Good Bye

[Publius]

Somebody created a screen name of "The All Knowing Garth", lists his home state as Washington and uses the WFB quote used by GarthB as the sig line. Dislike? Hate? It just seems like satire to me; a mocking of Garth's tendency to come across like a charter member of the umpiring-knowledge oligarchy.

That aside, I think you guys give the OF and the internet BBs in general way too much credit. It's entertainment far more than information. Just looking at OF, at a given point today it had 16,717 registered members and a bit over 464,000 posts. The top 60 posters accounted for 224,000 of the posts--about 48%. While certainly some good information can be found here from time to time, it is really more the personal playground for a few guys who either like to debate or have something to say about everything than it is a "valuable tool". There's precious little original material here; its greatest value is in the ability to get someone else to look up things for you in order to feed their need to be recognized as an expert.

While the baby left, so did the bath water. Garth did his fair share and more of lampooning people, but when somebody did it back, it was characterized as a "personal attack." He had tons of posts that were better suited to private emails (his health problems, his family life, etc.) than posting on a BB. His leaving will likely open the door for wider participation by people who didn't care to post as long as he was around. Many of them have resumes, too.

Just because people try to give offense doesn't mean you have to take it.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by Publius

Somebody created a screen name of "The All Knowing Garth", lists his home state as Washington and uses the WFB quote used by GarthB as the sig line. Dislike? Hate? It just seems like satire to me; a mocking of Garth's tendency to come across like a charter member of the umpiring-knowledge oligarchy.

Another member of the toll family speaks out.

Publius (or FitUmp, InterestedUmp, Steven Tyler or whoever you really are), how about this:

Somebody, possibly the man in your mirror, posts a statement claiming as fact that Rob Drake spoke to them disparagingly about Garth. The real Rob Drake then said that was a lie.

Then, coincidentally, someone posts on a different site using Garth's name, his signature line and his home state.

Satire? Doubtful. It would be easier to accept this as satire if it occured where Garth and those of us who know him post. Satire requires that the audience know the target. To post on a board full of people who had never heard of Garth or knew of his opinions is not satire. That post was intended to be hidden from its target. The intent was obviously more malicious.

Garth saw this as an escalation that could easily get out of control. If these idiots progressed to that level, at what point would they move to the next level of stealing his, or someone elses identity?

You are right in one regard. He did reveal too much of his personal life and that, too, became fodder for the manure throwers. He says that is one of many lessons he has learned.

Now, go back under your bridge.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Publius

That aside, I think you guys give the OF and the internet BBs in general way too much credit. It's entertainment far more than information.

That's part of the problem. Some of us prefer to use it for information. Those who wnat to use a forum for entertainment are free to do so -- on their own forum.