The Falcons say they don’t practice censorship – really!
I’ve gotten several complaints from readers who claimed their critical posts were deleted from the message boards at AtlantaFalcons.com and they were then blocked from reading the boards. Here, from an AJC.com poster who goes by the screen name of Falcons Censor Critics/Crybabies!, is this:
“You know, Mark and Atlanta, I criticized Coach [Mike] Smith and the coaching staff as well as the entire team for the abysmal performance against the Patriots on their message board. It seems the FALCONS BRASS and ARTHUR BLANK don’t like criticism. I was banned from their site and not even allowed to read their message board as a result….NO CURSING just telling the brutal truth. If you are not a cheerleader , even in a terrible loss, they whine about the criticism.
“HEY, COACH SMITH AND ARTHUR BLANK, GROW UP!! If you can’t take criticism you’re in the wrong business. Watch out, Mark Bradley, King Arthur can’t stand criticism.”
In the interest of clarification, I called Reggie Roberts, the Falcons’ vice president of communications, and asked if the Falcons had gotten heavy-handed in the wake of their loss to New England. He checked and called back a half-hour later, saying this:
“We monitor and moderate our boards for language and content, and people have to accept certain conditions before they can post on our boards saying they won’t indulge in profanity or name-calling or baiting. We’re not in the business of banning criticism unless someone runs afoul of the rules to which he has already agreed.
“We had some instances this week of people impersonating other people and making personal attacks on other posters. But if someone wants to say [offensive coordinator] Mike Mularkey isn’t very good or to criticize [running back] Michael Turner, we won’t have a problem with that.”
I know Reggie’s words won’t satisfy some among you, but I should also say that we at AJC.com monitor and moderate our boards for language and content, and we do ban repeat offenders. I should also note that our policy for what’s acceptable might be considered more liberal than other message boards’.
But I should also note a rather basic human trait: Nobody likes to be criticized. Especially after a loss in the rain.
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279 comments Add your comment
boo hoo afmb
September 30th, 2009
7:36 pm
A hit dog barks … all the losers in the exclusive country club of the Falcons are barking loud !!
If the shoe fits wear it!!! You thought yopu were SO POWERFUL!! Turn on the lights and the roaches scatter…LOSERS !!!!
Stop crying whiners from Atl Falcons !!
September 30th, 2009
7:39 pm
YOU WHINERS created the mess that is your message board so STFU about criticism opf your sorority club! The Falcons STUNK IT UP !!! and you losers deserve the heat you’re getting for
your blind pom pom assessments of the team…Waaaaa waaaaaa mommy they talked about me !!
Robb 4242
September 30th, 2009
7:40 pm
Enter your comments here
Robb 4242
September 30th, 2009
7:42 pm
Come read my posts…I would NEVER insult anyone….ha ha ha
We can insult any LOSER who doesn’t cheer the Falcons…IT’S OUR BOARD…WE RUN IT
Signed Robbb 4242 ,Rev Hal, J.Michael Moore and all the rest of the exclusive country club
known as AFMB….losersville USA !!!
Arthur Blank's minions
September 30th, 2009
7:47 pm
Look we support the Falcons no matter what! Cross us and YOU’RE BANNED….It’s our ball and if you don’t want to kiss our bums like WE KISSED THE RINGS then get lost!! You are banned!!!
F…. freedom of speech…What do you think this is? America? Freedom of speech is for losers …LIKE US Thank you, AFMB
Darrin "The Vent King"
September 30th, 2009
7:47 pm
Now, Mark Bradely, you have perfect examples of what type of posters are getting banned at the Falcon’s msgb. Thanks for providing the evidence children…LMAO
To the FAKE POSTERS from AFMB
September 30th, 2009
7:49 pm
Nice try at impoersonating banned posters but the TRUTH is out! You guys can’t take the heat of criticism of your pathetic showing in Foxborough ! Grow up you crybabies !! The team uses you whiners as a crutch….let a team stink it up like that in Philly ! Yopu don’t know criticism until you’ve got it there pals!!
TheMoronMarkBradley
September 30th, 2009
7:51 pm
Mr. Bradley,
You must be working on getting a Pulitzer with such awesome writting. Your such a GREAT investigative writter. Seriously, what went through your head when writting such an idiodic piece? Every morning I eat breakfast while reading the AJC. As of tomorrow morning I am canceling my subscription due to your moronic choice of articles to write. It makes sence why the AJC has to raise its prices to survive. You dont have the creativity nor talent to be writting in the smallest of American towns, much less a great city like Atlanta! It amazes me that the AJC allows you to write such retarded articles. I am writting a petition for all AJC subscribers to sign calling for your termination.
