Boxing Monthly Website

[Captain Hook]

Why has the guestbook been closed down after 10 years?

[bennie]

Your guest is as good as mine.

[Captain Hook]

Shame, that's the forum that really got me back into boxing a few years back. Where I met great characters like Terry Dooley and MattW.

Here's what is says:

"We have decided to close the Boxing Monthly guest book as a result of the legal actions faced by other sites due to comments that have been posted on them: we do not want to risk this happening to us. We apologise for the disappointment this will cause people who regularly visit this page. Thanks to everyone who has posted here over the last ten years."

[dondada]

Shame, that's the forum that really got me back into boxing a few years back. Where I met great characters like Terry Dooley and MattW.

Here's what is says:

"We have decided to close the Boxing Monthly guest book as a result of the legal actions faced by other sites due to comments that have been posted on them: we do not want to risk this happening to us. We apologise for the disappointment this will cause people who regularly visit this page. Thanks to everyone who has posted here over the last ten years."

There you go then. They will have weighed up the ball ache involved in dealing with pathetic, often spurious letters of legal threat (and the danger of something genuinely defamatory going up) against shutting it down.

The chilling effect writ large. Damn shame.

[whiskey]

What a total joke.

[Captain Hook]

Thank you sir :)

Were you on there KG?

[Captain Hook]

Thank you sir :)

Were you on there KG?

Yeah, it is Terry you daft Welsh ****

Still don't get it, says the complaints from other sites caused a problem, were people dropping links on there or mentioning other sites? Read the page a few days ago and it was just full of the usual crap from that Warrior dude, the guy who told us all he was going to represent Ireland in the last Olympics, then said he'd been sent to prison and is now apparently a member of The Ring's writing team, doesn't surprise me as he spins a good yarn.

It is a bit daft if other sites have done this to that little guestbook. I've been barred by ESB three times in the last month simply because I write for BS -- bunch of fannies.

How many fornicating user names have you got you lanky streak of piss!

I'll blame the sleepless nights for how slow I've become :)

[LeedsLad]

Thank you sir :)

Were you on there KG?

Yeah, it is Terry you daft Welsh ****

Still don't get it, says the complaints from other sites caused a problem, were people dropping links on there or mentioning other sites? Read the page a few days ago and it was just full of the usual crap from that Warrior dude, the guy who told us all he was going to represent Ireland in the last Olympics, then said he'd been sent to prison and is now apparently a member of The Ring's writing team, doesn't surprise me as he spins a good yarn.

It is a bit daft if other sites have done this to that little guestbook. I've been barred by ESB three times in the last month simply because I write for BS -- bunch of fannies.

ESB has turned really lame lately.

The BS forum isn't that good, but the articles are generally far better (I'd say 95% of the time) - most articles that go on ESB are generally of the self-indulgent, agenda driven type that would be best posted on the General a.k.a. ''Retard Room''

Hence why I've come over here to see what the craic is

[LeedsLad]

I like to read the articles on there, I've only browsed the forum but because the British section has hardly any members I've generally stuck to ESB, been on nearly three years now.

The British forum is really good, but I think a few lads will stop posting because there isn't a dedicated moderator, the ones that are there start banning people for next to nothing but allow allsorts of shit to be posted.... probably because it increases traffic and advertising revenue.

[Poncey]

Boxing Monthly isn't the first forum to feel Otis safer to close than to allow free speech. ESB have raised concerns recently.

Hertfordshire really is a lovely place to visit.

[slapbangwhallop]

Yeah, it is Terry you daft Welsh ****

Still don't get it, says the complaints from other sites caused a problem, were people dropping links on there or mentioning other sites? Read the page a few days ago and it was just full of the usual crap from that Warrior dude, the guy who told us all he was going to represent Ireland in the last Olympics, then said he'd been sent to prison and is now apparently a member of The Ring's writing team, doesn't surprise me as he spins a good yarn.

It is a bit daft if other sites have done this to that little guestbook. I've been barred by ESB three times in the last month simply because I write for BS -- bunch of fannies.

ESB has turned really lame lately.

The BS forum isn't that good, but the articles are generally far better (I'd say 95% of the time) - most articles that go on ESB are generally of the self-indulgent, agenda driven type that would be best posted on the General a.k.a. ''Retard Room''

Hence why I've come over here to see what the craic is

BS forums are strange but have to post on there sometimes if a comment pertaining to an article is made. It is a US-based news site with tonnes of stuff going up so it is always satisfying to see a decent amount of British content on there, though not satisfying to see the comments they sometimes attract.

