I did not complain about this post. But I personally do not want to read baseball posts all summer. And I can see why it was dropped. And the powers that be have that power. Just like Bob said, there are plenty of places to rip on each other about the stupid Soocx and Yankees. There are those that complain about other posts that have nothing to do with basketball officiating and those get dumped. So why not that post.

Peace

I agree with BITS about this forum, but I can also see the moderators' dilemma. If they start letting some off-topic stay, it feels like a pretty slippery slope. Perhaps the answer is for us all to check the General Forum more often, and keep our way off-topic stuff there. If we give a little in this respect, then maybe we can keep some of the off-topic humor that gets so intertwined with the real meat.

Why don't we just ask Brad since he OWNS the site?

Bob I find this insulting. This little corner of the internet has become a public space - yes it's owned & operated by a non-public entity but it's the people who come here, make it attractive & raise its value. Kinda like the "public space" you might find in front of a privately held skyscraper. There is a symbiotic relationship at work here. The owners provide the public square for people to enjoy. The good folks who post here provide free content for the owners. Obviously you have the power to walk your beat and shush those who might be having too much fun in the public square. But sooner or later folks are going to start wandering off and have their fun elsewhere.

It's all good!
 

Who complained? Maybe they need to be moved or deleted!

Perhaps Rainmaker said it best, again. "If I don't want to read a thread...I just don't!"

I, for one, enjoy the playful banter we sports officials give each other. It's, in my humble opinion, part of our culture. I like it!

How else do I say to my senior partner that last call was in my primary and I passed on it for a reason? I tease out the conversation and in the end I learn that the call was necessary one-way or the other. I passed and I learn. It's good natured and competitive. That's why I'm still in the game!

Because our officiating culture is athletic, competitive and serious we have to be able to give and take. It's fun!

I like it.

GO SOX! DAMN YANKEES!

Ok, you all seem like nice people. But, I don't come here for baseball information, or politics. Whenever a thread gets that theme going I stop paying attention. I come here for the basketball referee stuff. That's it. I have no need for anything else. That being said, so long as the title of the thread says what it is, I don't care if it's on here. But I have no interest in off-topic threads.

I still don't see a problem, there is a forum set aside for off topic stuff.

It's true. Brad owns the site. He owns the domain name. It's his IP address. The hardware it runs on belongs to him. I'd like to thank Brad for creating this site. And I would never argue that he doesn't have the right to impose whatever rules he desires.

However, the hardware, software, and internet resources alone are NOT what makes this site worthwhile. What makes this site really worthwhile are the community of people who gather here to share their knowledge and experience and passion. Because of this community questions get answered, new officials get encouragement and instruction, we learn from one another, we laugh together, sometimes we mourn together, we vent about insufferable howler monkeys, we cheer each other on. Where else can you go for a guaranteed attaboy when you've finally mastered something difficult or been assigned a big game? And when you get that attaboy, it means somthing because it's coming from friends, people all over the world whom you have come to know and trust and respect through their posts, people you've developed a relationship with through discussing topics related to officating, and other topics as well.

Let me add one more observation. As a newcomer to this forum, you are presented with dozens of often differing opinions on myriad topics. It is through observing the interaction of the community members that it becomes obvious who the well respected and knowlegable members are, who the controversial members are, and who should be avoided. I've been to other officiating forums, forums that are sponsored by the biggest names in this game, but they all lack the community we enjoy here.

Unfortunately, this community, as a whole, is diminished when one moderator unilaterally imposes restrictions on what can be talked about without regard to the community.

None of us wants this forum to devolve into a mire of off-topic nonsense. But I would hasten to point out that that hasn't happened--not even close. This forum has successfully withstood the ravages of the Yankees and the BoSox for years, without being censored. Do we really need to start now?

On the other hand, I think we can agree that you have to draw the line somewhere. Where should the line be drawn? Sometimes it is obvious--personal attacks, obscenity, offensive posts should be removed. Beyond that, the line is less obvious. If the number of off topic posts is truly becoming a problem, then it should be addressed. However the question of whether it is really a problem ought to be directed to the community. And if it is the general feeling that there is a problem, the general will of the community should give guidance to where the line is drawn--not just the secret complaints of a few. Even if one of the moderators personally agrees with the complainers.

Methinks we've found the answer . . . . .

I moderate several other boards, so I see the need for a policy to be in place.

However, it's no different than officiating. Are you going to call the game strictly by the rules, never deviating from the written code, or are you going to officiate the spirit of the rules, telling kids to get out of the lane or ignoring the occasional palming?

As has been said, this is a community. Why should we have to go somewhere else to discuss things among ourselves? I can understand deleting flaming topics about race, religion, or politics. But a little friendly banter about baseball, during the offseason for basketball. C'mon!

Sorry Bob but I think you were wrong. Hopefully, Brad will clarify this issue, for everyone.

I vote: CHUCK!

Woooo! Anyone who uses the word "myriad" correctly, deserves to be listened to!!

We will have to wait a while for Brad's "ruling" on this issue as I happen to know that he is vacationing across the pond!

Who cares!!!!
 

I have a great solution for those that do not like it. Create your own site. If you do not like the fact that the powers that be have decided that they do not want mindless talk about baseball (not all of us are fans of MLB btw), create a place to talk about that. You are right that you can ignore the posts, but if they let that dribble go on, then what other conversations that have nothing about basketball should be allowed to go on? And if Chuck wants to make an issue, too bad. He is not an administrator, nor is he the owner. I do not like everything that is taken off here, but I do not make the rules. I have been given the right to post here as long as I follow the rules. Just like an official that works a game, it is their call what to tolerate and what not to tolerate. It does not matter what I think about it, it is there call. When I work the game, then it is my call. I am going to watch the start of a Sectional playoff game, if I do not like what the officials do in the game or what they call, that is my problem. The IHSA did not assign me to do so. This is the call of the moderators and owner to get rid of what they want. Not our chice. There are thousands of places you guys can go and talk baseball and debate if Jeter is going to play better than Nomar. But many of us do not care and would rather not open a post thinking it is about basketball, only to find it is a sport that is losing interest every day.

Peace

Jewel,
Oh, my! :eek:
mick
<HR>
It must be chilly in the underworld today.

How can you stop a thread when there was neither advantage nor displacment? BoSox/Yankees banter is incidental contact. When it starts displacing other content, call the foul, but until then, it's part of the game.

Plus, on a more serious note, humor is a wonderful reflection of the individual. The value of this board is not just in its ability to get different insights on rules, but also on differences in officiating styles and approaches. What works or doesn't work for any idividual is greatly influenced by their own personality. This board helps people understand each other's personalities, thereby giving everybody insight into what might work best for them. Humor has a rightful place here in the context of the regulars. I wouldn't want this board to be where I went to hear the latest rich Yankee joke, but I do appreciate what any of the regulars have to say, even when it is an off-topic joke.