Stevie_J Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Dear Barry It has been brought to my attention that you are less than happy with much of the recent content of OWTB. So much so, in fact, that you are threatening legal action and have instructed solicitors to monitor OWTB posts, presumably in the hope that the content you are not comfortable with is actionable. As you are no doubt aware, the OWTB admin team has reminded members on numerous occasions that they should not post anything offensive or defamatory. As a group of unpaid volunteers, we do our best to manage this and to remove any such posts. But OWTB is a busy site and we have jobs, kids and other things in our lives to contend with and vetting every post can take time. For that reason, we also point out to members that the site has a function to report any such post, which obviously allows us to assess such posts and take any necessary action far more quickly. May I suggest that you, and those around you, use the report function as a first port of call, rather than engaging legal representatives? Regardless of what I, or any other OWTB staff member, thinks of you and your performance (or lack thereof) as Trust Chairman and club Director – points which will inevitably be up for discussion amongst Latics fans – none of us would knowingly allow any seriously offensive or defamatory comments to remain on OWTB. At the same time, however, we are reluctant to stifle “fair comment”, general discussion or opinion honestly held, and this can be a fine balance. The timing of your threatening legal action is interesting, coming on the day that the club confirmed you will continue as a Director, following your earlier resignation as Trust Chairman. Is it that, free of the Trust ‘Fans Rep’ role (I know you don’t like that tag but you did use it, once upon a time), you’re now happy to turn on Latics fans? This is site used by hundreds of people but why would we, the admin team, keep it going under genuine threat of legal action? We get no reward from running OWTB, in fact doing so has been a burden in terms of time and money over the years but, at the same time, we do enjoy it and we are proud of what we believe is a well run site. OWTB has raised money for the club, for Playershare, for Latics4Life. OWTB has also helped promote the Trust (despite some of us having serious misgivings about the way the Trust operates), providing a specific forum at the Trust’s request. I know the powers that be at Oldham Athletic hate OWTB but it is what it is – a place for fans to openly discuss what they choose to discuss related to the club (or anything else). And, whether you like it or not, the site has done a lot of good things for the club. I can’t speak for the rest of the staff team but, if you were to initiate legal proceedings of any kind against us, I certainly won’t continue my efforts to keep OWTB going. It’s just not :censored:ing worth it. Frankly, if you’re serious about doing so I'm disgusted, especially since you’ve never tried to communicate your concerns to us properly. I would urge you to reconsider and to use the report function wherever necessary to point anything you feel is overstepping the mark. Or, just stay off the site altogether. Yours, Stevie_J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshOWTB Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Is it offensive or defamatory to call Barry Owen a dick for making these legal threats? If so I don't call him one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshOWTB Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 In honesty, this is a silly move from a director of our football club. We need communities like OWTB to be a successful club. Things like this alienate fans!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lags Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Maybe he is fed up of the abuse.....just saying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosa Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Dear Barry, If you're seriously threatening an online discussion board with legal action because people are discussing facts that you're uncomfortable with, days after you appeared on TV representing the club and speaking in glowing terms about your respect and admiration for an unrepentant rapist who is still serving his sentence under licence, then I suggest your realign your moral compass. And if for some reason this does come to court, then have some dignity and buy a :censored:ing suit. Yours sincerely, rosa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeP Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Maybe he is fed up of the abuse.....just saying He doesn't have to read it....then again he is one for gauging fans opinion, I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty Burns Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Maybe he is fed up of the abuse.....just saying Maybe he deserves it......just saying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lags Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 He doesn't have to read it....then again he is one for gauging fans opinion, I suppose. I doubt reading it is the main point.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lags Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Maybe he deserves it......just saying Criticism maybe, abuse is something different......saying again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lags Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Dear Barry It has been brought to my attention that you are less than happy with much of the recent content of OWTB. So much so, in fact, that you are threatening legal action and have instructed solicitors to monitor OWTB posts, presumably in the hope that the content you are not comfortable with is actionable. As you are no doubt aware, the OWTB admin team has reminded members on numerous occasions that they should not post anything offensive or defamatory. As a group of unpaid volunteers, we do our best to manage this and to remove any such posts. But OWTB is a busy site and we have jobs, kids and other things in our lives to contend with and vetting every post can take time. For that reason, we also point out to members that the site has a function to report any such post, which obviously allows us to assess such posts and take any necessary action far more quickly. May I suggest that you, and those around you, use the report function as a first port of call, rather than engaging legal representatives? Regardless of what I, or any other OWTB staff member, thinks of you and your performance (or lack thereof) as Trust Chairman and club Director – points which will inevitably be up for discussion amongst Latics fans – none of us would knowingly allow any seriously offensive or defamatory comments to remain on OWTB. At the same time, however, we are reluctant to stifle “fair comment”, general discussion or opinion honestly held, and this can be a fine balance. The timing of your threatening legal action is interesting, coming on the day that the club confirmed you will continue as a Director, following your earlier resignation as Trust Chairman. Is it that, free of the Trust ‘Fans Rep’ role (I know you don’t like that tag but you did use it, once upon a time), you’re now happy to turn on Latics