State of the AzB forums

[Deanna Michelle]

As long as you're on here posting, which you've NEVER really done before to any extent but suddenly are, the END never comes. I really don't give a rats ass who you are nor care to find out, but I at least know who one of your friends is and that's enough...you know the old saying of "birds of a feather flocking together", don't you. Knowing that you're a young loud mouth POS that can't play pool is enough for me to know. (now I'm chilled out...how about you, you feeling better now?)

For all those just tuning in to AZ for the first time...the above post is an example of what this thread is talking about and the troublemakers who start them. Stay tuned for later developments.....and have fun while you're at it.

Just b/c I don't post often, does NOT mean I don't read, or know anything about pool. THere you go assuming again. And if you don't care who I am, then don't waste your time showing YOUR ass, and trying to tell me and everyone who you think I am. That's all you do here. I haven't started any trouble.. YOU are the one that went at me. Hopefully, you'll grow up one day, or leave. What you think, means nothing to me, or has any affect on my presence here.

 

[drivermaker]

Just b/c I don't post often, does NOT mean I don't read, or know anything about pool. THere you go assuming again. And if you don't care who I am, then don't waste your time showing YOUR ass, and trying to tell me and everyone who you think I am. That's all you do here. I haven't started any trouble.. YOU are the one that went at me. Hopefully, you'll grow up one day, or leave. What you think, means nothing to me, or has any affect on my presence here.

My, My....I guess "THE END" wasn't THE END, was it?

That's not all I do here...I probably have more posts about pool technique and a combination of things from cues to thought processes while playing than anyone else on here. I also do things with people on PM's, email, and telephone directly on technique and instruct them while we speak and they're shooting.

What the hell have YOU ever done in that respect? What the hell have YOU EVER POSTED about pool, gambling, or anything that's beneficial to the group?
Here...I'll give you the answer.....NOTHING!!!

Hey...if you want to continue this, be my guest. I won't show my ass, but I'll sure have fun KICKING YOURS. Your choice...keep it going...or go ahead and start a thread that's pool related...or post something on an existing thread that'll enlighten all of us. I can't WAIT for a pool post....LMAO

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

My, My....I guess "THE END" wasn't THE END, was it?

That's not all I do here...I probably have more posts about pool technique and a combination of things from cues to thought processes while playing than anyone else on here. I also do things with people on PM's, email, and telephone directly on technique and instruct them while we speak and they're shooting.

What the hell have YOU ever done in that respect? What the hell have YOU EVER POSTED about pool, gambling, or anything that's beneficial to the group?
Here...I'll give you the answer.....NOTHING!!!

Hey...if you want to continue this, be my guest. I won't show my ass, but I'll sure have fun KICKING YOURS [ass]. Your choice...keep it going...or go ahead and start a thread that's pool related...or post something on an existing thread that'll enlighten all of us. I can't WAIT for a pool post....LMAO

I think that says it all!

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

As an aside, there are more potential consequences to adult content than those enforced by the government.

At one time I had a personal website that was adult in nature. It was not a pay site of any kind, just a personal interest one, but it had R rated content. At the time I also happened to have lost my job. I was having trouble making my rent payment one particular month, and a good friend offered to send me several hundred dollars to cover it. He was in another state, and sent the money to me through Yahoo PayDirect.

Because of the amount of the transfer, PayDirect's system flagged it for review. Ok, fine. My e-mail address had the same domain as my website, and they went to my website. That's apparently part of their review process. They then called both me and my friend separately and asked us what the money was for, presumably to see if we would tell the same story, which we of course did. After several phone calls to each of us, they agreed to put the transfer through - but then they informed me that they were closing my account.

They said that since I had an adult content - personal! - website, they didn't want my business. At first they stated that it was because they couldn't prove that any money sent to me wasn't for pornographic purposes. I said, "ok, what if I want to send money to my utility company?" They hemmed and hawed and finally said "we don't want your business at all."

Now, there was no money exchange involved in my website at all. And I don't even have the site anymore - this incident was a few years ago. But PayDirect has decided that since I expressed a personal interest in an adult oriented topic, I'm persona non grata.

The implications are many and varied, no?

Mary

WOW. Well, this all goes back to the reasons why it's good to have at least one generic email address. When I was running a poolroom, I would have to review resumes all the time and was floored by the email addresses people would provide. Really, it was more information than I ever wanted on a stranger! I'm sure your address is nothing to take notice in but it shows the lengths companies will go to review you.

