Good Bye

[socalblue1]

I have a suggestion - should ALL of us simply place our trolls on the ignore list they will give up soon enough. Sure they can create new accounts but that's easy, as moderators can just keep removing them (Easy to find a pattern for a new poster).

Let's not let a very small number of fools destroy a valuable tool.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by socalblue1

I have a suggestion - should ALL of us simply place our trolls on the ignore list they will give up soon enough. Sure they can create new accounts but that's easy, as moderators can just keep removing them (Easy to find a pattern for a new poster).

Let's not let a very small number of fools destroy a valuable tool.

I have a better idea. Why not just ignore them. You should not need a button to realize when someone is not added to the discussion, you talk over and around them. These people still show up on the thread, but ignore what they have to say. It is not like you have to read every response anyway.

Peace

[socalblue1]

Originally Posted by mick

Rich,
I don't think I have had more that 10 reported posts all year, and only a few have been related to poster abuses with the rest related to spam or porn.

Mick,

The number of posts if reported would overwhelm you. It would be best to remove a small number of accounts (The three problem accounts - could be the same person).

Once they have been removed it should be very easy to track posts on the new accounts they set up & just kill them.

Should something not be done I suspect a great number of posters will leave. It's just not worth dealing with garbage like this.

Having run some large BB's myself I clearly understand the work load. It's unfortunate that a very small number of individuals are able to ruin what is otherwise a great place.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by rei

Amen!


Garth doesn't HAVE to leave. Neither does Rob Drake. I have lost a little respect for both for even posting their little "Dear John" goodbye posts here. That kind of thing is just as silly as ANYTHING somebody here could have done.

I KNOW what I am about. I KNOW where I stand in umpiring. I KNOW I am not perfect. I KNOW I am good too! There is not one of you here that can shake any of that! I think most mature, rational, informed posters here know when somebody is being ridiculous. I don't need to feed the fires (of course, that is sort of what I am doing here he? ) and defend myself when somebody is being difficult here. I just let it go and move on.

NOT A SINGLE THING THAT GOES ON HERE EFFECTS THE JOB I DO ON THE FIELD, except for possibly learning some new things that help!

I am here to share my experience and read others. I think THAT is the spirit of this site.

Bob, I commend you for staying out of most of this. I encourage you to let the community sort things out. Overly moderated sites have no personality. While I agree that spam, and outright hostile/threatening/offensive comments should be deleted, for the most part, I think we are all adults here. If a guy can't walk away from a conversation that isn't going his way, and continues to blast the other person, stuff like that will never change, no matter how much you moderate. I say, better to keep it a bit loose than to tighten up. You can strangle out all possibility of learning if you over-moderate a forum.

Lighten up people. It is just the internet!

Aren't we the enlightened one? Do you think Garth would walk away from verbal sparring? You don't know him very well.

I think that what has happened with Rob and Garth is a bit more than you understand. Trolls have gone beyond the name calling and arguing. They have stolen identities and used them on the internet. They have made up their own "facts" and are posting them, boldy and unquestioned. These trolls have progressed from being a mild nuisance to being unethical, slanderous and unstoppable. They are the internet version of terrorists.


The cloak that the internet provides gives cowards like these trolls cover and makes them feel invincible. We are all one post away from pissing one of them off and finding ourselves in the same situation as Rob and Garth.

No, Rei, this is more serious than you think. And I would not be so quick to lose respect for two former posters who became victims of slander and took the time to warn the rest of us of what was going on. We won't know how you will handle finding your name being used on posts you didn't write until it happens.

Garth used to chide me for using a pen name. He used to tell me that using his real name signified that he wasn't afraid to stand behind what he posted and that only cowards used pen names. I maintained that the internet was a dangerous place where whackos lurked and providing any of them with more information about you than they needed was foolish.

I am sad to be in the position of saying, "I told you so."

[t-rex]

Unfortunately, Rob and Garth are only the two most recent victims. There is a pattern to what has taken place. The ignore feature or simply ignoring posts, in my opinion, won't make the problem go away.

It is time for the moderators to put a stop to it, or lose that which they moderate when we all walk away.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

Garth used to chide me for using a pen name. He used to tell me that using his real name signified that he wasn't afraid to stand behind what he posted and that only cowards used pen names. I maintained that the internet was a dangerous place where whackos lurked and providing any of them with more information about you than they needed was foolish.

