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#Post#: 152959--------------------------------------------------
Revised Forum Rules.
DIR By: Admin
Date: April 18, 2026, 4:39 am
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There is a new version of the Forum Rules here
HTML https://comeallwithin.createaforum.com/index.php?action=ezportal;sa=page;p=43.
You are all encouraged to familiarise yourselves with the rules,
there's the usual "ignorance is no excuse" if you don't obey
them.
This was prompted by MaidstoneQuin's excellent post on his chat
with LD.
--- Quote ---
> Social media
> Having been a fan of the club for 25 years, Laurie reiterated
he totally understood the
> frustrations fans have and does keep an eye on what is posted
on the forum and other
> social media platforms. He mentioned that reading it often
isn’t positive for his, or the
> staff or players mental health, as what is often posted steps
across a line and has been
> wild, with some things on social media difficult to read,
making a particular reference to
> posts saying the club is rotten. Laurie was very clear to
point out this wasn’t the case.
--- End Quote ---
I've said often before this is an independent message board. It
is not run by the club or for the club. This is a messageboard
for Harlequins supporters to express their views, and if
sometimes those views are painful for people associated with the
club to read, there is an element of "well, don't read it then".
But I take to heart the mention of mental health there, so the
rules have been tightened. (to a certain extent to state the
bleedin' obvious) but the following is now explicit rather than
implicit.
Respectful Discussion of Players and Staff
- Critique performances, tactics, and decisions respectfully.
- Do not attack players, staff, their families, or their
personal lives.
- Remember that players, staff and their families may read the
forum; keep comments constructive and fair.
- Avoid piling on individuals after losses — focus on rugby, not
character.
Rumours and Sensitive Information
- Posts that could cause harm, embarrassment, or distress will
be removed.
- Posts that contain sensitive information will be removed.
#Post#: 152981--------------------------------------------------
Re: Revised Forum Rules.
DIR By: MaidstoneQuin
Date: April 18, 2026, 6:44 am
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I bet it wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card for me to have had a
positive influence on rules…
#Post#: 152984--------------------------------------------------
Re: Revised Forum Rules.
DIR By: Yareet
Date: April 18, 2026, 6:53 am
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--- Quote from: MaidstoneQuin link ---
>
> I bet it wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card for me to have had a
positive influence on rules…
>
--- End Quote ---
I mean, you teed that one up 😉
#Post#: 152994--------------------------------------------------
Re: Revised Forum Rules.
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: April 18, 2026, 8:11 am
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Just a couple of quick questions.
1) Can you define what counts as "causing embarrassment or
distress"? That seems extraordinarily subjective and extremely
broad.
2) On the face of it, calling a performance or an individual
display 'rubbish' would be contrary to the rules. It's not
constructive and if aimed at a particular player would fall foul
of multiple rules here. Is that the intent?
3) Is it reasonable to have fans of the club not feel able to
vent because of people who may not view the forum and who
definitely do not post on here? There is a chilling effect
inherent here in that these rules are overwhelmingly aimed at
protecting people who aren't part of this community and who have
every opportunity to just not read it.
This is a pretty small niche forum, not social media. It exists
on the internet but the content isn't pushed to anyone who isn't
going looking for it. There's no algorithm that would make a
post go viral or forcefeed it to an unwilling consumer of social
media. It's as closed a shop it can get while still allowing
unregistered users the ability to read the forum. Although given
how often it goes down, I think this may all be a moot point
anyway ;-)
#Post#: 153007--------------------------------------------------
Re: Revised Forum Rules.
DIR By: Quinky
Date: April 18, 2026, 11:55 am
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--- Quote from: JammyGit link ---
>
>
> 2) On the face of it, calling a performance or an individual
display 'rubbish' would be contrary to the rules. It's not
constructive and if aimed at a particular player would fall foul
of multiple rules here.
>
--- End Quote ---
QWhich player would that be?
#Post#: 153019--------------------------------------------------
Re: Revised Forum Rules.
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: April 18, 2026, 12:27 pm
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--- Quote from: Quinky link ---
>
> QWhich player would that be?
>
--- End Quote ---
As in "not players in general". Doesn't matter which player, if
they're being mentioned by name.
#Post#: 153023--------------------------------------------------
Re: Revised Forum Rules.
DIR By: Admin
Date: April 18, 2026, 12:51 pm
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--- Quote from: JammyGit link ---
>
> Just a couple of quick questions.
>
> 1) Can you define what counts as "causing embarrassment or
distress"? That seems extraordinarily subjective and extremely
broad.
