Field Decorum

[LMan]

Another good effort, Luke, but DIB would need a far greater mastery of English nuance than he has to understand what you are saying.

He's apparently too busy verbally scrawling on bathroom walls to be bothered.

[fwump]

Oh give it up Luke. Irony, like good advice, is completely lost on DIB.

Mike

[LilLeaguer]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Carl Childress

I don't think you read LDUB's post very carefully. I heard irony dripping from every line.

It's quite clear what LDUB is doing, and it isn't just this post. I, however, wouldn't have used a sexual metaphor.

In a dog pack, the big dogs have two responsibilities: look out for the good of the pack, and ensure that they remain the big dogs. When a new dog arrives, he is sniffed out to see if he'll fit in. Often, he is physically challenged to see if he'll submit to the will of the big dogs. A successful dog emerges from this process with a few scars, but a good understanding of the way that the pack works, a feeling of belonging, and the security of knowing that the big dogs are on his side.

Occasionally a new dog wants to become a big dog himself. Usually with no perspective of the good of the pack, he'll take it upon himself to try out some of those early attacks on newcomers that don't quite fit in. Thinking he's proving himself, he'll be overly vicious. And if he isn't first, he'll never avoid joining a dog pile that is going on.

I have some specific advice to newcomers. (By the way, from what I've heard about Real Umpire(tm) associations, this might be good advice in moving up in them, too.)

• Don't post answers, statements, or opinions. Be very careful about your questions.
• Accept a certain amount of snarling and nipping. Occasionally roll onto your back and whimper. You've seen examples that seem to work.
• Don't take it all personally. Remember, these folks don't take you personally.

Sadly, Tee might be correct. Without a certain amount of policing, an internet forum can become almost totally useless. In particular, nobody is forcing the big dogs to be here, and they do have important information. If you run them off, the group will get worse, not better.

-LL

[SAump]

I want to host a REAL umpire clinic and I need a volunteer to do ALL the work for next season.

Only need 1 by end of the month, the rest of you can get some rest. Today is July 29, 2005.

Send resumes to: Baseball UIC
Box 411 Needed
SA, TX 78211

If chosen you can begin by reading all the resumes. Don't be surprised if I don't answer any more questions because I have already delegated my authority to the WHINNER.

Have a great season!

Clueless in SA

[Bob Lyle]

Originally posted by 3appleshigh


I hope so because both Tee's and Mr. Rutledge's post's when responding normally are very insiteful and I have learned a lot from these key posters.

Rut - key poster - "Insiteful" ROTFLMAO

BTW, did you also learn spelling and grammar from Rut?

[waltjp]

Originally posted by GarthB
This has led to some in our group to complain that we are "trying to0 hard to be professional." The explain that they are umpiring "for fun" and the emphasis on professionalism is taking the fun out of it.

This reminds me of something I heard at an association meeting a few years back. The speaker made the point that the umpires are often the only paid personel at the games we work. By definition, we are the only professionals out there.

He went to to say that we should all try to project that professional attitude whenever we take the field, no matter what level the game.

He closed by saying that we may feel the assignment is beneath us but to the players it's most likely the most important game they'll play all week. They're paying us. We owe it to them to be the best we can be.

We work everything from young kids (boys and girls) to mens and womens softball, along with some Babe Ruth, Connie Mack and Legion ball. Most of the members are also HS umps.

[LilLeaguer]

Tee,

You've been an internet umpire much longer than I have, but I've been involved with a variety of internet newsgroups and boards over the last 15 years. This problem is typically solved in three ways:[list=1][*]The big dogs can growl and snarl at any new dogs that don't belong in the pack and chase them off.[*]You can get a moderator that moderates for content as well as cleanliness.[*]Use a Frequently Asked Questions list.[/list=1]If the problem is the number of threads on subjects that you don't like, #2 is the best bet. If the problem is that you don't think that you need the contributors that would even ask certain questions, than #1 is your bet. If you just want to reduce the length and the energy needed to deal with some topics, a FAQ can help.

Even without a FAQ, a library of well-written, authoritative articles on the basics would help shorten down the repetive threads. For example, your "10 things umpires should never do" series would have been an excellent response to this thread, and worth re-reading, but it appears to have disappeared from the internet. Perhaps they'll be future Strikes & Balls articles.

Unfortunately, proposing a FAQ-list is a little like proposing a bell for the cat. It has to be maintained by a recognized big dog, or it has no credibility. Even a simple library might run counter to the business objectives of this particular site.

I guess we'd better be ready for more snarling.

-LL