I am sad to be in the position of saying, "I told you so."

I use my real name and people have used my name to try to make it seem like it is me. It does not work very well because you have to know more about me than I reveal here. And if people are dumb enough to take what people say on the internet without corroboration. There are people that try to mock very well know people and it does not work. You have to do better than just taking someone's name. You have to know more about them than what they present on the board.

Peace

[mick]

Originally Posted by t-rex

Unfortunately, Rob and Garth are only the two most recent victims. There is a pattern to what has taken place. The ignore feature or simply ignoring posts, in my opinion, won't make the problem go away.

It is time for the moderators to put a stop to it, or lose that which they moderate when we all walk away.

t-rex,
I do not think MrUmpire was talking about hi-jacking identities within this forum. I believe he was talking about the unregistered use of names and the identity theft being used in other similar forums.

MrUmpire is well respected here and could perhaps clear that up.

[t-rex]

I wasn't speaking of hijacking identities, per se, but rather choosing identities to lampoon other members.

The name fitump was chosen for a reason. The name on the HS ball forum was chosen for a reason. I reiterate, it appears to be a pattern that I am witnessing.

[socalblue1]

Originally Posted by mick

t-rex,
I do not think MrUmpire was talking about hi-jacking identities within this forum. I believe he was talking about the unregistered use of names and the identity theft being used in other similar forums.

MrUmpire is well respected here and could perhaps clear that up.

Mick,

While true for the most part (We have had trolls create identities that insult posters here) it still doesn't address the issues we face here.

[mick]

Originally Posted by socalblue1

Mick,

The number of posts if reported would overwhelm you. It would be best to remove a small number of accounts (The three problem accounts - could be the same person).

Once they have been removed it should be very easy to track posts on the new accounts they set up & just kill them.

Should something not be done I suspect a great number of posters will leave. It's just not worth dealing with garbage like this.

Having run some large BB's myself I clearly understand the work load. It's unfortunate that a very small number of individuals are able to ruin what is otherwise a great place.

socalblue1,
The number of reported posts may be tough to handle, but I don't know that for a fact. I know that I respond to them.
As far as the same person using muliple usernames, yes, more then you imagine. If you see a real active instigator, and then suddenly he has a comrad, it often is the result of a user who is "talking to himself" and backing up his alter ego". Likewise bonafide contributors will use multiple usernames, for whatever reason, to make a specific point.

Tracking a problem is not as difficult as defining a problem. That is where the help is needed. The users of any particular forum have the ability to report posts and posters that, seemingly, are intent on making forum useage uncomfortable. The users of a forum, rather than joining in on a counter-attack, can report/ignore/avoid any given poster. Private messaging is available to give a moderator more information or to lodge a complaint.

Since at any given time, only a few users are responsible for the worst problems, they can be easily sent to the dugout or to their car.


Many users believe the moderators should be more proactive and police each thread. I do not. I am not a marshall, nor do I want to be. I want to be considered more of an orderly and for our good users to be the doctors.

If someone pukes, tell me and I'll clean it up. If someone makes the sheets brown, tell me and I'll clean it up. If some sick psycho goes weird, tell me and I'll move him to another room.

I do not read every thread, nor do I want to read every thread, but I will, from time to time, be reading a thread and make a post or thread, that I adjudge to be objectionable or potentialy inflammatory, go away. But I will not deal with each post that marginally bothers me, because I think that a free exchange is important to learning and that I ain't the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Our users are young and old, Little League and Big League, newbees and experienced, old school and cutting-edge. Our personalities require us to be reasonable, blunt, controlling and decisive, with a touch of compassion, patience and understanding. We are quick to react to any action. With few exceptions we enjoy what we do in spite of, or because of, the challenges in front of us.
We use these tools on the field because we are always carrying them in our pouch. And they are good tools when used in a professional manner.

So what can we do in this fight for peace ?
Use the tools.

• Be more patient with newbees.
• Report idiots.
• Ignore idiots.
• Be tolerant and patient with idiots.
• Eliminate name calling.
• Understand differences.
• Count to 10.
• Do not feed trolls.
• Respect your sport.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by Ump29

I hope the reference to "Canada" is who I think it is.
As an ump from Canada , I would not like this to be a black
spot against all from this country as I believe most are beyond this. I guess it only takes a few bad apples to spoil the barrel . I will continue on here as long as it stays civil !!
Regards to all.