Support the LOSERS....support the Falcons message board
September 30th, 2009
7:52 pm
Shine the light on you cockroaches and you scatter for cover….the TRUTH shall set you fre….BAN people who criticize and this is what you get…HEAT!!!
If you can’t stand the heat, GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN !!!!
TheMoronMarkBradley
September 30th, 2009
7:54 pm
Ive been banned 3 times and deserved everytime! freakin idiots
SC
September 30th, 2009
7:55 pm
Mark, since you think the chaos that is the AJC blogs serves free speech, I’m going to start calling you Robespierre.
Joe Schmoe
September 30th, 2009
7:58 pm
This is why I think people should at least be made to register, and verify an email address. The email address does not have to be show, but has to be verified for the blog administrator. It would severly cut this crap down. Please Mark, get in someone’s ear about this!
collegedude
September 30th, 2009
8:05 pm
Mark, we KNOW the AJC hack reporters read the Falcons’ message board, 90% of the AJC articles come a couple of days AFTER the topic is broached and discussed on the message board. Since you guys are on their getting the info to write in your birdcage liner, you know that there are plenty of people posting topics that are criticizing the Falcons, the coaching staff, and the front office daily and the posted who make those comments are not banned unless they also violate the code of conduct they had to agree to. I’m thinking that maybe the “reader” is actually an AJC reporter, maybe even yourself????
Won't listen
September 30th, 2009
8:07 pm
What is this the Rush Limbaugh syndrome? You listen to the loudest, most unstable ill-informed drug addicted…..being in the room and believe it”? Not only that, you feed it by making it a blog entry. For the first time, I miss Terrence Moore.
A hit dog barks
September 30th, 2009
8:12 pm
All the Falcons message board fraternity members are LIVID !!! tHEIR “TRUTH” HAS BEEN EXPOSED. No country club Falcons !! Stop wnining about criticism and stop MUZZLING dissent!! You enable the Falcons sucking !!! by blind allegiance !! The TRUTH shall set you free !!
Won't listen
September 30th, 2009
8:12 pm
I am a liberal dumb azz sheep, that thinks I know it all. In reality, I am only convencing myself. I really dont know what I am talking about.
collegedude
September 30th, 2009
8:13 pm
LOL @ daddy Warbuck$….0-16 is staring us in the face
HAHAHA
September 30th, 2009
8:15 pm
HAHAHA LOL. Mark, you have attracted the same idiots that got banned from the boards (warbucks, Rev JJ) …lol. I hope you realize that you are always wrong…HAHHAHHA
Pulitzer prize
September 30th, 2009
8:18 pm
You need to try harder Bradley if you want to win the prize….This is a new low for you. Hey, whatever happened to the fro?
The truth
September 30th, 2009
8:42 pm
Look Mark, If you are just going to let them rip you without me defending the truth, you need to speak up. The Falcons banned me for criticism only. Want the proof?I will show you. Word for word what I typed , their responses and you figure the REAL reason I was banned. Don’t let these message board enforcers invade your space without checking up on their lunacy!
falken
September 30th, 2009
8:57 pm
I’ve been a member of the Falcon’s message board for ten years. I have NEVER noticed a post being deleted just because of negative content. Heck, if they deleted negative content, the message board would have been a virtual ghost town during the Petrino era. ( Can nine months be considered an era?)
Won't Listen
September 30th, 2009
9:00 pm
People believe what they want to believe. It’s disappointing that Bradley felt compelled to give one or two a forum for their prepubescent behavior. Seeing as there were some personal attacks, don’t be surprised if this blog is shut down.
EAT THIS DOG LOVERS :)
September 30th, 2009
9:07 pm
VICK SIGNS ENDORSEMENT DEAL WITH NIKE
By Liz Mullen, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
Michael Vick has signed an endorsement deal with Nike, according to Mike Principe, managing director for BEST, the agency that represents Vick. Principe would reveal no other details, but referred other questions to Vick’s personal agent, Joel Segal.
Principe announced the deal on stage during a panel discussion at the Relay Sports Sponsorship Symposium in New York. Principe was on a panel discussing athlete endorsements at the event, run by SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily. He said he was prepared for questions about endorsements for Vick and had decided to make the announcement during the discussion.
“Mike has had a great relationship with Nike and is excited to be part of the Nike team again,” said Segal, who negotiated the Nike deal as well as Vick’s deal to return to the NFL as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Segal wouldn’t reveal any details of the deal, saying that Nike and Vick agreed not to discuss terms.
Vick will wear Nike shoes, gear and apparel. “He has always been a fan of the brand and looks forward to the relationship,” Segal said.
