The Auswine Forum

Funny things going on in ebob land ... The peasants have not revolted, a large chunk of them have just got up and left.

In the last week there has been a mass exodus of a lot of very knowledgeable guys - many ITB - to the UK Wine Forum. This excellent UK forum now as a very transatlantic feel although Serge is also at large there so it should be interesting. I'm not surprised at this though ... there is quite heavy-handed censorship ... even I have had posts deleted which Squires did not like (for example for pointing out to Mark that a moderator's role is to moderate, not to take sides in heated arguments).
Ric is loved there to such an extent that if you type TORB into a post it is converted to **** although I believe Mark Squires refers to him in private as ^&#@$^^% ****!!

Gavin, keep up the good work btw. This is a lovely board and I think a lot of that is down to a relaxed feel and considered moderation.

Cheers -- Jay

Jay60A wrote: although I believe Mark Squires refers to him in private as ^&#@$^^% ****!!

Jay,

Agree totally with your comments. Especially about Gavin's moderation. Tom also does a great job on the UK board, although in reality, both boards are largely self moderated by the participants, which is a great thing. That can be directly attributed to the sense of both respect and wanting to keep the community intact, even when debating with people you may not like, something that is not always the case in other places.

As I have said previously, Mr Squires actions speak for themselves. People can make up their own mind about him, and it looks like they are doing so - in droves.

Its fascinating how these communities evolve.

I think you have a key point Ric, a community is the sum of its parts, the desire to contribute and self moderate is actually pretty important, and how this manifests drives the subtle differences between groups. For me the three Australian PHP based BB's are a great example - all slightly different, all well moderated, all fairly cordial and communal. WLDG seems to be much the same.

I refuse to post on the Squires BB because the group (and the moderation) are not what I call a community. Gratified to see others have voted with their feet, and perhaps view it the same way. I hope Squires gets the message. Nah, actually I dont.

Wizz wrote: I hope Squires gets the message. Nah, actually I dont.

I doubt Squires would, but maybe his master might...

It's interesting times indeed on the UK wine forum, as it's a little unusual to get so many experienced posters, who know each other, all arriving at the same time into an established community. Tom's pretty up-front and has stated he doesn't want the forum to change dramatically from what it was/is. Probably a good thing to say, as it was starting to become a vehicle for airing grievances about Squires, Leve et al.

I think it's settling down nicely, though time will tell.

Squires board will itself settle down I'm sure, with those that don't tow the party line, knowing there is another board for them to go to (assuming they've not already been banned - so many have for challenging the WA view of the world). This will I'm sure allow the moderators (sic.) to ensure the party line is supported and the commercial success of the WA is not threatened.

A shame some didn't find their way onto Robin Garr's forum, which is the virtual opposite of the Squires board.

regards

Ian

We all step over the line sometimes, yes even me , TORB, RB and friends.

Thankfully Gavin has taken a softly softly approach (or maybe he really has better things to do than babysit). He prob is totally home and secure with the fact that just because we share a common interest doesnt mean we have to agree with each other all the time. We all remain, we all occassionally constructively contribute and as such this forum remains a pretty good place to hang out.

Cheer Gav

I still miss Serge though

Serge was a struggle but I agree, I miss his loose cannonry...

As I have said previously, Mr Squires actions speak for themselves. People can make up their own mind about him, and it looks like they are doing so - in droves.

Imagine how long id last if I joined ebob TORB. On this forum rating out of 109 is looked upon as somewhere between quirkey and stupid depending on your bent. On ebob it would be nothing short of heresy punishable by being burnt at the stake

Many leaving and many more to come....
I think it's best not to take any forum too seriously. So many people sacrifice their time, so many people are so good in wine writing on these forums, so many people are so precise with their notes they should publish them in a book. As Huon said, great information can be found on these wine forums.
Some use the F word to much, some enjoy a challenge and some enjoy challenging others.
It is true Craig, your 109 points system I find, is absolutely unnecessary but I love you man and Ric says a lot of good things and a lot of nonsense but I always enjoyed his company.
I'm not a saint either so feel free to dig into me.
But as I said, it's best to relax and not to take stuff so seriously. I think it does not matter who comes and who goes although Baby Chickpea is a great loss to this forum and Adair is so busy nowadays that he barely posts.
I try my best to stick around but it's not easy since my daughter was born.
Regarding Squires, I enjoy that forum too, I go there every once in a while but I don't get involved too much.
Cheers,
and keep posting those who can.
Attila

There've always been valuable posters there, but these days I think only the Burgundy guys seem free to speak their minds - only because the powers that be have little interest in those wines.

