Important: Changes to the Board. Please read!

[Boxcar]

Carlos, it appears that your terrible baseball opinions are the root cause of you feeling unwelcome. May I kindly suggest getting smarter about baseball?

 

While this is illegal hate speech, it made me laugh. Dammit

[Boxcar]

I think the Hurl has made it very clear the removal of those threads was just the first step. They will strictly forbid harassment and personal attacks. You can also help them by reporting these posts instead of responding to them in the future. It is okay to have different opinions. At least to me, it’s clear the mod team cares enough to make change.

 

I know it's a fine line to walk, I just worry about this place becoming like Orioles hangout or those s***** hockey fan boards. I think we can all appreciate a passionate, even heated discussion as long as it doesn't wander into personal attacks. A lot of us have known each other for a long time. If two guys want to poke at each other in a fun way (for example, Nick poking fun at my Muslim family, me poking fun at him being the type of guy who shops for lawnmowers on garbage day) I think that should be allowed. Those threads were absolute cancer. From personal experience, and through my own fault, I can attest that they destroyed several relationships I had with people. I will now try to slowly win those back. The vitriol in those threads could not be contained.

 

That said, please don't enforce grammar rules and stuff. I think the board can work as it is while sticking to (mostly) baseball.

[BTS]

I know it's a fine line to walk, I just worry about this place becoming like Orioles hangout or those s***** hockey fan boards. I think we can all appreciate a passionate, even heated discussion as long as it doesn't wander into personal attacks. A lot of us have known each other for a long time. If two guys want to poke at each other in a fun way (for example, Nick poking fun at my Muslim family, me poking fun at him being the type of guy who shops for lawnmowers on garbage day) I think that should be allowed. Those threads were absolute cancer. From personal experience, and through my own fault, I can attest that they destroyed several relationships I had with people. I will now try to slowly win those back. The vitriol in those threads could not be contained.

 

That said, please don't enforce grammar rules and stuff. I think the board can work as it is while sticking to (mostly) baseball.

 

I don't think anyone wants to get rid of the snark, s***-talking, and sense of humour that has kept us all posting here for the better part of the last 15 years. Up until 2016 or whatever, the insults never felt personal or vitriolic because they weren't.

 

I'm hoping that the board is able to once again resemble it's pre-2016 self, and hopefully with an influx of posters as the team starts to win games.

[wk680]

Am I the only one who is confused by this part Of Hurl's original post on this thread:

 

"Political references are not allowed. Sports have become very political. There are many posts which are about baseball players and politics. These will be allowed as will responses to these, but mods will be quick to close the thread if it gets out of hand. " ??

 

If political references are not allowed, then how can you have "posts which are about baseball players and politics" ?? I think some refinement of this description is in order.

 

As one who has participated in some very intense/nasty exchanges on the Politics thread, and which I admit to having allowed to spill over into a baseball thread very recently, I understand and agree with the problem. The feuds from the politics discussions/arguments are poisoning or threatening to poison the overall atmosphere. This is not the first message board I have seen resort to just removing the part that allows political discussions. It actually seemed to work there in terms of the overall level of rancor being way reduced but DID NOT help with site participation (although we can't say the two are connected; i.e. maybe that site was on its way to the scrapheap regardless).

 

Also, I wanted to address the issue of 'avatars'. It was asked early on in this thread if politically related avatars would still be allowed, to which the answer was yes. I see this as a big mistake. If you want to get rid of politics, then get rid of politics! Avatars are a STATEMENT that accompanies EVERY post a member makes. Whether this is a rule or not , I think any member with a blatant politically related avatar should really reconsider. There are bazillions of baseball related pics you could use - so choose one !!

[Dick_Pole]

I'm fine with jettisoning the politics, but I won't sit idly by at Hurl's lame attempt to neuter Spanky. His creative nickname insults and incoherent drunken rants are harmless. I can't imagine the level of whiny pussbag someone has to be to feel threatened or take offense to him to report him (maybe annoyed). He brings some much needed character to this board. I think he makes a great litmus test for new members. If they can handle unrestrained Spanky, they belong here.

[wk680]

Also, I wanted to address the issue of 'avatars'. It was asked early on in this thread if politically related avatars would still be allowed, to which the answer was yes. I see this as a big mistake. If you want to get rid of politics, then get rid of politics! Avatars are a STATEMENT that accompanies EVERY post a member makes. Whether this is a rule or not , I think any member with a blatant politically related avatar should really reconsider. There are bazillions of baseball related pics you could use - so choose one !!

 

For example, if I use this pic as my avatar (it's political because historical references are now dead center in our political discourse at least in the USA), is that allowed ??

[Boxcar]

For example, if I use this pic as my avatar (it's political because historical references are now dead center in our political discourse at least in the USA), is that allowed ??

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2211[/ATTACH]

 

Not really understanding why this is so important. I don't think many people would care, I'm just not sure what the motivation is. Seems like intentionally trying to goad people.

 

I'm not someone who strictly thinks the flag is evil, btw, I'm just not really understanding your desire to make a political statement via avatar.

[wk680]

Not really understanding why this is so important. I don't think many people would care, I'm just not sure what the motivation is. Seems like intentionally trying to goad people.

 

I'm not someone who strictly thinks the flag is evil, btw, I'm just not really understanding your desire to make a political statement via avatar.

 

So a picture of President Trump with Russian ambassador, from a government which he has been FALSELY!!!! accused of conspiring with for years is not a political statement? Are you just playing dumb or are you actually like that in real life? I think what people say about you is true - I stand by my earlier assertion, you should have been permanently banned after the "King is dead" hoax. FOAD!

 

Hurl - do your thing I really don't give a f*** at this point!

Edited July 3, 2020 by wk680

[Ex Player]

LOL.....so admin starts a thread to get us to stop bitching about politics, and you guys still cant stop bitching about politics

 

I guess some of you just cant help yourself

[wk680]

LOL.....so admin starts a thread to get us to stop bitching about politics, and you guys still cant stop bitching about politics

 

I guess some of you just cant help yourself

 

But how do you feel about the issue of avatar pics with OBVIOUS political overtones? That is the issue I want to hash out here!

[Boxcar]

So a picture of President Trump with Russian ambassador, from a government which he has been FALSELY!!!! accused of conspiring with for years is not a political statement? Are you just playing dumb or are you actually like that in real life? I think what people say about you is true - I stand by my earlier assertion, you should have been permanently banned after the "King is dead" hoax. FOAD!

 

Hurl - do your thing I really don't give a f*** at this point!

 

Jesus christ. Is it a personal insult if based on this post and others, if I think this guy should be in the loony bin? Hypothetically speaking, of course?

 

Also, Jim's Avatar isn't something I ever really cared about. Always thought his choice of avatar was weird but I said the same thing to you, I don't care and I doubt most people care, it's just the intent in doing it right after Hurl announces he wants to remove political discussion from the board.

[BTS]

I’m going to lock this one up now.

[Laika]

I've noticed some PMs coming through from bots. If you get one PM their username to a mod so we can ban them