'Iv neva eard of tha fighta,,,he muss b poop'

'Y are BS putting up articles on Brits ive neva heard off?!!!!'

Effing proles. ESB's Brit forum has some nice chaps posting. The site itself looks like a gay cottaging site, that gold and black lame is not working for them.

BS's forum is full of coco's - every single thread has either Mayweather or Pacquiao in the title - tres tedious.

ESB's Brit forum has a bit of knowledge about it but most of the guys on there make a BNP rally look decidedly liberal.

[LeedsLad]

ESB has turned really lame lately.

The BS forum isn't that good, but the articles are generally far better (I'd say 95% of the time) - most articles that go on ESB are generally of the self-indulgent, agenda driven type that would be best posted on the General a.k.a. ''Retard Room''

Hence why I've come over here to see what the craic is

BS forums are strange but have to post on there sometimes if a comment pertaining to an article is made. It is a US-based news site with tonnes of stuff going up so it is always satisfying to see a decent amount of British content on there, though not satisfying to see the comments they sometimes attract.

'Iv neva eard of tha fighta,,,he muss b poop'

'Y are BS putting up articles on Brits ive neva heard off?!!!!'

Effing proles. ESB's Brit forum has some nice chaps posting. The site itself looks like a gay cottaging site, that gold and black lame is not working for them.

BS's forum is full of coco's - every single thread has either Mayweather or Pacquiao in the title - tres tedious.

ESB's Brit forum has a bit of knowledge about it but most of the guys on there make a BNP rally look decidedly liberal.

Pot, kettle, black

[Loynesy]

That really is a shame. BM was the first boxing forum (actually, any internet forum), I ever posted on, and without wishing to sound like a man convincing himself that the 16 year old obese girl that he lost his virginity to, was the school heartthrob, in those early years there were some great characters and top quality debate. Apologies if I've missed anyone out, but Matt, Conk, Goz, TMK and Nick who I subsequently met at fights, really knew their stuff.

Although I've never met them, I also hold Hook (when his spelling and syntax are of the right standard), Terry, BC Bob (anyone still in touch with him?), Lionel, Wil and Gill in the highest regard.

Ian has nailed it though - people have an unhealthy fear of litigation in this country and so allow themselves to be bullied. I'm not trying to "big-up" myself, but I do a ton of pro bono legal work, where effectively I just write back to the bully and say that the "little man" isn't actually so little as he has the resources of a global law firm available so you can't simply send a threatening letter and expect to get your own way.

All a bit depressing really.

Loynesy

[Poncey]

Some little men don't have that option though mate. Most forums can't afford to take the risk, and the perpetrator knows that. It's not the cost of going to court, but the threat of the cost of going.

[hitman_hatton1]

first boxing forum i joined up on.

before joining this asylum and a few others.

RIP the BM forum. :(

robbi patterson where are u.

[dondada]

People have an unhealthy fear of litigation in this country and so allow themselves to be bullied. I'm not trying to "big-up" myself, but I do a ton of pro bono legal work, where effectively I just write back to the bully and say that the "little man" isn't actually so little as he has the resources of a global law firm available so you can't simply send a threatening letter and expect to get your own way.

This is why BoxRec and BoxRec News love the Loynster

[urbanraida]

RIP BM Guestbook.....

Hello Boxrec!

[oliverfennell]

I'll blame the sleepless nights for how slow I've become :)

Did the baby come early? Thought he/she wasn't due til after my trip back.

[Glyn Leach]

Yeah, sorry if the decision has disappointed some of you, it has me, but from our perspective it was the sensible thing to do. The Guest Book wasn't being moderated, nor would it have been any time soon, so all it would have taken was for some tool to have posted something litigious on there and we could have got whacked - not a risk worth running. A few sites, including this one, have got caught up in legal situations recently. If a website is your only business, such as with Seconds Out or Boxrec, then it's a risk you have to run, comes with the turf. But we don't. BM is a magazine and has only ever been interested in being a magazine — the website is there to lead people to the mag, which it does, not potentially damage the mag. We have no interest in expanding the website. We do what we do and we're happy with that.

For the most part, the posters on the Guest Book were sound and for those of them who post on here I'd like to say a personal thank you and sorry. But all it would take would be for someone to stick a silly post up and there you go, the website and the mag could have been sued out of existence — not a risk I was willing or able to take. I can control what goes in the mag, and legals are always a very major concern — as owner, editor and publisher I could end up homeless and jobless, literally; I do not have the luxury of being just an employee, as are the vast majority of journalists. But I can't control the Guest Book and the bottom line is I wasn't willing or able to put the magazine, my livelihood, nor those of the magazine's staff on the line for the Guest Book. Sorry again to all those who have used and supported it, and thanks again, but perhaps you understand the decision a bit better now.

