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milkman Basic Member Posts:119  
| 8/13/2006 9:48 PM |
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well.
this seems a little much.
there was more talk about it on the oxegen boards. are they going to sue themselves? you can't stop people talking on messageboards. it seems excessive.
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Thomas Walsh New Member Posts:48
| 8/14/2006 2:27 AM |
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ANY heads up as to what this may attest too.....?
TW.
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cometBasic Member Posts:485
| 8/14/2006 9:57 AM |
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Do they see boards.ie as an easy target or something, how come they haven't gone after RTE, Liveline apparently tore Oxegen to shreads? How come they haven't gone after the printed press (well they threatened)? This is a black day for free speech and the after gig internet conversation in Ireland. It seems to me gig goers are being taken for granted in this country, every gig now seems to be an instant sellout. Has this made promoters complacent? Definitely, look at ticket prices, they continue to soar. Now it looks like the one thing a gig/festival goer has on its side, a voice, is trying to be censored. Maybe its time the gig goer in Ireland asserted some of its rights and fought back in the most powerful way any consumer can by keeping their money in their pocket.
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kavobagginsBasic Member Posts:199
| 8/14/2006 10:07 AM |
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Theyre trying to cover their asses on the homepage now:
OXEGEN 2006 STATEMENT - THE FACTS
Can we eliminate all anti-social behaviour?
Well, that is a greater social question.
1. Festival attendance was 80,000 per day, with 70,000 of those camping at the event using over 15,000 tents between Friday 7th July – Monday 10th July 2006. The event has been deemed a resounding success by the authorities, artists and fans.
2. The Official OXEGEN Garda figures from Friday 7th July to Monday 10th July 2006 are as follows:
*There is one case of an Alleged sexual assault that Gardai are currently investigating which was reported to Naas Gardai on Monday 10th July. MCD will provide every assistance that may be required to aid such an investigation.
*There were just over 50 arrested and NOT 500 as reported by The Irish Sun newspaper on 12th July 2006.
*These arrests included offences for public order, theft, dealing in illegal substances and criminal damage (source Naas Gardai 27th July 2006).
*There were 386 Detections for Drug Offences. (source Naas Gardai 27th July 2006).
3. There were over 15,000 tents on the campsite. The majority of the 23 tents were set on fire by their owners when leaving site early Monday morning, rather than taking them home. All fires were quickly extinguished. The majority of tents that were set on fire by their owners were those that can be purchased from 14.95 euros from high street stores.
4. Security measures taken on campsite included Risks assessments, with control measures introduced accordingly, ample security were in place as were Watchtowers, Professional Fire Fighters, Civil Defence Fire Fighting Unit and First Aid, 24 hour hospital with 2 doctors and A&E consultant, Welfare services, Gardai in attendance for back up if required.
5. There was no rioting or looting as reported by The Sunday Mirror newspaper on 16th July 2006.
6. As with all major public gatherings a small number of individuals were dealt with by An Garda Siochana and event security. ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AT ANY ANY MCD EVENT. There were 1,500 security, 200 Gardai and 250 Medical staff on duty.
7. Security companies are licensed under the Private Security Authority and have achieved/are IS999 compliant. They include Sword Eventguard International (security contract for Point since it opened 15 years ago), Frontline Security (security contracts for RDS/Croke Park etc.) and Eventsec Security (security contracts for Odyssey/BBC).
8. Of the 80,000 fans who attended OXEGEN during the hours of 8AM Friday 7th July – 6PM Monday 10th July, 49 fans (represents 0.06% of fans) were treated in hospital suffering from the following complaints and ALL have since been released.
Query fractures - 19
Stitches/casts - 16
Medical conditions not related to event - 7
Drug/alcohol misuse - 7
9. The OXEGEN message board was always scheduled to close 5 days after event and will re-open when we go on sale on Friday 10th November for OXEGEN 2007, all comments good/bad can be directed to contact@mcd.ie which is highlighted on sites. MCD welcomes and actively seeks feed-back from fans both positive and negative regarding all of our events.
10. To date MCD can confirm we have received 76 complaints from the 80,000 fans attended OXEGEN representing less than 0.1% of the total attendance, an excellent result by any company's standard.
"With all major events, there are always a number of lessons to be learned. Anti-social behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated at any MCD event. We will continue to provide a high standard of care for our customers. And our security team along with the GARDA will provide all the appropriate protections and those individuals found to have caused any unnecessary distress for other customers will be dealt with appropriately," stated Denis Desmond Managing Director MCD Productions.
MCD would especially like to thank all the well behaved fans for ensuring OXEGEN 2006 was a great success, the residents of Naas and the surrounding areas, Kildare County Council, Doctors, Medics, Red Cross, Fire Services, HSE, Security, Production staff, Subcontractors, the staff of Punchestown Racecourse and in particular like to thank An Gardai Siochana for their continuous support and we look forward to hosting OXEGEN 2007 on 7th & 8th July 2007.
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| 8/14/2006 10:11 AM |
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MCD are pretty much arguing that any comments published on the internet should be bound by the same legalities that the printed media have to abide by. I do not know if there are any concrete laws to cover electronic publishing here in Ireland so this is most definitely a grey area. MCD are going to argue that what was said by posters on boards.ie was legally ''defamatory'' and that boards.ie are responsible for the alleged ''libelous'' comments.
