SAUK - Who & What Is it ?
In simple terms, Seconds Away UK is a non-profit chat forum without the crap that other social networking websites have to offer!
Although all British wrestlers are welcome, this forum was designed with the typical 'old School' British wrestlers in mind. You know, the ones who always reminisce and say "We had the best of it, they were the good 'ole days, it's nothing like it was" etc etc.
The forum is also open to their immediate family members, seconds, referees, promotors and anyone else who has involvement with 'The Business' from the 1900's to the present day..
Not to discriminate against the wrestlers of today, nor those who currently participate in foreign countries, but it appears of late that the whole wrestling thing has become westernised and for some, the way it was here in England is only remembered by the stars themselves and fanbases that may meet once per year at some sort of reunion accross the country. For this reason, Seconds Away UK is exactly as it says.....for The British Grapplers' and membership will be vetted. I shall endeavour to explain without boring you!
SAUK - Why ?
After accompanying my dad to several annual reunions, the 2 hour journey seemed short, due to the fact that he talked about the friends he used to work with, funny stories about them and wondering if they will be there. It has been quite upsetting on more than one occasion to find upon arrival, that the fellow wrestlers he was just remembering have since passed away and never again would they share some witty banter, or stories of rubbing shoulders, even if only for a few minutes.
As a child, I used to go with him to shows and as well as it being 'work' for him, it was always eventful and full of fun and laughter. The amount of friends he made through his chosen career spanning 30 years was endless, but if I was to open his address book now, next to none are still in contact.
At times, people feel that the world is a crap place to be, and go about their business often remembering fun parts of their lives that bring a smile or laughter to pass the time. After hearing stories upon stories, and dressing room humour from my Dad's recollections, I found it quite sad that all parties involved simply grow apart without even realising, and the expressions on peoples faces when meeting again at such a reunion is priceless.
The limp handshakes, the hugs, and improvised grappling takes these guys back to their prime for a short moment. Then, as quick as that, another year has passed and you find out from another source, that your friend from old is no longer with the land of the living.
The latter part of the 20th century helped the situation a little with the fast growing popularity of mobile phones. I have witnessed 'the boys' exchanging numbers and writing on scraps of paper, but what starts out as a good intention to stay in touch, rarely materialises.
Then came the turn of the 21st Century, the era of internet and 'Facebook'!
Facebook is a great social networking site and probably the most widely used method of regaining contact with lost friends. Most people love it, some hate it. I have to admit that I am quite addicted myself, but 'Facebook' inspired me to create this new forum, not because I wanted to compete with it, but because I soon realised that trying to teach my Dad, now in his 60's how to use it was more stressful than having kids!
Within 3 days of setting him up, he was inundated with wrestlers from all over the world of which he didn't even know let alone work with. Groups tagged onto more groups and before you know it, his inbox was full of newsletters, notifications and invitations to such things as 'Farmville'; 'Mafia Wars'; random quizzes and the saddo's that feel they have to document everything they do in their life minute by minute on their status updates!
Whilst most of today's society (including me) actually quite enjoy it, it's obviously not everybody's cup of tea. Needless to say, my dad has now asked me to delete his account. He is not an unsociable man, but I simply saw it as a way of him regaining contact with long lost friends and fellow grapplers. The other major downfall was that 'Facebook' does not allow nicknames. Most wrestlers use aliases, and were known throughout 'the business', but rarely in these cases were the guys' real names obvious. This makes it extremely difficult to find people. Some, with a bit of savvy, created their accounts using their ring aliases as their middle name to ease the search process. Even so, the whole thing for people such as my dad can be a very messy and confusing experience.
How could I make it easier for my father and many other fellow grapplers to get in touch without all the other crap that comes with it?
Simple................create a private forum, allowing members to sign up under the wrestling name for which they are known. A forum where the majority of the members will know someone, and / or find someone that they have been looking for. A forum where strangers will not ask to be your friend or send you unwanted messages.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you (for free)
SECONDS AWAY UK !
Please help spread the word and get chatting before it's too late - before you find out that the person you wished you had regained contact with has ascended to the great dressing room in the sky!
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Seconds Away UK
The British Grapplers Community
