The Rangers Support - Unfit for purpose ?

[D'Artagnan 173]

It is perhaps a Godsend that the behaviour of our online Rangers communities do not appear to impact or reflect on the ability of the Rangers support to “Follow Follow”. Thankfully the support which embarrassed, and continues to embarrass Scottish football with it's attendance figures, which caught the imagination of the world with it's steadfast devotion to a football club, appears to remain unaffected by the schisms within her online communities.

 

Whilst it undoubtedly raises a question of the significance of our online communities and how reflective they are of our support in general, I'm afraid the exploration of this subject must wait for another day as there are more pressing issues to concern ourselves with.

 

The emergence of the Sons of Struth campaigners gave rise to the question asked in the title thread. Through no fault of their own (in fact they deserve immense credit for how they have, with diplomatic aplomb, handled the minefield which is the fractured, divided and partisan inspired Rangers online community) their emergence has proved to be a “proving ground” for everything which is wrong with our online communities.

 

On the various websites which carried their threads, as well as on social media, sadly the usual battles, accusations and counter accusations came to the fore. It's perhaps pertinent at this point we highlight the 3 main objectives of the Sons of Struth campaigners :-

 

1. Keep the stadium in the club's name to avoid Coventry situation

2. Have clear accounts which prove the proper running of the club

3. Have a board that keep the club off the front pages and who themselves are beyond reproach

 

If there is a bear anywhere in the world, never mind within the online Rangers community, who does not aspire to the 3 aforementioned objectives for our our club – them I am yet to meet them.

 

Sadly, despite the universal agreement with the above objectives, our online communities find the energy and time to fall out with each other – is it any small wonder our club is in the mess it is today, being raped and savaged by so called “businessmen” and the media ? We appear to be too concerned fighting amongst ourselves than fighting the battles we really need to be engaging in. Can the real enemies of our club really wait until tomorrow whilst we fight amongst ourselves

today ?

 

It manifests itself in whole Rangers communities being stereotyped into one particular box, often “evidenced” by a single post by an individual which, as if by magic, suddenly represents the views of hundreds, often thousands of other posters who may not even agree with the original cited post.

 

Personal animosity, historical feuds, bitternesses and hatred have all been done to death. Even the Rangers bloggers appear to have acquiesced to the hate fest, giving rise to what some have referred to as “The Blogger Wars”. At a time when hate filled individuals and even some of the mainstream media are determined to kill off our club – you would think our energies would be more productively spent tackling the enemies of our club.

 

Perhaps what is particularly sad in all this is that the Rangers online communities also represent what is best in our support. 90 minutes on a Saturday is not enough for us – quite simply we eat, sleep and breathe Rangers FC. That kind of devotion represents considerable and mammoth energy with potential – the potential to effect change for the better. It is however completely neutralised when it is spent focussing inwardly on the things which divide us rather than the issues which unite us.

 

If this online Rangers community is to fulfil its true destiny then it must change, because at the moment the schisms, historical feuds and bitternesses are holding us back from unleashing that potential on the real enemies of our club.

 

If the Sons of Struth campaigners achieve nothing else (and I sincerely hope that's not the case) then educating the Rangers online community that there is real need for change, will be a considerable achievement in itself.

[Guest Bear of Bellgrove]

If this online Rangers community is to fulfil its true destiny then it must change, because at the moment the schisms, historical feuds and bitternesses are holding us back from unleashing that potential on the real enemies of our club.

 

This unfortunately will never happen, too much has gone to pass and will never ever be forgotten for many involved.

[54andcounting 0]

Is there a 'demonstration' planned for the Stenny game?

[ian1964 10,721]

1. Keep the stadium in the club's name to avoid Coventry situation

2. Have clear accounts which prove the proper running of the club

3. Have a board that keep the club off the front pages and who themselves are beyond reproach

 

This is surely what all Rangers fans want and the least they deserve

[BEARGER 1,830]

The OP looses credibility when only a few weeks back his organisation were attacking the Bears who research The Gallant Pioneers.

[D'Artagnan 173]

The OP looses credibility when only a few weeks back his organisation were attacking the Bears who research The Gallant Pioneers.

 

"My organisation" ?

 

Perhaps you could elaborate.

 

If you check you will realise that my blogs are published on here, on Rangers Media, DTB, Rangers chat, VB and TRS - with the vast majority of my posting taking place on RM.

Edited September 25, 2013 by D'Artagnan

[ian1964 10,721]

The OP looses credibility when only a few weeks back his organisation were attacking the Bears who research The Gallant Pioneers.

 

Is this not an example of what point the OP is making?,just asking.

[Stimpy 0]

The crux of the online pettiness is certain factions to need to grow out of puberty. I used to debate the snyde accusations as if it was the right thing to do, then the penny dropped! Nowadays I block and ban as grown men who hate are not going to change. Perhaps one day I will give my version of the online embarrassment and shame folk.

[Bluedell 5,624]

Is this not an example of what point the OP is making?,just asking.

 

Absolutely. It seems that many don't understand the relatively simple message and all they want to do is try and fling blame to one section of the support or another.

 

We can all sit here and criticise various forums or fans' groups as none are perfect but the whole point of the OP is that we need to move past that. Trying to apportion blame of whose fault the current situation is totally misses the point.

 

If we are unable to accept the premise and move past it then we will continue to have the same issues. Given the reaction here and elsewhere it appears that we are unable to move on.

[ian1964 10,721]

Absolutely. It seems that many don't understand the relatively simple message and all they want to do is try and fling blame to one section of the support or another.

 

We can all sit here and criticise various forums or fans' groups as none are perfect but the whole point of the OP is that we need to move past that. Trying to apportion blame of whose fault the current situation is totally misses the point.

 

If we are unable to accept the premise and move past it then we will continue to have the same issues. Given the reaction here and elsewhere it appears that we are unable to move on.

 

I agree,however I do believe the online Rangers community is in the minority and this gives me hope that we can get together and get our club back!.