MCD are taking one hell of a risk here, they lose this they will compound their post-oxegen PR digging your own grave disaster, they win then this could change what is and what isn't said on the internet here in Ireland forever which would start a dangerous precident for future of internet free speech.
Do MCD have a case? Well neither MCD or the posters on boards.ie can prove their arguments. What MCD put up on the oxegen site to argue their case on Friday is all statistics, but that's not fact . With the posters on boards.ie it is opinion and consensus but again no fact. In other words this is simply a tit for that ''I'm right, you're wrong!'', ''no you're wrong, I'm right!'' case but neither said can possibly prove they're right or prove the other side is wrong. Boards.ie do have a disclaimer when a user signs up that every message express the views of the author etc. so I'd hope that would cover them.
MCD don't want a courtcase here, they want this to go quiet by boards.ie settling with them. What matters is how strong boards.ie are on this one. Boards.ie have shown they are scared s**tless of MCD (and MCD know this!) by banning their users from making any comments about them or Oxegen. If boards.ie blink and make leeway for MCD on this one by apologising or settling then it will open up a can of worms with endless amounts of other coporate bullboys jumping the censorship bandwagon.
Boards.ie are run like a facist dicatorship themselves so I wouldn't shed too many tears for the big shots there if they were shut down but I really hope MCD rot in hell once and for all over this as the only motive for all this is to censor the internet because they know it's powerful enough to see them lose their licence for Oxegen next year.
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Pilchard Advanced Member Posts:699
| 8/14/2006 10:22 AM |
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i can't believe MCD are persisting with this. it means, as previous posters have said, that not only does the Oxegen bad news story continue to run (there was a big piece in The Sunday Times yesterday) but they also have got punters backs up. time for MCD's pr people to take some lessons in story management. and, worse, when next years Oxegen kicks in, guess what all the press and punters will be talking about? bet it wont be the line-up!
una - did your Oxegen story run in the Sunday Tribune yet?
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kavobagginsBasic Member Posts:199
| 8/14/2006 10:25 AM |
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yeah, couldnt find it at all Una.
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John DoeBasic Member Posts:338
| 8/14/2006 11:24 AM |
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Has our Una been a victim of the MCD hit squads ? We, the people, demand the truth !!  |
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palaceBasic Member Posts:392
| 8/14/2006 11:25 AM |
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indeed pilchard... mcd have handled this about as badly as they could have
a simple "apologies if anyone had an uncomfortable experience - we'll try to locate the source of the problems and eradicate for next year giving you an even better festival for 2007" would have done the job... even if they had completely ignored everything, it would have gone away fairly quickly... instead it's become a massive talking point
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MullyAdvanced Member Posts:849
| 8/14/2006 11:33 AM |
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Reminiscent of The Emporer's New Clothes, is how I describe mcd's atitude to it.
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yoshimiNew Member Posts:63
| 8/14/2006 1:32 PM |
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Hey there,
Newbie here. THis isn't the only incident of an online forum being sued over comments made. Another forum in the UK has been sued by a leading baby-book writer (I know - I may be an indie fan, but in my other life, I'm a (single) mum too :)). Apparently she has grounds...not sure if it's because the conversations persist online that makes it different to the spoken word, but I think this is possibly just the beginning of a slew of these kinds of lawsuits. Another Irish forum recently pulled all negative posts about advertisers on their site. :(
Ais.
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klootfanAdvanced Member Posts:851
| 8/14/2006 1:43 PM |
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Welcome on board yoshimi. Nice to see new people joining.
I think that there is a massive misperception out there that the web is all about free speach and all. Unfortunately its far from it. Hence one of the requirements for moderators on messageboards.
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nerrawBasic Member Posts:475
| 8/14/2006 1:56 PM |
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I think the Irish media have handled this pretty badly. I took them weeks to report the oxegen story, which I think is grossly over exaggerated. The fact is, MCD pay Irish media quite a lot in advertising.
Any article I've seen have been half hearted in criticising MCD. MCD are notorious for this sort of thing. Another Sunday paper wrote about kids been drunk at an Eminem gig, and thus MCD banned staff from the gigs.
Yoshimi is correct. A baby/moth info website was threatned with libel action. A user criticised the author of a controversial book on motherhood.
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PilchardAdvanced Member Posts:699
| 8/14/2006 2:21 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nerraw
I think the Irish media have handled this pretty badly. I took them weeks to report the oxegen story, which I think is grossly over exaggerated. The fact is, MCD pay Irish media quite a lot in advertising.
Any article I've seen have been half hearted in criticising MCD. MCD are notorious for this sort of thing. Another Sunday paper wrote about kids been drunk at an Eminem gig, and thus MCD banned staff from the gigs.
nerraw, The Irish media are ALL OVER THIS! there have been news reports in The Irish Independent and Evening Herald and The Star and Sunday Mirror and Sunday Times. Comment pieces in The Irish Times and Sunday Times. Liveline too. And the pieces have not pulled punches - MCD have made a mess of this and the media are hitting them hard for it.
remember that all of the printed pieces would to be all above board legally too - unlike so many things on bulletin boards which is why boards are getting their asses sued - hence why there wasnt a big rash of pieces all at the start in one go. in every way, this has been much worse for MCD. instead of having a load of pieces on the Monday or Tuesday after Oxegen, this drip-drip of pieces has prolonged the story into August
I hear una was abducted by MCD-lovin' aliens and carted off to dun laoghaire
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elmo95Basic Member Posts:156
| 8/14/2006 2:22 PM |
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Does anyone think there is a difference between the promoters MCD/AIKEN/POD? In my experience, working for MCD one does get treated worse than POD but I was only doing local crew. IMO POD just have a better atmosphere throughout their team, though I am certainly aware that at the end of the day money is the be all and end all of the business for all promotors, it just makes things more bearable that you get treated more like an actual human being and not a another piece of meat. I hope with the success of Castlepalooza there will be more independent promotors who actually put the music and fan first to put more gigs on.
