Squirrel

First, let me just say, I appreciate the time and effort you (and everyone) puts into this site. I really do appreciate it and I thank you all. But ... at least one? I would hope, unless it is an extremely egregious case (which I haven't seen), that individuals would be getting more than one warning before a ban, temporary or otherwise. One warning: "Come on man, don't go there with this like that." Two: please, I told you this isn't how to respond here. Three: sorry, three strikes you're out. (It is baseball, afterall.) Unless it's completely out there (and, as I've said, I have yet to see something that egregious) I would hope there is a system of 'punishment' as there is a system of 'rules.' Otherwise it just seems completely arbitary how this is doled out. By giving more than one warning, it allows the person time to adjust and acknowledge and understand where he/she went 'wrong.' If a particular individual is being banned often, well, then that's a discussion to have amongst yourselves. Or maybe we could have a 'vote off the island' a la Survivor? (okay, yes, I'm kidding) As to inanity, there was a thread, since locked and deleted, that should never have started. The subject title as well as the original post was COMPLETELY MORONIC and it didn't take much to know exactly where that would head, and did go. While I hate censorship as a rule, that was a thread that should have been deleted, or edited at the very least, at the onset. I don't even remember the subject of that particular thread or even who started it, but the ugliness that followed could have been avoided. I think it was the thread that ultimately triggered the rules and moderation. It wasn't started to bait anyone, either, it was just a completely stupid thread and the discussion that followed basically said so and then degenerated from there. It's those instances I wish for moderation, not on snark. Lastly, the tightened bolt analogy. Sigh. This is the exact advice my mom gave my sister before her first middle school teaching job. Start tough, show them who's the authority in the classroom, be swift and consistent with the 'punishment' so that the kids know what is expected of them, and then you can loosen up later in the year. Seriously. But I guess if there is a small handful who will behave like middle school kids, then I guess we all have to 'pay' by having a finger shaken at us. But, in the end, I come back to read about baseball. It's really nice to have a place to do that and to 'connect' to Twins fans when I live among a sea of White Sox fans. I even once had a parking space in my building next to Kenny Williams. He since moved but he's an ass when you are a 'nobody' to him. And he almost ran over me and my niece with his Hummer. And that says it all.

How is that a blending of classical with electronica? Because she has an electric violin? It sounds more like she's fiddling and not playing classical violin. She took lessons as a kid but she isn't truly classically trained. Not that it's bad, but it's hardly a mesh with classical imo.

In general I am not a fan of cencorship. I'm not a fan of intentional attacks and uncivility, either. Snark can be quite humorous and has its place as well. But it just seems that everyone's 'line' on this is different, moderators as well as users. For me the rule shouldn't be more moderation but maybe a general 'lighten up' as well. If you are going to post ideas, be prepared for someone to disagree and pick it apart and don't get so serious and defensive about it. I think there are some very fine baseball minds, and some genuine fine minds, period, on here and I enjoy reading it all; but if you are going to take it too personally and too seriously, well, it becomes a problem for all of us. (Moderation in all things, eh?) For me it's not so much the snarky replies that degenerate a thread, it's the lack of being able to see it for what it is and not being able to shrug it off and move on that is the problem. Yes, there are personal attacks in there, and yes, let's just grow up a little and refrain; but some take the general humor as a personal attack when it's not, or can't see beyond for what it is. Not to mention that there are a few times where there is a completely inane post. What I said above, sometimes you have to call a spade a spade. If degrees of snark and uncivility are being moderated, I'd hope that inanity might be a bit, too.

Although he likely would be completely misunderstood and banned within a day.

I'll be at the game in Florida ... hahahaha ... suckers!

Yeah ... if 'forced' to pick one, I'd pick Killebrew, too. He was my favorite growing up. (Yeah, am an oldie, but goodie, too.) Just is interesting to see the 'generational' sidings on this informal 'poll.'

I think Dave has a point. The fine line is so arbitrary and in vastly different places for each of you. While I think that in the heat of discussion some can step over the line, that has to be distinguished from someone's general demeanor. It is difficult on here to determine tone and intent. And sometimes I think you just have to call out the fool. I don't think someone should be banned for calling a spade a spade but that also shouldn't be an every day occurrence.

Why does there have to be just one? Killebrew, Puckett, Mauer ... three different generations, three different Mr. Twins.

With Bowie no one should be surprised. It's Bowie. Although I haven't heard it yet. Still, it's Bowie.

The handicapped parking fills up fast at Hammond, and then, well, good luck. It's very difficult there when dealing with someone with serious mobility issues, like my dad. But as always, have learned a few 'tricks' to get around it.

It seems fixed for me. I only looked at one article from the front page but all seemed fine.

All so great ... am getting antsy for my trip down. Unfortunately only for a week this year. Love this line ... "Quite the "past and future" dynamic in play there." Sums up one of the reasons I love Spring Training as much as I do. All the memories and hope all in one.

In my world he's very famous, and his 'victory' over the 'cold war Soveit Union' (in 1958) was as great as the U.S. hockey victory in 1980; again, in my world. Wouldn't be truly surprising someone else was familiar with him. However, he was a very famous person that announced in late August that he had bone cancer. wouldn't take much, when compiling a death list, to google 'famous people with cancer' and come up with a few notables to put on one's list.

I've had stays from 4 days to 2 weeks that time of year. I think you will get out of it what you want in the amount of time you propose. You'll get a good feel for how it is and then can plan to spend a full week next year!

It's double that now.

On game day, go early. (I usually plan on arriving a MINIMUM of an hour before game time; usually earlier than that; depends on if I'm alone or with family.) Traffic is thick and parking gets filled fast. Gates open 3 hrs prior to game time, I think. If it's really hot out or inclement weather, batting practice may not happen or will be abbreviated. If you haven't gotten the line up on the computer before leaving (and you care) they put it on a erase board on the main concourse down the 3rd base side. Or you can just wait until it's announced at the game. If you've never been before, I'd go extra early and just wander everywhere. I'm not sure what activity happens on non- or away-game days. Plenty of people around selling tickets if you don't want to buy tickets earlier. And I've gotten good seats by waiting for any unsold handicapped seating which is released an hour prior to game time. (Not sure if that's changed at all, but that's what it was last year and previous years.)

I don't have a lot of classical on my workout mix, but this is one that gets me really working ...

No classical love anyone? I could never live without a little Bach. It's a good way to start and end your day, no matter what one listens to in between ... and I do listen to quite a lot in between.

Well, that gives me a very good idea what kind of websites YOU go to; still leaves everyone else a mystery, however.

I'm seriously wondering why all you men are getting this ad and I, a woman, am not.

Makes me wonder what websites you were on for that to be the advertising to pop up on your screen. All my adverts are for shoes.

An audio subscription is only $20 for the whole season, spring training included. (Listening at work now.) For me being out of area it's better than nothing. And I can play that and mute the TV when the Twins are in town playing the White Sox so I don't have to listen to Hawk.

Amen to that.

About the same topic coming up over and over again ... with mostly the same comments and sentiments over and over again ... by the same posters over and over again ... is there something the moderators can do about this? I don't think that forum topics need a review process, nor do I like the idea of censorship or stifling pertinent conversation/discussion, but sometimes these topics are beyond beating a dead horse and only help to encourage/create some of the 'bad behavior' these 'rules' are trying to discourage. Just an observation. And maybe the rash of this lately is just getting antsy for the season to start.

None. When I was growing up girls 'weren't allowed' to play baseball.