Chico, I agree with you, and I think you have very valid points, even if I don't think sportsfilter has sunken to the level some in this thread believe it has. It's a little frustrating to hear hal's response condemning the whole of sportsfilter when the other threads were fine. When I got home tonight, there were 5 posts. Three were very good, 1 was a lazy link to a big story, and one was the bond link. I deleted about 5 comments. Metafilter style flagging is nice. I want it. I think it's great from the users end, and makes the admin end easier. But I don't think it solves much here. Sportsfilter is still small enough that I can get on and go through every new thread and comment in 15 minutes. The thing about metafilter is it's size. They have the idiotic comments, but because there are so many decent comments the idiotic ones are normally ignored. They tend to show up more here. As far as ignoring idiots, I agree it's not the solution either, though it does help. I've seen some threads that have 3 good comments, then one bad, then someone puts up a picture of a train, almost seeming to hope it comes true. Even though that comment will get deleted, and good conversation could easily go on. But I agree it's getting worse. I really feel, as I said before, the guidelines need to be clearer, and then enforced. I'd like the commentary to sportsfilter to be very high quality. I deleted a comment yesterday that was fine in content, but was basically 7 sentences in a row without one mark of punctuation. If a member can't be bothered to use a single period, or posts the words steroids in caps 10 times in a row, I really don't think they belong here. I think I'm wasting my time emailing them. There are other places where they would be happier. That's why I've said in other threads that more admins isn't the answer. The comments get deleted 90 percent of the time easily, but even if they get deleted 5 minutes after posted, they bring the site down. The solution to me is having a high quality membership. If that means closing signups until the bad are weeded out, so be it. Right now, the admin tools need to be beefed up above anything, which they currently are being worked on. I'm going to work on some new guidelines so that it's clear what is expected as a member. Better admin tools, clearer guidelines, and a proactive pruning of problem users would be even more effective than flagging, requiring email addresses etc. etc. (they would also help. they're just not priority in my mind). I think we've been too soft in the past. If you don't add the to site, if you bring it down in anyway, you should be gone. I'm not sure, with an open commenting system, it will perfect things in the 10 bonds/steroids thread we seem to have a month. Everything that could be said in those threads has. They're kind of like the bush threads on metafilter. Everyone has their mind made up, and it becomes a contest of who can yell the loudest. But I think for the most part it would be a great start.
Bonds is our Bush, that's for sure. For what it's worth, I'd like a systematic crackdown on abusive language. It used to be rare and ironic, but now it seems you can't walk into a thread without someone calling somebody else an "asshole". It's a form of agression I don't particularly like, here or anywhere.
It's a little frustrating to hear hal's response condemning the whole of sportsfilter when the other threads were fine. He does this from time to time, I've started to notice. He shows up, grabs everyone's underwear from behind, yanks vertically in forceful motion and then leaves.
Like putting the heads of criminals on pikes in front of the city walls to let visitors [know] there's a low tolerance for fucking around? Oooh! I like that idea! Me too, and to extend the city wall analogy, I'd put it at the very top of the signup page. "The following fuckwits* have had their accounts deleted in the past week for failure to comply with the guidelines listed below. If you fail to comply, we'll yank your plug too." *See? I didn't call them assholes!
We're going to need to rework that last part. This here is Internet Country and some people might misunderstand re: plug yanking.
Yeah we don't want them to think Plug Yanking is a bonus feature for members.
I'd say, "Get yer minds out the gutter," but I know just how right you are re: the prevailing interpretation of that phrase in today's internet. "Fail to comply, and we'll yank your plug, you naughty boy!"
SpoFi: We Yank Plugs and Plug Yanks.
So... not trying to be an idiot, but if anyone is still watching this thread could you please explain to me what the use of the rss feeds is? I don't really think I understand them.
everett, here's a couple of descriptions of how RSS feeds are used. Basically, the raw data content of a website is published to a separate page, which is formatted for these news readers to pick up. They can be very useful if you want to keep up on a lot of blogs and sites by being able to read them all in one place. There are lots of different aggregators out there, some free and some with extra features. I don't use them, but I know a lot of people who do, and they can be extremely useful.
He does this from time to time, I've started to notice. He shows up, grabs everyone's underwear from behind, yanks vertically in forceful motion and then leaves. Its kind of a shame since he didn't seem so discontented when he was running the NFL Playoff Pick'em. But since he has apparently changed I guess I'll start going commando. That will really fool him when he comes back.