MCD are the latest in the death of civilization. I hope they finally get their comeuppance. And yes I do feel strongly about this
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ishrinkBasic Member Posts:195
| 8/14/2006 2:40 PM |
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2091-2310469,00.html
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palaceBasic Member Posts:392
| 8/14/2006 2:48 PM |
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quote:
I hope with the success of Castlepalooza there will be more independent promotors who actually put the music and fan first to put more gigs on.
seriously, there are some great independent promoters out there... whilst i'm not trying to argue the fact that mcd and aiken have a stranglehold on the market, if we all started looking up and attending gigs by u:mack, skinny wolves, deserted village, twisted robot, lazybird, not only would we be wrestling power away from the big corporates, we would also be exposing ourselves to some mighty fine independent (and often under the radar) music... |
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Unicron Veteran Member Posts:1696
| 8/14/2006 3:00 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by palace
quote:
I hope with the success of Castlepalooza there will be more independent promotors who actually put the music and fan first to put more gigs on.
seriously, there are some great independent promoters out there... whilst i'm not trying to argue the fact that mcd and aiken have a stranglehold on the market, if we all started looking up and attending gigs by u:mack, skinny wolves, deserted village, twisted robot, lazybird, not only would we be wrestling power away from the big corporates, we would also be exposing ourselves to some mighty fine independent (and often under the radar) music...
U:Mack in particular have been putting on some great stuff of late (though I may never forgive them for my exposure to Wolf Eyes). Foggy Notions too.
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nerrawBasic Member Posts:475
| 8/14/2006 3:12 PM |
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They're on it now but MCD have been cvnts for years and the papers are hardly taking them to the cleaners.
I haven't read anything about MCD that wasn't known already. At the end of the day, the lure of free tickets and massive advertising revenue will see MCD come out shinging at the end of it
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PilchardAdvanced Member Posts:699
| 8/14/2006 3:25 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nerraw
I haven't read anything about MCD that wasn't known already.
what else is there?? theyre the biggest promoters in the land so surely if theyre up to unsavoury things (other than treating s**te irish bands badly), it would be out there.
this episode marks a real turning point for MCD. i've never seen them so badly rattled by an issue like this - and i've never seen the media react with such relish to a story about them. up to now, all the allegations and charges and claims could never be proven - bulletin board tittle-tattle often has no substance - but this is different. the story aint over yet!
WHERE IS UNA? |
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nerrawBasic Member Posts:475
| 8/14/2006 3:54 PM |
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I agree it is a turning point for MCD. As you say they are really rattled. I wonder will have it similar result as the McLibel trial
They may win the case but it'll mean alot of people been called forward to give evidence against MCD.
Wonder what Hotpress will do on it?
It is a massive own goal/ PR disaster for them. Why go after Boards? Must be more to the story.
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elmo95Basic Member Posts:156
| 8/14/2006 4:05 PM |
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The whereabouts of Una has an underlying sinister taste to it, as this story of legal action against MCD and her own planned article about oxegen runs hand in hand. We all know this but where in the hell is she indeed
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John DoeBasic Member Posts:338
| 8/14/2006 4:17 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by elmo95
The whereabouts of Una has an underlying sinister taste to it, as this story of legal action against MCD and her own planned article about oxegen runs hand in hand. We all know this but where in the hell is she indeed
Has anyone reported her disappearance to Amnesty International ? |
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PilchardAdvanced Member Posts:699
| 8/14/2006 4:23 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by John Doe
quote:
Originally posted by elmo95
The whereabouts of Una has an underlying sinister taste to it, as this story of legal action against MCD and her own planned article about oxegen runs hand in hand. We all know this but where in the hell is she indeed
Has anyone reported her disappearance to Amnesty International ?
maybe bono could arrange a petition to get her back once hes finished moving all his cash to Amsterdamn?
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deraBasic Member Posts:163
| 8/14/2006 5:00 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by palace
quote:
I hope with the success of Castlepalooza there will be more independent promotors who actually put the music and fan first to put more gigs on.
seriously, there are some great independent promoters out there... whilst i'm not trying to argue the fact that mcd and aiken have a stranglehold on the market, if we all started looking up and attending gigs by u:mack, skinny wolves, deserted village, twisted robot, lazybird, not only would we be wrestling power away from the big corporates, we would also be exposing ourselves to some mighty fine independent (and often under the radar) music...
Absolutely. U:mack, Skinny Wolves, Foggy Notions and Deserted Village have engineered something of a quiet revolution in the last year or two already, bypassing mainstream channels more or less completely. I'd venture that there are more people than just me who in the last year have attended far more gigs put on independently by them than MCD or Aiken events. |
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AntistarAdvanced Member Posts:544
| 8/14/2006 5:03 PM |
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I saw her being bundled into a black van by Justin Green!!!
