Forums

Sure. What's up?

Good morning Sir. I have been a "lurker" on the Rivals board for going on seven years now. I utilized your helpful post over there when signing up on this site. I have enjoyed reading yours and other's posts immensely over the years. Thank you for your contributions.

My question is this: Is it your sense that most posters will be making their way over here, or is the Rivals site going to continue to be the primary gathering?

The reason I ask is this: I was disappointed to see the new moderator's comment yesterday, during the Clarion Open regarding the sophomoric jokes ("if there’s any chance it upsets any of the members of the team or their families, it’s not worth making the joke.").

I wholeheartedly disagree with this sentiment based on principle.

My feeling is that it retards the individual contributions that make up an organic conversation among a plurality. That is, it lessens the honesty of the discussion based on a minority sensibility.

In only a moment, he squashed the kind of (mostly) unfettered banter that makes that site really shine. Thoughts?

I don't have any idea how the boards will turn out yet. So far it feels like more info here, more entertainment there -- but it's very early.

Fair enough. I put the question to you because, my sense is that as a well-respected, established member of the community, you have no small amount of influence. If nothing else your opinion carries weight. You may not have intended this, but typically leadership roles arise in organically in voluntary communities.

Regarding the Wang jokes: I did chime in with the Ho joke, so I'm not exactly innocent.

I see both sides. Fun while it lasted, but ultimately it doesn't support the athlete. We don't know him and that makes a difference.

Frankly it was coming eventually in some form.

We might have liked it better if John Brooks or Kerk Sr had said knock it off you knuckleheads.

OTOH, a parental blowup like on FOS with Neil Alton and Larry Lee would've been far, far worse.

IMO this will end up no big deal in the long run. That board might get marginally less juvenile, but no less funny or open.

I think you've hit on the heart of the matter when you say you see both sides; That is to say that, the moderator failed in that regard. Offense can lead to animosity yes, but simply being offended (or worse, the possibility of offense) should not be the bar for speech.