Attitude and courtesy.

[bkbjones]

Originally Posted by clevbrown

To use your words, "This is just unbelievable" clevbrown

Hey, you're right. It is unbelievable. And you're right about all of us needing to be a teacher or a student or both.
Apparently there was a premature evaluation...not the first time someone on this board has done that. I've offended damn near everyone on this board. Some of the posters around here have, in the last few days, sent private messages informing me of how f'n stupid I am. However, at least some of them have forgiven me. And some of them have been kind enough to send me e-mails and even some notes in the good old U.S. Mail encouraging me in my own battles with my health.

so...don't give up on all of us.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by bkbjones

I've offended damn near everyone on this board.

You've missed one, John.

I'm part Polish, if you want to take a stab at it. Oh, and I'm balding, too.

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by clevbrown

For those of you who still feel you shouldn't answer the stupid questions because that idiot new umpiure hasn't looked it up yet, at elast try just giving the rule number you are stating which allows us new comers to look it up and find out for ourselves.
Thanks again for bringint his up.
clevbrown

I'm probably one of the offenders Scott mentioned, and on real questions I'll try to let softball be the kinder, gentler board (I post on the other one ... and the attitude there has possibly rubbed off on me).

So ... I'll try to be nicer when that "idiot new umpire" asks a question they could have looked up.

That said... I suspect I'll still have trouble believing that someone who claims to have never seen a runner tag up on a fly ball (or leave early on a fly ball) before, is actually an umpire. I'm pretty sure I will continue to think that such a person is not an umpire, and is instead either a 12-year old pretending to be an umpire to resolve a question from their recent backyard Calvinball game, or just a troll, trying to stir things up and make the site worse. Like I said yesterday ... my girl playing 8U understands that you have to tag on a fly ball, and that if you left early and it's caught, you have to go back or you could be out. That question was BARELY more credible than, "Is a foul ball a strike?", and LESS credible than "Are the hands part of the bat?"

If that makes me bitter or mean ... I'm not sure I can fix that.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

I'm probably one of the offenders Scott mentioned, and on real questions I'll try to let softball be the kinder, gentler board (I post on the other one ... and the attitude there has possibly rubbed off on me).

So ... I'll try to be nicer when that "idiot new umpire" asks a question they could have looked up.

That said... I suspect I'll still have trouble believing that someone who claims to have never seen a runner tag up on a fly ball (or leave early on a fly ball) before, is actually an umpire. I'm pretty sure I will continue to think that such a person is not an umpire, and is instead either a 12-year old pretending to be an umpire to resolve a question from their recent backyard Calvinball game, or just a troll, trying to stir things up and make the site worse. Like I said yesterday ... my girl playing 8U understands that you have to tag on a fly ball, and that if you left early and it's caught, you have to go back or you could be out. That question was BARELY more credible than, "Is a foul ball a strike?", and LESS credible than "Are the hands part of the bat?"

If that makes me bitter or mean ... I'm not sure I can fix that.

Okay, then, you can be the official Texas curmudgeon!!!

[SC Ump]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

...Anyway, over the past couple of weeks I have noticed a different temperment on this board, one that resembles in many ways the problems that we all dealt with at McGriff's....

It's unfortunate that others have wanted to use this thread as a springboard for trying to reopen past discussions that are examples of your points.

I encourage others, especially those new to this board and to umpiring, to hang in there and ignore rude comments from the stands.

Scott, Thank you very much for trying.

[BlitzkriegBob]

As someone who probably gets more than a few for some of my questions, I appreciate that no one has publicly ridiculed me (I'm not counting Wade referring to me as overly officious on the calling time topic ). As a third year umpire, I am extremely grateful that some of you guys answer my questions, and I understand the reason some of the regulars always seem to ignore them. I do love this game. Even though I'm relatively new to umpiring, I spent fourteen years coaching baseball and fast pitch softball. It's funny that when I was coaching, I always thought I was fairly knowledgeable about the rules, but once I turned to umpiring I quickly realized just how ignorant I truly am.

Basically I wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone again for helping me to become a better umpire.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by BlitzkriegBob

It's funny that when I was coaching, I always thought I was fairly knowledgeable about the rules, but once I turned to umpiring I quickly realized just how ignorant I truly am.

We very frequently have local players do the changeover from player to official. After about 6 months, I usually ask them, "whole different game, isn't it?" The resounding response has been "oh GOD yes." Your experience, BKB, is not uncommon, and good for you for sticking with it after two full years.

[IamMatt]

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the folks on this board for your "good attitude and courtesy" in allowing me (a non-official) to participate. I have learned a lot here and have lots more to learn.

[NC_Blue]

Coming from a "player" background (D1/NAIA Collegiate catcher - member of ASA Nat. champ. team)....I think I bring a sometimes unique perspective to some situations.

ONE thing I've learned in my years of umpiring (10+, now) is that we're there because of THEM....and not the opposite.

It's OUR field.....but it's THEIR game......and we need to stay out of their way at EVERY opportunity.

I used to post here a LOT. Then.....(and I've experienced it, just today) the nit-picking of questions got to be a downer.....and it became unimportant for me to ask questions of my "peers".

Sad.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by NC_Blue

Coming from a "player" background (D1/NAIA Collegiate catcher - member of ASA Nat. champ. team)....I think I bring a sometimes unique perspective to some situations.

ONE thing I've learned in my years of umpiring (10+, now) is that we're there because of THEM....and not the opposite.

It's OUR field.....but it's THEIR game......and we need to stay out of their way at EVERY opportunity.

I used to post here a LOT. Then.....(and I've experienced it, just today) the nit-picking of questions got to be a downer.....and it became unimportant for me to ask questions of my "peers".

Sad.

In the other thread, those two were just joking. They were encouraging all to laugh along with them. Why is that sad? This is a place where we can all relax and once in a while vent, but also let loose and play a little.

To address the rest of your post, I agree with much of what you said, except that it is also their field. I am just a part of it. I am kidded by others I work with as having a Zen approach to umpiring. I hate anything that interrupts the flow of the game that the players have set, and I feel I have done my best job when no one even knows I was there.