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FC Phuket in Disgrace: Losing Coach Chanted from the Pitch and His Job
By Phuketwan Reporter Sunday, May 29, 2011
FC PHUKET'S coach was forced to quit tonight after hundreds of ''Hulk'' fans chanted for him to walk immediately when emotions boiled over after Phuket's 3-0 loss to arch rivals Buriram FC.
Surachai Jirasirichote, a former Thailand great on his first assignment as a coach, bowed out in public, made a dignified farewell to FC Phuket's more sensible fans over the stadium microphone, then walked.
His public humiliation in front of hundreds of shocked FC Phuket and Buriram FC fans marks a low-point in the rise and fall of the fortunes of the island's football club.
Hot-headed fans from two groups, known as ''Hard Core'' and ''The Mask,'' led the after-match chants that brought the demise of the coach - and heaped disgrace on FC Phuket.
While the team and the coach may have lost the game 3-0, sadly and more significantly it was FC Phuket's most outrageous fans who went one worse and lost the plot.
Any club that treats its honest, hard-working officials in this fashion does not deserve to succeed. The shocking treatment of FC Phuket's coach was planned in advance.
It will be difficult to imagine FC Phuket not suffering some kind of sanction for this appalling breach of civilised behavior.
In Thailand's history of embracing football, the beautiful game, it is not possible to imagine a less acceptable unsporting act.
Earlier in the Division One season, FC Phuket's fans were disciplined for a less significant breach with one small fine. They appear not to have learned their lesson.
Perhaps they are incapable of dealing with a defeat or two, without piling shame on the loss. Is this Phuket's fate, to be world's worst bad losers?
Tonight's clash was FC Phuket's most significant match to date, a highly-publicised encounter in the heat of a national election campaign with a club that is the lovechild of a key politicial string-puller, former politician Newin Chidchob.
Khun Newin is a one-time ally of fugitive PM Thaksin Shinawatra, and he hopes his Bhum Jai Thai Party can become a third force in Thai politics in the poll on July 3.
Tonight he was a spectator at Surakul Stadium in Phuket City to the conflagration that can envelop a failed leader - if his supporters happen to be as flaky as FC Phuket's most excessive fan core.
Football fans the world over are celebrating the great deeds of Barcelona in the Champions League final against Manchester United and contemplating the corrupt mess that is Fifa, the beautiful game's governing body.
Yet on Phuket tonight, FC Phuket's foolish fans have managed to raise the bar higher - when it comes to low acts.
Bad football is forgettable. A 3-0 scoreline has to be accepted by FC Phuket's real supporters.
This evening's shoddy after-match behavior, however, was disgraceful. It is not acceptable, and never should be.
Coach Surachai told the stadium in his dignified farewell: ''I am sorry the team lost. Tomorrow, I will collect all my belongings. You will never see me again.''
Good, fair football attracts a following. Public executions do not.
It may be some time before FC Phuket draws as many real football fans to a game as it did tonight. The thugs are now the ones who need to be chanted out of FC Phuket's home stadium. FC Phuket versus Buriram FC is about as big as it gets in Thailand's Division Two in a game exciting locals almost as much as Barcelona v Man U [1.45am Sunday].
FC Phuket Vote to Halt the Buriram Bandwagon
Phuket's Tourism Leaders on Slow Learning Curve
News Analysis Phuket's honorary consuls struggle to change thinking as Phuket's administrators reluctantly embrace the need for international standards and attitudes.
Phuket's Tourism Leaders on Slow Learning Curve
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Comments
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just look at this island. it really is a total shame on thailand and its own people. phuket does not even deserve to represent football.
Posted by
john s
on
May 30, 2011 00:13
This seems to be a predominately Phuketian phenomenon when one talks about issues like this with Thais who came here from other provinces.
Kudos to the coach who kept his cool and gave these thugs no fuel to further vent their anger.
Posted by
Chris
on
May 30, 2011 08:36
I'm a professional coach and former football player with a over 20 year experience of playing in all Italian Series. Generally, it's a normal routine to give the fault of the lost match to the coach. The truth is different: on the pitch there are the players and they are totally responsible about their performances! The loss may have more than one reason. Probably, the coach ability might be one of them, but not the main one.