Anonymous
September 30th, 2009
9:14 pm
I won’t disclose my name as Gestapo might get me. 0_0
I just want to say the mods there are drunk with e-power. They seem to be a bunch of middle aged lonely drunks who take their flaccid frustration out any way they can. It’s been this way for years. You can also see who the pathetic ones are. They want to thrust their name out there as some sort of NFL insider. “Rev Hal’s thoughts on the game.”
Excuse while I fart and try to give a crap. “Don’t agree with my thoughts?” BAN!
“Hi, I’m Sacless Falcon Fan and I like UGA and if you don’t like em….” BAN!
It would be nice if users could vote Mod’s in and out of power there. At least people would be more unanimous about who should moderate. If they become a problem, remove ‘em.
kevykev21
September 30th, 2009
9:15 pm
Ha! This exchange below is hilarious. After all the bull WARBUCKS aka REV JJ posted on this blog, you have a brilliant post by Darrin below, pointing out that the same losers being banned on the AFMB are showing their true colors in this comments section of Bradley’s stupid blog.
Then that was followed up by WARBUCKS aka REV JJ claiming the comments by WARBUCKS aka REV JJ were just people impersonating them……ha ha ha!!! How stupid do you think people are WARBUCKS? Do you think anyone really believed that? You have Darrin exposing you for what you are, a whiney beyotch, which you proved nicely on your own here…..and then you try and say it wasn’t you? HA HA HA HA. YOU’RE SUCH A LOSER WARBUCKS AND YOU’LL NEVER BE ALLOWED IN THE EXCLUSIVE AFMB CLUB!!! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Darrin “The Vent King”
September 30th, 2009
7:47 pm
Now, Mark Bradely, you have perfect examples of what type of posters are getting banned at the Falcon’s msgb. Thanks for providing the evidence children…LMAO
To the FAKE POSTERS from AFMB
September 30th, 2009
7:49 pm
Nice try at impoersonating banned posters but the TRUTH is out! You guys can’t take the heat of criticism of your pathetic showing in Foxborough ! Grow up you crybabies !! The team uses you whiners as a crutch….let a team stink it up like that in Philly ! Yopu don’t know criticism until you’ve got it there pals!!
ProStyle
September 30th, 2009
9:16 pm
The falcons players and coaches make millions to play much better than they did against the patriots. If they ban people for stating the obvious, they are in the wrong business and will be in trouble this year. Losing fans in a terrible economy is not a good strategy.
Won't Listen
September 30th, 2009
9:19 pm
Mark Bradley practices responsible journalism…..Really!
karaka
September 30th, 2009
9:34 pm
Mark,
You only do harm to the Falcons Organization by posting false information like this. You have a person like the one above (ProStyle) who has probably never been to the message boards and believes everything you wrote despite none of it being true. I hope that feels good, Mark. You’re an idiot, just like you said yourself.
Rectal Bleeding
September 30th, 2009
9:37 pm
@prostyle. I can assure you there are some fans the Falcons would not mind losing…..The ones that perpetuate these blogs with special olympic type rhetoric.
Amen Anonymous
September 30th, 2009
9:44 pm
How about all of us who were kicked off the Falcons boards for upsetting the mighty mods and their PURE FOOTBALL ignorant redneck sorority.If you dared criticize the Falcons and were banned MET AT THE DOME and we will shine the light on these cockroaches on AFMB.
Don’t you DARE talk about Vick or Blank or Dimitroff or Roddy White holding oput. Boo hoooo !! You are BANNED !! Meet up at the next Falcons home game. We can talk DIRECTLY to Blank and Dimitroff and their LYING MINIONS !!!
Internet victim
September 30th, 2009
9:45 pm
OH NOOOOO…..I WAS MISTREATED ON A FREE MESSAGE BOARD AND EVEN THOUGH YOU HEARD BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY YOU CHOOSE TO BELEIVE US INTERNET VICTIMS OH NOOOOOOOO I’VE NEVER BEEN THE SAME SINCE CAPN PICKARD WAS TAKEN OFF THE AIR.
Marcus
September 30th, 2009
9:45 pm
MB,
this is surprising, esp. some in light of the more demeaning and derogatory stereotypical comments and innuendo that were allowed regarding our former QB who now plays for the Eagles.
Terrance Moore
September 30th, 2009
9:52 pm
You all miss me yet?
