Mutual respect in the listserve -- a proposal

[glunn]

We all passionately care about the Twins. If we did not care, we would not be here and we would not bother to debate about almost every aspect of the Twins universe.

 

Lately, there have been a lot of threads where people took diametrically opposing views. I like the debate, but I keep getting turned off by the personal attacks.

 

I urge people to keep their passion but cut back on the personal attacks. Often, I think that both sides are making worthwhile points that would be more persuasive if not for the personal attacks. And I come to this website for baseball talk, not drama.

 

I think of all of you as brothers (with the occasional sister). Please keep your passion. But please also at least consider that there may be many of us who want to hear everyone's views, but are turned off when there is name calling, regardless of who started it.

 

I have a proposal -- whenever you want to disagree with someone, begin with the words "my brother." Then be as passionate as you want and point out every flaw in their thinking, but substitute the words "my brother" for "retard", idiot" and whatever else you may really be thinking, We will all know what you mean but the drama will be less unpleasant and maybe we can even focus more on baseball.

 

If you are willing to commit to this, please vote in the poll.

[RodneyKline]

MY BROTHER, I completely agree...wait, I think I just called you a retard/idiot and I didn't mean to! Ha!

[glunn]

MY BROTHER, I completely agree...wait, I think I just called you a retard/idiot and I didn't mean to! Ha!

 

It's working. I do not feel insulted.

[Craig Arko]

I don't think you're going to have much luck in trying to trick adults into behaving like adults. And it's not really our job to do that.

 

What might prove useful is if the board admins would start locking (and maybe even removing) some of the more troublesome threads to show that they are serious about having rules governing content posted to the site. That could get people's attention.

[Top Gun]

I agree, my brother.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I think it's time we start cracking down on some of this bickering. Thanks for the thread, Glunn. I've been off the forums quite a bit lately (been really busy) but I'll try to start tracking problem posts a little more closely. Be sure to report problem posts, people!

[Seth Stohs]

My brother! I completely agree. The tone of the comments has become ridiculous in the last weeks. I think we all just need spring training to start, some games and soon the regular season, primarily so we don't have to rehash the same old topics that have been over-discussed in the last two months. I'm glad you wrote this glunn, and I definitely think that we will need to start cracking down a bit.

[Mike Sixel]

Agreed. Good luck cleaning it up. I am weary of the name calling and tone. There are respectful ways to disagree.

[mcrow]

I also found the "ignore" function handy. :s-instagib:

[Mike Sixel]

The problem with ignore is that you do miss some nuggets......my brother.

[righty8383]

Hey look, its the bi-monthly "lets stop being mean" thread:whacky028:

[mcrow]

The problem with ignore is that you do miss some nuggets......my brother.

 

I only have one person on my ignore list and I'm fairly certain I'm not missing anything....

[Riverbrian]

Glunn... I will buy you a beer... Anytime.

[JB_Iowa]

There are a few women who post here .... is everyone your brother? I have no problem with the premise of your post -- the bickering gets tiresome. But I'd also like to remind everyone that it generally takes at least 2 posters to bicker (otherwise the lone "bickerer" is just posting into thin air and that person should easily go on your "ignore" list) -- if it becomes apparent that no one is going to "win" the argument, it is often better to just walk away. Walking away doesn't mean that you "lose" -- it just means that you're sane.

[PseudoSABR]

My internet brethren,

I think it's fine to police our etiquette, but really the problem lies beneath the surface layer of snark and insults. There's a few posters here who purposely inflame discussions, try to rope people into some inane and endless back-and-forths. I know I get stuck in these conversations, and even if I believe I'm working with some principled reason behind my (good) fight, I'm just making things worse. It's not politeness that will make the board more pleasant, it's completely ignoring the provocateurs.

[Guest USAFChief]

It would help if we didn't have people starting threads about RON DAVIS!!1!

[Oldgoat_MN]

Agreed. Good luck cleaning it up. I am weary of the name calling and tone. There are respectful ways to disagree.

 

Absolutely true, brother.

[LimestoneBaggy]

Glunn, thank you for this thread. Be it ever so humble, my brother.

[Brock Beauchamp]

My internet brethren,

I think it's fine to police our etiquette, but really the problem lies beneath the surface layer of snark and insults. There's a few posters here who purposely inflame discussions, try to rope people into some inane and endless back-and-forths. I know I get stuck in these conversations, and even if I believe I'm working with some principled reason behind my (good) fight, I'm just making things worse. It's not politeness that will make the board more pleasant, it's completely ignoring the provocateurs.

 

Well said, Pseudo. Those posters are one of the biggest problems on a large internet forum. They don't violate rules so it's hard to bring a hammer down on them without coming off like an ass. They slowly eat into the forum's attitude and anger what are often level-headed people into starting a flame war.