Posted by
Mario
on
May 30, 2011 09:28
Extreme sensationalistic journalism, were you at this game, or just trying to make a story bigger than it is (not like the press!!) Good game, good atmosphere. To call the Phuket fans like this shows a complete lack of understanding. All I saw was respect from both fans. You get beat ...you learn and move on...or sack the coach after every defeat!!...get real...see you next home game...shameful journalism is my only observation..try a real job;-)
Posted by
Bombero
on
May 30, 2011 09:49
Editor Comment:
We had two experienced reporters at the game and they were both horrified at the disgraceful treatment meted out to the coach, who acted with dignity. Perhaps you left early and missed the real action? Tell us the last time fans chanted and sacked a coach after a game, anywhere. If you don't like the way we reported it, read it about it elsewhere . . . except you won't find it reported elsewhere. You fail the test of being an observant onlooker.
It would have been nice to read the story without all the obvious personal sentiments from the author.
Not all readers are idiots who need an opinion given to them.
Posted by
Nathan
on
May 30, 2011 10:02
Editor Comment:
The best sports reporting has always been packed with opinions. Feel free to offer a contrary one.
Do you know anything about the game or have you ever even played the game, have your so called experienced reporters?
Football is all about passion, that's why so many people love the game, these thugs as you call them don't have the luxury of a nice air conditioned office to sit in like some and a nice comfortable salary. Football is the working man's game, a place for him to let off some steam and show some passion.
He hasn't won a game away from home, the team is tactically inept and we've just been torn apart by our biggest rivals. The least he could do was step down.
This is the problem with the game today 'the prawn sandwich brigade' are here and they are here to stay.
Thug, how dare you?
Posted by
Lee
on
May 30, 2011 13:29
Editor Comment:
Lee, we don't have air conditioning, nor do we have ''nice, comfortable salaries.'' Fairness is what football is supposed to be about. The right way for coaches to be told to go is after a board meeting. Real working class Phuket fans find the actions of these few thugs and jerks shameful and unsporting.
(moderated)
Posted by
Dan
on
May 30, 2011 13:45
Editor Comment:
As the sports reporter for another publication, you have plenty of space to air your views. Don't forget to list the number of coaches who have been previously humiliated in this shameful way. Shouldn't you have your version online already?
In response to the reply to your comment to Bombero, I always thought that reporting was based on facts not opinions, Editorials are for opinions, No?
I don't know too much about journalism so I'll say no more. Will the Phuket Wan editor and journalists who know nothing about football please do the same? Hire someone who does. I'm available. ;-)
Posted by
Lee
on
May 30, 2011 14:14
Editor Comment:
You need to read more real sports writers, Lee. What they report is nearly always passionate, and often pointed. And in this case, the real story is not the football but the disgraceful behavior of the fans. You don't need to play 100 games for your country to be able to tell right from wrong. And these days, many people who have played 100 games for their country don't seem to be able to tell right from wrong.
Roy Hodgson was protested against by Liverpool fans this season, the owners of the club the season before. Chelsea fans protested about Carlo Ancelotti this season, 10,000 Port Vale fans protested against their manager this season, Sheffield United fans are protesting about the appointment of a manager, Man Utd fans protest against the Glazers owning the club, Arsenal fans have protested against Arsene wenger this season, Newcastle Utd fans protested over the appointment of Alan Pardew, Stockport County fans have protested this season, shall I continue?
Posted by
Anonymous
on
May 30, 2011 14:18
Editor Comment:
Protests in Britain - the home of thugs in football - are nothing new. Were all those coaches (and owners) forced to resign on the pitch? Are you unable to tell the difference between a protest, and an on-pitch sacking/execution? So you think British football fans set the standard for proper behavior? Ha! You will need extra space to write that one.
Looks like the thugs are following the lead of FIFA execs. Great 'leadership'!
Posted by
Duncan
on
May 30, 2011 14:41
Protests in Britain - the home of thugs in football - are nothing new. Were all those coaches (and owners) forced to resign on the pitch? Are you unable to tell the difference between a protest, and an on-pitch sacking/execution? So you think British football fans set the standard for proper behavior? Ha! You will need extra space to write that one.
