Guest 1085- Registered: 18 Oct 2013
- Posts: 22
I was monitoring one of the Dover Facebook Groups this morning - Dover For Dovorians - and witnessed a very disturbing discussion where one person offered to help the Dover TownTeam and was offered a load of abuse and insults in return - slagging off Dover people for being lazy and sitting of their fat arses (the words of Dover TownTeam person David Little).
I thought the Dover Town Team was a good idea up till I read Mr Little's diatribe - I certainly won't be volunteering to help if that's his attitude to offers of help!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Not sure why you are telling us.
Guest 1085- Registered: 18 Oct 2013
- Posts: 22
because Mr McSweeney this is the local news comment and I had assumed that the Dover Town Team and their projects constituted local news
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
thanks for keeping us up to speed but i have seen the thread and the vindictive posts aimed at the town team by someone who doesn't even live in the country.
apparently there were exchanges later that the site owner deleted so it is difficult for anyone to make a judgement.
Guest 1085- Registered: 18 Oct 2013
- Posts: 22
I watched it from the beginning Mr McSweeney - and the first comment was an offer to help the TownTeam - the townteam seemed to take umbrage at this offer - I have a complete copy of the posts and there are no vindictive remarks aimed at the town team until after the townteams abuse and insults - as for someone not living in the Country, how is that relevant?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
glad you have a copy but i don't.
the relevance of domicile is self explanatory mr/mrs/ms crosby, i would not dream of telling people in beijing how to run their city.
Guest 1085- Registered: 18 Oct 2013
- Posts: 22
have you considered that the person might be temporarily out of town, or that they have left permanently but still have a property/business in the town - surely anyone that has a connection with the town is entitled to comment ?
As I assume that you have no connection with Beijing, your comment seems a little condescending.
by the way it's Mr - (Patrick)
Guest 1082- Registered: 16 Oct 2013
- Posts: 23
While I didn't see the thread as it was removed, is there a chance that it is a misunderstanding? People have understandably strong views about issues such as redevelopment and regeneration.
Guest 1085- Registered: 18 Oct 2013
- Posts: 22
I would say that there is every chance that some of it was a misunderstanding, but it seemed very strange that the person from Dover TownTeam would launch such an attack on someone offering help. I had been seriously considering getting invoilved in the project, but I certainly won't at the moment after seeing what the person from the TownTeam wrote about Dover people in general!
Guest 1082- Registered: 16 Oct 2013
- Posts: 23
While it is completely your decision (and I don't know either party) I would say don't let what maybe purely a clash of personality prevent you from getting involved in improving a town you obviously care greatly about
Guest 1085- Registered: 18 Oct 2013
- Posts: 22
Thank you Elizabeth - good comment. But the comment from the person (seemingly) running the TownTeam shows that he holds the majority of Dover people in utter contempt just because they are not part of his team! That is what will stop me joining and contributing. However, I will find a way, if possible, to help the town that I love. I think it's such a shame that an really useful organization can treat people in the town in that way - with more support the town could start to change.
Guest 1082- Registered: 16 Oct 2013
- Posts: 23
There are loads of groups doing amazing things in Dover Patrick. I'm sure many would be glad of and know how to use your enthusiasm
Guest 1085- Registered: 18 Oct 2013
- Posts: 22
Guest 1085- Registered: 18 Oct 2013
- Posts: 22
I notice now that Mr Little is saying that the Dover Town Team have been banned for the Dovorians Group - I have checked and that is a blatant lie - it is Mr Little that has been banned and he has been banned from 2 other groups to my knowledge for the same sort of behavior that he demonstrated yesterday. Obviously not the sort of person to be running a group like the Dover Town Team.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
actuly mr little is a very nice chap when you meet him,he has strong views about things.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
just to clarify things.
Terry Clear
Following David Little's torrent of abuse and insults, I have removed Dover Town Team from this group.
Share · Yesterday at 11:09 near Málaga, Andalucia, Spain
Tamtam Stenwa and 16 others like this.
2 of 87
View previous comments
Bernie Mayall
5 hours ago
Eleanor Mather Dover forum is only for a few,they do not like newcomers.its too clicky.their like children if your not in their gang then your out.
5 hours ago via mobile · 4
Guest 1694- Registered: 24 Feb 2016
- Posts: 1,087
Sorry, I missed the offensive thread.
For Info, the Town Team has between 20 and 30 paid up members and six directors. John Angel is the Chair and David is one of the directors. Certainly David is forthright and outspoken in his views, even brash. But he is there at 0600 every Tuesday morning without fail to set up the market stalls for the Bluebird market with very little assistance. I go and help when I can, as do others, but David has been there faithfully right from the start.
One of the aims of the Town Team is to get everyone who has a moan or a whinge or a problem about the state of Dover to turn that negativity into positive action, come down and do something about it. If some are physically unable to do something physical to help turn the town round, but have time enough to type complaints online, then turn it to something positive by hosting a Town Team Website, updating news and events, spreading the positive and advertising upcoming events online. The Town Team has an open meeting for everyone who wants to come forward with a positive idea that they can start implementing themselves, the Town Team will help. However, being small in number and with very limited finances and a dearth of personal time (we all run or are involved in other businesses and voluntary activities to improve our town), the Town Team needs people to come forward as fellow volunteers. It is difficult to achieve as much as is possible in an atmosphere of negativity with plenty of people prepared to moan about what's not being done and so few, often the same people involved on multiple efforts, out there actually doing things to improve the town.
My own experience on Dover for Dovorians has not always been a pleasant one and I am pretty certain that at no time have I been rude about or to anyone, so I don't think that it would take much in the way of misunderstanding David's brusqueness to earn removal from that forum
Guest 1085- Registered: 18 Oct 2013
- Posts: 22
Neil you raise some good points - I don't think anyone can knock David Little for his dedication and hard work - something pointed out by Terry Clear on Dover for Dovorians. It was just the silly way that the thing escalated and it looked as though it was because David Little misread the original post (which was offering help).
I totally agree that there are a lot of people physically unable to help, but who could do a lot of positive good from their home computer.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
Patrick(i prefer real names)
I'm no fan of Mr Little, whilst theres no problem being controversial, there is an issue when he gives out abuse purely because the person might not share his view.
I can only go on the postings on doverforum as i have not seen the others, but they appear to be the same.
to get people to volunteer, or be part of the town team encouragement is the way i would of thought.
certainly iv kept my distance for the same reason
so he is turning people off
maybe its something the town team might like to consider
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 1085- Registered: 18 Oct 2013
- Posts: 22
very well put Keith - my sentiments entirely.
