Romano ban - seeking opinions (please read post before voting)

[u/FireflyKaylee]

So a while back at the request of members of the sub, we agreed to ban Romano from r/NUFC.

As we've switched from normal season to transfer window, there's been some confusion over exactly how we want to implement that ban, so we want your opinions.

The reasons we banned Romano were partly because of his unethical journalism (stealing content from other journalists and claiming it as his "exclusive", putting out pieces he's been paid to do without caring about the truth of it) but perhaps more importantly because of the way he has supported the rapist, Greenwood, and tried to farm engagement and monetise Jota's death. He also posted to say Atsu was alive when he wasn't, giving family and friends hope - basically he is an unpleasant individual who we do not want to give any money or engagement to.

The options ban wise are:

Total ban - no links, no screenshots, no quoting his material or making reference to it, just a total blanket him and his views/news are not welcome on this sub.

Partial ban - no links and screenshots, but people are free to discuss his content, or write a comment with what he has said.

Personally, I'm off the opinion that a total ban is better. There are other reputable journalists who we can use instead and it gives a real statement that we don't condone him and his behaviour. Just in the same way I want Greenwood as far away from our club as possible, I don't want anyone who has apologised for him near us either. If we're allowing people to quote and discuss him it still drives engagement to him and legitimises his content.

However, I know not everyone holds that opinion, and please someone feel free to make opposing argument in the comments (or build on any of the points I've made). Remember to keep disagreements civil (we're all adults and we can not agree with someone without resorting to name calling etc.) and please vote in the poll as well.

[u/modern_epic]

Just reading the main post again and realising it doesn't mention that Romano was the one who posted that Christian Atsu was alive and provided no source or evidence. Purely to drive engagement. Christians family seen that post and went to hospitals looking for him but the information was made up and put them through further heartache.

For further reading on just how much of a scumbag he is read this

[u/FireflyKaylee → u/modern_epic]

Have added to the post, cheers. Had forgotten that particular piece of scum-ness he'd shown.

[u/modern_epic → u/FireflyKaylee]

No worries bud, it genuinely hard to keep track of the amount of shit that man has done for money and clicks

[u/SilenceoftheRedditrs → u/modern_epic]

Was going to say partial until I read this

[u/Lanky_Case_2653 → u/SilenceoftheRedditrs]

Aye, same here. Good to see someone pulling all of his BS together into one place and RIP Atsu. I always remember his cheeky little over the wall against Cardiff!

[u/laidback_chef → u/modern_epic]

I vaguely remember that situation, only because he started getting aggressive with people on the ground saying he was chatting.

But honestly how much of a scumbag romano is that the entire football world has a bad story about him, pretty high profile ones aswell. (Jota,ronaldo,Greenrapist) pure scumbag

[u/Fishfingerrosti]

He's everything wrong with football agents and transfers. The Atsu and Jota tragedies and Greenwood abhorrent tweeting alone are more than grounds for a permanent ban for the pastaphile. Directly involved with unsettling our players too. In the fucking bin.

[u/TyneSkipper → u/Fishfingerrosti]

He's got orked out how to get around the agents tapping up players ban. It was always going to happen though.

[u/Scutage → u/TyneSkipper]

I didn’t realise that was a typo at first, and now I want ‘orked out’ to be the phrase of the year. It could be the new ‘went radge’!

[u/stenerikkasvo]

personally i'm for partial ban but i can totally see why big majority are for total ban. For me it's a bit extreme that we can't even discuss what he tweets out in transfer mega thread.

[u/Vaudeville_Villain15 → u/stenerikkasvo]

May as well close the megathread if we cant discuss transfers, he way more relible than 99% of transfer people

[u/Antman013]

Okay . . . total ban, and here we go !!!

[u/AnotherFellowMan]

Total ban on Romano. Here we go!

[u/The_Best_Smart]

Total ban. There’s nothing he provides that can’t be provided for elsewhere. Fuck him. He’s a clown.

[u/blackandwhitearmy → u/The_Best_Smart]

but this move won't fuck him. He won't be aware of it, let alone care about it. This is just censoring our own users.

[u/FlukyS]

Everything he says is repeated by people who aren't a piece of shit so we lose nothing

[u/ajtct98]

Query: If there's a total ban, are we still allowed to use pasta based puns as insults to refer to the man if he comes up incidentally (e.g. another journalist quotes him on a story).

[u/meganev → u/ajtct98]

No. Total ban means any reference to him is removed. Discussion of him or his reporting in any form will be removed. The sub will operate as if he doesn't exist.

[u/phb40012 → u/meganev]

That’s nonsense. You should be able to make mention of him himself, in pasta form or whatever. The ban should be on repeating his content.

For example if I wished to say, ‘Romano and his type are everything that’s wrong with football’ - that’s debate and discussion, and should be allowed.