Wow, I can't believe I've just read this. Editor you should do some research on supporters through out Europe and South America before making a racist statement like that. English fans are choir boys compared to fans in other countries and I'm a Scot saying this.
Posted by
Bill
on
May 30, 2011 14:54
Editor Comment:
Bill, you need to look up the word ''racist'' to avoid misusing it future. The person who wrote the comment only listed British instances of protests. Protests are a dime a dozen. But please tell me of a case, anywhere, where a coach has been forced to resign on the pitch after a match.
Ah, so I see we hark back to lazy stereotypes about British football. Yes English football fans were nothing short of a disgrace in the latter stages of the 20th century but since then behavior of English football fans has been nothing short of exemplary with exception of some mindless bigots in Scotland. Italian fans have caused the death of policemen in recent years, Polish football is rife with fascist football fans, Russian fans are racists, as are elements of Spanish football crowds.
The Ultras in Italy basically run the clubs as the owners are afraid to deal with them.
I've seen much more fierce protests and Surachai could have taken the option of resigning behind closed doors. That he chose to do it on the pitch speaks volumes for him. He is quite clearly a good man and it's a shame that it came to what it did. But to class the fans as thugs as they showed dissent is ridiculous. If they'd have gone on the rampage and trashed the stadium, I'd agree with you but they didn't; far from it.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
May 30, 2011 14:59
Editor Comment:
You're the one listing all the English protests, not us, and you'd best take up the behavior of the Scots with our Scottish commenter. He'll probably call you a racist without understanding what it means. The FC Phuket fans didn't go on the rampage - because the coach resigned! He was forced to take that action, and there's no telling what might have happened if he didn't. I'm still keen to see your list of cases where a coach has been forced to resign on the pitch immediately after a match. I guess that because it's not noteworthy, you won't be mentioning it in your match report.
(moderated)
Posted by
Nathan
on
May 30, 2011 16:21
Editor Comment:
As I responded once before to you: ''We don't take unjustified criticism any more, Nathan, especially from people who can't tell the difference between football and life and death.''
Racist was probably a bit harsh but prejudiced is certainly correct and if you were at the game and saw the coaches body language you would have clearly seen his time was up so he simply delayed the inevitable.
As for evidence of another manager quiting on the pitch due to pressure from the fans look no further than Kevin Keegan quiting the biggest job in football when he did a similar
Posted by
Bill
on
May 30, 2011 17:02
Editor Comment:
The body language of someone about to be executed often fails to persuade most reasonable people that hanging is appropriate. If this man was not succeeding as coach, the club's administrators should have sacked him this week. For the fans to do so at the match opens the door to more thuggery and undermines the whole club. It was a shameful and unacceptable act. Precedents don't make it right.
I didn't realise Kevin Keegan was once president of Fifa.
Editor - I'm still keen to see your list of cases where a coach has been forced to resign on the pitch immediately after a match. I guess that because it's not noteworthy, you won't be mentioning it in your match report.
I give you Keegan quting as England manager in exactly the same way and you respond with,
Editor - I didn't realise Kevin Keegan was once president of Fifa.
Make your mind up and stop moving the goalposts.
Posted by
Bill
on
May 30, 2011 17:39
Editor Comment:
Sorry? I think you're suffering from confusion. Your post said Keegan resigned from the biggest job in football. That's president of Fifa, to those of us who know the game.
Ask anyone who knows anything about football what the biggest job in football is?
In my opinion it's the England managers job.
You say Fifa president, that's your opinion, well done your finally now distinguishing between opinion and fact.
Keegan did still quit in an identical manner to Surachai Jirasirichote, that is fact. ;-)
Posted by
Bill
on
May 30, 2011 19:30
Editor Comment:
I guess that's why the England fans have a different view to the rest of the world's football fans, Bill. But it surprises me that a Scot would agree. Did Keegan have signs held up saying: ''Sell pork - you'll do much better'' and ''You coach like a buffalo''? Identical? I don't think so. The Phuket fans are a disgrace.
The Phuket fans are a disgrace.
Say what you think editor, don't hold back. Does that include me and the other thousands of fans?
We love you too.