Ah, only joking Justin, MCD would never stoop to such levels, of course they wouldn't, fine upstanding music promoter, Sir! Please don't sue me!  |
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| 8/14/2006 6:32 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nerraw
It is a massive own goal/ PR disaster for them. Why go after Boards? Must be more to the story.
Simple, boards.ie are an easy target. It's one thing to try and sue a large newspaper corporation who equally give them a run for their money in the courts, it's a completey different thing suing a privately owned, not for profit website which has no full-time staff and no expensive legal team. Negative publicity on a website like boards.ie which has around 60,000 members, the majority of whom are in MCD's consumer demograph is probably as damaging as having a negative article written in a crappy tabloid. I can't recall the tabloid in question, but whichever one it was they had an article written around all sorts of inaccurate statements and figures and had a picture of a fire from the Reading or Leeds festival! Why haven't they had legal action taken against them? My point is proven. MCD are going after boards.ie because they are vulnerable but yet the most popular discussion forum in Ireland, MCD want to make a statement to ALL discussion forums they will hunt you down to try to scare you. The fact MCD have not taken any legal action as of yet against any of the tabloids who have wrote IMO far far far worse articles than anything that appeared on boards.ie shows one thing and one thing only, MCD know they have little or no case to take this to newspaper corporations who will give them a far more sterner fight in court than a website like boards.ie.
I hope all discussion forums including cluas.com don't give in to these big corporate bully boy tactics. If you make an exception for MCD like boards.ie have done you'll have to make exceptions for the dvd companies who you say ''their product was faulty'' or the beer company who you say ''their product tastes like piss'', it will never end.
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ctrlaltdeleteBasic Member Posts:268
| 8/14/2006 6:38 PM |
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I'm rooting for MCD.
Boards is pretty crap.
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| 8/14/2006 6:43 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by ctrlaltdelete
I'm rooting for MCD.
Boards is pretty crap.
But if MCD win and have their way then cluas will have to be censored and just about everywhere else, what affects boards.ie will affect everyone else and this comes from me who's been banned on a few occassions on boards for nothing but personality clashes by many of the moderating d**ks that run around like children flaunting their official boards.ie moderating badges. |
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vandalaBasic Member Posts:267
| 8/14/2006 7:23 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by kool-1
quote:
Originally posted by ctrlaltdelete
I'm rooting for MCD.
Boards is pretty crap.
But if MCD win and have their way then cluas will have to be censored and just about everywhere else, what affects boards.ie will affect everyone else and this comes from me who's been banned on a few occassions on boards for nothing but personality clashes by many of the moderating d**ks that run around like children flaunting their official boards.ie moderating badges.
Now, let's not confuse "censorship" with defamation. Libel laws exist for arguably good reasons, allowing the individual/organisation a legitimate defence against an unprovoked attack in the press. Admittedly, however, the defamation laws in Ireland have a repuation for being particularly draconian.
Having said that, I don't think MCD have a leg to stand on here, because, as already discussed, a message board is simply "opinions" which aren't necessarily endorsed by the parent company. There's also some kind of "fair comment" defence in Irish defamation law.
http://indigo.ie/~kwood/defamation.htm |
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DaraghAdvanced Member Posts:666
| 8/14/2006 10:20 PM |
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why arent they suing cluas too?
dont read boards, but from what i can see the topics were pretty similar on both? maybe it was more strictly moderated here, but i dunno?
think it is a load of s**t though, free speech should be just that. if someone wants to give an opinion so be it, and as vandala said there is no "official" opinion, or support.
would definitely agree that independent promoters would be the way to go, only problem is that they are independent and so face huge obstacles, bit of a catch 22. Especially since the majority of people who make mcd their money seem to have no interest in going to smaller indie style thangs.
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vandalaBasic Member Posts:267
| 8/14/2006 10:49 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Daragh
why arent they suing cluas too?
The Sunday Times article says that legal action was taken in response to a statement that was defamatory. Statement as in singular, not statements. We can all say things like "MCD is crap" but it's hardly going to invoke the wrath of a libel suit.
Does anyone know which specific statement MCD have decided was defamatory? If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say it's about the sexual assault. They're hardly going to get the big guns in about a bunch of tents being burnt, right?
Interestingly, the Indo ran a new story over the weekend about an alleged rape at Oxegyn. That's obviously a volatile allegation and might be what's at the heart of this.
Finally, the "fair comment" defence is apparently not applicable in this case. There is a good discussion of libel issues on bulletin boards here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054949901 |
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DaraghAdvanced Member Posts:666
| 8/14/2006 11:21 PM |
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ah cheers, i had actually read that but it didnt click.
just read most of that boards thread you linked to, it does seem to be a pretty huge issue.will be interesting to see what happens, but wonder how long we'll have to wait!
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PilchardAdvanced Member Posts:699
| 8/14/2006 11:40 PM |
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there also seems to be also something happening with Thumped - there was a lengthy thread today about Boards and MCD which was pulled completely (and not just lockd) without any explanation whatsoever.