> 2) On the face of it, calling a performance or an individual
display 'rubbish' would be contrary to the rules. It's not
constructive and if aimed at a particular player would fall foul
of multiple rules here. Is that the intent?
> 3) Is it reasonable to have fans of the club not feel able to
vent because of people who may not view the forum and who
definitely do not post on here? There is a chilling effect
inherent here in that these rules are overwhelmingly aimed at
protecting people who aren't part of this community and who have
every opportunity to just not read it.
>
> This is a pretty small niche forum, not social media. It
exists on the internet but the content isn't pushed to anyone
who isn't going looking for it. There's no algorithm that would
make a post go viral or forcefeed it to an unwilling consumer of
social media. It's as closed a shop it can get while still
allowing unregistered users the ability to read the forum.
Although given how often it goes down, I think this may all be a
moot point anyway ;-)
>
--- End Quote ---
1) On “embarrassment or distress”
You’re right that the wording is broad — it has to be. Every
forum rulebook in existence uses some version of this because
you can’t list every possible scenario. The practical test is
simple:
•
•
If a comment is something you’d be comfortable saying to
someone’s face in a clubhouse bar, it’s almost certainly
allowed. If it’s something that would obviously humiliate
someone if they read it, that’s what the rule is aimed at.
2) On calling something “rubbish”
Context matters.
•
•
allowed
•
personal insult, not analysis.
The rule isn’t designed to stop emotion or passion. It’s
designed to stop lazy personal abuse that adds nothing to
discussion.
3) On the ‘chilling effect’
Supporters absolutely should feel free to vent. The rules don’t
stop that — they just set a tone for how we vent.
This isn’t about protecting people who “aren’t part of the
community”. It’s about maintaining a community standard for the
people who are here. The fact that players or families might
read the forum is simply a reminder that this is a public space,
not a sealed room.
And yes, it’s a niche forum — but it’s still on the open
internet. Anyone can read it, and what we post reflects on the
club and the supporter base. The rules are simply about keeping
the place constructive, welcoming, and not descending into the
kind of negativity that kills communities.
Finally, I'd point out the list of rules is quite large. (too
large maybe). But apart from the rule on swearing, how many do I
pursue with any vigour? Enforcing the rules takes up my time. I
don't put them there out of some demented desire to run a
dictatorship (despite what Deadly would have you believe!). I am
happiest doing nothing. Please try and help me continue to do
that!
#Post#: 153026--------------------------------------------------
Re: Revised Forum Rules.
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: April 18, 2026, 1:04 pm
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I was asking Admin, who I respect, not the AI, whose opinion I
value as much as that of the slugs eating my garden plants.
There is no point having rules if you make them broad enough to
be unenforcably vague and aren't willing to enforce them anyway!
The methods that work on forums worldwide are either being hyper
specific with the rules and making clear red lines that
absolutely will trigger punishment if crossed, or just simply
saying "It's my board, what I say goes, live with it". Either of
these would work better than what you're proposing. This is not
a positive change from how you've successfully moderated the
board up til now; you're just making life harder for yourself!
Anyway, it's baffling to me that it appears to be the somewhat
self serving comments from an under-pressure LD regarding
Twitter/Facebook/Insta etc that have changed the focus away from
how we interact with each other on this board and towards
hypothetical viewers who may or may not be impacted by anything
we write. The sensitivity or otherwise of Schroedinger's lurkers
are no way to moderate a forum.
I'm all for a more pleasant experience on here, but I can't see
how any of this helps at all. The moment someone calls a
mediocre player rubbish, then you'll be forced to make a call,
which is guaranteed to annoy people one way or another.
#Post#: 153042--------------------------------------------------
Re: Revised Forum Rules.
DIR By: Admin
Date: April 18, 2026, 1:39 pm
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Well, I beg to disagree with the idea I'm making life harder for
myself. I repeat I see this as just making explicit what was
implicit before. I'm not expecting to utilise these rules any
more now than I have the ones in the past. I can't imagine any
of our regular posters are going to fall the wrong side of
these. I do have them explicitly stated should I ever need them
and I've reminded you all to think about how chance remarks/a
quick vent might be taken by the recipient of your
keyboard warrior skillls.
#Post#: 153074--------------------------------------------------
Re: Revised Forum Rules.
DIR By: poorfour
Date: April 19, 2026, 4:56 am
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--- Quote from: MaidstoneQuin link ---
>
> I bet it wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card for me to have had a
positive influence on rules…
>
--- End Quote ---
For which, a sincere bravo. Your interview with Laurie was
balanced and insightful and I hope (probably in vain) that it
helps people to take a more humane perspective
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