My opinion on the forum....

mnorwood

mnorwood

Moon
Silver Member
There have been some threads complaining about the quality of the forum.

In my opinion there is nothing wrong with the forum. Occassionally there is some silly over the top stuff, but the beauty of a printed median is that you can stop reading at anytime and move on to more desirable content.

There are a number of high quality posters on this forum, these include but are not limited to: oldhasbeen, jam, sjm, jude rosenstock, sweet marissa and so on. Everytime I start a thread asking a serious question there are many good responses that have impacted my game in a real way. I have also had the pleasure of having professional players give feedback on questions. In what other sport can you go to a forum and communicate with professionals without paying a fat fee.

For anyone who wants to talk serious pool "START SERIOUS THREADS" I will read them.

For the az bashers its ok to have your opinion and it is okay to talk a little trash from time to time. If the board is not what you want the web is full of other stuff. Happy trails...;)
 
mnorwood said:
There are a number of high quality posters on this forum, these include but are not limited to: sweet marissa and so on.
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Sorry, but I found this to be a bit humorous..... Please continue with your well thought-out thread. I'll go on to more serious things now....
 
mnorwood said:
There have been some threads complaining about the quality of the forum.

In my opinion there is nothing wrong with the forum. Occassionally there is some silly over the top stuff, but the beauty of a printed median is that you can stop reading at anytime and move on to more desirable content.

There are a number of high quality posters on this forum, these include but are not limited to: oldhasbeen, jam, sjm, jude rosenstock, sweet marissa and so on. Everytime I start a thread asking a serious question there are many good responses that have impacted my game in a real way. I have also had the pleasure of having professional players give feedback on questions. In what other sport can you go to a forum and communicate with professionals without paying a fat fee.

For anyone who wants to talk serious pool "START SERIOUS THREADS" I will read them.

For the az bashers its ok to have your opinion and it is okay to talk a little trash from time to time. If the board is not what you want the web is full of other stuff. Happy trails...;)
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NorwegianWoodman,
I couldn't agree more. The forum is no different than 2 years ago EXCEPT for absence of flame wars. Same questions, same answers, different posters (rotating).

I LOVE the access to the thoughts of the pro's. I LOVE the ability to quickly get info on any pool subject. I LOVE the high volume of members. I LOVE the camaraderie among the players I've met through AZB.

It truly is unique. I would NEVER have thought I would even consider meeting anonymous internet posters; but after my experiences at DCC and Peoria my opinion was totally changed. This is a forum where true fans and true students of the game lurk. Because it is such a fringe sport, the number of these people is quite limited; and AZB is the place to meet them. It will be interesting to see if the AZB room at DCC will confirm that the members here are the true heart of the pool fan community (I suspect so).
 
poolplayer32 said:
That's why you should check out http://www.socalpooltalk.com
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PP32,
I'm not sure I agree. At one time I lurked at CCB and IP, along with AZB. The number of posters and frequency of posting at AZB was so much greater, that I now only occasionally visit the other sites. I think you get much more "bang for your buck" with your time spent at AZB. The more members here, the better the experience. I'm not sure it wouldn't be better if there were FEWER such forums - you could get more pool exchange in less time. As we all have other obligations, maybe that would be good.

Maybe a monopoly is not such a bad thing.

Signed,
Andrew Carnegie
John Rockefeller
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Bill Gates
 
mnorwood said:
There have been some threads complaining about the quality of the forum....In my opinion there is nothing wrong with the forum. Occassionally there is some silly over the top stuff, but the beauty of a printed median is that you can stop reading at anytime and move on to more desirable content.......For anyone who wants to talk serious pool "START SERIOUS THREADS" I will read them.
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This is an exceptional post, and should serve a reminder to every single one of us that we each can do something to shape the forum. Some of us do more than others to set the tone for the forum. Here are some examples of how some of us influence the content and direction of the forum (advance apologies to those I omit, but I'll give just a few examples):

JAM is our reporter extraordinaire when it comes to the regional tour scene, always giving us a feel for what it's like to be at an event. I recall trying to emulate JAM when I posted about my experiences at WPBA Peoria, knowing I probably couldn't do so as well as JAM would have had she been there.

I sometimes report on a tournament I attend (in 2005, the BCA Open, WPBA Peoria, and the World Summit of Pool), but I typically report on the ebbs and flows of the matches and the most memorable shots and decisions, usually showing the wei table for the tournament turning shots and decisions. Because of this, my posts about tournaments can get pretty technical, making them suitable for fewer posters. I also steer the forum in a technical direction through my "How would you play this?" threads. In case anyone hadn't noticed, I like posting about shots and situations ove the green felt.

