[NSC] NSC Appreciation

[jakarta]

Wake up.

Laptop on.

Check email (someone might have paid me)

BBC News website ( to piss myself off about the state of the world).

NSC (to make everything better)

And that is my online life these days...

 

[alanfp]

I do my very best not to be abusive or nasty (and probably like most occasionally change my mind about posting something and delete what I wrote if it feels unpleasant)

That is a much appreciated attitude and one that I would like to see more widespread.
As an example, I was following a thread recently where the responder wrote "That's B*****ks!" where he could just as usefully have written "I don't think that's right because <insert fact here>". The responder was absolutely correct, factually, but there was no need to say it in such an angry way. However, I would say that it's a tiny minority who post in that manner and I truly appreciate the moral support expressed on here.

I like the Dalai Lama's quote: "Be kind whenever possible... and it is always possible".

Having said that, it's always better if it's witty/funny as well

 

[The Clamp]

Just read that pinned post. Cripes. Some people.

That’s one thread that even I swerved. Mainly through ignorance of the situation, although that’s very rarely stopped me getting involved before.

Anyhoo. The point being it’s reminded me to renew my patron payment, which lapsed when I had to change my bank card. I’ll get on that next week.

NSC is great and anyone trying to shut it down needs a real word with themselves.

 

[El Presidente]

Sometimes those who legitimately claim to have been on the wrong side of hate, the suppression of free speech and the dismantling of democracy are the first to seize the opportunity to repeat, rather than learn, from history.

 

[portslade seagull]

Started by lurking in 2003 and have probably checked the site everyday since and added a few comments over time.
Would be lost if the site was lost due to one poster

 

[Questions]

“I’ll always try my hardest to keep this community alive - it continues to help so many people get through life.”

Well said Bozza! That one sentence says it all. I am so grateful to you and the other mods for keeping this site alive.

It has helped me cope with so much… Caring for an elderly parent, managing mental health, valuing myself and my family, making the most of retirement and dealing with Albion losses!

Ask them about the missing funds and the Cup final money. They all go stum then

 

[Leekbrookgull]

Personally for me NSC is a useful forum as Bozza states not just football but all things life and like many when one of sons was in the ICU at Royal Sussex the numerous good wishes from many, many members was heart warming which was refreshing in at times today's ugly world . Either when starting a thread or simply replying to a degree your fair game but surely that goes with the territory, but at the end of the day i certainly appreciate NSC and long may it continue. Thank you all.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

NSC feel like home. It's as simple as that for me.

Thanks Bozza and the mods and everyone who has ever contributed to this beautiful, bonkers, touching community.

 

[Blues Guitarist]

I genuinely don't know where I'd be without this plaice.

FTFY

 

[Eeyore]

I've just discovered what may have triggered this thread. As is appropriate, and requested, I won't comment on the subject matter itself.

Given that NSC is a site that is moderated against hate speech, discrimination and abuse of many different forms, I would normally find it astonishing that there are folk who would see it shut down. But we should always be conscious that such individuals are small in number and the number of good, kind and reasonable folk here runs in the thousands.

For those who spend much time in NSC such attacks feel personal. For those who have benefited emotionally from the contact they have had on this site, it hurts. This is not an attack on a disagreeable online forum, it is an attack on an integral part of many folks lives. A part of their life which the overwhelming majority engage with in good humour, kindness, no more than robust debate, but rarely toxic attitudes. And those that do engage in adverse ways rarely last for long.

NSC folk understand the rights and responsibilities of free speech, although international events happening now are threatening to erode such responsibilities. It is ironic that I found myself deleting both my Facebook and Twitter on account of their direction and moderation policies. I left this as my only social media outlet because of it's welcoming nature, broad church of opinion and, most of all, it's reasoning on what wasn't acceptable as much as what was.

Knowing the there could be folk who would seek to destroy such a forum makes me sad and angry. But the most frustrating truth is that I shouldn't be surprised.

 

[Ooh it’s a corner]

To be honest I hadn’t read the sticker as I’m trying to avoid the political threads more than I once did - once I got a bit further down this thread I thought I’d better.

Poor Bozza - what a load of bs the complaint is(said with being blissfully unaware of any level of detail)

NSC is a fantastic source of amusement/comfort/interest to me. I spend far too much time on it - my wife tells me

I love the variety of topics - music, dogs, current affairs, TV, other sports et al and of course the Albion.

Some of the best threads imo are those where members(oo er matron), share personal/emotive issues and seek advice, reassurance or just someone to listen.

I do feel it is a real community and I would be poorer without it

 

[Zeberdi]

Sometimes those who legitimately claim to have been on the wrong side of hate, the suppression of free speech and the dismantling of democracy are the first to seize the opportunity to repeat, rather than learn, from history.

Islamophobia and antisemitism is completely unacceptable in any form. I have always maintained a humanitarian perspective despite coming from a family that has been ‘on the wrong side of hate’. I have not hesitated to call out extremism, racial intolerance or racial stereotyping, whom ever it is directed at and from whatever source it is generated.

I think removing the thread was a shock but entirely sensible - I had not posted on it for weeks but I felt there had been too much stereotyping and demonising whole populations of people for too long on ‘both sides’ - but this was not an NSC specific issue - the whole conflict narrative has been characterised by that too in mainstream media and social media as well as by the protagonists on both sides directly involved in the conflict in the ME.

The same thing is happening with an ‘anti-Americans’ sentiment now because of Trump, when it’s less than half the population that voted for him. When I think how hard the American members of my family fought to keep Trump out and how devastated and scared they are that they failed, strong anti-American rhetoric (directed at the whole population without distinction) are to me, misplaced and unfair.