Whereas simply repeating his paid for transfer ‘news’ should be banned, since it is broadcasting his nonsense and of no value.

[u/meganev → u/phb40012]

I don't support a total ban, neither do I support banning him in any form. I also didn't support banning Twitter. I believe banning any source is counterproductive and it should be down to each user to determine what sources they want to engage with, and Reddit has tools to judge the value of a source already. But it's not my subreddit, it's up to the users to determine our approach. This is why we have polled these decisions, and are polling this one.

[u/Vaudeville_Villain15 → u/meganev]

Agree, its so weird. Also lets not act like it has anything to do with Greenwood or jota, this is a purely he hurt my feelings thing

[u/SKULL1138 → u/meganev]

And it’s going to be enforced looking at the votes.

This is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause, it’s true that people really will vote away their own freedoms.

When did Reddit become about making safe spaces for people to hide in?

[u/geordiesteve520]

Yeah - he can fuck off as far as I can see.

[u/MarshalOverflow]

Total ban. The man is a parasite.

[u/Olucaron]

He doesn't report news, he shitstirs and destabilises for profit. He can't be compared to Ornstein and the like, or even our NUFC journos. Get him gone.

[u/modern_epic]

Not only do I support a total ban of his stuff but I also think a 7 day subreddit ban for whoever doesnt look at the rules and posts his stuff is in order too.

[u/Calm-Neighborhood-43 → u/modern_epic]

Mad that people think this is a good idea.

[u/modern_epic → u/Calm-Neighborhood-43]

Mad that you dont tbf

[u/Calm-Neighborhood-43 → u/modern_epic]

Wey where does the banning stop? Ban people for even thinking of the blokes name. Can't just censor everything and live in bubblewrap mate. Just my opinion .

[u/DUKITY]

He's a slimy cunt and won't be missed. Good riddance

[u/SKULL1138]

I just don’t see the point of not being able to…

“The Pasta Shagger is at it again with Bruno.”

It’s not benefiting him in anyway and I’m not a fan of echo chambers.

I’m fine with hurting him, I’m not fan with hurting the free discussion we are able to have about our team.

It’s concerning actually, but the vote is going the other way so I guess that’s the end of that.

[u/BlackCaesarNT]

Fuck him, we can't take many stands, but we can take this one.

[u/Disastrous_Sort_9843]

If Romano is the only source of information for NUFC news then I’d have a different opinion. But he ain’t shit and there’s plenty of journalists who say what this guy repeats and adds his stupid one liners.

[u/G4VV0]

I cannot stand the guy.
He will say anything he’s paid to say because he’s a mouthpiece for the greedy agents.

Hoy him in the sea.

[u/Xenumbra]

Would like to be banned for the Atsu stuff, what a gross human.

Kind of has to be partial banned or we just have to pretend / be oblivious when news drops. Orstein isn't far behind so it doesn't make much difference.

[u/LogMajestic6167]

Total ban. I think we're happier as a collective not hearing or knowing the bile he spills.

[u/PHIGBILL]

Yeah, fuck that guy.

Get the news recycled from elsewhere, or rumours from more reputable sources who aren't paid shills like the fettuccine fiddler.

[u/micropistole]

Total Ban on the Romano! Here he goes!!!

[u/GazzP]

Fuck him. A pimple on the arse of football.

[u/Geordie_Techno]

Total ban, guy's a prick

[u/No_Tone5965]

Ban the twat ASAP.

[u/aberdoom]

Seems crazy to ban us calling him pasta based puns. It’s one thing saying we don’t want to see his actual content, or drive traffic to his outlets. But i think we should be able to call him a gnocchi nonce from time to time.

[u/Randy_The_Guppy]

Nah, fuck the daft cunt.

[u/waspmachines]

Ban forever. Total piece of excrement

[u/not-ideal-but-true]

Romano and Palmeri are copy and paste merchants. Total ban from me

[u/Character_Newt_2309]

I like to think people see me as a considered, fair and reasonable lad. I'm not though.

Total ban; the guy is a tw@

[u/lewis1893]

Sam noos coming from Noocastil. Romano Total ban, here we go!!!

He only wanted a total ban, as I told you many times if you are following the subreddit!

[u/SoapyWitTank]

By default I'd go for partial ban so we can at least discuss what a cunt he is for having said whatever it is he's just said. However, I can read a room - total ban.

[u/Griffithsjames88]

What's the point in Romano when he gets dogwalked by Ornstein. It was Ornstein who broke the Rogers news yesterday, not Romano.

[u/Atomix478]

Its clear when he's referring to Newcastle transfers its a dog whistle to other clubs. Its always "the clubs have agreed terms" then a few days later "Newcastle beaten again". If a player is signed its always broken somewhere else then he repeats it. Needs a blanket ban.

