I couldn't think of a better topic name.

[Sam]

Sub-Terrapologist.

[Jordan]

This topic is nothing short of embarrassing, John. :/

[NastyPasty]

And there was me, thinking duplicate accounts were ban.

Obviously you must be superior to everyone else when you blatantly disregarded this rule before slagging off forums and making a totally unnescessary and over-dramatic exit.

Silly me.

[Satch]

Just for a bit of balance, I do feel a little sorry for you John for being mocked here. At the end of the day, if you aren't happy with the talk on the forum, then maybe you're correct that it isn't for you.

I've taken breaks on several occasions previous, but always come back because of the friendships I hold here. I would say however, if you're leaving because you don't like the negativity... Surely it's a good thing that members aren't constantly singing Altons/Merlins praise? We are all passionate, and that's where negativity comes from, when the passion is not always lived out through the park.

I look forward to still seeing you in meets, and hopefully you will be welcomed back here should you wish to return in the future

[Satch]

As for duplicate accounts, I again have to defend you there. John created it because of his employment with Merlin, to carry on posting with some anonymity. He isn't the first, and he certainly won't be the last, person to do this. Totally understandable when you are a part of an online community where the continuation of input can put your job in jeopardy

[NastyPasty]

Anonymity is all very well and good, but if he has a job, he shouldn't be posting things he's not meant to anyway.

You can't have one rule for one person and another for other people.

I'm sure plenty of people have been ban over the ten years TowersTimes has operated for using duplicate accounts, and whether he wants anonymity or not doesn't change the fact that it's against the rules. Besides, if he had just said that in the first place of launching an outburst at all the 'M£rlin Haters' then nobody would've complained, really.

[fredward]

I think this thread is pretty pathetic but not due to tuggers..

Notice how the initial replys are positive, the moment a few trollish members reply the whole threads point has simply been skewed into such a manner, even going as far to post on johns facebook wall with the only goal to piss him off.

Surely you have proven every point he made initially by behaving in such a way?

[Sam]

I think people are irritated at the self-indulgent act of creating an entire thread just to do a dramatic hissy fit because TTF doesn't think your employer's new ride is as good as Harry Potter.

It'd be fine if someone was just leaving and was saying goodbye, but this is just an excuse to grandstand and whine about other forum members.

[fredward]

Soooo sorry sam, I must have missed what this topic was all about, you are right!

So very sorry...

Thank god that post justifys all the trolling, he clearly deserves it now.

[Sam]

I'm not saying they're right or wrong, I'm just pointing out why this topic was met with derision by some of us.

[fredward]

But as far as I can tell thats not what this topic is about?

youve made quite the assumption there.


Sorry for these short replys, at work, im having to stealth reply! :P

[Chris W]

Nobody gets banned for duplicate accounts really, its never really dealt as harshly as that.

Not really sure why everyone is having a go at tugboat, this kinda topic crops up now and then but people never react as harshly :/

Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using Tapatalk

[Tom G]

Are duplicate accounts usually involved? There was also an element of marketer-style dismissal of criticism from the other account in the Sub-Terra thread so I think combined with the Merlin-hater swipes the response is fair.

[Anthony]

All of it make sense to me.

I don't know you and haven't seen you post much as Tugboat but if you've been on meets and work for Merlin I'm guessing you're a senior member  in the extremely relaxed heirarchy here.

The reason for leaving for a bit seems fine. It makes sense.

The reason for the clone account make sense. He's not pretending to be someone else, he's being anonymous and talking about what this board is for when you take out the social side of things. I like that post count isn't displayed here blatently (on each post) because new members are indistuighable from more seasoned, yet less frequent posters. No problems with the clone account if it's just separating business from pleasure...in the least juicy way ever.

The title is a bit dramatic. Way too dramatic, actually.

A senior member making a point of taking an absence isn't that big of a crime. But then I rarely see Tugboat post so maybe it was a little unwarranted.

Just my two pence, I don't know any of the ins and outs. Just going by what I can see in this thread.

[oldgitBEN]

wowsers, what a topic.

Im not one for the whole overstated 'im leaving topic' when its just due to 'xxx disagrees with me' or 'xxx member tried to molest me on the flume' as these happen frequently.
But when someone gives a valid reason for leaving, perhaps just a nice 'its been a pleasure, hope you enjoyed it' would suffice, or nothing - if you cant find anything nice to say.

And who cares if he has multiple accounts? You cant blame the fella, hes working for m£rlin, who arent exactly known for having alot of respect for staff or level-headedness in the real world (trying to sue their fanbase LOL). But perhaps to keep his input there wanted to use another anonymous account, I cant say I blame or begrudge him at all.

I think his views of saying TTF has become abit nasty of late are fully shown in this thread. I urge members to go back and re-read their posts, is this the way we want promoting? A group happy to see members leave and trying to sabotage their way to keep as part of it?
Quite frankly im embarrassed by alot of this thread.

[Dylan]

I echo oldgitben's sentiment above too. Whilst I think it's a little unnecessary to create the thread in the first place, the level of bitchiness in some responses is ott. Urgh.

[Don't_Look_Down]

Tugboat's reasons for leaving are perfectly valid IMO. I'd also add that those who were quick to judge, are also some of the worst attention seekers this forum has seen.

It takes one to know one!

[James]

John has made his point quite clear why he has left TowersTimes Forums. I'm aware some members on here have personal issues with John, although these issues if I'm honest should be left off the forums and not thrown into the public domain.

In terms of duplicate accounts. Such members are only banned in extreme cases where consistent spamming occurs. In John's case he has made a duplicate account to be able to talk more socially about Alton Towers. I believe people are getting the wrong end of the stick and believing he made another account to give out park secrets or post stuff he shouldn't which is not the case. Alton Towers and Merlin keep a close eye on these forums, staff of the chain can almost feel like they cannot breath a word online of where they work or what they do. So really, John is doing what many others have done in the past and will do in future. The TT Team are here to moderate and make sure the experience of TowersTimes is enjoyable for all, we do not condone Merlin staff to talk about the parks they work in or create duplicate accounts - however we do not have the time to look through each members IP address to cut out the duplicate accounts. 

Members in future need to think of how you react to a member leaving the forum. Some of the posts in here are quite shocking. TowersTimes is meant to be a friendly community that welcomes new members with open arms and bids farewell to older members civilly, yet some people have reacted quite rudely when John's original post states quite clearly why he is leaving and for very valid reasons too. Why people have to try and start an argument I do not know. Like anything else on the forum if you do not like it, ignore it - unless you have something valid and constructive to add.

Since views have been shared on both sides and John has made his point clear  - topic locked.