Fan group fun and games

[Zappa 0]

In any case, no matter our thoughts, the reaction has been furious from some quarters with one website and NARSA both calling for the resignation of those who voted for the issue to be decided via a ‘general meeting of fans’. Suffice to say the response to that has been equally negative with all sorts of insults permitted in some online communities. Once again the fan-base is split – often based on their website or group of choice rather than actually examining the issue without prejudice.

 

Very reminiscent of the oft used analogy/comparison to Monty Python's Life of Brian with The People's Front of Judea calling their perceived rivals "splitters" and obsessively opposing the Judean Popular People's Front, the Judean People's Front and several other groups. Our equivalent are the faction/s who harangue anyone opposed to the incumbent regime with cries of "rebels, rebs, reqs" and all manner of more vitriolic nonsense.

 

It's inadvertently an absolutely horrific advert for fan ownership of the Club and exemplifies why I think a fair number of our fans have always been extremely worried about the future of the Club should fan ownership really ever come to fruition. It's a potential disaster and war zone all rolled into one because divisive characters and historic disputes will never just vanish. In fact, as we're witnessing even now, as the fans up the anti and grow in power, the problems only become more and more amplified.

[ranger_syntax 4,314]

In my opinion the number of groups is not really an issue. The fact that different groups exist is a good thing as it means that people can associate with like minded individuals for whatever reason. The alternative, one size fits all, will not work. If we had one/two groups then people who don't fall in line will just disengage. The familiar complaint 'Fan Chief X does not speak for me' will continue to be heard but with more justification.

 

A better thing for fans to think about is how to disagree with each other and how to cooperate where common cause exists. The negative/personal stuff just switches people off.

[Hildy 0]

Very reminiscent of the oft used analogy/comparison to Monty Python's Life of Brian with The People's Front of Judea calling their perceived rivals "splitters" and obsessively opposing the Judean Popular People's Front, the Judean People's Front and several other groups. Our equivalent are the faction/s who harangue anyone opposed to the incumbent regime with cries of "rebels, rebs, reqs" and all manner of more vitriolic nonsense.

 

It's inadvertently an absolutely horrific advert for fan ownership of the Club and exemplifies why I think a fair number of our fans have always been extremely worried about the future of the Club should fan ownership really ever come to fruition. It's a potential disaster and war zone all rolled into one because divisive characters and historic disputes will never just vanish. In fact, as we're witnessing even now, as the fans up the anti and grow in power, the problems only become more and more amplified.

 

There will always be varying degrees of dissent in the ranks, but we are discovering that there is a nasty and vindictive aspect to this within the Rangers support and most decent fans won't appreciate this.

 

Instead of being a unified band of brothers, it turns out that we are a splintered and much broader church than was perhaps imagined, and when differences occur, too often the situation descends into abuse.

 

We have long been portrayed as an uncouth and bigoted support, and groups like the RST have done their best to refute derogatory media allegations, but our mask is slipping.

 

When we can't even conduct internal debate in a civil manner, it is no wonder that we are struggling to find solutions to our problems. Being passionate is fine, but dishing out abuse on a regular basis, as some do - not so much on here - crosses the line and needlessly antagonises people.

 

The road to becoming a democratic fan-owned club may be longer than we'd like, but I think we are starting from a much lower base than other fans who have travelled this journey.

 

At Rangers, we love a leader more than we love ourselves, and it will take time to alter this mindset.

[Zappa 0]

There will always be varying degrees of dissent in the ranks, but we are discovering that there is a nasty and vindictive aspect to this within the Rangers support and most decent fans won't appreciate this.

 

Instead of being a unified band of brothers, it turns out that we are a splintered and much broader church than was perhaps imagined, and when differences occur, too often the situation descends into abuse.

 

We have long been portrayed as an uncouth and bigoted support, and groups like the RST have done their best to refute derogatory media allegations, but our mask is slipping.

 

When we can't even conduct internal debate in a civil manner, it is no wonder that we are struggling to find solutions to our problems. Being passionate is fine, but dishing out abuse on a regular basis, as some do - not so much on here - crosses the line and needlessly antagonises people.

 

The road to becoming a democratic fan-owned club may be longer than we'd like, but I think we are starting from a much lower base than other fans who have travelled this journey.

 

At Rangers, we love a leader more than we love ourselves, and it will take time to alter this mindset.

 

Every single large gathering of people display the same characteristics. Dissent in the ranks as well as "nasty and vindictive" aspects are not only commonplace, but to be expected and banked on. None of this is new or any sort of news. It's how we collectively deal with these issues that matters most.

