Time for some truth...

[Ausangel]

Rather than hijack stevo's thread and get off topic like some have chosen to do, I have decided to start my own and address some things that I have up until now remained silent on. Getting back to Stevo's thread I applaud him for his positive approach in seeking answers to finding a solution.

Now getting on with my post and to address some of the posts on steves thread I have started my own out of courtesy to stevo.

I never thought the day would come that I would have to make a post like this on the op forums, but over the last few months I have come to realise that op is no longer the place many members feel comfortable/welcome anymore, the constant negativity, the back stabbing, insults, bitching, moaning, stalking, gossiping and people who feel they have a right to run the site the way they see fit, some even going as far as trying to undermine the Owner of this site, oh yes can you believe that? Some members need to take a good hard look at themselves and instead of blaming the mods for the lack of people around this site, with comments like "they are all banned" in trying to justify their very own behaviour, you are the very same people who are causing people to leave this site. You say people are too scared to have fun or even speak because they might get banned, well let me tell you now, not one person has ever been banned for doing that, and the only ones complaining are the ones who have breached the rules on numerous occasions.

Times have changed, poker sites have changed and lots more of them, everyone finds their niche eventually, but for the loyal op66 members who would like to stay but can no longer tolerate the goings on here their days are over.

Of late Tex and I have been asked to close accounts of some long time members. Now when members come to us for that reason we ask if there is a problem and what can we do to fix or maybe let them think over their decision before we act on that request.

In days gone by the response was usually "I am spending way too much time on this site and having way too much fun that my real life is suffering because of it, please give me a timeout"
In recent times the reasons are more like " please close my account, I don't feel comfortable here anymore, it's no longer the happy place it once was, the community spirit has gone, etc etc

OP66 is a poker site, a community of like minded people who like to play the game of poker, It is not a social networking site and its not a place for cyber bullies to make people miserable, and trust me I have had my share of that. Being asked to help and volunteer my time for OP66 was a great honour and one that I have been willing to give up my time so that we can have something special. Now even I feel uncomfortable at the tables, because some members actually wish me dead, now some of you may laugh at that and say it isn't true but it is.

So I guess what I am saying is, it is you the members who can make the difference, stand up to the people who have their own agendas, who want to spread mistrust, rumours and generally rubbish the site and make peoples lives miserable, let facebook and other sites continue to do that, this a poker site don't let them ruin what we have here...lets just play some poker and the people will come back.

Of course some of this is my opinion, but most of it is fact.

Merry Christmas everyone and remember to spread the love a little further

~Aus

[daddysean]

Thanks for that Aus. Don't think anything more needs to be said.

[bluesfan]

Wow -- things must be deteriorating for someone like Aus to have to come out and create a thread like this for the good of the site and for what I perceive to be the benefit of the vast majority of members.

I don't get involved in the 'politics' within the site and I am not a member of a 'group' or 'clique' so I guess I miss a lot of what Aus sees and reads but I get astonished by some of the threads and posts on the forums which are entirely negative. As I have said in several posts in different threads, how can anybody be so critical of site which provides so much free entertainment?

I wish you well with this thread Aus and hope that the right-thinking members of OP66 get right behind you with total support.

Best wishes

[waterman1]

hey Aus I think your great to volunteer your time here. I wouldn't want your job.I think anyone complaining to you about how you do your job should try to volunteer and see if can do a better job.Boy I sure said job alot. I have been on this site a few years now and have almost always had a good expierence and sometimes some good belly laughs from some of these great folks here.So don't give up hope there's a light at the end of the tunnel and I always hope its not another train but time will tell. cheers

[crinkle62]

I applaud you Aus on a brill, but sadly, a too true thread hun.
Let's hope that one day soon, OP66 'the good times' will be back, but i'm not going to hold my breath with some of the people here now.
Hope you have a fab Xmas hun. xx

[jazzsinger1]

