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  #1 (permalink)  
Old Wed Aug 07, 2013, 01:03pm
Courageous When Prudent
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hampton Roads, VA
Posts: 14,956
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam View Post
We’re trying to strike a balance between allowing for some leeway and levity, and keeping things on topic. What we don’t want is threads devolving into a 20-car pileup with one member on the bottom. For those who think a particular member is getting carried away, you have a few options (and some have taken advantage of them).
  1. You can send a PM to the person individually to address it.
  2. You can send a PM to one of the moderators; maybe one you have more of a rapport with, but any of us will do. Probably not Brad, though, he rarely checks his PMs.
  3. You can report the posts you feel are inappropriate.

Again, what we're not wanting is what amounts to a public flogging (yes, I realize I'm exaggerating.)
You forgot option 4: set user to ignore
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  #2 (permalink)  
Old Wed Aug 07, 2013, 02:46pm
9/11 - Never Forget
 
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Unfortunately, there is also an Option 5, which is those that take such offense and are so unhappy might depart the Forum and not come back as they are too angered and don't find the Forum enjoyable or useful.

Hope it doesn't come to that.
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  #3 (permalink)  
Old Wed Aug 07, 2013, 03:55pm
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Join Date: Aug 2005
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Coming Clean ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by grunewar View Post
Enjoyable, or useful.
I hope that it can be both enjoyable, and useful, which is why the Forum is the first thing that I go to when I get up in the morning, and the first thing I go to when get home from work every afternoon.

However, if the powers to be, or the Forum membership, decides that this Forum will be 100% serious, then I can go along with that. The old NFHS forum, that some of us posted on, was a 100% serious forum, and those that posted on that know that I was, and can be, serious all the time when it's expected.

But when I log on and see a few tidbits of off the topic material from other Forum members, maybe funny, or an inside joke, or something else along those same lines, then I feel that I have the right to join in. Yes I post these tidbits more frequently than others, I was not aware that there was Forum limit to such postings. My son is a sociologist, who specializes in popular culture, so I have a interest in popular culture as well, and will occasionally spice up my posts with some popular culture references (television shows, song lyrics, quotations, etc.)

Basketball, for me, has always been about fun. First as a player, then as a coach, and now as an official. I do realize that as one of only a few paid participants on the basketball court, that I must take the game, and it is a game, more seriously than the players, and I do, but officiating is still fun for me.

When my local officiating colleagues get together for a board meeting, or for some adult beverages after our games, or even if it's just for a few minutes before, after, or between games, we have fun. We tell jokes, we yank each other's chains, insult each other in fun, etc. I feel the same sense of kinship with all of the veteran posters on this Forum. I accept all of you, warts, and all, and hopefully you can accept me, warts, lots of warts, and all. And I've always tried to be polite, and when I've screwed up, and, for some reason, have been impolite, I readily apologize.

Through a series of unfortunate circumstances, my life changed, for the worst, about ten years ago. An encouraged career change (luckily I got a golden parachute), a divorce, financial problems related to the career change, the divorce, and the stock market recession. I developed some serious medical problems, and my daughter developed a serous, possibly fatal disease. I became clinically depressed, and had suicidal thoughts. What saved my life? What kept me going? My three adult children, two with spouses. The Catholic Church, and my faith in Jesus Christ. A great doctor who prescribed lots of medication for me. And basketball officiating. Yes that right, basketball officiating has helped to save my life. It's been a long road, but I'm no longer clinically depressed, and I'm no longer suicidal. I still have problems with obsessive compulsive disorder, and anxiety, so I will have to be on the medication for the rest of my life, but that's a small price to pay, and I'm a lot healthier, both mentally, and physically, now than I was several years ago.

Try to separate the silly stuff from the serious stuff that I post. I'm a thirty-two year veteran official, who has, over the years, worked games on every level, recreation, travel, AAU, middle school, freshman, junior varsity, varsity, boys, girls, men. I've served on my local board's training committees, both of them, rules, and mechanics. I am a retired middle school science teacher, honored as my school's teacher of the year, and as a finalist for the Connecticut science teacher of the year. I've got a lot to offer this Forum. I know the game of basketball, how to play it, how to coach it (twenty-five years coaching middle school basketball), and how to officiate it. I know rules, and mechanics, and, most importantly I know how to teach others how to be a good basketball official. I hope that I serve, and can continue to serve, as a valuable, contributing, member of the Forum.