The first thing I see on my first visit to Deadspin: Hot: Baseball Chris Berman . . . You're leaving us for hot buttered Berman? /speechless
Where does JG get off slamming me like that?! Hmph... methinks she's still just bitter about that Randy Johnson paternity thread... Thanks for the props YYM, at least someone here likes me! :)
Thanks for the props YYM Oh. My. God. Looking at those initials, I have just deduced Ying Yang Mafia's true identity. Bonus points to anyone else who figures it out. You can't fool me, Ying Yang! I know who you are!
jg: you're great; a spofi with more you and less, well, some others :) would be (was) great. What I'm lamenting is not so much that deadspin is funnier than spofi, but that deadspin is more interesting; part of that is the humor at deadspin, but most of it is that the uniformly high quality of linkage, commentary and discussion here has mostly gone away, or at least been drowned in the noise. As a likely candidate for the category of "others," and maybe their king, I have no business commenting here, but I just want to throw in two-cents that I think may even help me down the road. Among Deadspin's many fine qualities is this link they provide to prospective members -- kind of an Emily Post on blogging. I don't know how much something like this would help -- I should think it would at least help out the well-intentioned of us who are having trouble "getting it" ...and I don't mean plug yanking. I really wish I had been forced to read this six months ago...
oh my GOD!!! He's the YOUNG YORKSHIRE MUSICIANS!!!
That's a great link, and Deadspin isn't the only site to link to it. I'd recommend that piece to everyone. ...including, Yes, Your Mother.
methinks she's still just bitter about that Randy Johnson paternity thread... Bitter? Not at all. Just found the entire thing rather telling.
Ying Yang Mafia? Or not...
Hey black hand, maybe your hand is black from having it up your ass!
That being said, I really, really don't want to know how that duck got brown.
Comedy: I do not live on the computer like you.
What in the world????
Ying Yang Mafia? Or not... That's him!!!!!
Tieguy started this thread and I am going to end it! My buddy (not a spofi member or with any knowledge that I am) recently met a girl through myspace (we are both predators) and she sent him a link with pics, which he forwarded to me on the tieguy.org url. I thought, "I know this guy" but couldn't place him. Now it all makes sense. Sit and Deadspin!!! And just for the record, I am like member 756 and always felt like a late arrival. Now I feel like I was on the Mayflower. Thanks for a great job founders. It may get ugly sometimes, but I still check back often for links even though my commenting has gone WAY down due to my newfound celebrity status. Hint: American Idol
Oh, god, TBH...is it time to start a SpoFi Asshat Hall of Shame? Can somebody please ban this freakin' idiot? Please? redsoxrgay needs to pick a new username. We should've made him switch sooner. /looks at watch, glances at calendar, taps foot impatiently
Hint: American Idol IS usfbull TAYLOR HICKS???????????
No, he's Paula Abdul. He hasn't posted much because he's been drunk on the floor, crying off his mascara.
Seriously, what the fuck happened this weekend? Who left the service entrance open?
Where?
redsoxrgay needs to pick a new username. We should've made him switch sooner. I think he did change his name.
TBH, I very rarely visit any more. The qality of posts AND comments is way down. There needs to be a seperate section for discussing match results and upcoming games. The focus on the site should be on interesting articles about Sport (sort of like the Observer Sport Monthly magazine), and the rest deleted. As to the comments, the moderators need to rule with an iron fist. Perhaps a system like MeFi, where it costs $5 to sign up would help. I'm sure it's a great way to stop the trolls signing up, and it would help pay the bills.
Where? Like Savoir Faire, every . . . where.
I must admit, as a Red Sox fan, it makes me feel a little bit superior to Yankee fans in that none of us (that I've seen, anyway) have resorted to the level of inanity that these two jacklegs have sunk to. There are notable exceptions, of course...Yankees fans that exude class and charm.
Can somebody please ban this freakin' idiot? I've been trying for that one for a while. Still hasn't happened. Salmacis I don't think this site will ever be like MeFi. While I am not a member of that site, I think MeFi and SpoFi are to seperate entitys. I myself enjoy sportsfilter very much and can't really agree with the sentiments of some of you "old times."
The question, grasshopper, is if that says something about the site or about you.
Like Savoir Faire, every . . . where. Oh Smithee again. Surprised Atheist didn't show up. He must be at some NO MAAM rally.
aww shucks. thanks t_b_h. but now i feel a little bad for pushing around one of your compatriots tonight. but she was wearing a pink hat, so i guess i was doing youse a favor.
You beat up a girl?
no, no. i was kidding. i haven't resorted to violence...yet. the most i did was jam my knee into the back of the sox fan in front of me, but that's just because she was leaning back too far into my personal space.
She was probably trying to get away from the horror on the field.
trying to get away from the horror on the field. God knows I was, and I was 200+ miles away already.
Given Josh Beckett looks a lot like Jeff Tweedy, I wonder if Wilco gave a really shit concert last night.
goddam, worry not. None of my compatriots wears a pink hat.