When do you stop ignoring fans?

[JefferMC]

Originally Posted by Dakota

You do realize you may, in fact, have incited the idiot fan...

I guess that's possible. However, this guy knows more about softball rules than any 10 umpires put together and I really don't think he needed me for inspiration.

For example, he was sitting next to me the game before this one and was telling me that it mattered where the runner stops between bases (i.e. if she had passed the half-way point) for how the LBR is enforced. I tried to explain to him that location (other than being on the base) had nothing to do with it (the book was back in the car at that point so I couldn't show him) but it was obvious he knew a lot more than me, so I shut up.

Besides, his daughter was the lead-off batter for the home team and put the fifth pitch over the left field fence, so he was pretty pumped. This incident happened about 4 batters later and torpedoed a pretty good rally that was about to erase the visiting team's 4 run lead. [Note I say this only in regards to his state of mind. The PU did his job correctly WRT the call and, eventually, the result, and it was R2's fault she didn't manage to avoid the ball.]

Normally, I'm not an obnoxious fan. I think that was the first time I've ever volunteered rule references like that, and it may well be the last (unless asked, of course). Yeah, I've been guilty of the rare chirp on what appears to be a horrible call (strike above the eyes or hitting the plate) because I know I've never made a bad judgement call in my whole life.

[NCASAUmp]

Ask anyone who knows me: Draw a line from shoulder to shoulder, extend it out to infinity, I'm pretty much "deaf" for the 180 degree area behind that line - even to other umpires who happen to watch my game.

Only time I ever address a situation WRT rowdy fans is if I hear a threat towards me or other players. Otherwise, hell, I've heard it all, and couldn't care less. Most of them are pretty clueless, so I simply take pity on them. But hey, ignorance is bliss, I guess.