Badders.com getting disreputable

[Edward]

There have been a few comments in Badders Banter that have included swearing and nasty spitful thoughts by Clive Palmer and Dom Savage. If you join this site then you agree not to do this. Webmaster please clean up the site.
In addition the site should not allow the use of false names such as 'line call' or 'uk player'. People should be who they say they are and own up to their comments. The site should introduce address information on enrolement so that identity can be verified. There is a danger that the site will end up with a poor reputation and any good ideas put forward dismissed.

[Site Support]

Edward, many thanks for your comments.

As with any abusive comments they are removed as soon as possible. As the site is run 100% by volunteers it is not possible to have moderation 24 hours a day but we do our best.

Like all forums, the discussion is steered by the members and users. Badders.com only provide the tools to communicate. Occasionally some people will try and misuse forum but they are in the minority.

As far as false names, this is something that cannot be helped. People have the right to choose who they are when online. One of the benefits (and sometimes annoyances) about the internet is its anonymity. Communities find their own level, if someone contributes positively using a pseudonym then they will be embraced, but those who hide behind one to make personal attacks for example will soon be ignored.

Hopefully, there is little fear of the site ending up with a poor reputation. It has far too many members that care and want to contribute in a appropriate manner. Those who don't will simply get ignored by the other users. It also has a very committed set of volunteers giving the badminton community a platform to communicate.

Thanks again for your comments Edward.

[Edward]

Thanks keep up the good work.

[seanrachy]

For a start, it would be helpful if everyone fills in their profile ... including your good-self Edward Summers.

Cheers, Sean

[Phil McBride]

It doesn't matter what people are called it's what they say! If you are into the badminton community in any other sites you will find that UK player makes pertinant and logical remarks. Who cares who he is exept the tax man. I for one had to use my full name in this site because the usual Phil was already taken. What if UK players name was John Smith. Think about it.

Phil.

[ukplayer]

Thanks for that Phil!

Though, I can see Edwards point but even if people use full names you still don't know then if they are real or not. Registration is not a bad idea but is detrimental to the accessibility of the site.

I don't see the problem as long as people are careful about what they say. I know for instance I would have been mortified if I was the junior under discussion who was accused of being slow etc.

[Edward]

Thanks for your comments Sean , Phil and Uk player. I have added my profile.
It appears that the game of Badminton is not as healthy as it should be in the UK. If enough people care about this then a debate through this site could help find solutions. Quite a few people blame the BAof E. From my involvement the people there appear to work very hard and do their best with very limited time and resources. If clubs and leagues are not doing well in terms of numbers then the first question to ask is what are they doing about it and not just blame the BA of E. I care about Badminton and in making the original comments I did I wanted people to know that I felt that the integrity of this site is important as I feel it has a role to play. Also I was not happy in reading abusive comments concerning players from a county that I spent a long time working for.

[dlp]

Edward, I agree with you many of the comments lately have been childish, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't originate from younger players on the circuit or juniors. I think debate is healthy, I have posed questions on here such as, why are Finland beating us at under 19 level or commented on our top players selection or WC chances, all of which I think is constructive. I think naming individuals for criticism is unnecssary and generally badders has done a good job of editing. I think pseudonyms are common on the web in general, I know many of the apparantly real names are pseudonyms.

I think discussion of specific under 16 players should be banned altogether. I think much of the criticism of baofe is due to the lack of communication from the organisation,so you only get one side, remember badders is an unofficial site.

[MasterBlaster]

Freedom of speech ...... ( Just watch what you say )

[Site Support]

"...remember badders is an unofficial site..."

DP, we prefer to call ourselves an 'independent' site rather than unofficial ;o)

As we all know the BA of E work hard, as do the IBF and all of the national badminton associations; but they can be their own worst enemy by not communicating what they are doing to their members which is normally the biggest cause for complaint.

Many of the organisations and associations view this site on a regular basis (particularly people from the IBF and BA of E) but are hesitant to air their comments. Maybe they feel that responding to forum posts is not a proper way of conducting themselves, I wish we knew.

Maybe someone out there knows of the official line why so few official badminton organisations choose to post. It would be great to see corrected, some of the misinformation quoted, as well as providing some rather needed PR for badminton.

[dlp]

Thanks SS, could we not see a baofe rep answer some set questions from badders even if they do want to engage in forums. As you say a lot of people misquote. Its good to see some of the players on the forums, the top players need to engage the fans and public, it is the players the fans go to see.

[Site Support]

Sure...sounds like a good idea.

I'll start a new thread to try and get some feedback as to the sort of questions on people's minds.

[Edward]

The site needs to gain influence. If badders com poses a view or asks a question then the BA of E must feel that they need to respond. How many members have joined?. How about a prize draw for a racket or some kit for members that get new people to join. A recommend a friend link rather like other sites have. You click on the link enter your friends email and they receive an email inviting them to join. If they do then the person doing the recommending gets entered in the draw.

[Site Support]

Edward, in answer to your questions :o)

We have run several referral schemes over the last 14 months. the first worked well but the second wasn't well received. Maybe we will have another go in the not too distant future.

"How many members have joined?"

We have 25,000 unique visitors per month and around 85% are UK based. What most people don't realise is that the majority of people who visit the site don't contribute to the general forum. Instead they use their own league and club forums. Currently we have 500+ league forums and 900+ club forums being used.

As you can see most of the action goes on behind the scenes.

Gaining influence?

Badders.com only launched in 2002. We have no funding, no affiliations to any badminton authority and everything is run by volunteers. We are proud of what we have achieved in so little time and look forward to getting bigger and better.

As far as awareness, most people involved in badminton are familiar with Badders.com, whether they choose to be part of the community or not. That awareness increases with word of mouth (the best introduction to the site) on a month by month basis as we steadily gain new members.

Badders.com provide the tools, it is up to the community to add the content...it is not our site, it is yours. It's success depends on its contributors...everyone reading this post!

[Edward]

I am aware that you have these forums for counties clubs and leagues. I think the site needs to provide access to the County and League forums on a wider basis. The only way that access is available at the moment is by a member putting in a club in their personal profile and then the site does the rest. This is very clever but it hides from the rest of the community what is going on. Now you could argue that someone in Essex is not interested in what is going on in Lancashire so it it is not worth the trouble. Well for a few people that is not true and these are the people with a lot of knowledge about Badminton who are interested in what goes on every where so that they can use good ideas in their own work.
As for your claim that lots of people know about Badders .com that is debateable. I have put down 2 clubs in my profile and there is never any news about Essex, Suffolk or 2 of the local leagues that are associated with those clubs. This obviously indicates that awareness is very low in those areas. This also indicates that Badminton administration in these areas needs to wake up.
I have investigated 13 badminton related sites in the Essex area, only 2 have a link to Badders.com.
Now it is no use me complaining about this lack of awareness unless I do something about it. Is it possible for Badders.com to design an interesting email detailing the site that I could forward to contacts that I have.

[Michael Banks]

Personally I don't care what happens to individual leagues and clubs, of course I want them all to do well but I'm not interested in the day to day running. I like the idea that I only have my two clubs and leagues viewable. At first we had nothing happening such as no news and discussion but I contacted the administrators of our club and league and they joined and started adding news.

The contact is only as good as you make it, if it is not happening for you tell your local league/club administrators.

[Grover]

Edward as ex BA of E council it is good to see you speaking.

It's a shame the current administration don't have the balls to - or should that be the shuttles!!!! :)