As many of you are aware, various events on the site over the last year have led me to question the future of the site. I had to close down the Predictor League because of the abuse I was getting. Then two of our core writers felt they couldn’t continue due to the abuse they were getting in the comments. No one should have to put up with that.
I started this site in 2006 (I think!) and it has developed into a largeish West Ham community. I have always tried to make the site a haven of tranquility compared to some others, and by and large this has worked, until compartively recently. I don’t have time to police the comments and rely on others to do so.
Having consulted other contributors, past and present, I have decided that we must persevere and restore this site to the quality site it once was (and in many ways still is!). So a number of things will happen…
1. I am recruiting some new writers. I’ve already recruited two – one popular past contributor, and another who is a regular commenter and contributor to another site. But there will be more. If you would like to be considered yourself, or know someone who might, please get in touch via the Contact button at the top of the page.
2. There will more pro-active policing of comments. This is not to diminish debate, but to encourage polite and reasonable discourse. Repeated transgressors will be banned without warning.
3. I will reinstate the Predictor League next season.
4. I have commissioned Russell to do a revamp of the site design in readiness for next season, but it may go live much earlier. I have asked him to make the site less ‘bloggy’ and more magaziny. It’s not a news site. It will be mirrored on the structure of my personal site at IainDale.com:http://www.iaindale.com. All ideas gratefully received.
5. The Comments system will be reimagined, to make it slightly more dynamic and user friendly.
6. I’d like the Seen Elsewhere feature to be more active, and on the new site it will be. I’m looking for someone to be the daily edtor of that section.
7. Similarly, I’d like someone to curate a new video section, so there is new video content on the site each day.
If you have any ideas or suggestions for the positive development of the site, please either contact me directly or leave a comment below.
COYI!