 

Regarding situations descending into abuse when differences occur, realistically I think that's to be expected, but people more often than not seem to be unable or unwilling to control their emotions on forums, public or not.

 

It's not that our mask is slipping, it's that tension within the Club and fans is at a high point and that directly translates to an amplification of everything from internal growing divisions to strong feelings (even bigotry) aimed outwards.

 

There's no easy fix for us as a support or the Club we love, be it Dave King, Jim McColl, another rich fan or indeed fan ownership. The inherent issues and problems which arise with such a large gathering of people aren't really curable, only manageable and even then, only to a certain extent.

 

All we can do despite the obstacles is try to get along, try to work together and try to help forge a better future for the Club, but when it comes to fan ownership there's very little to bite into in terms of unity or even simple agreement of agenda/s.

 

With every further divisive move, play or indeed statement from one group or another, the basic notion and concept of fan ownership of Rangers is taking an absolute pounding.

[Hildy 0]

Every single large gathering of people display the same characteristics. Dissent in the ranks as well as "nasty and vindictive" aspects are not only commonplace, but to be expected and banked on. None of this is new or any sort of news. It's how we collectively deal with these issues that matters most.

 

Regarding situations descending into abuse when differences occur, realistically I think that's to be expected, but people more often than not seem to be unable or unwilling to control their emotions on forums, public or not.

 

It's not that our mask is slipping, it's that tension within the Club and fans is at a high point and that directly translates to an amplification of everything from internal growing divisions to strong feelings (even bigotry) aimed outwards.

 

There's no easy fix for us as a support or the Club we love, be it Dave King, Jim McColl, another rich fan or indeed fan ownership. The inherent issues and problems which arise with such a large gathering of people aren't really curable, only manageable and even then, only to a certain extent.

 

All we can do despite the obstacles is try to get along, try to work together and try to help forge a better future for the Club, but when it comes to fan ownership there's very little to bite into in terms of unity or even simple agreement of agenda/s.

 

With every further divisive move, play or indeed statement from one group or another, the basic notion and concept of fan ownership of Rangers is taking an absolute pounding.

 

We've been owned by Murray, where we saw an £80m overdraft, then Whyte came along and we had a ringside seat for the catastrophe that followed - then the current regime rolled in and there hasn't been a worry-free day since.

 

This is the opposite of fan ownership and it fell a few inches short of killing the club completely. If the support wants this instead of fan ownership and the occasional contentious debate, it can have it, but the price that we will pay, at best, will be a significantly less glorious future than the trophy-laden days of our domestic past.

 

It is inconceivable that the club will have a planned and stable future while it is subject to ownership change on the whim of a hedge fund and with total strangers able to take the reins.

 

We've been around for over 140 years. I expect us to sink long before another 140 years passes because we don't seem to have sufficient interest in properly caring for our club. Unbelievably, we prefer to leave details like club ownership to chance.

 

Fan ownership will regenerate Rangers - if it happens - but if it doesn't, Rangers' future will be grim - and limited.

 

We really have to learn the lesson of our recent history and while pettiness, bickering and badmouthing is regrettably all too evident just now, maturity will kick in when we finally take full responsibility for Rangers.

 

Even after 140 years, we still have a lot of growing up to do, but when power comes, we will surely rise to the challenge. With power comes great responsibility.

 

Without power we will lose everything.

Edited March 31, 2014 by Hildy

[Stimpy 0]

I believe we need a few groups and one of which is the umbrella where we all work together. Problem is disagreements lead to the formation of new groups as opposed to changing within. The only way that'll ever come about, or come close, is the club having a credible board where it embraces fan group culture and brings all groups together, and makes them thrash out differences. From there reconciliation and constructive dialogue with a mandate from the support is recognised.

 

Dave King can do that, the current incumbents cannot.

[pete 2,499]

I believe we need a few groups and one of which is the umbrella where we all work together. Problem is disagreements lead to the formation of new groups as opposed to changing within. The only way that'll ever come about, or come close, is the club having a credible board where it embraces fan group culture and brings all groups together, and makes them thrash out differences. From there reconciliation and constructive dialogue with a mandate from the support is recognised.

 

Dave King can do that, the current incumbents cannot.

 

To be honest I think the name " The sons of Struth " was a master stroke, if they had called themselves any other name it would have been a wet squib.

[Stimpy 0]

To be honest I think the name " The sons of Struth " was a master stroke, if they had called themselves any other name it would have been a wet squib.

 

Indeed. When I initially heard the name I thought doh! RST could've gone for that. Just like Liverpool's supporters trust, Spirit of Shankely.