I live, alone (two of my three adult children live out of state, and I have no other family), with my cat, and two chickens (pretty pathetic, huh?), and, although I do have a few hobbies (gardening, raising chickens, kayaking, astronomical photography, officiating basketball) to keep me busy, posting on the Forum is one of the highlights of my day. Please don't take this away from me. Yes I can tone it down, but I only, and always, have good intentions.

Quote:
Originally Posted by JRutledge View Post
Sometimes I am confused what goes too far and what does not.
Me too. Unfortunately, my brain filter doesn't seem to work as well as most, and it's often quite easy to just hit "save", or "submit reply".
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“I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:36)

Last edited by BillyMac; Wed Aug 07, 2013 at 04:18pm.
  #4 (permalink)  
Old Wed Aug 07, 2013, 05:06pm
Courageous When Prudent
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hampton Roads, VA
Posts: 14,956
Quote:
Originally Posted by BillyMac View Post
... Yes I post these tidbits more frequently than others, I was not aware that there was Forum limit to such postings...
Good start would be not to reply to your own posts and not to have 3 posts in a row. Those are good indicators of being too frequent.
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  #5 (permalink)  
Old Wed Aug 07, 2013, 05:59pm
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Posts: 23,406
Quote, Unquote ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by BadNewsRef View Post
Good start would be not to reply to your own posts.
But, I invented the self reply. Well, I guess that I'll give your suggestion a try. But it's not fair, I invented it.
__________________
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

“I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:36)

Last edited by BillyMac; Thu Aug 08, 2013 at 06:21am.
  #6 (permalink)  
Old Wed Aug 07, 2013, 08:42pm
9/11 - Never Forget
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BadNewsRef View Post
Good start would be not to reply to your own posts and not to have 3 posts in a row.
Good way to "pad" your post count!
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  #7 (permalink)  
Old Wed Aug 07, 2013, 09:04pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Detroit Metro
Posts: 509
I am still a relative newbie, both in officiating and on this forum.

I would like to stick up for BillyMac, who made me feel welcome when I came to this forum four years ago.

Maybe I have a higher tolerance for bad jokes, maybe because I understand that life can throw us a few curves and sometimes we need to be silly, but he is definitely not offensive or off-putting to me.

Let's be a little forgiving and generous I say.
  #8 (permalink)  
Old Wed Aug 07, 2013, 10:28pm
Official Forum Member
 
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Posts: 14,616
Quote:
Originally Posted by BillyMac View Post
But when I log on and see a few tidbits of off the topic material from other Forum members, maybe funny, or an inside joke, or something else along those same lines, then I feel that I have the right to join in.
Actually, that not what happens.

The majority of the time, your off topic remark, joke, "funny" pic, etc. is the FIRST such post in a topic. Many times it completely derails the topic of discussion or ends the discussion. That's the real issue I have with such posts.

For years, I've complained about jokes and off topic crap that derails good discussion. I started the notorious "Moderators" thread in September 2008. A couple of people didn't speak to me much after that and basically I stopped visiting the site. Even now, I don't visit more than once or twice a week, perhaps a little more during the season. I'm sure that makes some people happy. But for me, the fact that the OT posts derail good discussions is why I don't visit like I used to.

Billy Mac, I'm sure you're a good guy and a great official but your off topic posts annoy the hell out of me. I probably miss out on some good stuff you post but I can sort through the other stuff to find it. No offense meant to you, that's just how I see it.