For the record don't be so naive as to believe that the England fans weren't chanting and singing far worse at Keegan than Surachai Jirasirichote received.
Posted by
Bill
on
May 31, 2011 03:48
Editor Comment:
Bill, why are you obsessed with repeating the mistakes of English football? It's as if your ball has nobs on. The Phuket fans - the ones who have been planning this since the coach first arrived - are a shameful lot, and as long as they maintain their attitude, FC Phuket has little chance of success. Sad.
disgraceful treatment of the coach, the team should be docked points, then the fans (so called) may think again when they go down to div 2!
Posted by
sateve
on
May 31, 2011 04:55
Protests/Chanting and banners about the manager (coach) or the board of directors is a normal occurrence in football. There are any number of instances of this. The coach needs to be made of sterner stuff and get on with it, not go weak at the knees and fold in half. Protests followed by knee-jerk reactions though seem to be symptomatic of the Thai style of doing things as we've seen with protests at city hall and road blocking etc some of which have resulted in policy change. Pathetic.
Posted by
Mr Man
on
May 31, 2011 06:44
Editor Comment:
We don't support unjustifiable mob behavior at the football or on the roads. It's odd that some people seem to think it's perfectly ok to mount a protest at the football, yet would be the first to complain if a road blockade meant they missed their flight. Football doesn't need these people.
Dear khun Editor, none so deaf as those that won't hear (not you, of course)!
I agree with you, Phuket's fans are a disgrace, like all ignorant people who don't have enough knowledge and education about this sport! To win needs a lot of marbles in the mosaic. We can't use the same meter
to misure the teams perdormances all over the word. In my previous comment, I said that the players are the mainly responsible about there job. If Phuket's fans pretend to have performances like racehorses from draught horses, they are day-dreamers.
To manage a football team is a difficult job which needs many professional contributions. The Real Madrid and Iternazionale crisis and, lately, ManU in the recent Champion League edition, confirm the complexity of that job, in spite of the teams were led by famous coaches.
Posted by
Mario
on
May 31, 2011 08:27
Editor Comment:
Indeed. Let's hope the next coach is not sacked by the fans after a losing streak. How much time will the fans give him? One week, or two? It's a pity these people didn't look at Buriram and learn a little. The 700 fans from Buriram flew to Phuket for the weekend match. They are disciplined. They believe in their team. Having faith in the coach and the players is the key to success.
You asked for an example of a coach that had quit in an identical circumstances to the FC Phuket coach. I gave you one. Keegan.
You have labelled me and thousands of other FC Phuket fans thugs. I think we both know where we stand on this topic so we'll have to agree to disagree.
Posted by
Bill
on
May 31, 2011 10:38
Editor Comment:
If you were there on Sunday and you chanted for the coach to go, you are a thug. Most real fans did not join in. You seem to have trouble absorbing what you read.
Being coach of England is the "Biggest job in football"??!! Yeah, right..
Posted by
christian
on
May 31, 2011 13:34
no i didnt leave early and unlike you i was at the game,with my family who enjoyed the day. left at he very end as 'thugs' were giving a nice rendition of happy birthday to someone. Why let he truth get in the way of a good story eh? Been going to football around the world for forty years.You and your"experienced" reporters may be better off reporting on sandcastle building competitions,more suited to your journalistic skills. (moderated)
Posted by
bombero
on
May 31, 2011 15:34
Editor Comment:
There's a difference between going to the football for decades, and being able to tell right from wrong. Keep at it, bombero, you'll learn eventually.
p.s. nice to see so many photos to go with all that nastiness and thuggery. Enjoy moderating with the openess you claim to want on your homepage.
Posted by
bombero
on
May 31, 2011 15:44
Editor Comment:
''Nastiness'' is your word, not ours. The photos accurately depict the public humiliation of the coach on the pitch after the match.
The author is obviously not a long term football fan. Football fans calling for the coach to be sacked does not constitute a disgrace, it is their right as paying ticket holders to voice an opinion and is something which has happened at every single club in the world at one stage or another.
I think this may be the first time in history anyone has taken it upon themselves to write an angry editorial about it though.
Don't think this reflects badly on the club at all. The only thing this editorial demonstrates is that the author is not very familiar with his subject matter.
