Boycott Or Not?

[Mattyblue]

The Coalition themselves obviously have no issue with different perspectives, as Speedie is showing, so folk can carry on using this thread to discuss ideas (and yes, sometimes have a difference of opinion) until the actual mods say otherwise.

Edited 22 hours ago by Mattyblue

[Cortez]

I will be boycotting and if things don't change before next season I will not be walking down to Ewood anymore. Like may others I've attended for many a year but now I don't feel any connection with the club whatsoever. I've threatened to do this before and backed out to give them one more chance but I've had enough now. The Club is a shell of what it was. So sad. There are now other things in my life which will deservedly take priority. 

I hope the boycott is a success but I doubt it will change things.

[wilsdenrover]

This isn’t exclusive to this topic but I’d rather see a healthy debate than find myself in an echo chamber. 
 

[K-Hod]

I imagine I'll always buy a season ticket, as, I'm worried I'll get out of the habit if I don't.

Having said that, I've noticed a number of games I've not bothered with this season (not just midweek), but weekends, when I've had stuff on and just not prioritised Rovers.

The last two words above are what I've done for the bulk of my 41 years on the planet so far, that's what's changed the most under these sh1theads.

[speedies gonna get ya.]

They are lucky that there are still fans attending and still those that feel strongly enough to try and change things. The apathy that is growing is the real danger that they seem blind to. They need to wake up, a one off boycott is not going to hurt them financially, but it might cause a few squeaky ring peices when looking forward. They won't be able to put season ticket prices up enough to get the returns they need which an uptake around 4k.

[Upside Down]

3 hours ago, wilsdenrover said:

This isn’t exclusive to this topic but I’d rather see a healthy debate than find myself in an echo chamber. 
 

This isn’t exclusive to this topic but I’d rather see a healthy debate than find myself in an echo chamber. 

[M_B]

23 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

They're not going to leave because of people boycotting for the Watford game or even for the rest of the season. They've got the Season Ticket money already.

Imo though the only thing that rattles them is them not hitting their appointed targets for Season ticket revenue. (And presumably to a lesser degree, individual matchday revenue.)

Which again would be achieved by a boycott. Just as a matter of interest, would you be prepared to consider not renewing your ST next time round in an attempt to try and force them out?

 

I won't stop going so there's no point discussing the likelihood,and I haven't come across anyone who will stay away, and I've asked a few.

The other night when I mentioned the option of doing something inside Ewood, Speedie dismissed it as he believed it would detract from the boycott.

The conversation has changed direction over the last couple of days and it would seem there's a realisation that it would be better to get match goers onside, rather than "alienate" them.

Got to say Matty's number 4 struck a chord with me. 

 

[M_B]

26 minutes ago, Upside Down said:

This isn’t exclusive to this topic but I’d rather see a healthy debate than find myself in an echo chamber. 

Not bad for you 😁

[Hasta]

The best ally the coalition could have on the 24th is the weather.

[RevidgeBlue]

1 minute ago, M_B said:

I won't stop going so there's no point discussing the likelihood,and I haven't come across anyone who will stay away, and I've asked a few.

The other night when I mentioned the option of doing something inside Ewood, Speedie dismissed it as he believed it would detract from the boycott.

The conversation has changed direction over the last couple of days and it would seem there's a realisation that it would be better to get match goers onside, rather than "alienate" them.

Got to say Matty's number 4 struck a chord with me. 

 

Would you personally hold up a yellow or red card saying something like "Venky's Out!" then?

[M_B]

Just now, Hasta said:

The best ally the coalition could have on the 24th is the weather.

It only rains when we're winning, 

Rains when we're winning.... 

[M_B]

6 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Would you personally hold up a yellow or red card saying something like "Venky's Out!" then?

Red card was a suggestion I made but whatever the message, it would have to be spread widely. 

I'm not on twitter or anything else, but it's pointless just a few on here suggesting something. 

Edited 18 hours ago by M_B

[RevidgeBlue]

6 hours ago, London blue said:

Why should group 4 be kept onside if they're not going to consider taking action?

Tailoring messaging towards a group who are going to ignore you is only going to dilute the message for those you can reach.

If you want Venky's gone but aren't willing to sacrifice anything for it then the coalition clearly isn't for you, and that's fine.

Completely agree, there's no point watering the message down to satisfy a section of the fan base who don't really support your aims in the first place.

[RevidgeBlue]

Just now, M_B said:

That was a suggestion I made but whatever the message, it would have to be spread widely. 

I'm not on twitter or anything else, but it's pointless just a few on here suggesting something. 

So that's a no then.

So to summarise 

You won't boycott (even for one game)

You won't consider not renewing your ST next time round

You won't actively participate in any in ground protest.

That's absolutely fine. Im sure there's a lot more like you. My view would be you're not going to change your stance no matter what is said, it's unrealistic to expect you, or others of a like mind, would.

[M_B]

10 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

So that's a no then.

So to summarise 

You won't boycott (even for one game)

You won't consider not renewing your ST next time round

You won't actively participate in any in ground protest.

That's absolutely fine. Im sure there's a lot more like you. My view would be you're not going to change your stance no matter what is said, it's unrealistic to expect you, or others of a like mind, would.

It was me who suggested the red card,did you actually read what I said ? It was my idea, I was the first to suggest it after the Leicester game. 

How about you change your stance and come and do an in ground protest? You could even lead it, or is it unrealistic for you to even consider changing your mind ? 

 

[RevidgeBlue]

4 minutes ago, M_B said:

It was me who suggested the red card,did you actually read what I said ? It was my idea, I was the first to suggest it after the Leicester game. 