Just my 2 cents.
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"You should never be proud of doing the right thing." - Dean Smith

Last edited by BktBallRef; Wed Aug 07, 2013 at 11:30pm.
  #9 (permalink)  
Old Wed Aug 07, 2013, 11:53pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: In the offseason.
Posts: 12,263
Quote:
Originally Posted by BktBallRef View Post
I started the notorious "Moderators" thread in September 2008. A couple of people didn't speak to me much after that and basically I stopped visiting the site. Even now, I don't visit more than once or twice a week, perhaps a little more during the season. I'm sure that makes some people happy. But for me, the fact that the OT posts derail good discussions is why I don't visit like I used to.
While we've certainly had our differences and I'm sure I have annoyed you a time or two, I've always respected your input and opinion here. The site could certainly use more participation form officials like you! Come back soon!!!
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  #10 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 08, 2013, 06:28am
Esteemed Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 23,406
Tidbits ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by BktBallRef View Post
The majority of the time, your off topic remark, joke, "funny" pic, etc. is the FIRST such post in a topic.
Point taken, but I was talking about the Forum in general, how off topic jokes, tidbits, comments, etc., seemed to be accepted. If the Forum wants to go 100% serious, and the moderators followup on that policy, then I will still post, I can be 100% serious, but life's too short ...
__________________
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

“I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:36)

Last edited by BillyMac; Thu Aug 08, 2013 at 06:31am.
  #11 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 08, 2013, 12:37pm
Courageous When Prudent
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hampton Roads, VA
Posts: 14,956
Quote:
Originally Posted by BillyMac View Post
Point taken, but I was talking about the Forum in general, how off topic jokes, tidbits, comments, etc., seemed to be accepted. If the Forum wants to go 100% serious, and the moderators followup on that policy, then I will still post, I can be 100% serious, but life's too short ...
Billy, you know there is a middle ground. I think you just refuse to look for it.
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  #12 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 08, 2013, 02:35pm
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 152
All things in moderation...

I find most of BillyMac's posts amusing. He has posted a couple lists which will make me a better official.

I read the forum to become a better official. As long as the majority of the posts are serious, I don't mind a few jokes mixed in.

It is a little disappointing to open a thread with new pages of comments and then to read those comments and not read anything that is serious
  #13 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 08, 2013, 05:20pm
Esteemed Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 23,406
The Law Of Levers ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by BadNewsRef View Post
Billy, you know there is a middle ground. I think you just refuse to look for it.
I don't refuse, I just have problems finding a balance. Gray areas are gray for a reason (Sorry about the mixed metaphor) otherwise they would be black, or white.

Note: My spell check always changes BadNewsRef into Badnesses, so if I ever quote you as Badnesses, I'm not trying to be funny.
__________________
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

“I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:36)

Last edited by BillyMac; Thu Aug 08, 2013 at 05:29pm.
  #14 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 08, 2013, 08:28pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,616
Quote:
Originally Posted by BillyMac View Post
If the Forum wants to go 100% serious, and the moderators followup on that policy, then I will still post, I can be 100% serious, but life's too short ...
Nowhere in this thread and nowhere in the "Moderators" thread from September 25, 2008 did I ever say I think the forum should be 100% serious.

What I've said is:

I object to off topic posts, lame jokes, pics, etc. that DERAIL a good discussion. I object when a newbie asked a question but gets such posts instead. I object to such posts hijacking threads. I object to such posts resulting in a second conversation within a thread.

This same basic discussion occurred in the 2008 thread. It would seem we have the same issues now as then. Promises made but with time, people revert to who they are. For example BillyMac, you posted:

"In my case, I determined that my actions were unwelcome, and that I was not a good citizen of the community, with some input from several Forum members, including some moderators. Over the past several weeks, the posts criticizing my image posting seemed to get more serious, and less good natured. I decided that I did not want to be viewed as an obnoxious Forum member, so I made my own decision to only post infrequent, on topic images. I thank those that advised me to tone it down."

I wonder how long that lasted? Shrug. I don't know, but I do know I have no desire for you to leave or to be 100% serious. But I don't think asking for 90% serious is too much.

Here's a link to that thread for anyone who would like to read it. Meanwhile, I've said my piece. Gotta prepare for a Sunday football clinic. Thanks to Smitty, Bob and Camron for the supportive comments. Later!

Moderators
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"You should never be proud of doing the right thing." - Dean Smith
  #15 (permalink)  
Old Fri Aug 09, 2013, 06:16am
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One Picture Is Worth ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by BktBallRef View Post
I wonder how long that lasted?
In reference to frequent (maybe more than frequent), off topic, images? It lasted a long time, and continues. Especially in terms of frequency.
__________________
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

“I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:36)
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