No Ump29, Garth was not referring to you. He was referring to one who uses your Country's name as an umpire.

[SAump]

Originally Posted by GarthB

I'll address this to young Canada:

What would you call someone who makes up comments, attributes them others and them posts them? What kind of person claimed Rob Drake make accusations about me, accusations that Rob Drake denies making?

What kind of person takes a poster's name, then pretends to be that poster on other sites making inane comments? (See http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/forums/...1/m/3871070972 )
What kind of person tries that hard to destroy the name and reputation of another on the internet?

This is the kind of people you have allied yourself with, Canada. Is this who you really want to be?

Say what you will about me, Tee, and any other poster here. None of us have acted so maliciously as this. It takes a sick mind, Canada, to hate someone this much.

I wish you the best in the future. I hope you stick with umpiring, open your mind and learn the craft.

I will not post to you or anyone else on the internet again. The only way I can reclaim my name, is to make sure that people know I will not be participating anywhere on the internet.

I wish you all here the best. I will ask the owners of officialforum to delete my account.

I surrender. I do not have the ability to fight such hatred.

Garth, call me stupid but your link took me to a high school baseball site.
Was I suppose to look through it for you to find any substance to your allegations?
Would you provide a clue?
--------------------------------------------
Updated to add thank you to ctblu40 for the clue.
http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/forums?...1&u=3871088972
I would have to ask Dash-Riprock here, what he said to Garth, to send him over the edge like this. But that is none of my business.
Also recognized some well-respected, long time posters there who are not mocking anyone.

Took a mental health day from my real job to work a DH today.
Also have a DH tomorrow. My brain should be fine, excuse me, "right again" by Monday.

[ctblu40]

Originally Posted by SAump

Garth, call me stupid but your link took me to a high school baseball site.
Was I suppose to look through it for you to find any substance to your allegations?
Would you provide a clue?

Go to the "Ask The Umpire" room at that forum...

I must say that this whole thing has become surreal. I find it utterly astounding that a person who has never met another can dislike or even hate that much.

As far as the trolls, if we don't feed them, they will move on. I think for the most part, each of us visit these forums for the same two reasons:

1. We want to learn and therefore improve ourselves.
2. We want to showcase our knowledge to help others improve

I'm sad to see Garth go... even though I didn't always agree with him, I certainly did learn from him.

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

Aren't we the enlightened one? Do you think Garth would walk away from verbal sparring? You don't know him very well.

I think that what has happened with Rob and Garth is a bit more than you understand. Trolls have gone beyond the name calling and arguing. They have stolen identities and used them on the internet. They have made up their own "facts" and are posting them, boldy and unquestioned. These trolls have progressed from being a mild nuisance to being unethical, slanderous and unstoppable. They are the internet version of terrorists.


The cloak that the internet provides gives cowards like these trolls cover and makes them feel invincible. We are all one post away from pissing one of them off and finding ourselves in the same situation as Rob and Garth.

No, Rei, this is more serious than you think. And I would not be so quick to lose respect for two former posters who became victims of slander and took the time to warn the rest of us of what was going on. We won't know how you will handle finding your name being used on posts you didn't write until it happens.

Garth used to chide me for using a pen name. He used to tell me that using his real name signified that he wasn't afraid to stand behind what he posted and that only cowards used pen names. I maintained that the internet was a dangerous place where whackos lurked and providing any of them with more information about you than they needed was foolish.

I am sad to be in the position of saying, "I told you so."

I appreciate what you are saying, but, I think I am quite aware of what is going on. I can read.

That crap is happening elsewhere, and it would not be allowed here. To give up posting here because of stuff happening elsewhere just seems silly to me.

Concerning a very different topic, I have a name presence on some BBS's concerning that topic. I am published, and am sought after for advice. You would not believe the vicious stuff that has been posted about me by the same kind of people that Garth and Rob are dealing with.

I have never stopped sharing my knowledge on that topic, and in fact, was banned from a site for my retribution to some guys that were targeting me. Oh well. I went to a site where they don't ban, and moved on.

I think some people tend to take the things said to/about them on a BBS FAR too seriously, and think it is damaging their reputation when it is in fact not! It is JUST the internet.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

And if people are dumb enough to take what people say on the internet without corroboration.

Not much of an 'if' here, Jeff. Most people believe what they read without giving a thought of its source. Sad, but true.