Cluas moderators, u might want to be a little careful
Una was last seen humming The X Files theme tune
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petethedrummerNew Member Posts:38
| 8/15/2006 9:26 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Pilchard
Una was last seen humming The X Files theme tune
who does Una work for?? |
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palaceBasic Member Posts:392
| 8/15/2006 9:59 AM |
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una "allegedly" works for the tribune, pete... she was "allegedly" going to write an article about this for last sunday's edition and "allegedly" hasn't been seen since... quite strange considering how ubiquitous around these parts she usually is...
she's "definitely" been abducted by mcd... a mate of a mate of a mate told me so
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UnaVeteran Member Posts:1721
| 8/15/2006 10:04 AM |
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hello!
I would love to get involved in this discussion, but I probably shouldn't. The article I was writing wasn't published for reasons beyond my control - that's not to say it won't be in the (near) future. The only thing I WILL say is that I think all the journalists who have written articles about this issue to date should be praised for their determination, as an undue amount of pressure and legal wranglings wreck one's head when one is trying to get the story out there.
Rock on.
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nerrawBasic Member Posts:475
| 8/15/2006 10:22 AM |
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Oh please. Writing about MCD is hardly something to be praised for. It's not Lebanon. I think we should be criticising people for not writing about it.
I suspect legal wranglings have fvck all to do with a newspaper not running with an article. If the copy is true, accurate and fair comment, the lawyers and editor will have no problem passing it. However, commercial interests and advertising revenue is another matter.
A full page AD is usually taken out by MCD in most Sunday papers and at least once a week in the dailies. A full colour page can cost over €20,000 which MCD frequently take out. Times that by 52 and it is a lot of money to lose if MCD were to withdraw their advertising. And therein lies the problem.
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PilchardAdvanced Member Posts:699
| 8/15/2006 10:30 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nerraw
Oh please. Writing about MCD is hardly something to be praised for. It's not Lebanon. I think we should be criticising people for not writing about it.
I suspect legal wranglings have fvck all to do with a newspaper not running with an article. If the copy is true, accurate and fair comment, the lawyers and editor will have no problem passing it. However, commercial interests and advertising revenue is another matter.
A full page AD is usually taken out by MCD in most Sunday papers and at least once a week in the dailies. A full colour page can cost over €20,000 which MCD frequently take out. Times that by 52 and it is a lot of money to lose if MCD were to withdraw their advertising. And therein lies the problem.
its blatantly obvious that Nerraw doesnt or hasnt worked in a newsroom. Una is right - the amount of pressure which has been brought to bear on ANY hack writing about MCD and Oxegen in the last few weeks is, in an Irish context, quite remarkable.
everyone who has managed to have a piece published has gone thru the legal wrangler - irish libel laws are notoriously tough and newspaper lawyers have to make sure the published pieces will stand the test of a trial. they (and their editors) thus deserves kudos for their determination and perseverence in getting the story out.
"criticising people for not writing about it" - well, conversely, what about some respect then for those who HAVE got the pieces published? as una explained between the lines, there are very simple reasons why other pieces have not ran.
to mention lebanon in this context is just so stupid that it doesnt even deserve a retort.
The ads thing is a complete red herring. most newspapers have a very strict church and state divide between the commercial side and the editorial side. and dont forget that MCD need to put in those ads to sell tickets so they need the papers as much as the papers need the ad revenue.
plus many of these deals are "contra" deals - no money exchanges hands in return for the paper/publication getting brand exposure at the show. its a dark art. sure, MCD can go to those "friendly" papers who havent done any pieces but they need to get to the readers that The Irish Times, Sunday Times, Evening Herald etc have
this is a mad happening altogether. i dont think i've ever seen the likes of it here before. and, best of all, its still not over
welcome back una! i really do hope u stick your oar into this discussion (before its locked!)
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nerrawBasic Member Posts:475
| 8/15/2006 10:41 AM |
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Pilchard, I've been working in a newsroom for the last two years, I just don't feel the need to mention it.
Praising someone for writing about MCD? You're having a laugh. If you're going to praise a journalist, make sure its for something that is actually dangerous or reveals something new.
As I said, if the copy is accurate and true why is it not printed? MCD can't sue. The Irish Times, Sunday Times, Independent, Sunday Mirror all printed stuff free from this 'remarkable' pressure.
Thus, my suspicion is that the few papers that haven't printed anything are doing it for commercial reasons. One story, that's already been covered, sacrificed for the sake of a good relationship with MCD? Tempting.
And not refering to Una's tale of woe
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UnaVeteran Member Posts:1721
| 8/15/2006 10:51 AM |
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Nerraw - I'm just saying that certain things are harder to write about than others, so fair play to the people who have actually done it, that is all.
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UnicronVeteran Member Posts:1696
| 8/15/2006 10:58 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Pilchard
there also seems to be also something happening with Thumped - there was a lengthy thread today about Boards and MCD which was pulled completely (and not just lockd) without any explanation whatsoever.
You're incorrect there Pilchard, the thread was locked but it's currently on the second item on the second page of the general forum (just under the thread you started asking where the thread had gone). http://www.thumped.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=38716
Pete, who runs Thumped, will let people get away with posting pretty much anything, and considering the amount of piss taking that goes on over there the vast majority of stuff on it could probably have a parody defence applied to it. There's a fantastically vicous anti-Frames thread buried there somewhere dating from when the last album came out that puts anything anyone has ever posted here to shame.
However what I can gather he doesn't like/need hassle arising from the site impinging on his real life from and he may have just put a stop to things on the off chance MCD felt like launching another ridiculous lawsuit. Which I guess is fair enough. |
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nerrawBasic Member Posts:475
| 8/15/2006 10:59 AM |
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I agree 100% Una, no complaints here.