 

Figuring out what to do with them from a moderation standpoint is extremely difficult. I hate the idea of banning people because I dislike their posting style. It makes me feel like a self-important tyrant and I don't like running sites in that manner. On the other hand, they're a giant pain in the forum's ass and they're usually relentless about it.

 

So, again, if you don't like someone's "stupidity", ignore them. Please. And the moment they clearly violate a forum rule, report it.

[PseudoSABR]

So, again, if you don't like someone's "stupidity", ignore them. Please. And the moment they clearly violate a forum rule, report it.

This is just difficult to do. My "justice" sense tingles during these threads, and I feel the need to set the record straight.

 

What's more maddening is that these same posters can sometimes make astute, legitimate points and be cordial throughout an entire thread--and then I have trouble validating even their good points for fear it gives the arrogance to turn back into a bully.

 

I think we need a custom user titles like "possible troll" "rabble rouser" "lockerroom nick pinto/kyle lohse" "aj pierzynski." Posters could earn them through continued poor behavior.

[DaveW]

Well said, Pseudo. Those posters are one of the biggest problems on a large internet forum. They don't violate rules so it's hard to bring a hammer down on them without coming off like an ass. They slowly eat into the forum's attitude and anger what are often level-headed people into starting a flame war.

 

Figuring out what to do with them from a moderation standpoint is extremely difficult. I hate the idea of banning people because I dislike their posting style. It makes me feel like a self-important tyrant and I don't like running sites in that manner. On the other hand, they're a giant pain in the forum's ass and they're usually relentless about it.

 

So, again, if you don't like someone's "stupidity", ignore them. Please. And the moment they clearly violate a forum rule, report it.

 

I'd really prefer you just start banning those people that Pseudo mentions, it's sure as hell why I stayed off this forum (and several others had) for the past month or so, unfortunately I got roped back in by one stupid thread. Either way if those people stick around throughout the season I can't see myself participating or even lurking this forum very much, as it really just devolves into rubechat version 2.0.

 

I will still read the articles though, but the forum is in serious trouble of turning into a toxic wasteland.

[FrodaddyG]

Sweet, the board finally is trying to come up with its own version of "the N-word". (By which I mean the actual phrase "the N-word". Go watch Louis CK's bit about it.)

[Brock Beauchamp]

I'd really prefer you just start banning those people that Pseudo mentions, it's sure as hell why I stayed off this forum (and several others had) for the past month or so, unfortunately I got roped back in by one stupid thread. Either way if those people stick around throughout the season I can't see myself participating or even lurking this forum very much, as it really just devolves into rubechat version 2.0.

 

I will still read the articles though, but the forum is in serious trouble of turning into a toxic wasteland.

 

I think you need to take off the rose-colored glasses and clearly remember the inanity of BYTO offseasons gone by. Every offseason turned into a petty pissing contest because there was nothing else to talk about.

 

When baseball starts being played again, focus will turn back to the game.

[mcrow]

Sweet, the board finally is trying to come up with its own version of "the N-word". (By which I mean the actual phrase "the N-word". Go watch Louis CK's bit about it.)

 

Maybe I'm missing the attempt at humor here? Otherwise this is troll in an anti-troll thread.

[FrodaddyG]

Maybe I'm missing the attempt at humor here? Otherwise this is troll in an anti-troll thread.

As I said, go look up that Louis CK bit and you'll get it. It's just shifting the impetus on the reader to fill in whatever derogatory term they want for whatever generic term you want to universally deem acceptable.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Maybe I'm missing the attempt at humor here? Otherwise this is troll in an anti-troll thread.

 

He's referring to this entirely hilarious routine. Very NSFW, by the way.

 

 

Louis CK is the best. One of those rare comedians that is hilarious, socially conscious, and smart as hell.

[ALessKosherScott]

He's referring to this entirely hilarious routine. Very NSFW, by the way.

 

 

Louis CK is the best. One of those rare comedians that is hilarious, socially conscious, and smart as hell.

 

I feel like you need to watch this for sensitivity training, Legs.

 

[DaveW]

I think you need to take off the rose-colored glasses and clearly remember the inanity of BYTO offseasons gone by. Every offseason turned into a petty pissing contest because there was nothing else to talk about.

 

When baseball starts being played again, focus will turn back to the game.

I dunno man, at least our resident mouth breathers at BYTO had awesome mullets or awesome youtube videos to soften the blow.

[PseudoSABR]

I dunno man, at least our resident mouth breathers at BYTO had awesome mullets or awesome youtube videos to soften the blow.

It got just as bad at BYTO, Dave. Sure, we shouted them down more quickly and shamed them into silence, leading the place to empty out. A sad thing, but it happened.

[DaveW]

It got just as bad at BYTO, Dave. Sure, we shouted them down more quickly and shamed them into silence, leading the place to empty out. A sad thing, but it happened.

 

I just miss mullet and itstimetotakeit talk