The original tiu

[John Lennon]

All topics relating to this site and questioning the new Oxford Mail forum have been removed. This is bang out of order, and it seems the admins want to curb freedom of speech and stop the traditions of tiu. I really hope people stop using the new Oxford mail forum, as this is out of order!!!!!!!

[Ricky Otto]

Yep....not doing themselves any favours. I've been banned from both forums for posting a link to this forum.

What a shame. I'll be writing to the editor to notify them that I won't be purchasing the Oxford Mail anymore.

[Simon Lill]

It's pretty poor I must say

So they announce it's shutting down, provide an inferior alternative, and then restrict free speech for those trying to promote superior forums

Very childish

[Ricky Otto]

I've been on that forum for ten years and never even had a peep of a threat of a ban even when they were banning people for fun.

[Boogaloo]

Absolutely pathetic that they are banning people for posting alternative forums (or is that fora?) If they are so worried about competition why don't they listen to what people are saying and improve the Oxford Mail forum?

They are effectively taking their ball away because the competition has got too fierce.

[Boilerplate]

I'm very disappointed with the Oxford Mail over this. You'd have thought they could come up with with something better for the people of Oxfordshire. Really sad to see a unique forum fractured, and now being scattered over 4 or 5 different sites.

[junior1]

Let them get on with it I say.. This forum will act as a steady replacement...

[Ricky Otto]

Just email this to their advertising sales team....

Gentlemen,

I'm not sure if you're responsible for the advertising for online so apologies if I've come through to the wrong department. If I am incorrect perhaps you could forward on to the appropriate person.

I'm writing to let you know that from a commercial perspective your IT team / forum admin for the Thisisoxfordshire site, and in particular the Oxford United forums, have handled the transfer to the new forum that they have set up pretty shoddily. I imagine that whilst the intent may have been to bolster banner advertising revenue, the inverse may have been achieved on a grand scale through some rather poor PR. It now appears that very few people will use the Oxford Mail forums for Oxford United. I imagine this is a huge percentage of your daily hits.

I have been using the forums for almost a decade, and have thoroughly enjoyed using them. I hit many times a day, and as such I guess I see alot of your advertising. I have always enjoyed the Oxford Mail as integral to the local community. I shall not be returning to the forums and neither will hundreds of other from what I can tell. In fact I believe a facebook group may have even been set up at the general poor approach (not myself I may add) with the intent of boycotting your paper.

I say this because I think it's sad that a couple, maybe even one individual, has handled a situation so badly to the detriment of a long standing local paper. The locking down of the old forum arbitrarily, a very brash attitude towards general questioning, the banning of forum members who suggested other forum alternatives, hardly endorses the concept of a free press that people will feel comfortable using.

Anyway, all the best in your future endeavours but I felt the need to let you know that your job for online sales is likely to become that much more difficult because of your colleagues, which I cant imagine will impress you.

Kind Regards,

Simon

[Ricky Otto]

I wrote to Shane and Julian FYI

www.oxfordmail.co.uk/contactus/

[Simon Lill]

Good work

[junior1]

Love it!

[berliner]

Nice letter!