Posted by
James Goyder
on
May 31, 2011 20:11
Editor Comment:
Nobody said it reflected poorly on the club. It reflects on the fans-turned-thugs, the chronic lack of success in the English brand of football, and the pretentiousness of the few who think they know what ''sport'' is all about. To assume that the author is a man is a sign of your ingrained ignorance. Back to the 1950s, James.
Dear Editor,
my crew is call THE MASK.
maybe you should get your fact straight before you write it down.
And they are no thugs.
Posted by
Kazira Hans
on
May 31, 2011 21:54
Editor Comment:
Thanks, we'll certainly correct that.
When FC Phuket loses, why is the coach to blame?
Is it true the banners calling for the coach to go have been carried to matches for many weeks?
How long will the new coach be given?
Fans-turned-thugs - classic and correct if they'd torn the stadium down. "You coach like a buffalo" is another pearler. My goodness, no wonder he quit. Now I know calling someone a buffalo in Thailand is offensive as they are slow, dim-witted animals but I have to say that's one of the most polite bits of abuse hurled in the direction of a coach I've ever heard.
I've said it once but I'll say it again, fans all around the world protest against managers, the way the club is run, the owners and more. They're entitled to because without them, there would be no football club, no football. They are the lifeblood of any football team; the passion and the pride. Take that away and football has nothing. It's what sets it apart from any other sport in the world and why it the world's most popular.
To be quite honest, I'd rather follow a sport where its supporters have that fire inside them provided it doesn't turn violent.
Fans will always turn against the coach if they aren't getting what they want: success. If they are daft enough not to moan when their side's losing and showing signs of getting worse then they deserve everything they get.
As for constantly jibing at the English? Yep, the national team's not been up to much for a while now but still one of only 8 nations to have won thw World Cup. Plus our league sides haven't fared too badly in the Champions League in recent years. In six of the last seven years there has been an English team in the final and in 2008 there were two...
Posted by
Anonymous
on
May 31, 2011 22:24
Editor Comment:
''Provided it doesn't turn violent'' is always the issue. Most sports fans go to the game, hurl abuse at the referee and sometimes the opposition, and go home satisfied. This was different. To go to every game knowing that the fans might turn on you makes any coach's job impossible. Premeditated plans for a coach's public sacking are not good for football, nor are they good for FC Phuket. What happened on Sunday was not sport. To encourage it, as you are doing, is to ensure true fans - and their families - stay away from future Phuket FC games.
The problem with English football is that while it's the world game, the English still pretend to own it.
As much as it was eventually inevitable for Surachai to step down, I feel that he did it at the wrong time, and in the wrong manner. If he really had the passion for the game, then he should have stayed and made things right. FC Phuket are not perfect, but we need good guidance.
I think it's a bit subjective of the reporter to term us, Phuket FC fans, as 'foolish'. We want to see our team win - at least at home. We have every reason to feel deluded when we don't, especially When we regard the margin of the loss.
What did Mr. Reporter expect the fans to do? Give Surachai a standing-O?
We want to win some games. Not lose all.
Posted by
WiseFoot
on
June 1, 2011 11:05
Editor Comment:
Let's hope the team resolves concerns by winning, but the new coach and the players are now under enormous pressure. For the players to improve their conditioning - as the new coach suggests - means extra training, which is usually not possible mid-season without match performances suffering. We wish them well.
Try Ms Reporter.
Her view is that nobody should be subjected to that kind of premeditated public humiliation. Rather than have the fans take their protest to the next level, the coach did the right thing. In scapegoating the coach, the injuries that the team has suffered appeared to have been ignored.
Notice not many people saw the game the 'you' did.My 40 years of attending football is dismissed by you telling me i dont know right from wrong(consistently patronising and weak)."emotions boiled over" "lost the plot" "a less sporting act unimaginable" "worlds worst losers" (moderated)
Posted by
bombero
on
June 1, 2011 13:44
Editor Comment:
It's odd how people who criticise us for holding opinions different to theirs usually manage to make hypocrites of themselves in payback comments about Phuketwan that aren't true. We've given up publishing them. And what's really patronising is to boast about your 40 years of attending football. That hasn't equipped you to tell right from wrong.