Given the chioces we have on the net in which poker site we want to play,We are all still here.Surely a good reason we are still here.For those who dont want to be on this site,should leave instead of posting threads and complaining.You have a problem here,then they should leave,you have your choices but most of them dont leave.Why?its nice here thats way.
I agree with the fact the primary object of this site is playing poker.
That we surely do.But in the last few sites ive played in,never seen a community like this.Very tight knit and some outstanding humanbeings and truly a pleasure playing and chatting and exchanging lifes thoughts about each other.Met a lot of people from different parts of the world and a lot of evolved humanbeings.Think this is a great site.Maybe one of the players who look at this site beyond a game of poker.Some may not,Trust me you can have your hard core poker as well as a hearty good laugh at the same time.There is a difference in asking and complaining about a glitch in the system.Tell me one website in the world which does have its share of problems.We deal with it because we love this place.Why nag and complain about it.Had someone complaining and nagging and bickering about the points medals not being updated.its up in the thread its been looked into to.Tragically,Quagans mother expired.The points update is not a life and death situation but Quagans was.Respect it.The mods reply instantly,they are accessable,they make this place a better place to play in.They mediate between players if a situation occurs.Apologies are made and accepted out of respect and righteousness.
Then you have people who say we are suffering on this site?God for heavens sake if you are then what are doing on this site?dont have to be here to aggravate your suffering.I think the site offers me and other what we want,im sure there are players out there who want more from the site,fair enough,its thier opinion but dont complain if the site doesnt offer it,but i do beleive if the question is logical enough and it indeed can benefit the site and players why not.We dont run the site,We are here because we like it the way it is run.Frankly if the site has 100 or 10000 players it doesnt matter to me.The handful 100 in know makes this place a better place to play than any other site.
These are my views,overyone entitled to thiers..i have been for a short period but truly some of the nicest people i have met and chatted with and truly I think the mods to a damn good job..thier interaction is outstanding and truly they are here from thier heart.The site would not be the same without them as personal indivuals.People make the site,you do,they do..I'm staying and really stop complaining,you have the choice to leave or to be here and be part of this community..its such a small issue in the world of such great complexities in real life..dont you agree?

[stevo_58]

Hey Aus, thanks for the positive comments re my thread. I must admit these issues clearly have and do contribute to dwindling numbers. It's pretty sad when people have to behave the way some of them do. I didn't want to touch on any of this in my thread but I think it's great that you have posted this.

If any of the following take exception to me quoting them in part only, let me know and I will delete my post. For me these excerpts say a lot.

Originally Posted by Ausangel

OP66 is a poker site, a community of like minded people who like to play the game of poker, It is not a social networking site and its not a place for cyber bullies to make people miserable.

So I guess what I am saying is, it is you the members who can make the difference, stand up to the people who have their own agendas, who want to spread mistrust, rumours and generally rubbish the site and make peoples lives miserable, let facebook and other sites continue to do that, this a poker site don't let them ruin what we have here

Originally Posted by bluesfan

I wish you well with this thread Aus and hope that the right-thinking members of OP66 get right behind you with total support.

Originally Posted by waterman1

I think anyone complaining to you about how you do your job should try to volunteer and see if can do a better job

Originally Posted by jazzsinger1

Trust me you can have your hard core poker as well as a hearty good laugh at the same time.

[reaper1569]

yea i can hold my hands up 2 being a moan at times nd done alot wrong when i wasnt in a good frame ov mind,, but i,v always gave an apology 2 that person afterwards... i was even asked 2 give a personal apology 2 a player and it wouldnt be taken any further , i did do that apology and still got banned... and since then i feel like i have been personaly victimised and attacked and betrayed as i am a man ov my word.... as was said to me 1 time, if you poke a dog or torment a dog enough it will snap..... and yes i have snapped which i shouldnt ov but then again every1 isnt perfect ....and i wont be bullied off this site thats why i stil play here yes thare are sum great friends on here and yes i,m willing to put my hand ov friendship out to these players again,, and i do agree that mods do a great job on this site but i still think a few things need 2 be looked at,, but then again thats just my opinion so every 1 have great christmas .......ps.. i did look in 2 myself and i have done alot wrong which i am trying to ammend but i think alot more people need to do the same 2 make this a better place gl all tc and hope u all have great health and fortune....

[jazzsinger1]

Reaps you grumpy old git!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!lmao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Community has forgiven you...

[CaptainSandy]

Hopefully all player's New Year's Resolutions will be to act in a way that will not require them to make an apology at a later date.

#okay okay hopefully that will be Reaper's new year's resolution.

all the best m8

[stevo_58]

Got to agree with Reaps when he says hopefully others will look at themselves and try to make it a better place. Play poker, make friends and have a good debate on the forum, without all the other unnecessary personal stuff that seems to go on around here.

It supposed to be FUN FRIENDLY POKER according to the sites welcome page, have a look next time you log in !