Bad break with the story, it's a pain in the @rse when a story is pulled for no legitimate reason (in the eyes of the journalist.)
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PilchardAdvanced Member Posts:699
| 8/15/2006 11:02 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nerraw
Praising someone for writing about MCD? You're having a laugh. If you're going to praise a journalist, make sure its for something that is actually dangerous or reveals something new.
i NEVER said "praise - dont put words in my mouth nerraw. i said "respect", something totally different to praise.
Unicorn wrote...
> You're incorrect there Pilchard, the thread was locked but it's currently on the second
> item on the second page of the general forum (just under the thread you started asking > where the thread had gone). http://www.thumped.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=38716
no, unicorn, i'm refering to a thread which was running yesterday on MCD suing Boards which was pulled/deleted. i started the thread, it got to four or five pages and was then yanked. the thread that is currently there is the 2nd or 3rd thread on this. |
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UnicronVeteran Member Posts:1696
| 8/15/2006 11:06 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Pilchard
no, unicorn, i'm refering to a thread which was running yesterday on MCD suing Boards which was pulled/deleted. i started the thread, it got to four or five pages and was then yanked. the thread that is currently there is the 2nd or 3rd thread on this.
Ah Ok, I stand corrected. Apologies. |
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petethumpedNew Member Posts:4
| 8/15/2006 11:55 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Pilchardno, unicorn, i'm refering to a thread which was running yesterday on MCD suing Boards which was pulled/deleted. i started the thread, it got to four or five pages and was then yanked. the thread that is currently there is the 2nd or 3rd thread on this.
evenin
the thread in question was pulled because it needed some serious tidying up and i didn't have the time to do it right then. It's all sorted now and has since been merged with its clone... |
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ctrlaltdeleteBasic Member Posts:268
| 8/16/2006 5:35 PM |
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Thumped has joined the Boards ban of all mentions of MCD gigs.
http://www.thumped.com/bbs/announcement.php?f=5
Is Cluas going to do the same? hmmmmmmm
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deraBasic Member Posts:163
| 8/16/2006 6:08 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by ctrlaltdelete
Thumped has joined the Boards ban of all mentions of MCD gigs.
http://www.thumped.com/bbs/announcement.php?f=5
Is Cluas going to do the same? hmmmmmmm
the reasoning given in that link is rather appealing, isn't it? |
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PilchardAdvanced Member Posts:699
| 8/16/2006 7:56 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by dera
quote:
Originally posted by ctrlaltdelete
Thumped has joined the Boards ban of all mentions of MCD gigs.
http://www.thumped.com/bbs/announcement.php?f=5
Is Cluas going to do the same? hmmmmmmm
the reasoning given in that link is rather appealing, isn't it?
yep, its much smarter and clever-er than Boards - especially identifying the fact that various MCD people do use Thumped to plug their smaller gigs (ie Whelan's, TBMC, Village, Sugar Club etc). Good move on thumped's part
its interesting that this story has not yet been picked up by ireland's bloggers. ive seen absolutely nothing on any blog (bar Blogorrah) about this. So much for blogs being the new rock & roll...... |
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petethumpedNew Member Posts:4
| 8/16/2006 9:17 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by ctrlaltdelete
Thumped has joined the Boards ban of all mentions of MCD gigs.
I just to clarify this point - I decided to take this action yesterday, completely independently of anything boards.ie are doing. It just took me a while to phrase the announcement properly.... I don't write good, see. |
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petethumpedNew Member Posts:4
| 8/16/2006 9:19 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by petethumped
quote:
Originally posted by ctrlaltdelete
Thumped has joined the Boards ban of all mentions of MCD gigs.
I just to clarify this point - I decided to take this action yesterday, completely independently of anything boards.ie are doing. It just took me a while to phrase the announcement properly.... I don't write good, see.
and almost as if on cue, he fails to properly construct a sentence. |
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UnicronVeteran Member Posts:1696
| 8/17/2006 11:08 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by petethumped
quote:
Originally posted by petethumped
quote:
Originally posted by ctrlaltdelete
Thumped has joined the Boards ban of all mentions of MCD gigs.
I just to clarify this point - I decided to take this action yesterday, completely independently of anything boards.ie are doing. It just took me a while to phrase the announcement properly.... I don't write good, see.
and almost as if on cue, he fails to properly construct a sentence.
I thukned that you was being ironical Pete. |
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nerrawBasic Member Posts:475
| 8/17/2006 11:48 AM |
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It's all getting a bit ridiculous at this stage. Thumped are clearly jumping on the mcd are w**kers bandwagon.
You can't beat MCD, accept it and move on. Banning any mention of their name or gigs won't work. I'm still going to find out if Daft Punk etc are playing.
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PilchardAdvanced Member Posts:699
| 8/17/2006 11:55 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nerraw
It's all getting a bit ridiculous at this stage. Thumped are clearly jumping on the mcd are w**kers bandwagon.
You can't beat MCD, accept it and move on. Banning any mention of their name or gigs won't work. I'm still going to find out if Daft Punk etc are playing.
i think u will find that thumped probably were in the MCD are wnakers bandwagon when it first started out.
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palaceBasic Member Posts:392
| 8/17/2006 12:05 PM |
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i thought thumped started the "mcd are wnakers" bandwagon?