Invariably, the most interesting people to read were always booted off for one reason or another. Every post of Keith Levenberg's I read I figure is going to be his last!

The Squires board moderation reminds me a little of Tom Lehrer's old gag that "when they gave Henry Kissinger the Nobel Peace Prize, political satire became obsolete..."

Jeff Leve as a "moderator"...? You might as well nominate Ivan Milat as your designated driver....

cheers,
Graeme

An interesting (unrelated?) change... it appears that Squires is now the 'Administrator' rather than moderator.

I am active on the UK board and also spend a fair amount of time on Garr`s forum. For the life of me, I cannot understand why more of these ex-eBobers did not show up on WLDG.
Ian, any thoughts?

bob parsons wrote:For the life of me, I cannot understand why more of these ex-eBobers did not show up on WLDG.
Ian, any thoughts?

Or WCWN for that matter. That's also a good site.

bob parsons wrote:I am active on the UK board and also spend a fair amount of time on Garr`s forum. For the life of me, I cannot understand why more of these ex-eBobers did not show up on WLDG.
Ian, any thoughts?

Suggestions of 'organisation' have come out in a couple of posts. If this is the reality, then I guess it could gave been any one of many sites, but I guess maybe some had made the original decision not to post on WLDG, so going to a 'neutral' wine forum might have been beneficial.

I guess it's in everyone's interests to see it all gel.

FWIW I could see Squires being the next to be jettisoned acrimoniously from the Parker empire. If it hits RP's bottom-line then I suspect Squires may be eased out (but who would be able to cover the gaping hole of red table wines from south east Portugal then? )

Ian,

You are probably right about the reasons for the exodus heading to the UK forum.

It will be very difficult for Parker to jettison Squires for two reasons. Firstly it was Squires forum before it went onto the EBob site. Secondly, apparently they are friends from way back.

Also I doubt that Squires activities on the forum would have much effect on the bottom line of TWA.

TORB wrote:Ian,

You are probably right about the reasons for the exodus heading to the UK forum.

It will be very difficult for Parker to jettison Squires for two reasons. Firstly it was Squires forum before it went onto the EBob site. Secondly, apparently they are friends from way back.

Also I doubt that Squires activities on the forum would have much effect on the bottom line of TWA.

TORB
IMO the former would be no obstacle - web forum software is widely available and Squires forum could be cast off pretty quickly (with a replacement slotted seamlessly in) if he so wished.... however I'm sure the second point makes the first a moot point.

... and of course, yes the bottom line may have even been safeguarded by removing anyone who does not support the party line. There can only be one true palate
regards
Ian

Looks like the strain is getting to him:


He looked like this just last year:

I have heard RPJ is not a well man, if so it would explain a lot.

Red Bigot wrote:Looks like the strain is getting to him:


He looked like this just last year:

He and Jancis look like they are getting on better anyway

(probably not her)

Of course he may soon look like this: http://www.decanter.com/news/201337.html

Good god.....I just read that six page thread that kicked the whole migration off....what a train wreck. Squires is a looney control freak

bob parsons wrote:I am active on the UK board and also spend a fair amount of time on Garr`s forum. For the life of me, I cannot understand why more of these ex-eBobers did not show up on WLDG.
Ian, any thoughts?

Could be to do with the fair amount of inter-site vitriol going on in previous years, probally about 8 years ago now, but many of the original sparring partners are still about. Lotta acrimony.

DaveB wrote:Good god.....I just read that six page thread that kicked the whole migration off....what a train wreck. Squires is a looney control freak

Gotta read this post a link...post a link...

Wizz wrote:

DaveB wrote:Good god.....I just read that six page thread that kicked the whole migration off....what a train wreck. Squires is a looney control freak

Gotta read this post a link...post a link...

Think it was this. I'd hate to image there were others like this.
http://dat.erobertparker.com/bboard/sho ... ght=manlin

Train wreck is an understatement ...?

Jay60A wrote:

Wizz wrote:

DaveB wrote:Good god.....I just read that six page thread that kicked the whole migration off....what a train wreck. Squires is a looney control freak

Gotta read this post a link...post a link...

Think it was this. I'd hate to image there were others like this.
http://dat.erobertparker.com/bboard/sho ... ght=manlin

Train wreck is an understatement ...?

The picture of Robinson and Parker was posted on Jancis Robinson's website. She said it had been ages since she had last seen him and referred to his back surgery having gone well. So, perhaps not illness exactly that accounts for the change in Parker's looks, but certainly medical problems.

Cheers..................Mahmoud Ali