 

[zeeder]

WOW. Well, this all goes back to the reasons why it's good to have at least one generic email address. When I was running a poolroom, I would have to review resumes all the time and was floored by the email addresses people would provide. Really, it was more information than I ever wanted on a stranger! I'm sure your address is nothing to take notice in but it shows the lengths companies will go to review you.

Yeah, I agree completely. I have different email addresses for different things!

 

[bgb]

It has come to my attention recently that the forums are starting to get out of control. Users are stepping on other users and claims are being made. So I guess it is time to address these claims and bring things back under control.

Mike

Personally, I object to any moderation or control in a website forum. It's the best example of free speech anywhere in the world and I think it should be left just as it is. Let the forum police itself by allowing the readers to choose which posts to lend credence to and which to ignore - intelligent people can determine for themselves what the truth is. I think you actually started a slippery slope by banning users in the first place.

Free speech is often a double-edged sword at times, but the beauty of it is that if the ideal will protect the opinions of those that we consider to be radical, off-base, or just plain stupid, then it serves as proof that the same protection will be there for the rest of us when we need it most.

 

[zeeder]

Personally, I object to any moderation or control in a website forum. It's the best example of free speech anywhere in the world and I think it should be left just as it is. Let the forum police itself by allowing the readers to choose which posts to lend credence to and which to ignore - intelligent people can determine for themselves what the truth is. I think you actually started a slippery slope by banning users in the first place.

Free speech is often a double-edged sword at times, but the beauty of it is that if the ideal will protect the opinions of those that we consider to be radical, off-base, or just plain stupid, then it serves as proof that the same protection will be there for the rest of us when we need it most.

Well, you're right in that if it's your forum you can say anything you want, but each individual forum "owner" can run it however they please.

It's just like the first amendment doesn't protect you from being thrown out of your favorite pool hall or bar because you're always starting fights or verbal arguments or for any reason the feel like.

 

[bgb]

Well, you're right in that if it's your forum you can say anything you want, but each individual forum "owner" can run it however they please.

Well sure they can - but my personal vote is for no moderation or controls.

 

[Timberly]

Personally, I object to any moderation or control in a website forum. It's the best example of free speech anywhere in the world and I think it should be left just as it is. Let the forum police itself by allowing the readers to choose which posts to lend credence to and which to ignore - intelligent people can determine for themselves what the truth is. I think you actually started a slippery slope by banning users in the first place.

Go spend a week (if you can last that long) over at RSB and then come back & tell me if you still feel this way.

 

[onepocketchump]

I liken this to any other public place. If I go to a bar I am allowed and encouraged to have discussions and spirited ones with the other patrons. I am not allowed to insult them, berate them or otherwise harass them. If I do that I will either be asked to tone it down, leave or be escorted out.

This is a private business and we are all guests of Mike Howerton. This forum is not our constitutional right it is a privilege. It exists ONLY through Mike's willingness to maintain it and the member's willingness to participate.

How many of you would continue to go to a pool room if you were insulted and berated every time you started a conversation? I am sure all of you have been around the guy who is obnoxious to everyone. You have probably said something like 'why doesn't somebody do domething about that guy.'

Well, a moderated forum is just that place. It keeps things from getting out of hand. Some people just use their time to be negative and troll. At home you use bug spray to get rid of pests and here you use moderators.

Want to see what happens to a forum when it's unmoderated? Go to RSB and you'll find the worst example of what can happen to a good thing. Larry Grindinger has single handedly ruined RSB, an accomplishment of which he is probably quite proud. No one new is going to want to hang out there long.

Right now this forum, billiard digest's and inside pool's are the best and most civil on the net as relates to pool. All the internet has shown so far is that people will tend to be their worst when there are no repercussions and on good behavior when there are.

So I am for this forum being moderated. Which means that I will have to behave as well

John

 

[blah blah]

-I'm so cheap I wouldn't pay. But this is more because I'm soooo cheap, not because i don't love the board. i mean, c'mon we're poolplayers: I wouldn't upgrade my cell phone coverage because that $15 could've bought me an entry into a Wed night tourney, a mocha, AND a pack of cigarettes. That's a whole night of stuff my grandmother wouldn't approve of.

--i'm interested in this new reputation button thing. How do you look up your own reputation? do you know if someone gave you a bad mark? and who here's got a reputation color other than green? is there such a thing?

--i can live with the mild diversions and tempers we're seeing. It's back to that whole family-community thing: since there are so few of us poolplayers in the world, we all have to learn to live and grow together.

--somewhere i saw a page where you could see a list everyone who's been banned, and go through their posts. i looked for it again but couldn't find it. i only remember that it was interesting, but it didn't bother me.