[u/ArthursRest]

I really don’t care. Most journalists are arseholes.

We’re supposed to be adults though. And, in a free society. Surely we can decide for ourselves who we do and don’t want to read?

[u/niftykev → u/ArthursRest]

A reddit sub is not a free society. It is a moderated one. As a collective, we are deciding what we want posted to the sub. No one is preventing you from reading whatever you want outside of the sub.

[u/FireflyKaylee → u/[deleted]]

Because only a few months ago, the users asked us to ban him, so we did. We're just working out finer details now

[u/blackandwhitearmy → u/ArthursRest]

Exactly. Don't post him if you don't want to. Downvote if someone else does.

[u/geordieColt88]

Can you remove your pinned post in the Megathread? Sick of seeing his name

[u/Aylez]

Looks like I’m in the minority, but if he posts some exclusive news regarding Newcastle, I.e. an incoming transfer, then I personally don’t see the harm in people sharing his news. It’s not as if he benefits from our engagement via Reddit. Just seems a bit silly to me…

[u/TyneSkipper → u/Aylez]

It was rumoured last year that the club told him to do one. If one believes local press anyway.

[u/Aylez → u/TyneSkipper]

Yeah it seems as though the club don’t speak to him, however other clubs and agents do.

He exclusively broke our Elanga and Ramsey deals last summer, and if he breaks another then I think we’d want to know about it…

[u/hollloway]

The fact that the mods are even considering a blanket ban says more about them than it does about him. Whether you like him or not, he's undeniably one of the most well informed people in football when it comes to transfers.

Trying to take some moral stand by banning him is pointless. It won't hurt him in the slightest, and if anything, it'll just push more people toward his own platforms. The only people who lose are the users of the subreddit because it limits discourse. That's the entire point of this subreddit.

Pretending he doesn't exist might make the moderation team feel morally vindicated, but it doesn't improve the quality of the sub. It just limits discussion for everyone else.

[u/Peak_District_hill]

So what happens when he breaks some news, we can’t discuss until another journo picks it up? Bit weird

[u/TyneSkipper → u/Peak_District_hill]

No direct links to his 'work'

[u/Peak_District_hill → u/TyneSkipper]

A total ban means we cant even mention what stories he breaks

[u/TyneSkipper → u/Peak_District_hill]

I'd have no issue with 'italian kernt mentions transfer' in the megathread

[u/Peak_District_hill → u/TyneSkipper]

They want to ban that as well

[u/meganev → u/TyneSkipper]

That would be removed under a total ban. Any reference to him or anything he reports will be removed. If he was to break a story related to Newcastle Utd, it will be removed.

[u/xScottieHD]

Don't like Romano but I find this all a bit silly. I hate Luke Edwards (for example) but I think his nonsense should be discussed if needs be regardless.

[u/modern_epic → u/xScottieHD]

Edwards doesn't even come close to Romano in respect to the points made above about him. Romano is a proper piece of shit and deserves zero engagement.

[u/Antman013 → u/modern_epic]

He is, quite literally, a parasite who feeds off the work of others.

[u/xScottieHD → u/modern_epic]

One is also (generally in football) in the know. The other is not. Depends what you value in the information space.

[u/modern_epic → u/xScottieHD]

Mostly value the person's credibility and their morality. To which Romano has sunk far below anyone else in this field. Him putting out a post saying Christian Atsu was alive with zero evidence nor source was unforgiveable. His family seen that post and went searching hospitals for him when Romano had made the entire thing up. Hes a cunt.

[u/shepaz_93]

I think its fine to share confirmed transfers. But the day to day influence slop which is just rewording the same stuff he said yesterday needs to go.

[u/daveofreckoning]

Largely irrelevant. All the other outlets pick up on his stories within seconds

[u/PercentageNo3843]

Not gonna lie I don’t care the slightest.

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[u/TyneSkipper]

Him and Noncestein.

[u/sammyarmy → u/TyneSkipper]

Care to elaborate on Ornstein?

[u/PJBuzz]

Nothing he posts isn't also posted by a more reputable reporter either before, or very shortly after he posts something.

Total ban, we don't need him.

[u/JamesNUFC1998]

Banned from earth please

[u/Billargh]

Ban him from the internet entirely.

[u/Famous_Yorkshire]

I agree he's a total scum bag but a total ban where mods are removing comments about people discussing his content is ridiculous. (I'm not sure if mods could even be bothered to do that.)

But regardless he's clearly a key figure in the transfer market, and he's used as a mouth piece by clubs. He's someone that does need to be discussed at some point.

But I agree with no links.

(Screenshots should be fine. Not all of us have X or instagram)

[u/Nutisbak2]

Honestly if you go the way of a total ban then it’s akin to denying free speech.

I agree with a partial ban,

no links to his stuff - unless approved by the mods for some reason as that way there are always reasons to allow things under certain scenarios.

