As I said, whatās done is done. Iāve zero interest in further hostilities.
However, you statement here is at huge variance with events on the day. Very few people supported that slur on the site, or me. You were one of them.
Itās pleasing to see this retraction but we could have done with some sense and solidarity on the day.
A lot is often said in the heat of argument and this is a very serious topic which is always going to generate emotional responses. As I recall the insinuation was that by allowing some posters the freedom to express some views, the site could be seen as condoning those viewsā¦ and yes, I do feel that whilst this might not be fair, the āneighbouring tableā analogy comes into play.
A site may want controversy and opinion to create and āedgyā environment, and generate traffic, but it will only survive if that is what its members wantā¦ and there are plenty of places folks can post if thats what they want to discuss or be exposed toā¦
so sorry, but not sure what I have āretractedā
This.
Thats Fatso, not me? ā¦ And to be fair, there were many unpleasant views on that thread
Check the likes.
Then check the follow up posts from Fatso. A disgraceful dayās business.
As i have said to pap i was happy to have Barry on ignore HOWEVER as he infected virtually every thread with repetitive nonsense it did make the site virtually unreadable.
And hereās the thing.
Public flouncers are rare. Most people who donāt post here anymore just disappear without a word. Was any of that due to Barry?
Weāll never know, but I donāt think it would have been an attractive sight for people landing here for the first time.
At the risk of displaying my ignorance, what is the ugly?
The Ugly Inside-Southampton forum
Itās the forum for proper geezas, or was until they all got banned.
I have spent time re-reading that threadā¦ and a couple of things spring to mind.
MoTā¦
Where have I said it is? Merely agreeing that there has been some nasty stuff posted here and there and that we should call it out when we see itā¦ not ignore it simply because it might āupsetā or make some feel uncomfortable
Whilst you may have the strength of conviction to handle that flak, not everyone can or should be be expected too.
I have to admit, personally, I wont call for others to be banned. But I found some of the opinions posted on that thread enough to make me pack it inā¦ It is after all the choice of the forum oner/leadership to determine what they wish to include, but for members to decides if its for them or not.
So finally I have discovered why Fatso left. What about Bletch? I missed that one too. Anyone else from the old days leave whilst I had my sojourn from the site?
Iāve stayed out of this for the most part, as I can understand papās thinking which is clearly shared by almost everyone here. No complaints on any practical level, I suppose he had to go.
However, I shall stick my head above the parapet. I like Barry. I enjoyed most of his posts as well as his posting style, and Iām sad that heās gone. I always thought that while his anguish was often over the top it was heartfelt, and christ knows that as Saints fans we ought to understand how he felt. There, Iāve said it.
Itās cancel culture, pure and simple 
As weāre eulogising him I might as well stick in my tuppence worth now he has departed. I think it is a shame he is gone, I understand the chaos and frustration/anger his posts could cause and the headache for the mods that would ensue. He wasnāt the greatest communicator (in terms of structure/semantics etc) and I certainly disagreed with around 90% of what he posted concerning footy and current events (not a problem in and of itself), I think we agreed on 2 things in the last 4 years and I believe he said I was right about something twice so I am pleased we found some forum common ground occasionally. I met Baz up at Liverpool for the semi-final, introducing myself as @WorzelScummage, oh how we laughed once I cleared up and proved that I wasnāt, then we had a great evening getting drunk. I think if people were to look at his posts regarding his family, his dog, cooking youād see there was a soft cuddly side (and sometimes laugh out loud funny), it was just buried deep.
Thatās all Iāll say on the matter, it feels weird talking about someone who canāt respond.
Apologies but that just doesnāt cut it with me.
āThere are some unpleasant viewsā is just a fucking hand grenade thrown into the mix.
Point them out. Say what they are. Challenge them. That is what Fatso should have done.
Itās deliberately vague and doesnāt look like its trying to fix anything. Itās just designed to wound, which was perfectly apparent from some of his follow up works that day.
Not the first time either, as Iāve pointed out and there has never been an attempt to get things addressed before a big, āeverything is shiteā flounce.
When I introduced myself to him at the Chelsea Semi he seemed to have a right cob on for the afternoon. Maybe thatās just his face, I donāt know.
or yours
Both Fatso and Bletch are big losses - Bletch especially as heās such a damn fine bloke.
Iām hoping eventually heāll come back, even just as a sporadic poster, but weāll see.
His face seemed fine to me, but I didnāt call him a paedophile so there is that I supposeā¦