I love the discussions on philosophy, mechanics difference, issues related to moving up and advancing, what good camps to attend and what to do when you get there. Most of all I love the different opinions and views you see all over the country and world.
I really get bored out of my mind with the, "the official at my game did this........were they correct?" type of discussions. I also get really board with the repetitive rules debates over the same rules. Nothing wrong with discussing new rules or POEs to some extent, but to debate the 100 was to call a backcourt violation get old really quick.
I hate when people take this board too seriously. Most people you will never meet, want to know or every work a game with. So I will never understand when someone gives a damn what someone does in on part of the country, when you know they do it differently in another part of the country. It is interesting to discuss those issues, but when folks start telling others what do to, because "their" evaluators want "me" to do it that way, is a bit over the top. One of the reasons I always try to make it clear, "where I live we do this....." It is up to you after that to realize that might not apply to your structure in your area. I work for many assignors and belong to more than one official's association. So what I do is not going to always translate.
I really have no opinion on the personal attack part. Mainly because I am going to be successful regardless of what someone thinks. It is easy to get behind a computer and run their mouth, but when you are finished running your mouth, it did not make you a better official, your schedule or the level you are allowed to officiate is still the same and trying to belittle someone about it is not going to make them a worse official all of a sudden. I find them funny, because when they are directed at me, I still am asked to speak at camps or meetings, I still am asked to run associations or join boards, I am still asked to represent an organization that I belong to in something. And when Tony and I have gotten into it, no matter what I say to him or what he says to me, he still has done a State Final and I have not. And if I have respect or not, ultimately is with the people that I have worked with and have had to deal with me or anyone personally. That is why I always take on those that get personal, because it provides a great deal of humor and fun for me. Maybe I am sick that way.
Peace