OldHasBeen and Hemicudas are our resident nostalgia gurus on the main forum, and they do a wonderful job of relating what it was like to be there in
the good old days when some of the greats matched up. They do a lot to keep us in the know when it comes to pool history.

Jewett, and Cornerman (ably assited by Colin) are our pool scientists, and they make sure our theoretical knowledge is always on the rise.

TheOne and Williebetmore inspire us by relating how they are living the dreams so many of us have, competing with or learning from the legends of pool.

Colin Colenso, Cebuano Ninoy, NipponBilliards and Bandido see to it we know what's happening on the Asian pool scene. Mjantti does a lot to keep us advised of the European pool scene.

These are just some examples, and there are so many more, of how some of us take the initiative to influence the content of the forum, but everyone who posts here has the same opportunity. If a pool-related subject interests you, start a thread about it, because there's a pretty good chance we all share your interest.
 
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Williebetmore said:
I would NEVER have thought I would even consider meeting anonymous internet posters but ... my opinion was totally changed. This is a forum where true fans and true students of the game lurk. Because it is such a fringe sport, the number of these people is quite limited; and AZB is the place to meet them.
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Same here. Our love for the game unites us all, so when we get to meet each other, it's always a positive experience.
 
I've been here since the beginning of AzB and I've seen it at it's best and it's worst.I used to post more frequently about tournaments I attended or held, hustles,action,inside scoops,old times & players,etc. and pool experiences, BUT, there came a time when two or three posters that didn't like me would would pounce on ANY post that I made and use that opportunity to turn it into a flame war or make it personal.These same people would take the 'opposite point of view' simply out of spite.I posted less and less and got defensive.Some are no longer here and others have held their tongue without the guidance of their 'leader'.There was strength in numbers and some sought approval from each other.
I like the 'new' AzB and I think Mr. Wilson is doing a fine but difficult job.I'm almost certain that some here will disagree with my appraisal,but I hope that it doesn't turn PERSONAL... ok? OK?
 
Smorgass Bored said:
I've been here since the beginning of AzB and I've seen it at it's best and it's worst.[...]
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I think you invented the internet Smorg.

I've met and played pool with you, with Bob jewett, with Fred cornerman Agnir, with John onepocketchump barton-collins, with Murray Tucker, with Deno Andrews, with Steve Ellis who posts under some name I don't remember, with Joey Aguzin, and with many others who used to post to RSB.

In the old days you and JimboCT (who I've also donated to) were the outliers, the ones who posted under fake names. Pretty much everyone else used their real names. IMO, this forum can only get so good as long as you're having a discussion with rackdude or hustler42 or whatever. I know that when I'm thinking about taking time to respond carefully to something or try to engage in a discussion that takes some effort, I'm reluctant to do it if I don't even know who I'm responding to, if contributers are not going to own up to and stand by what they say.

Anonymous contributors, like people willing to flip the bird to someone driving by at 60 mph, are the biggest impediment to this board improving, imo.

I started a thread last week, "What's with the fake names?" There were many, many responses. I saw lots of paranoia, and I saw lots of people comfortably wrapped in their cloak af anoniminty. But I saw no reasonable arguments for doing it.

Come on, the new year is coming. Before others can take you seriously, you should choose to be something other than a cyber crank caller.

If you owe child support and are hiding, or if you have pool discussion banned as a condition of your parole, then I understand. Otherwise, git with the program and put the weight of your SELF behind what you say.

mike page
fargo
 
The_Ref said:
I just joined here and have no problem. I don't know anyone to have a problem with. I've been a member of other forums before so I do know how things go. The topic of the board is really the only thing that changes, the people are basically the same. Without knowing the person that I've quoted or what they're talking about, in the other forums that I post on, this post would be considered baiting. I could be totally wrong and if I am, I apologize. The way you've worded your post seems to call out to the people that you had issues with. I've only questioned your motive because you said that you like the "new" AZB but it appears that you're trying to keep the "old" AZB around. Again, just an observation made without having all of the facts. I certainly don't want to end up at odds with the people on this forum but there's been a few threads lately about this topic and posts like this make me wonder about the motives of some people here.

I hope everyone here has a Happy New Year and I'm looking forward to learning a thing or two from the people on this forum.
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I'm definaitely NOT trying to bait anyone or bring back the 'old' AzB.I think AzB is just fine the way it is.I'm sorry that you misundertood my post or it's intention.Welcome to AzB.
 
mikepage said:
I think you invented the internet Smorg.

I've met and played pool with you, with Bob jewett, with Fred cornerman Agnir, with John onepocketchump barton-collins, with Murray Tucker, with Deno Andrews, with Steve Ellis who posts under some name I don't remember, with Joey Aguzin, and with many others who used to post to RSB.