[whiskey]

I echo the thoughts on the German-owned Eastsnide.

They definitely are anti-brit and now have their boxingshite24 site for really ripping into Haye, Hatton, Froch and co. The focus of their operation is to simply squeeze as much revenue out of the traffic as they can with adverts and page impressions. They care nothing for the quality of trolls nor the content, so long as they can cause a nice argument to keep the trolls well fed. How boxingshite24's articles (and i use that term loosely) are fed into google news and newsnow i will never know. I've read better forum posts than some of their stuff.

I prefer interesting interviews and sound-bites of news. I only read opinions when Hauser has wrote it as he does tend to research his topic well and focuses on establishments like promoters and television channels.

I prefer here and the smaller, less chaotic forums personally. Where this is actually a little conversation going on amongst familiar names.

'Scene forum is the best of the big ones, for fun especially. There are some real whacko's posting on there. But you can make a post and then return two hours later and basically there has been 25 other posts and the topic has slipped to page 3 ! but fair play they are quick to find the latest news on their main page.

[urbanraida]

At least we were given a reason instead of the plug being pulled on the whole thing without a soul being none the wiser. I used it a lot and I admit I will miss it but it's better than the actual mag going down the tubes, now that would be a total killa!

[Captain Hook]

That really is a shame. BM was the first boxing forum (actually, any internet forum), I ever posted on, and without wishing to sound like a man convincing himself that the 16 year old obese girl that he lost his virginity to, was the school heartthrob, in those early years there were some great characters and top quality debate. Apologies if I've missed anyone out, but Matt, Conk, Goz, TMK and Nick who I subsequently met at fights, really knew their stuff.

Although I've never met them, I also hold Hook (when his spelling and syntax are of the right standard), Terry, BC Bob (anyone still in touch with him?), Lionel, Wil and Gill in the highest regard.

Ian has nailed it though - people have an unhealthy fear of litigation in this country and so allow themselves to be bullied. I'm not trying to "big-up" myself, but I do a ton of pro bono legal work, where effectively I just write back to the bully and say that the "little man" isn't actually so little as he has the resources of a global law firm available so you can't simply send a threatening letter and expect to get your own way.

All a bit depressing really.

Loynesy

Ta mate, I feel the same way...(apart from the syntax comment you c***) :)

After a lull in my early twenties BM's guest book and the many character on there reignited my love for the sport. Great shame...

[Captain Hook]

RIP BM Guestbook.....

Hello Boxrec!

RAIDA!! Give is some Furious Five threads matey

[Captain Hook]

I'll blame the sleepless nights for how slow I've become :)

Did the baby come early? Thought he/she wasn't due til after my trip back.

She's due in two weeks mate but I'm hardly getting any sleep anyway, I don't think she's going to go full term. Little beggar is kicking and spinning about all night. If she doesn't sleep, I don't sleep......

PS Any names you guys want to suggest - within reason - would be much appreciated!

We don't know if we're having a boy or a girl

[Captain Hook]

Yeah, sorry if the decision has disappointed some of you, it has me, but from our perspective it was the sensible thing to do. The Guest Book wasn't being moderated, nor would it have been any time soon, so all it would have taken was for some tool to have posted something litigious on there and we could have got whacked - not a risk worth running. A few sites, including this one, have got caught up in legal situations recently. If a website is your only business, such as with Seconds Out or Boxrec, then it's a risk you have to run, comes with the turf. But we don't. BM is a magazine and has only ever been interested in being a magazine — the website is there to lead people to the mag, which it does, not potentially damage the mag. We have no interest in expanding the website. We do what we do and we're happy with that.

For the most part, the posters on the Guest Book were sound and for those of them who post on here I'd like to say a personal thank you and sorry. But all it would take would be for someone to stick a silly post up and there you go, the website and the mag could have been sued out of existence — not a risk I was willing or able to take. I can control what goes in the mag, and legals are always a very major concern — as owner, editor and publisher I could end up homeless and jobless, literally; I do not have the luxury of being just an employee, as are the vast majority of journalists. But I can't control the Guest Book and the bottom line is I wasn't willing or able to put the magazine, my livelihood, nor those of the magazine's staff on the line for the Guest Book. Sorry again to all those who have used and supported it, and thanks again, but perhaps you understand the decision a bit better now.

Fair enough Glyn, there are some tossers on there now and I can understand the issues raised.

Shame.....