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nerrawBasic Member Posts:475
| 8/17/2006 12:12 PM |
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MCD were always w**kers, no-one can claim they started it. I was refering to the current 'crisis' which will be forgotten about in a few weeks.
Anyway, bit hypocritical to complain about MCD restricting freedom of speech and then doing the very same on the tenuous basis that it is free advertising.
Won't solve a thing. People will, incredible as it may sound, still talk about upcoming gigs and find out about gigs. Its the internet
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palaceBasic Member Posts:392
| 8/17/2006 12:25 PM |
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ah no, the underlying message in pete's post is "don't fcuk with thumped, we have been more or less ignoring you anyway so now we will completely ignore you"... or at least, that's how i choose to read it... i reckon it goes back to the independent promoters thing... get behind them and soon mcd will slowly start losing its stranglehold on the good gigs... let them keep the big s**te
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PilchardAdvanced Member Posts:699
| 8/17/2006 12:30 PM |
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what palace said and then some
a couple of MCD people regularly use Thumped to plug their gigs. theyre even seen as part of the Thumped community. what this does is makes them think a little about what their employer is trying to doing to other online communities.
and no, nerraw, this "crisis" will not be gone and dusted in a couple of weeks. no matter how much u choose to believe Justin Green/MCD publicity or how good they may be at hushing things up, this story will be dug up at every opportunity from now on. When Oxegen 2007 is announced? "Last year's event was marred by events on the campsite. When it sells out? "However, after Oxegen 2006, allegations were made about serious unrest on Campsite A". And dont forget the news reports if the Boards.ie thing ends up in court.
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nerrawBasic Member Posts:475
| 8/17/2006 1:06 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Pilchard
and no, nerraw, this "crisis" will not be gone and dusted in a couple of weeks. no matter how much u choose to believe Justin Green/MCD publicity or how good they may be at hushing things up, this story will be dug up at every opportunity from now on. When Oxegen 2007 is announced? "Last year's event was marred by events on the campsite. When it sells out? "However, after Oxegen 2006, allegations were made about serious unrest on Campsite A". And dont forget the news reports if the Boards.ie thing ends up in court.
Justin Green is a God to me, sure why wouldn't I believe him? I love MCD and their customer focus way of doing business.
You just proved by point:
"When it sells out? "However, after Oxegen 2006, allegations were made about serious unrest on Campsite A".
Exactly, 2007 will sell out no problem and MCD won't give a toss and neither will the 70,000 about an added caveat in some newspaper about a few tents going on fire in 12 months ago.
Serious unrest? The vast majority of people didn't realise there was 'riots.' A few oul wans calling Joe Duffy. Such was the serious unrest one paper had to make up photos to illustrate it.
Just going to agree to disagree on this. |
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petethumpedNew Member Posts:4
| 8/17/2006 1:08 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nerraw
It's all getting a bit ridiculous at this stage. Thumped are clearly jumping on the mcd are w**kers bandwagon.
You can't beat MCD, accept it and move on. Banning any mention of their name or gigs won't work. I'm still going to find out if Daft Punk etc are playing.
This has nothing to do with wanting to "beat MCD".
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elmo95Basic Member Posts:156
| 8/17/2006 2:26 PM |
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This has everything to do showing that they are finally taken a peg down in terms of treatment of their near-monopoly on the concert market which means they can get away with pricing as it stands. How would the majority of people know about any 'serious unrest' if MCD stop anyone from telling others about what did or didn't happen which goes to show that they wanted to put a stop to any bad publicity whether there was truth in it or not. The fact that they did threaten boards indicates that they do have a skeleton in the closet.
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PilchardAdvanced Member Posts:699
| 8/17/2006 2:27 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nerraw
Serious unrest? The vast majority of people didn't realise there was 'riots.' A few oul wans calling Joe Duffy. Such was the serious unrest one paper had to make up photos to illustrate it.
Just going to agree to disagree on this.
the vast majority will have realised NOW that there was alleged trouble on the campsite because of the way this story has been featured in The Evening Herald, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Irish Times, The Star and countless others in the MONTH since the event ended. this will have a bearing on how MCD and Oxegen are perceived in the future. unless, of course, media organisations (other than the ones above) continue to try to keep MCD on side by not allowing their reporters report on this story.
but, of course, we can agree to differ if you dont want to back up your views. |
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nerrawBasic Member Posts:475
| 8/17/2006 2:58 PM |
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So people at Oxegen only realised there was serious unrest at Oxegen weeks after the actual festival through newspaper reports?
That would make me believe there was no serious unrest if 69,985 didn't notice it.
To answer Elmo's question about how are people supposed to find out about the unrest. Well, the old fashion way of actually witnessing it. Serious unrest doesn't go unnoticed yet we are to believe at Oxegen it did.
It didn't stop people camping at Hifi weeks later. MCD are greedy rip off merchants and plenty of people have an axe to grind with them. But hysteria over a few tents on fire isn't the way to do it.
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PilchardAdvanced Member Posts:699
| 8/17/2006 3:21 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nerraw
So people at Oxegen only realised there was serious unrest at Oxegen weeks after the actual festival through newspaper reports?