In the old days you and JimboCT (who I've also donated to) were the outliers, the ones who posted under fake names. Pretty much everyone else used their real names. IMO, this forum can only get so good as long as you're having a discussion with rackdude or hustler42 or whatever. I know that when I'm thinking about taking time to respond carefully to something or try to engage in a discussion that takes some effort, I'm reluctant to do it if I don't even know who I'm responding to, if contributers are not going to own up to and stand by what they say.

Anonymous contributors, like people willing to flip the bird to someone driving by at 60 mph, are the biggest impediment to this board improving, imo.

I started a thread last week, "What's with the fake names?" There were many, many responses. I saw lots of paranoia, and I saw lots of people comfortably wrapped in their cloak af anoniminty. But I saw no reasonable arguments for doing it.

Come on, the new year is coming. Before others can take you seriously, you should choose to be something other than a cyber crank caller.

If you owe child support and are hiding, or if you have pool discussion banned as a condition of your parole, then I understand. Otherwise, git with the program and put the weight of your SELF behind what you say.

mike page
fargo
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Mike, there are some crazy whacko nutcases online.Some devote alot of time trying to find out a persons name simply to make their life miserable.Some are obsessed beyond reason.While I may use Smorgass Bored (Doug) online,there are nearly 100 people online that know my entire name and respect me enough to keep it to themselves.They figure that anyone I want to have my name already has it.I'm not hard to find and I've played pool with about 50 people over the years that I've met from these forums/ngs (including you).My wife,children and grandchildren are NOT a part of this online life and I don't intend to subject them to any foolishness from the few obsessed jerks that I've tangled with over the past eight years.If someone has issues with me and wants to take it up close & personal,they can come to Tampa and meet me at Planet 9-Ball.If this doesn't meet with your approval,that's just too bad.I don't owe anyone any money and my probation period is over with.Thanks for thinking of me.Happy New Year
(Btw, I also have played pool with/against John Collins Barton,Murray Tucker,Bob Jewett,Joey Aguzin,you,etc. and none of them had to run a background check on me or pull school records,credit score, marriages-divorces,arrests,jobs or whatever)
 
I do appreciate the support.

There are things we are trying to improve. Next week, the things we're working on may be different than today's issues.

The thing is, it will always be Something that we need to work on.

It has come to my attention that there are people on RSB who want to come to our board to stir the pot.

It's just a word to the wise, please don't.

On that note, I realize that there are people who were truly offended and feel that if RSB is for bottom feeders and they post there, by default, I would have called them a bottom feeder.

For the innocent and genuine people there, I appologise.

There is a contengent amoung almost any board who are lookig for nothing but trouble.

These are the people I have issue with.

They know who they are without having fingers pointed.

IP's are able to be logged and if people want to "attack" as has been mentioned, it really isn't too much trouble to report these "attacks" to the offenders ISP.

I'm absolutely certain that if you take the time to read the TOS that was agreed to with the ISP, "attacks", either real or perceived if they are complained about can result in service being terminated.

Getting dumped by your ISP for doing something reeeaalllyy stupid would be a bummer.

Really, please don't do it.



Dave
 
Things have really improved here lately which is great to see, as long as we have posters like SJM, Colin, Mjantti, etc. posting here the forum will continue to be the best on the net. Now we just need to get the v-bookie going again....
 
I've been here just a little while myself....I used to post at Seybert's forum but it seemed to have dried up....:(

I like this forum here much better...though the bickering gets old quick...
________
 
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Williebetmore said:
PP32,
Originally Posted by poolplayer32
That's why you should check out http://www.socalpooltalk.com
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I'm not sure I agree. At one time I lurked at CCB and IP, along with AZB. The number of posters and frequency of posting at AZB was so much greater, that I now only occasionally visit the other sites. I think you get much more "bang for your buck" with your time spent at AZB. The more members here, the better the experience. I'm not sure it wouldn't be better if there were FEWER such forums - you could get more pool exchange in less time. As we all have other obligations, maybe that would be good.

Maybe a monopoly is not such a bad thing.
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Every forum has something to offer.
 
Jerry OC said:
Every forum has something to offer.
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Jerry,
Absolutely true. We're just trying to figure out how to steal Popcorn, SPetty, Steve Lipsky, and Dick Leonard from CCB (and perhaps make onepocket.org a sub-forum here at AZB).

I'm a lazy SOB by nature (at least my wife has informed me that this is so), and I would love to get my pool info from just one source. All that clicking makes my fingers tired - remember, this is America, and IT'S ALL ABOUT ME!!!!!
 
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