fans? This is site used by hundreds of people but why would we, the admin team, keep it going under genuine threat of legal action? We get no reward from running OWTB, in fact doing so has been a burden in terms of time and money over the years but, at the same time, we do enjoy it and we are proud of what we believe is a well run site. OWTB has raised money for the club, for Playershare, for Latics4Life. OWTB has also helped promote the Trust (despite some of us having serious misgivings about the way the Trust operates), providing a specific forum at the Trust’s request. I know the powers that be at Oldham Athletic hate OWTB but it is what it is – a place for fans to openly discuss what they choose to discuss related to the club (or anything else). And, whether you like it or not, the site has done a lot of good things for the club. I can’t speak for the rest of the staff team but, if you were to initiate legal proceedings of any kind against us, I certainly won’t continue my efforts to keep OWTB going. It’s just not :censored:ing worth it. Frankly, if you’re serious about doing so I'm disgusted, especially since you’ve never tried to communicate your concerns to us properly. I would urge you to reconsider and to use the report function wherever necessary to point anything you feel is overstepping the mark. Or, just stay off the site altogether. Yours, Stevie_J Rightly or wrongly and I know this is something you won't agree with Stevie, OWTB does protect some members better than others for personal reasons. That said I would hope Barry drops this and just ignores it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singe Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 I am appalled at the threat of legal action by Barry Owen. Given very recent revelations about his tenure as Trust Director, he is very, very rattled. OWTB has an excellent record of discussion of sensitive topics healthily, of self monitoring, of a good admin team. If you set up a legal fighting fund Stevie, I will willingly contribute. Barry, you are shyster. Of the highest order. That is my personal view. My views are not representative of the admin of OWTB. Sure me, I dare you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opinions4u Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 I'm gobsmacked that somebody is employing solicitors to monitor a forum. I hope he's paying the bill out of his own pocket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oafc0000 Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 I would love to say I am surprised.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singe Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 I'm gobsmacked that somebody is employing solicitors to monitor a forum. I hope he's paying the bill out of his own pocket. Sadly, I doubt he is. A sign of how disparate from the fans the club has become. Which makes it even more pressing to have the strongest fans Trust possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drphibes Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 This is probably Barrys worst move to be honest, he could argue that in the past he has done things for the benefit of the fans of oafc. Now within days of getting the sacred seat on the board he has threatened owtb. Maybe Simon Corney can have a word and tell him to stop this latest pr disaster ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 I suggest a halt on playershare contributions until this is sorted. If people on the board have such money to waste they can cover it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 This is an attack on all fans right to say as they see it. Rightly personal stuff is a bit out of order but opinions on how the trust or Evans were handled should be allowed, whether anyone likes it or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBosch Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 (edited) This is an attack on all fans right to say as they see it. Rightly personal stuff is a bit out of order but opinions on how the trust or Evans were handled should be allowed, whether anyone likes it or not. Is this not more about the ownership (or lack of, allegedly) of the Trusts shares? Edited January 23, 2015 by HarryBosch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lags Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 I suggest a halt on playershare contributions until this is sorted. If people on the board have such money to waste they can cover it. :censored: me.........I give up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lags Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 I would love to say I am surprised.... Absolutely no one would believe that lol........ At least you've made me laugh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oafc0000 Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 (edited) If Barry sues... I think I am going to lawyer up and sue everyone who gave me :censored: as well Edited January 23, 2015 by oafc0000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opinions4u Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 :censored: me.........I give up While I tend to take Clifford's posts with a pinch of salt, PlayerShare is much easier to market if the football club is not pissing away money on legal bills because a director is vaguely hopeful of finding a comment intending to be an opinion steps over the line into libel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wozzer Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 If Barry sues... I think I am going to lawyer up and sue everyone who gave me :censored: as well Hi Bill Gates! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostofcecere Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 If there is a fighting fund set up I am also more than willing to contribute also. Since its inception OWTB has been a fantastic place to discuss all matters surrounding our club, of course non of us agree with all the opinions shared, but I'm sure we would ALL defend our fellow supporters right to air them. Whilst I don't agree with any abuse that may have been aimed at Mr. Owen on a personal level, I think the vast majority on here are right to question some of the things that have allegedly gone on under his stewardship of the Trust and also as a spokesperson for the club in recent weeks. At this point though, the full facts surrounding the Trust are not known, and I'm sure that those who have (rightly) raised these issues will be the first to acknowledge it should no wrong doing be found. Many people on this forum contributed to the £247K raised which lead to the formation of the Trust, and we are all entitled to know whether or not our interests have been managed properly. This seems like another poorly judged episode from Mr. Owen, a director of our club should not alienate himself from the paying supporters that are the life blood of Oldham Athletic in this way. Unless, as I say, there have been personal insults and abuse towards him that have gone beyond the bounds of decency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarddogs Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 A certain building contractor is also abit pissed off with OWTB,I think some people need a to grow a pair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.