Where did all the Cowboys go?

[Back In The Saddle]

I was wondering just this morning why I haven't seen JR around. It seems really quiet lately, even for the off season. In fact, there's been more action in the volleyball forum lately than here. And that's just wrong

My $0.02 on the direction of late...

a) For as long as I've been here, which is a few years now, it seems that all posts eventually get sidetracked. This is not new, although it seems to happen sooner these days.

b) Pictures, as long as they're family friendly, have never bothered me.

c) I also (dis)agree with BM on this one. We used to get into some pretty intense off-season brawls here. That was long before the days of ToadStool. I think there has been much less rancor of late than in some previous off-seasons.

What I have been contemplating of late is this: How useful is this site today? I've been coming here for years now. I have learned a LOT. I find it less personally useful than I once did, largely because I'm so much further along the learning curve.

But I also think this site is not as useful, friendly, or welcoming of new officials as it once was. It's my impression that collectively we're not as interested in answering questions and helping new members. There are a lot of inside jokes, so many so often that I don't get half of them, even when I'm here all the time. That's gotta be off-putting to newcomers as well.

And worst of all, I've noticed over the last year or so that some long time members have lost patience to the point where ideas contrary to their own get shouted down. It's done in the guise of ensuring newer officials aren't seduced by "bad ideas". But it makes for a pretty hostile environment, one that's not welcoming, either to newer members or to the free discussion of ideas.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

In fact, there's been more action in the volleyball forum lately than here.

You're welcome.

My own two cents is that everything will be back to "normal" by December 1. It always gets slow over the summer. I'm hoping that the start of the season will bring back some of the posters that JRutledge mentioned. But even if they don't come back (which would be too bad), the forum will get back on topic and basketball questions and plays will be abundant once more.

There should be a (non-spam) thread on shoes coming along any day now.

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

You're welcome.

You sure know how to liven up a party!

[Adam]

All I know is I miss Chuck. I've probably spent more time here this off season than any other, due to the nature of my current job which allows me that luxury. That may or may not continue past September 30, so I may drop away at that point until the season starts.

I've never been particularly bothered by the pictures (although some of them make my wife say "WTH?") The good news is when I'm at work, I can't see most of them anyway.

As for the rancor, it's never bothered me. I'm probably less sensitive to how it affects newbies than I should be, which placed me near the center of the OS wars. This is my personal flaw (I'm only admitting to one).

I also miss Bhuck.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

As for the rancor, it's never bothered me.

Good.

Now shut up.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Good.

Now shut up.

That's just the kind of mean spiritedness that's being lamented (I'd explain that word, but Dan's not around apparently).

BTW, I hear Rocky has some home made clam chowder for you.

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

BTW, I hear Rocky has some home made clam chowder for you.

And that's exactly the kind of inside joke that is ruining these threads for people.

Besides the fact that even I don't get it.

(thus opening the door for more short jokes and an eventual posting of the infamous squirrel picture)

[Larks]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

What I have been contemplating of late is this: How useful is this site today? I've been coming here for years now. I have learned a LOT. I find it less personally useful than I once did, largely because I'm so much further along the learning curve.

This is exactly where I am. I tend to ask subjective questions to take the temperature of the group on a particular play or mechanic but dont find too many threads that I am drawn to anymore.

I also think a lot of people are starting to realize the power of google and the ease in forwarding links and e-mails so in the ever more competitive "avocation" of basketball, I think some are more cautious with their online writings and persona.

[JugglingReferee]

Nobody misses Diebler?

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

Nobody misses Diebler?

You can't be serious? Ever since he passed Chuck Norris' record for counting to infinity the most times, I kinda lost interest in him. I mean, how am I supposed to measure up? I prefer hanging out with more normal, and flawed human beings...like JugglingRef

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

You can't be serious? Ever since he passed Chuck Norris' record for counting to infinity the most times, I kinda lost interest in him. I mean, how am I supposed to measure up? I prefer hanging out with more normal, and flawed human beings...like JugglingRef

Hey! I don't resemble that remark!

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

Nobody misses Diebler?

I don't care what BITS says, I miss Diebler. Went to his memorial service today.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Larks

I also think a lot of people are starting to realize the power of google and the ease in forwarding links and e-mails so in the ever more competitive "avocation" of basketball, I think some are more cautious with their online writings and persona.

Monday, November 6, 2006. The day the music died, a day that will live in infamy:

From ChuckElias: "After talking about this with some friends from the board and some other officials, I've decided to stop contributing to the forum. As Mick alluded to in the baseball thread, I was hired by a couple of D1 conferences (although I didn't recieve any assignments from one of them). Although it's not very likely, I don't want any of my comments to be misconstrued and then passed on to an assignor".