Iowahorse
September 30th, 2009
10:17 pm
Enter your comments here I can tell you for a fact that board is biased. I used to be a very active member there. I got banned because I called out Gazoo a few times for hammering on anyone who did not have his same rose colored glasses and he was defended by SacFalcFan (An AFB Mod) There used to be a tailgating/recipe forum etc I basically commited to, and and many posts a day. I was trashed out because the truth hurts. I actually still like most mods and admins there, because most of them are level headed. Dan Levak is a great guy, So are the newer mods and most of the older ones like JStammer and Rev. Hal. But God forbid if you cross Gazoo, Sac, or or go against the grain. It’s why I had to start my own lil Falcons MB. Here: http://z13.invisionfree.com/Falcons_Fan_Forum/index.php?act=idx At least there you can speak your mind and not worry about being banned. I’m sure in the end I did something banworthy because after getting banned the first time or so I was pretty hot. I won’t deny that. But if you can’t call a spade a spade there is a problem. And from what I’ve seen that goes on there now is 10X worse than anything I ever said or did. I refuse to be disloyal to my Falcons just because they have mods that can’t moderate and are so biased to personal “Friends” it blinds them at times. It shames me that some of the people I know there have more such intelligence yet don’t choose to use it wisely. That MB IS biased. No Doubt.
Rev Hal
September 30th, 2009
10:21 pm
Rev Hal’s thoughts about this blog:
I will ban all of you!
Capt Caveman
September 30th, 2009
10:36 pm
Mark …… I have to say I’m completely stumped over the fact that all of these comments haven’t been deleted off of here yet. Not that they offend me, just the fact that they are stupid and not worthy of being shown on your blog.
but hey, isn’t anonymity great ,,,,,, ??
Drago
September 30th, 2009
10:39 pm
Mark, didn’t you cut off one of your blogs the other day? It’s not unusual since the blogs on ajc.com always disintegrate from the original subject into name calling between the pro-Vick and anti-Vick folks. Quality of commentary of Falcons-related ajc.com blogs compared to atlantafalcons.com message board is glaring as the demise of AJC in general… at least the AJC has pretty colors now as it goes down in flames…
joey563
September 30th, 2009
10:43 pm
Mark. If you want to see why people get banned off the boards, read the replies just on these comments page and thats why. Personal attacks, people spamming the boards, and anyone who thinks they are strict and overly censor the boards have not been on the boards as long as i have. If you go over the line they will delete the post or thread so that kids and fans wont have to read profane post and generally warn you several times then they ban your name with the ability to create another account, then if you keep trolling the boards and causing problems they IP ban you.
I have been on the boards since 2002 and i will say that we actually have a great board, the mods do their job and most of the time will allow you to get away will alot before they put their foot down so if you get banned you deserve it.
Sac Falcon
September 30th, 2009
10:45 pm
Mark I hate you
MSC
September 30th, 2009
10:52 pm
What awful actions done by the Falcons. They should support their fans in a healthy way.
Ted Striker
September 30th, 2009
10:55 pm
Methinks it’s time to shut it down for the night. I’ve seen low, but this is below low.
Thunderbull56
September 30th, 2009
10:58 pm
Who cares, with AJC’s oversensitive Homers.Censorship starts at home, HOMER.
Mike Jordan
September 30th, 2009
11:01 pm
Way to go Bradley- you found another way to stay on your barstool and write your column. Criticize online!
Amen Anonymous
September 30th, 2009
11:15 pm
Anonymous I am ROTFLMAO… What you said is SO TRUE….but in a funnier way of saying.
Funny how the little fraternity is in an uproar about their silly pom pom mentality.
Commenting how they have been on the message board for 30 years! Yea right… the internet wasn’t even here yet…Hello?! if you are going to lie at least make it believable ?!!
Reid Adair
September 30th, 2009
11:34 pm
It is their website, and they certainly are entitled to run their forums as they see fit. For all we know, “Falcons Censor Critics/Crybabies!” may have used profanity, namecalling and/or anything else they don’t allow.
From the comments of some folks who claim to be regular posters at the Falcons’ website, it would certainly seem that was the case.
collegedude
September 30th, 2009
11:39 pm
So the AJC considers the comments here by Daddy Warbuck$ acceptable? Or is this just a case of the pot never having met the kettle?
“I know Reggie’s words won’t satisfy some among you, but I should also say that we at AJC.com monitor and moderate our boards for language and content, and we do ban repeat offenders.”
Just curious what you consider acceptable. Threats against one of the people that you wrote about in your article is acceptable? Calling the people you wrote about pedophiles, homosexuals, rapist, flashers, jews (in a derogatory way), using verbiage to describe a part of the male anatomy in a sexual manner is fine with the AJC.
msct
September 30th, 2009
11:40 pm
please tell me how manning is better than vick……..
Guhzoo
September 30th, 2009
11:48 pm
Mike Vick will NOT be indicted and JA is da future!!!
Falcons Fan FOrever
September 30th, 2009
11:49 pm
Hey MSCT,
Manning is better in two HUFE ways; he has a Superbowl ring, and he is a starting quarterback in the NFL. Why isn’t Vick a starting QB with a $130,000,000 contract any more? “Oh yeah, you see what happened was…”
Falcons Fan Forever
September 30th, 2009
11:50 pm
HUGE ways, actually.