Punt blocked, can I punt again?

[MD Longhorn]

You're reading into my post an arrogance that was not there.

Perhaps my error was to assume he was an official ... but I did (given the name REFUMPIRE, and given that this is a website for officials, I don't think that is THAT bad of an assumption).

I guess I just tire of the laziness I see here. If an official needed the answer to that question, there's this great book he can go to to find out the answer. People learning one little tidbit by having people answer such questions - and learn a lot more by finding the answer themselves. (And I think you all know that). Maybe I was brusquer than I needed to be - but that was where my thought process was when posting.

You all are acting as if I'm the first person ever who saw a ridiculously simple question like this one and told the poster to look it up. Rich even alludes to it in his response - that if asked this question at a meeting he'd steer the person toward the book. Obviously ... he'd do it nicer than I did... but the idea is the same even if the manner isn't.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

You're reading into my post an arrogance that was not there.

Interesting, you read into other's posts things you know nothing about. I guess this does not work when people take your words and take from it what they like.

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Perhaps my error was to assume he was an official ... but I did (given the name REFUMPIRE, and given that this is a website for officials, I don't think that is THAT bad of an assumption).

I guess I just tire of the laziness I see here. If an official needed the answer to that question, there's this great book he can go to to find out the answer. People learning one little tidbit by having people answer such questions - and learn a lot more by finding the answer themselves. (And I think you all know that). Maybe I was brusquer than I needed to be - but that was where my thought process was when posting.

OK, but this is a discussion board, people tend to ask questions that seem elementary to many of us that is what happen here. This is not a proving ground for everyone's knowledge. And I agree people should try to find out things, but often it is they do not know where to look. I will in about an hour go to a meeting where rules will be discussed and still we will talk after the meeting about situations and circumstances and even disagree until someone pulls out the rulebook. And then we still might not agree because the rules are not always clear in every situation and we need to get a ruling or interpretation from our higher-ups to tell us what should be done. Not everyone is a rules maven.

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

You all are acting as if I'm the first person ever who saw a ridiculously simple question like this one and told the poster to look it up. Rich even alludes to it in his response - that if asked this question at a meeting he'd steer the person toward the book. Obviously ... he'd do it nicer than I did... but the idea is the same even if the manner isn't.

No you are not the only one. And I can admit I have probably done this over the 10 years of time I have been here as well, but I have learned teaching younger officials that they do not know everything or that fans do not know much of anything either. And if he came here accusing the officials of screwing up then that is one thing, but it was just a question.

Peace

[JasonTX]

I thought it was a good question. I suspect there are probably quite of few vetaran officials that would be scratching their heads if they seen this happen in their game, wondering if it was legal. Even if he was a new official, one the hardest things a new official has trouble with is finding stuff in the rule book. It took me the better part of my rookie season to be able to find stuff I was looking for, and then the other 10 years trying to remember it all. If I couldn't find something I turned to the forums and asked the question. That's how I learned. I've got no problem with someone asking a "stupid" question because it may lead to other questions that generate some good rules discussions.

[habram]

To all , I really hope that one day i can look at this site without seeing the responses from wise guys.

Most questions only need an answer.

[JRutledge]

This is an open forum, people will, can and are going to respond how they wish. If you want only answers than you probably should leave the internet right now as that is never going to be always the case. Sorry, but even if I do not like someone's response, that is not going to change that fact anytime soon.

Peace

[HLin NC]

We old hands forget that there are new people always coming to the forum.
New hands don't realize that many of the questions asked are questions already answered. Most new posters at any forum will be instructed to read the FAQ's before posting. At some forums, particularly the more technical or hard core fan (sports, music, what have you), a newbie can get seriously scorched for asking a perceived "bad question".

Picking a handle like "refumpire" leads others into thinking that one would already know the biz. Some questions asked are probably better off asked in realtime at a local meeting or from a mentor.

Finally, this and a few other officiating sites we seem to all frequent, are not fan oriented sites. Most of us participating are experienced officials and the discussions tend to lead to more technical or historical perspectives not elementary topics.

I'm not saying its ok to be rude and I'm not saying I've not done it. Some of us have just been around longer and are more familiar and thus more casual with our comments sometimes. Kind of like you might say something to a longtime co-worker that you wouldn't say to someone your company just hired.

I learned very quickly in this business though, if your feelings are easily bruised, this may not be the best "hobby" to pick up. That varsity coach, who's livelihood somewhat depends on how his game goes, will be a whole lot rougher than we'll ever be.

[RadioBlue]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

You're reading into my post an arrogance that was not there.

Perhaps my error was to assume he was an official ... but I did (given the name REFUMPIRE, and given that this is a website for officials, I don't think that is THAT bad of an assumption).

I guess I just tire of the laziness I see here. If an official needed the answer to that question, there's this great book he can go to to find out the answer. People learning one little tidbit by having people answer such questions - and learn a lot more by finding the answer themselves. (And I think you all know that). Maybe I was brusquer than I needed to be - but that was where my thought process was when posting.

You all are acting as if I'm the first person ever who saw a ridiculously simple question like this one and told the poster to look it up. Rich even alludes to it in his response - that if asked this question at a meeting he'd steer the person toward the book. Obviously ... he'd do it nicer than I did... but the idea is the same even if the manner isn't.

MB:
I'm with the majority here. You were out of line. While possibly not your intention, your response smacked of arrogance and intolerance.

The answer to any question on this forum could be, "Look it up!!" Kinda circumvents the whole idea of a football officiating rules forum, huh?

Perhaps we should only stick to questions about black pants vs. knickers?

[MD Longhorn]

If it was not clear already, I apologize. Let it go.