[reaper1569]

okay okay hopefully that will be Reaper's new year's resolution.
as u see i hav said sorry 2 all nvolved..i hav fell out with players on tables in past.. only becum best friends as most will know..i will continue 2 offer hand ov friendship 2 all i have upset .. ..but will not ..grovel down...as said if eney player took wat ever i hav said it was never personal...so hope 1 day we can all b friends again.. sumtime in the future.. pm me if i hav upset u i will pm u bk wi appoligy..its best i can do .ty all tc..ps my chat bann is 4 life sorry if offends eney 1 ...but think its best way 4 me

[yeoman42]

As Michael Jackson would say i,m bad lol,family have ups downs good times bad times but they muddle through and become stronger we will forgive forget.I care about you all and look at how many get togethers there has been this is no ordinary poker site it,s the best. Everyone have a lovely Christmas and Happy New Year

[fred913]

We can only speak as we find. Number one, I'm certain that none of the people on the site would put in the unpaid time that Tex, Aus, and MrSlick do. I'd like to think that in my own small way I have tried to enhance the interest in some of the tourneys. The diverse comments when the first little problem arises tends to make you feel you're wasting your time. I'm pushing 70 and don't have to much time to waste so please be patient with the one's trying their best to create interest. I stood up for a player when I thought they were being wrongly attacked, that was months ago, and ever since the players doing the attacking have refused to speak to me on the tables, so much for the big happy family that these players regularly quote, can we please return to the ideal happy family.

[stevo_58]

Nice posts Yeo and Fred

[StCathy]

Great thread Aus.


Just my opinion, but when a thread starts here i noticed it ends up, he/she said, he/she did,
why not just look at ourselves, instead of passing on the buck, (so to speak)
and maybe things here would be alot easier for the MODS, and players.
As the saying goes, "if you have nothing nice to say,
dont say nothing at all"



I dont play or come on forum much these days, i just got bored of all the crap, (and my family extending) ,
oh, and work,
but hopefully maybe 1 day i will enjoy this place again.
We had the pleasure of meeting lovely people,
we were made so welcome, it kinda makes this place special to us.

(So sorry all, you aint getting rid of me that easy,)


I appreciate the jobs the MODS do, (past and present )its hard work,
and giving up their spare time to help everyone.

I hope you all have a lovely Christmass, and a very Happy New Year.
God bless,
Take care, cathy xx

[CaptainSandy]

Originally Posted by Arezzo

Aus you and Tex do a great job keeping this site going I for one appreciate all the time and effort you both put in here. I volunteered as head cheer coach with Popwarner for no less then 36 girls for 11 years and dealing with the mothers of these girls was Brutal they didnt get i was doing it for free and no matter how much i gave there were a few who were never happy i know first hand how you feel... Remember the people who make it worth it to keep coming back not the few who don't... However The death threat is intolerable that should warrant and automatic ban

you should Not have to feel threatened ever!... And i dont care about this persons "reasons" for doing what was done it is and was inexcusable !.... one more thing to bluesfan I have to address this... You state on your post that " your not a member of a group or a "clique" and you can't believe the negative things you see"... Ect.., by naming the clique in your post I can only assume until I hear otherwise that you are referring to me and my members.., you could not be more wrong as far as I could tell aus and Tex had fun with the thread as well as many others i don't feel the need to explain when in posting this thread aus already did it perfectly " she said what she means and means what she says!"... After all thats what the "CLIQUE" ismall about ... Hehehe... Well done aus!

I don't think he was referring to The Clique when stating a clique, I'm sure he will clarify it though.

[DukeOfDeath]

Originally Posted by CaptainSandy

I don't think he was referring to The Clique when stating a clique, I'm sure he will clarify it though.

a clique is not the same as THE CLIQUE

[Ken_de_Ben]

margaret thatcher rings a bell poor coal miners lol love u all (yall) love say more but cant hehehe

[telboy]

you know i love you loads aus xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
thanks for your thread it gives me a chance to have my say.
been here 4 months short of 4 years,and im at an all time low with whats happening to our much loved op66.
personaly ive organised tourneys and meet ups,which have always been well attended,but my heart is no longer here to do these things for my friends,i wont quit but spend alot less time here now.
im no goody goody and admit i have had my share of contreversy,in fact a thread i made months ago seems to have kicked off a mine field of trouble,i tried to hold out an olive branch to make amends but this was not accepted by all,can time be a healer i dont think so in this case.
if we are forced to choose between friends then we have no option but to do so.
thats all my bitching and moaning finished with.
to all the mods,management,players and friends have a blue xmas .
love telboy.