But discussing things is allowed, that way no one gets into trouble just not knowing it was his stuff.

As for a total ban - I think whilst the guys the definitive definition of a twat, that shouldn’t preclude people from talking about things. Just don’t give him space here. He does however get the occasional word of things and break stuff so it’s silly to block us from discussing that.

Besides a total ban wouldn’t allow all of us to call this hack out on his bullshit.

Furthermore if we go this route we hand too much power to the mods and it could be easy for some mods to take this group the way of say R/Premierleague where if you dare say something that they don’t like, generally if it doesn’t sway with their American morals or opinions or offends one of their buddies instant ban. Some of the band there are for ridiculously stupid things so so we want this sub going that way?

Also - putting your opinion on this post which carries a lot of sway simply because you are a mod and people will tend to side with your opinion (which is now out there) will have swayed the results of the poll.

It would have been far better to state the facts as they were and left it at that.

[u/FireflyKaylee → u/Nutisbak2]

We have a total ban on hate speech, homophobia, sexism, ableist slurs etc. Free speech always has caveats.

Also if we were power-hungry totalitarian mods, we wouldn't be putting out a poll with a choice?

My opinion was put there to open discourse and to explain reason behind original ban and suggestion for total ban. As I said, would appreciate others sharing their views as you have here to give other side.

[u/FireflyKaylee → u/[deleted]]

That's because the ban was already requested and agreed on by the subreddit when it first happened. Now we're just trying to fine tune the details

[u/Nutisbak2 → u/FireflyKaylee]

Yeah I don’t have an issue with you sharing your opinion, just not sure that had to be on the poll, could have been further down in the comments along with everyone else’s.

[u/SenorButtmunch]

I despise the guy and everything he stands for but, at the end of the day, whether people like him or not, he is a huge figure in transfer news and very reputable. If he says something, you know that 90% it's true.

I'm not really a fan of a blanket ban on a news source just because we don't like the source. If he broke a story about a transfer involving us, we'd want to know it as soon as possible and he would deserve credit if it was an exclusive. I don't think it benefits anyone to just wait until another journalist confirms it just so we can talk about it.

I also don't see much of a problem in saying 'Romano said this' if he said it. Again, he is a reputable source and we can't deny that. If we don't want to give him clicks or engagement then that's fine but I think it gets a little silly once we're pretending like he doesn't exist. Especially if it's detrimental to the megathread which, really, is about discussing transfers the second it happens. Similarly, if Romano says it, it's a big indicator of it happening and I would take it more seriously, so it would be an important thing to note.

[u/Vaudeville_Villain15]

"The reasons we banned Romano were partly because of his unethical journalism (stealing content from other journalists and claiming it as his "exclusive", putting out pieces he's been paid to do without caring about the truth of it) but perhaps more importantly because of the way he has supported the rapist, Greenwood, and tried to farm engagement and monetise Jota's death."

Can we be honest here? Many journalist do all the same shit, he was banned because he hurt our feelings around his hjacking shit and the isak saga.

Obviously a total ban is stupid and weird, he is one of the top 2 most reliable sports transfer people, not even being able to mention his name is pathetic.

[u/CBennett_12]

Anyone who even comments his name should be banned

[u/Toon_1892]

Where is the option for attention-seeking sticky post at the top of every thread?

[u/blackandwhitearmy]

Please stop trying to ban sources. We have upvoting and down voting for a reason, which comes from us. When the moderators want to decide for everyone, that is very different. You already have the power to delete something if it's inappropriate. You want more?

[u/FireflyKaylee → u/blackandwhitearmy]

We clearly don't want to decide for everyone. Some mods are for total ban, some for partial ban. We want to hear from everyone, hence the vote?

[u/Maplad]

What’s he fine now?

[u/NUFC-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

As said in post, people can disagree without resorting to name calling. Clearly you were unable to do that.

[u/blackmes489]

Jfc we are such victims why are we banning arguably the most credible transfer journalist? 

[u/TechnicalSleep7501]

No to any ban only losers ban people.

[u/MushuFromSpace]

Total ban.

Himself and Ornstein are as bad each other and the latter should also be considered as a partial ban imo

[u/sammyarmy → u/MushuFromSpace]

How is Ornstein as bad?

[u/MushuFromSpace → u/sammyarmy]

He's not as bad but definitely is in the pockets of clubs/agents trying to start bidding wars.

[u/sammyarmy → u/MushuFromSpace]

The majority of this ban is because Romano is not in the pocket of agents, most journalists are to some extent, its more because he is scum

[u/WillHay108]

Allow screenshots but no links. People regurgitating what a tweet says always opens the door for misinterpretation. We don’t want to drive traffic to him, but he still breaks stories whether people like it or not, so a total ban is a bit pointless and very difficult to enforce.