Oversensitive much? I just reread all of his posts - I see nothing even remotely bullyish.

While I agree that we are just starting into the real forum season and some topics have been lacking in softball relevance, there is at least a little to learn in each and reading old ones is not a bad idea.

Yes, I dislike the occasional personal insults, some irrelevant comments, and bickering. I do understand that sometimes an answer is so obvious to our veterans that the response is sometimes a bit curt and seems derogatory. I do know from long experience that the most frequent "answerers" not only know what they are talking about, but do care about the forum helping anyone.

We have a long standing understanding of civility to each other and easily welcome any new member; especially those who can ask a question or state a position in the same civil manner with no antagonism. It is also true that new members can be confused by some of the comments (cracks) we share because we have shared this forum long enough to know each other and in some cases know each other personally.

I believe any perception of bullying or downing is mistaken although there have always been a few posters who are combative or unrealistic in their approach and strain the patience of all of us and thereby invite less than friendly responses. Let's all understand that each of us is different, will express ourselves differently, some more articulate, some more blunt, some with words or expressions used in different backgrounds, some often too cryptic (me for example), etc. That way we will all learn and continue helping each other.

+1

Can we burn Bretman now?

He turned me into a newt.

He weighs the same as a duck.

Paul 

Must be made of wood.

Well said, well written.

xtreamump
 

Thank You, I think that I can learn alot from this Forum. I have to get used to the Idea of talking Softball to an unknown person behind a username. I can tell that you guys know the game. I will get used to it.

Just keep an open mind, and be willing to listen to the criticism you will get here. I guarantee you, you will get plenty of it, but it's not meant to tear you down as an umpire, it's meant to build you up.

I agree. When I first came here, there were a couple of posters on here (whose names I won't mention) who, I thought, were trying to tear me down. I kept thinking, "man, who the eff are these guys, and why are they riding me like this? I'm not a bad umpire, I swear!"

Then I really listened to what they had to say, and I learned a whole hell of a lot more than I ever imagined. It raised my game a LOT, and I even had one of my fellow umpires comment to me about it last week. She said that right between 2007 and 2008 (note that I joined in 2007), it was like night and day, like a light bulb had gone off in my head.

So as I always say, "you can't build something up without first tearing it down." I live by those words, and, as an umpire, they have served me well.

xtreamump
 

Thanks,

Chuck