How about you change your stance and come and do an in ground protest? You could even lead it, or is it unrealistic for you to even consider changing your mind ? 

 

Answer the question I put to you then instead of swerving it:

Would you personally actively participate in (for example) a yellow/red card protest inside the ground?

I've already said around the time of the Derby fixture, I'd come down to a match to participate in a protest if something suitable were to be organised.

I can't boycott, having already voted with my feet some time ago.

 

[Bethnal]

I was up for the Charlton game, long-planned. We were conflicted (a couple didn’t come to either) about going to both Wrexham and Charlton, but the 12.30 Wrexham k/o made the decision for us and we had a better day out at Clitheroe, instead. The boycott was a big consideration, though. We drank locally, ate from the vans pitched outside Ewood.

What I saw on the day was a mix: a lot of people going out of habit/“ignorance;” a fair few in a similar boat to myself (not local anymore, back home for the festive period); those who were there for social/family reasons (gonna chalk this up to “oblivious” though that term is probably unkind).

It was sad, none of us felt particularly buzzy about going on, none of us had actually bought tickets until we got to Ewood, we considered sacking it off at lunch in Clitheroe. I’ve never once had that feeling before and it kind of continued in the ground, during the game and after. We weren’t talking about the game, we were talking about whether we’ll keep coming back, whether we should’ve sacked it off after all (admittedly this bit was half time).

For transparency, I have done a fair bit of work for the coalition but “left” (if you can even call it that) around the anniversary game.

What I’ve since realised is - this is probably a breaking point. I don’t necessarily mean that we’ll tumble down the leagues into obscurity, I weirdly don’t think that will happen. But the core base of fans still attending is too few, too disengaged and too stubborn to ever really cause/back major action. I also don’t think anything has cut through since October last year, on the action front and you could argue the last big cut through moment was the Middlesbrough game.

I’m not even posting this as a rallying cry/criticism, so much as an observation of the reality we face. I want change as much as the rest of those that do, but if the rest of the turkeys around you keep voting for Christmas, you’re getting in the fucking oven. We are unfortunately a victim of others’ stubbornness, fans and owners alike.

I don’t really know where I am with it, anymore. I’ve talked with friends about the QPR away game in February, we’ll probably go. I’ll watch all games that are watchable via any and all means, but the intensity of the feeling of initial cut-through and subsequent stalling, as well as seeing your fellow fans’ position makes any further action feel a bit futile.

Edited 17 hours ago by Bethnal

[M_B]

13 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Answer the question I put to you then instead of swerving it:

Would you personally actively participate in (for example) a yellow/red card protest inside the ground?

I've already said around the time of the Derby fixture, I'd come down to a match to participate in a protest if something suitable were to be organised.

I can't boycott, having already voted with my feet some time ago.

 

Swerving what? Are you going a bit mental ?

Why would I suggest it if I wouldn't take part?

It was only a suggestion though that I thought up in about 5 seconds. Maybe someone could think of something better, maybe something that didn't require "props". 

[RevidgeBlue]

15 minutes ago, M_B said:

Why would I suggest it if I wouldn't take part?

Fair enough if that's the case.

I think a yellow or red card protest is a really good idea. Nothing whatsoever the Club can do about it and you can do it again and again at appointed times in different matches. I just possibly wouldn't do it at a match when the main initiative was a boycott.

Can never have too many good ideas.

[Herbie6590]

Listen to Part 3 of our latest episode for our in-depth discussion of the boycott & the issues it raises…

 

https://www.brfcs.com/podcasts/the-what-now-show-i-need-a-justification

 

 

[rog of the rovers]

4 hours ago, Herbie6590 said:

Listen to Part 3 of our latest episode for our in-depth discussion of the boycott & the issues it raises…

 

https://www.brfcs.com/podcasts/the-what-now-show-i-need-a-justification

 

 

As teased.

A fair assessment with clarity of thought and argument. Would love to hear your thoughts on the matter and what you think is the correct response.

[speedies gonna get ya.]

Really great points made on the podcast. I am particularly pleased that it has been recognised how much the coalition care. No need to get your tiny violins out for me but I will give you a bit of background. I currently work a minimum 45hour week. Every spare second at the moment I am giving up my time to try my hardest for the Football Club I love. No funds,  just a handful of pasdsonate fans.I knew it would be impossible to get universal approval and knew by standing up, I would get shot at. Those against the boycott all have their own opinions and that is fine. Debate and discussion is fine, but some of the rhetoric myself and other coalition members have faced is not on. I cannot tolerate being called a liar, accused of putting the future of the club in jeopardy and alike.Not on this forum BTW. I accept many people have drawn their lines in the sand and your either with us or against us. That is not a coalition message so the weaponistion of the boycott is from individuals, not from us. We are ofcourse trying to explain our rationale, and appeal for supporters to join us in boycotting.

It is also important not to forget the open letter. In it, we asked Pasha to ensure the Raos read it and responded. They have, as always ignore us, as Rory said in the pod, they have boycotted the club long before we have. It can be argued that the club brought this on themselves by not even acknowledging us.

We do this because we want owners that care and want the club we fell in love with back. I am thick skinned. I will be fine. But those people who hide behind an Avatar please remember why we are doing it, wether you agree with it or not. And ask yourself, what have you done in your limited own time to try and improve this dying club?

As raised in the pod, we all have 1 common goal, a love of Rovers. Lets not forget that.

Edited 3 minutes ago by speedies gonna get ya.