Boasting??? lol You really are in the wrong game. In football parlance 'he's taken his ball home'!read your home page and try and follow through. Fish in a barrel methinks. You have judged me and the game, from distance and without knowledge, i get the pattern. Shameful...but your entitled. Just aim for a semblance of truth and work from there.
Posted by
bombero
on
June 2, 2011 09:02
Editor Comment:
Nonsense. You are defending the on-pitch humiliation of a good man, for no real reason other than a small number of FC Phuket fans too closely follow poor role models. In 40 years of following the game, watching those poor role models, you haven't learned the difference between good behavior and bad behavior. Shame.
Where do you get 40 years of following poor role models?Still waiting for the answer on boasting?Gaddafi-esque in your censorship,too be expected,hiding from the points you cant handle eh? Nobody has defended bad behaviour(give example),only pointing out the extreme ott reporting of a game attended (not by you) by my family and I. The reaction of you and your"reporters" is the shame and i think you know it,you wrote a way over the top piece and you have been found out.James Goyders post sums it up most succinctly and your reply to him underlined his point. You seem out of your depth in sporting and journalistic terms. The sense of bitterness in your replys highlights your ignorance. Good luck with your"career":-D
Posted by
bombero
on
June 2, 2011 16:00
Editor Comment:
Bad behavior is forcing the coach to resign on the pitch after the match, bombero. Public humiliations are only encouraged by those who substitute vilification and lies for logic. That's Gaddafi-esque.
No sir. Bad behavior is name calling, labeling people you don't know based on a single comment. Because they have an opinion contrary to your own calling them ignorant, Gaddafi-esque??? etc. Fighting with readers over what they who were present say they saw and heard in spite of the fact you were not even there? What's your purpose?
Why are you even responding at all?
I don't really know why you are so angry and feel the need to belittle those who post. Your reaction to harmless comments here are extreme in the least and the name calling is completely uncalled for. You have already said things more personal and insulting than anything I heard at the match and this to people who are only attempting to contribute to your site.
In fact your behavior here is far more thuggish and irrational than anything I heard or saw at the pitch. This even though I agree with most of the points made in the article.
Posted by
Martin
on
June 2, 2011 17:45
Editor Comment:
Hello Martin. So you agree with most of the points in the article, but object to my defending the right of the reporters who were there - and who, according to you, reported the situation accurately?
No comment is ''harmless'' when it distorts the truth and condones, as in this particular case, shameful behavior.
I don't name-call. I pick holes in spurious arguments and highlight defects of logic. Don't take this as a personal insult. It's just a criticism of your argument.
If you want a site where there are no responses to misinformation, you have plenty of choices.
By the way, Gadafi-esque was what the previous commenter called me. Yet according to you, I am not allowed to apply the same adjective to his argument.
And I never get angry.
An example of defending bad behaviour was asked for,the criticism was of the sensationalist reporting of the events,totally out of step with what happened. Had you written something closer to your last Edit you may have dodged some of the flak,but it would seem you have form for knee-'jerk' responses and articles. Still Khun Morison iam sure we can discuss the finer points of sport/journalism another time. Still so many unanswered points. Ah well see u around;-) chok dee with the attitude.
Posted by
bombero
on
June 2, 2011 18:27
Editor Comment:
Sorry bombero, your responses have contributed nothing to your argument in defence of unreasonable behavior, here or on the pitch.
I guess this means I am sacked as coach.
This is not so much for posting as a response to you directly since I feel your comment was pretty direct to me. It should probably be an email but I am pretty lazy. My apologies in advance. I post it in the hopes that you can at least understand that I mean no ill will, I have enjoyed the site and feel it is the best source for news on the island.
You have a right to respond in kind when someone makes a childish comment it is just unnecessary. If your logic is that by stooping to their level you further debate or are adding something to intelligent discussion your logic is flawed. I think it limits and misdirects debate and belittles your position. Likewise if you think people enjoy being insulted you are mistaken no matter how oblique or witty you think it is. Also I think you misapprehend why people post and how insulting your responses are, they only push them to defend their positions and themselves irregardless of how weak the stand is they have taken.