However, social media and its polarising debates on what are complex matters don’t generally lend themselves very easily to balance and nuance unfortunately.

Tough decisions by the mods but entirely the right one. In early days, it was both informative and helpful but tbh the whole thing has been a minefield from start to finish.

 

[Weststander]

Islamophobia and antisemitism is completely unacceptable in any form. I have always maintained a humanitarian perspective despite coming from a family that has been ‘on the wrong side of hate’. I have not hesitated to call out extremism, racial intolerance or racial stereotyping, whom ever it is directed at and from whatever source it is generated.

I think removing the thread was a shock but entirely sensible - I had not posted on it for weeks but I felt there had been too much stereotyping and demonising whole populations of people for too long on ‘both sides’ - but this was not an NSC specific issue - the whole conflict narrative has been characterised by that too in mainstream media and social media as well as by the protagonists on both sides directly involved in the conflict in the ME.

The same thing is happening with an ‘anti-Americans’ sentiment now because of Trump, when it’s less than half the population that voted for him. When I think how hard the American members of my family fought to keep Trump out and how devastated and scared they are that they failed, strong anti-American rhetoric (directed at the whole population without distinction) are to me, misplaced and unfair.

However, social media and its polarising debates on what are complex matters don’t generally lend themselves very easily to balance and nuance unfortunately.

Tough decisions by the mods but entirely the right one. In early days, it was both informative and helpful but tbh the whole thing has been a minefield from start to finish.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

The Albion is the entry point into NSC but the other stuff is what makes it the community it is.

At various points the NSC community has helped with various life topics, finding tradespeople and also light relief during heavy work times. The Prostate cancer thread is just one of many that shows how NSC not just helps people with support but I would guess that there are many on here who have benefited from the awareness of this and got themselves tested.

I’m sure there are many of you on here who I have unknowingly met as well as those I have met over the years. There are also many of you who I know from NSC but have never introduced myself to.

I generally avoid political threads so missed the sticky that kicked off the need for this thread but if push comes to shove, the actions of a minority of posters should not give anyone enough reasons to try and close NSC compared to all the good it has done over the years.

The Best of NSC can be summed up in four words - Robert Eaton Memorial Fund

 

[Cotton Socks]

Oh, after reading the sticky it appears this is a football forum! I've always wondered why people predict scores & there's a matchday thread! All these threads with peoples names on like 'Mitoma' & 'Dunk' seem to make sense now!

I do exactly the same as @jakarta BBC News, Home page of the Argus, Email, then NSC. BBC, Email & NSC tabs are always open, so it looks like I spend my entire day, everyday, here!

I'd be a bit lost without NSC, there are people here that make me laugh, some that make me want to bang my head repeatedly on my desk but it's a good mix of people & most I think I'd buy a drink for if we met in real life. It's good to see other peoples perspective of things even if I don't agree. It's good to see people helping each other out across various threads as well, even if a week before they were arguing on another thread about something completely different. People have directly helped me out here & indirectly from reading a post.

Sounds like someone's behaving like a child in the playground when they're losing a game of football and they try & take the ball away. Don't let them get you down Bozza. You & the other mods do a great job.

 

[jackalbion]

Islamophobia and antisemitism is completely unacceptable in any form. I have always maintained a humanitarian perspective despite coming from a family that has been ‘on the wrong side of hate’. I have not hesitated to call out extremism, racial intolerance or racial stereotyping, whom ever it is directed at and from whatever source it is generated.

I think removing the thread was a shock but entirely sensible - I had not posted on it for weeks but I felt there had been too much stereotyping and demonising whole populations of people for too long on ‘both sides’ - but this was not an NSC specific issue - the whole conflict narrative has been characterised by that too in mainstream media and social media as well as by the protagonists on both sides directly involved in the conflict in the ME.

The same thing is happening with an ‘anti-Americans’ sentiment now because of Trump, when it’s less than half the population that voted for him. When I think how hard the American members of my family fought to keep Trump out and how devastated and scared they are that they failed, strong anti-American rhetoric (directed at the whole population without distinction) are to me, misplaced and unfair.

However, social media and its polarising debates on what are complex matters don’t generally lend themselves very easily to balance and nuance unfortunately.

Tough decisions by the mods but entirely the right one. In early days, it was both informative and helpful but tbh the whole thing has been a minefield from start to finish.

And that’s before we even get to the Pro/Anti Huerzler threads!

 

[Whoislloydy]

It makes me angry that a couple of selfish narcissists have threatened and agitated to get NSC shut down because of their hurty feelings.

Post deleted by moderator.

Second chances are in short supply right now so please read the sticky and resist the urge to speculate

Thanks - BN

 

[jackalbion]

Wake up.

Laptop on.

Check email (someone might have paid me)

BBC News website ( to piss myself off about the state of the world).

NSC (to make everything better)

And that is my online life these days...

I’d say North Stand Chat is responsible for at least 80% of train delays on the Southern Network

 

[darkwolf666]

This forum is more than just about football.

It was a support for me when my wife was diagnosed with cancer and I bare my soul for all to see. It supported me in the early days of the Covid pandemic, before the same minded agents, currently at work, did their worst and drove me from these boards for a number of years!

NSC should always be a safe haven and should never be allowed to be dominated by trolls and, well, shit stirrers!

 

[WhingForPresident]

I've been logging onto this site daily for bordering on 20 years now, from when I was a teenager to now as a 'grown up' with kids and all that. You lot are the only fellow Albion fans I have to vent with, to celebrate with, to argue with etc, so I really appreciate you all.

It's a fantastic community, so thank you to all those-most notably @Bozza of course- that keep it going, despite the unwanted shit that comes with it.