality and it isn't constructive in the slightest and is clearly personal - god knows why anyone wants to get personal when we are all volunteers! It makes me seriously question if it's worth continuing to volunteer a great amount of time on a weekly basis if it leaves me open to personal abuse or upsets my family of they witness it or read it online. The comments don't bother me personally I have thick skin (insert joke here!) but it doesn't anger me to see my family upset about it.
If people want to criticise the OxVox rule change or the RTB then that fine I welcome this. But the facts are in both cases over 90% of members who voted approved these. Any suggestion OxVox has created the new rules for my benefit are also comical it's a set of rules written by Supporters Direct and adopted months ago by most other trusts. In fact this isn't the first rule update we've had and again on that occasion Supporters Direct wrote these and OxVox members approved them (this was before I was even a member!).
In closing I'd say that it saddens me that some individuals want to try and create a sense of unease at a time when players, management, staff, directors, fans, volunteers are really buying into United We Stand and aiming for success on and off the pitch. Can things be done better at our club? Yes they can but a lot of effort is being made in that area and it's very pleasing that the supporters trust is continually asked for input and has its input valued by the club and it's staff. If people would like to volunteer to take over OxVox or aid 12th man then please do step forward it would be welcomed at least that's constructive.
Apologies for the length post and any typos as this is typed via a phone!