Here's the problem with swearing on The Kennel.
- When it comes to rugby league, the media, internet trolls, etc, etc ... we (Bulldogs fans on the Kennel only) don't get to play on a level field.
- In the past, incidents have arose in the wider media, as a direct consequence of someone exposing what occurs within this sites walls.
- As a result, this site (more accurately a handful of the users that post here) have caused alarm among the folks at Bulldogs HQ. Questions needed to be asked, and in order to preserve the delicate balance between club image and media, answers were needed to provided. You gotat remember, we're talking about 2004-2010.
- This site is an "unofficial" fan forum. The Bulldogs could operate their own if they wish (and tell everyone to p*ss off), but for over ten years it allows sites like this to operate independently and act as gateways for fans to chat. It is not the intention of site owners/admins to cause grief, and most go into projects like this with 'the right intentions', and generally speaking the Bulldogs Club allows it under the expectation they don't do/allow/promote anything that represents the club in a bad light.
- The "swear filter" (and moderators in general) serves a necessary evil : The media CAN and WILL, use your quote (or portions of it, out of context) to suit any agenda as they see fit. When they do (and they have, and probably will again in the future), alarm bells go off at Bulldogs HQ in the form of "Did you see what your fans are saying ?" ... something this site, and most of us fans never intends. Accordingly, the 'filter' exists tries to extinguish fires before they get our of control by others pouring fuel on it.
- Over the years, we've endured rape slurs, cheating slurs, player misbehaviour slurs, player walkout and defection slurs, embarrassing board room squabbles, coach sackings, internal/external bigotry and prejudice ... the list goes on. All of this provides exactly the right environment for a sh*tstorm to explode. We owe it to our club to keep our house in order.
- Everyone of you is right, we shouldn't need a filter. But it ain't a fair fight. Not all other fanbases will be held to the same standards and we'll be subjected to more than out fair share of bantz.