For what it is worth, I think you underestimate the intelligence of your readers by assuming that without you to point out stupid comments or illogical posts we can't see them. I don't assume because someone makes a poor post that they are ignorant or because they post something once that is politically incorrect they are racist. There is a difference between pointing out that they have made a stupid point and calling them ignorant (or saying your ingrained ignorance is showing). I just don't think that basing opinions on a single post is a good way to judge fellow human beings. Perhaps I am wrong.
You are correct there are other forums and other news sites. I come to Phuket Wan because you do a very good job of getting news out that is not reported elsewhere and because there are several readers who post here who offer interesting and thoughtful opinions. Occasionally I correctly or incorrectly feel that I might have something of value to add.
But, it is in a sense a deal with the devil and the editorial interference has once again become more painful than the reward. It is a shame because this community desperately needs a balanced forum/news source where intelligent discussion takes place and so many of the pieces are already here (news, community, several good readers, etc). I do not always object to your comments but I do think that for the most part discretion has its place. In this article alone several stupid comments were made, I am pretty sure that had you allowed nature to take its course the readers of the site would have corrected them.
This is about the third time I have left the site and only after several months have returned always for the same reasons on both sides. One non-paying reader will mean nothing to your site and I wish it all the success. You certainly are free to use it as you see fit as I am free to not want to deal with the abusive comments. As you have made clear those of us who don't like the direction can go elsewhere. I am sure at some point I will wander back as you well know your competition really isn't. Maybe this is your formula and the tone you want to set but personally I think you would be as successful if not more if you pulled back a little bit/OK maybe a lot. Then again, every time I come back to the site I promise myself I won't let your reader bashing get to me and I fail so maybe it is just the nature of the beast.
Posted by
Martin
on
June 2, 2011 20:02
Editor Comment:
Thanks for the feedback. We opened the comments section in expectation that we would quickly discover readers who could amplify issues and perhaps add to the broader knowledge. I'd have to say the experience continues to be disappointing, although I seem to have driven away some of the people whose only obvious aim was to dissemble and confuse. As an editor who not only edits the articles but also moderates the comments, I bring to the task as much knowledge as the Phuketwan journalists have collectively accumulated. In that position, I am hardly likely to let thoughtless criticism or misinformation pass without comment. Real criticism is dealt with frankly, and I hope reasonably. Differences of opinion I don't have any problem in publishing, as long as they are well-expressed and logical. I don't have an ego of any size. I seldom get angry about anything. I am not bitter or twisted. I don't underestimate the intelligence of the readers: that probably varies a lot and there is no Phuketwan readers' IQ collective. I cut excessive praise as readily as I cut excessive criticism. I don't aim to be witty or trite. I admit to being abrupt and always pressed for time. I also admit, in the case of the response to James's comment, to being shocked that any journalist would make the assumption that an anonymous byline would have to be male. This is the 21st century, after all. I will apologise to James - once he has apologised to womankind. Like it or not, i am never going to let information I know is false pass without a response. A very long time in farming opinions has given me a pretty good sense of wheat and chaff. The internet has added a layer i don't like. It's hard these days to tell the real responders from the fakers. There is no intent on the editor's part to insult - but the shock of having someone challenge an opinion may be a novel experience for some. Where it goes from there is up to the individuals. I miss the days when people needed to identify themselves fully before holding forth . . . debate is diminished by the posters who abuse the opportunity to express their opinions. Sport is always going to be a bit rougher than other topics, given the passion and the fact that some supporters only understand the difference between winning and losing. I wish there was a way of making sure the identities of the readers could be clearly established. Then we might have a more civil set of rules for debate. But until that day comes, Martin, I don't plan on changing. It probably is, as you say, just the nature of the beast.
Touche....you have lived upto your reputation....ignorance must be blissful. Just try honesty and balance, you might grow to like them. Your amusing in a way...Keep on dodging! Howzaat:-)
Posted by
bombero
on
June 3, 2011 08:22
Editor Comment:
Loose, lacking in original thought, untrue, ungrammatical. Nothing to fear there, bombero.
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just look at this island. it really is a total shame on thailand and its own people. phuket does not even deserve to represent football.
Posted by john s on May 30, 2011 00:13