 

[Timberly]

Speaking of reputation points

Mike, I've got three posts that have been "rated". One of them says I'm rated "even". The only options are "approve" or "disapprove" or something to that effect. How did I end up with an even?

 

[alstl]

Darn, the big crackdown has begun. It's only a matter of time before you find out my true identity so I'll confess. My name isn't Al, and I'm not from St Louis. My real name is Raxdor and I'm from planet x-116. Pocket billiards is very popular on my planet and this is the only other planet in this galaxy that is known to have pocket billiards, so my son and I decided to visit here on vacation and enjoy some new competition. I dropped my son Wu off in Taiwan a while back, according to his e-mails he is enjoying himself.

 

[Koop]

I dropped my son Wu off in Taiwan a while back, according to his e-mails he is enjoying himself.

Dammit! I knew that kid was an alien.
No normal 16 year old kid is that cool under pressure.

 

[Nostroke]

Mike, I've got three posts that have been "rated". One of them says I'm rated "even". The only options are "approve" or "disapprove" or something to that effect. How did I end up with an even?

Id guess you received an equal number in each category.

 

[sniper]

Great post Mike.

Things have gotten progressively worse here in recent months and I think a "crackdown" on some of the more immature posters around here would do nothing but improve the quality of the forum. I couldn't imagine trying to moderate this whole forum the way you do (with a little help when your away)
and IMO this is a job that shouldn't be done by just a single person, sounds like far too much work for one person. Anyways, I just wanted to say this forum is definitely the best on the net. Good luck getting things straightened out around here.

 

[chefjeff]

just think a pay forum would be a whole different ballgame that wouldnt attract enough members to be worthwhile

if you only charged a buck to join you'd probably loose 80% of the participants right off the bat

Oh, I see.... I thought you were talking about it being technically difficult.

I disagree with you. The value players get from this site is higher than that from print magazines, imho. I forget what BD cost me each year ($30?) but I'd pay as much to come here as I do for that wonderful rag.

I don't think 80% would leave, but the troublemakers would tend to avoid the place and that is good for reducing the time spent looking for good info. And those that wouldn't pay aren't really very good prospects for the advertisers here now anyway, I would suspect.

Would you pay $30 a year to be here?

Jeff Livingston

 

[drivermaker]

I disagree with you. The value players get from this site is higher than that from print magazines, imho. I forget what BD cost me each year ($30?) but I'd pay as much to come here as I do for that wonderful rag.

I don't think 80% would leave, but the troublemakers would tend to avoid the place and that is good for reducing the time spent looking for good info. And those that wouldn't pay aren't really very good prospects for the advertisers here now anyway, I would suspect.

Would you pay $30 a year to be here?

Jeff Livingston

Jeff...don't you think that some of the good informative pool posters here on AZ might already be posting on other sites as we speak? They're free...why would you pay $30 here if you could get the same thing elsewhere from the same people for ZIP?

 

[Williebetmore]

Oh, I see.... I thought you were talking about it being technically difficult.

I disagree with you. The value players get from this site is higher than that from print magazines, imho. I forget what BD cost me each year ($30?) but I'd pay as much to come here as I do for that wonderful rag.

I don't think 80% would leave, but the troublemakers would tend to avoid the place and that is good for reducing the time spent looking for good info. And those that wouldn't pay aren't really very good prospects for the advertisers here now anyway, I would suspect.

Would you pay $30 a year to be here?

Jeff Livingston

Chef,
I think you are right; if it was free for the pro's, and cost the serious fanatics a nominal fee (?$10, $20, $30) perhaps it would weed out the casual flamers. On the other hand, part of the attraction here is the shear number of posters. On the IP site you might post and have 1 response in 3 days - here you can be sure there are 5 people ready to jump your case for any perceived mistake. It's nice to have access to people all over the globe. Perhaps international posters could also be free.

 

[chefjeff]

Jeff...don't you think that some of the good informative pool posters here on AZ might already be posting on other sites as we speak? They're free...why would you pay $30 here if you could get the same thing elsewhere from the same people for ZIP?

Because the b/s wouldn't be in my way, thus saving me time. Time wasted by sorting through troublemakers' posts reduces the value of "free" sites.

Everything has costs and benefits. $30 is cheap compared to the time it takes to claw through some 3rd grader's spoiled threads.

How about this?: Each post cost you 25 cents. That might slow down some of the crap.

How about this?: Each pro gets $x for every post s/he makes.

Jeff Livingston