That would make me believe there was no serious unrest if 69,985 didn't notice it.
hold on a second there nerraw, my good man/woman. thats a stupid line if ever i heard one. so if only 35 people realise there was serious trouble at an event attended by 70,000 people then this troubledidnt actually happen? if i was as crass as u were in another post when u mentioned the Lebanon, i could also point out many events throughout world history where that argument was used as an excuse.
get real, oxegen 2006 has hurt MCD in many ways (for instance, one brand currently associated with Oxegen are re-assessing their involvement because of the negative press and how long the story has continued). this one marks a turning point and if u are refusing to see that, well, thats your lookout.
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nerrawBasic Member Posts:475
| 8/17/2006 3:34 PM |
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Pilchard, my good man/woman. Serious trouble at an event with 70,000 attending is going to be noticed by quite a lot of people. It didn't happen. There wasn't serious trouble at oxegen, end of. Unless our definitions of serious trouble differ.
You're using a previous comment of mine in relation to praising journalists and linking it to another comment on witnesses of the crowd trouble.
If we are to praise journalists, lets praise them for covering the Lebanon and not covering a page 15 story about MCD suing an irish website which involved making a couple of phone calls and internet surfing.
It won't hurt MCD or Oxegen. They're too big.
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PilchardAdvanced Member Posts:699
| 8/17/2006 4:13 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nerraw
Pilchard, my good man/woman. Serious trouble at an event with 70,000 attending is going to be noticed by quite a lot of people. It didn't happen. There wasn't serious trouble at oxegen, end of. Unless our definitions of serious trouble differ.
my definition of serious trouble at a music festival involves dozens of complaints about attacks and vandalism on a campsite under the nose of security men. I dont know about you but I wouldnt like to have spent over 150 euros on a weekend to be cowering terrified in my tent. If you dont think that happened, talk to some of the people who have been quoted in the newspapers and on radio.
quote:
Originally posted by nerraw
You're using a previous comment of mine in relation to praising journalists and linking it to another comment on witnesses of the crowd trouble.
sorry, i couldnt resist 
quote:
Originally posted by nerraw
If we are to praise journalists, lets praise them for covering the Lebanon and not covering a page 15 story about MCD suing an irish website which involved making a couple of phone calls and internet surfing.
again, nerrow, i didnt say "praise". please do not put words in my mouth. go back and read my original posts. the word "praise" does not appear.
thats twice u have mis-quoted me. i hope you dont work on a newsdesk
quote:
Originally posted by nerraw
It won't hurt MCD or Oxegen. They're too big.
nonsense. this has hurt MCD and Oxegen in many ways. refer to my last post and especially those brands currently associated with the event
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nerrawBasic Member Posts:475
| 8/17/2006 4:43 PM |
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You said: "deserves kudos for their determination and perseverence in getting the story out."
This will run and run lol.
I'm just sceptical at how susceptible (poet) MCD and the likes are to such criticisms. With no competition its just business as usual.
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dudleyBasic Member Posts:124
| 8/17/2006 4:53 PM |
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well you know, if the negative publicity continues to be generated then it definitely won't be an issue MCD can just trample all over and walk away with.
they don't have a divine right to put on a festival, and when it comes to convincing local residents and planning authorities it often takes some work. continued bad press will surely put their festival licence applications into question?
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PilchardAdvanced Member Posts:699
| 8/17/2006 6:05 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nerraw
I'm just sceptical at how susceptible (poet) MCD and the likes are to such criticisms. With no competition its just business as usual.
read dudley's post and put it with what ive already said in 2 or 3 other mails.
this will have a huge effect on MCD because of third-parties who are not as arrogant as MCD in dismissing valid complaints, charges and allegations about what happeed at Oxegen 2006.
yes, they will try to be business as usual not because there is no competition but because that has always been their way. when it comes to licence hearings next year (an election year, remember), expect there to be some delays and a lot of questions asked because of how MCD operated this year.
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faughnj3New Member Posts:14
| 8/18/2006 1:33 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nerraw
Pilchard, my good man/woman. Serious trouble at an event with 70,000 attending is going to be noticed by quite a lot of people. It didn't happen. There wasn't serious trouble at oxegen, end of. Unless our definitions of serious trouble differ.
Unless you have taken a survey, stop speaking for in 70,000 people.
I saw campsite A, it did happen! |
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| 8/20/2006 6:56 PM |
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Hi, I've just registered and wanted to put up the link to mcd's feedback form if anyone wants to email them their thoughts on the action. http://www.mcd.ie/feedback/index.php
I just sent them this;
Your action against boards.ie is a pathetic attempt at bullying a community forum, which is largely made up of your biggest customer base, young, fairly well-off professionals and teenagers. It is both stupid and aggressive.
I am writing this to inform you that to me this is the final straw. I have long disliked many of your company's methods and business practices and will no longer be attending any of your events. Instead I will be heading to the UK for any concerts I wish to see. Your company generally over-charges to such an extent that it usually works out cheaper for me to fly to gigs in London anyway. And I am not the only one who feels this way, a large number of my social group has also come to the same conclusion.
Instead of being smart and using a service like boards to monitor what many of your customers have to say about your events, and using it as free market research, to help improve your business you have resorted to cheap bullying tactics which will backfire. Just do a google search on the words "mcd + boards.ie" It is also worth mentioning that boards has over 60,000 users, all whom are now aware of your legal action.
And just so you know, I am a 27 year old married homeowner. Childless and with a bloody large disposable income. Congratulations on losing my custom.
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