- 03:35 AM
- 04/19/24
This might be my American sensibilities, but comment deletion seems so extreme, and seems like something that is inherently an abuse of power. Again, might be the "Freedom, man!" upbringing, but something about being able to edit history as if a comment didn't happen (or even, that a user never existed), seems like a really difficult thing to have on the table for anything that isn't utterly exceptional. And I don't mean to be hyperbolic, but it just has a touch of Orwellian overtones to rewrite the past- even if well intentioned and obviously small potatoes, since we're just talking a message board on the internet. That it's "just a message board" doesn't mean it isn't unsettling when it happens.
Oy, if you think the removal of a pointless comment is at all related to some Orwellian overtone then I don't know what to tell you. From the time kids learn to babble, we've told them to be quiet if they're not being productive with their speech. I think sometimes it takes people a while to realize this. I think on the internet, some people go back one development cycle.
The day that something of actual substance gets removed, I will lead the mob. A slippery slope argument based on a comment which is purely antagonistic doesn't make me want to run to the barn and grab my pitchfork. There are degrees to which discourse gets more productive without antagonistic elements in it, and people on the black and white sides of censorship arguments frustrate me to no end. We humans can have a little censorship without descending into a dystopian novel. We actually do extremely well in the grey moral areas, partly because they're the only realistic areas to actually be in.
posted by dfleming at 07:05 AM on September 07, 2012
To be honest, rcade, you're most of what stirs the discussion around here by posting. There's really dead air without you around and it's much appreciated what you do. I tend to end up on the other side of things with you sometimes, but I think you're an incredibly bright guy and make compelling arguments.
I would've preferred a less inflammatory link from a better organization, but you're right, nobody's doing that without linking to TMZ right now, so you really did the best you could with the cards that were out there. I think my takeaway from this is that I should post more if I want a neutral tone to things, and that's probably not a bad thing.
posted by dfleming at 06:29 PM on September 28, 2011
I hate Google's invite system.
In real life, I don't get a lot of posh or exclusive invites, but at least online I used to be able to adopt something early and feel like I was one of the cool kids. Now, every day that goes by that I'm not invited to Google's latest and greatest cool club, I feel like more and more of a schlub.
posted by dfleming at 09:57 AM on July 03, 2011
posted by yerfatma to bugs bags.
Fixed that for you.
posted by dfleming at 03:19 PM on April 02, 2011
BTW, those people who post on the Drudge Retort are fucking lunatics.
If this is where we finally ask rcade which of his children he likes best, I'll get the popcorn.
posted by dfleming at 08:02 AM on December 16, 2009
Please note that I'm expecting the people who get this free book to teach themselves Java in a single contiguous 24-hour period. For too long, Sams has coddled readers who devote one hour a day to a subject and learn it at their leisure.
Heh.
posted by dfleming at 04:44 PM on December 14, 2009
I figured the SpoFi server was located in a time zone that was just dealing with Y2K. PHP messages make the littlest thing sound like you deleted its brain or something.
posted by dfleming at 10:12 AM on December 13, 2009
It's one of several new predictive features.
It's one of several new predictive features.
No it isn't, you asshat.
posted by Administrator at Immediately on December 04
posted by dfleming at 03:58 PM on December 04, 2009
Whoa. I don't understand the pile-on on kerrycindy.
There's nothing like a consensus opinion to change someone's mind.
posted by dfleming at 10:55 AM on November 07, 2009
tahoemoj, i could care less how long you have been on here.
It's not at all helping your point that you're combative about it. You've insulted several people's intelligence without any grounds to do so, despite mod intervention you continue to push your point and you show no care for the community in the least. The fact you haven't been banned is a testament to the patience of the admins.
There are 159 million mentions of the word Fuck on Google. Perhaps your son should not be on the internet if he's so impressionable.
Signed,
4.0 Fucking GPA.
posted by dfleming at 02:42 PM on November 05, 2009
I have absolutely no use for either of those services but I also can't see them hurting the huddle.
* - Also a big fan of the huddle.
posted by dfleming at 07:14 PM on October 29, 2009
It's Camus and it's The Fall. Literary competition on SpoFi? That's technically a sport, right?
posted by dfleming at 07:24 AM on October 01, 2009
It's just hard to imagine that won't go terribly wrong and result in a site with just 10 super-intelligent members who all talk like Sheldon on Big Bang and then plot world domination.
*registers sportsfiltercabal.org*
posted by dfleming at 02:38 PM on September 30, 2009
Plus the whole "If you want to weed me out, just fucking pull the plug on my ass" martyrdom thing really gets my goat. Nobody even remotely suggested that.
posted by dfleming at 10:07 AM on September 30, 2009
It seems like an absolutely huge overreaction. The commenter admits to not reading all the comments and not liking the post from the start. It's skimming for confirmation of something you already think you know. It's being a bad community member by not caring enough about the opinions of the members to want to know what they have to say.
To date, I've battled with rcade over a ton of issues here but he's fair and rarely (if ever) do I feel he's pushing anything with his posts. It's an interesting post bound to spark a discussion; perfect for SpoFi. Any editorializing of the post is done in the spirit of summing up the original article, which has an outrage slant to it.
posted by dfleming at 10:05 AM on September 30, 2009
pieceofshitracistanti-fanfuckbagmotherfuckers2 will have to do, then.
posted by dfleming at 09:18 AM on September 04, 2009
I'd be up for taking a Dump here once in a while.
posted by dfleming at 02:01 PM on August 24, 2009
The field in the Ipswitch goal looks crazy lumpy and lopsided. That's not an excuse (ultimately, on an unpredictable field, pick the damn ball up) but it looks like they're playing on a mine field.
posted by dfleming at 10:47 AM on March 16, 2009
That said, I don't think you're necessarily wrong either. I think it's a combination of two problems at once.
posted by dfleming at 03:45 PM on January 06, 2009
I agree, dfleming, but observing sports crowds over the last 35 years or so, I believe that A causes B.
Observing people for the 25 years I've been alive, I think people are just becoming bigger and bigger jerks.
posted by dfleming at 03:45 PM on January 06, 2009
Toronto Maple Leafs: Give Brian Burke a few years. Toronto Blue Jays: Open your wallets or trade Halliday and let him have a chance at the playoffs. He's too remarkable to play on a mediocre team his whole career. New England Patriots: Be smart with Matt Cassell and Tom Brady. Sign a feature back and draft defensive depth. Toronto Raptors: Trade for a wing. The Bobcats have been trying to give you Gerald Wallace; take him. Please. WWE Wrestling: Go bankrupt.
posted by dfleming at 11:50 AM on January 05, 2009
How about owners and players in professional sport make a resolution to run their businesses and play their games for the benefit of the fans. After all, without fans, there wouldn't be professional sport in the first place.
In addition to this, how about fans treat players, coaches and staff like people again. Stop the heckling, the out of bounds criticisms based on people's personal lives and the throwing shit at them while they're on the field. In short, sports fans should stop acting like entitled princes who throw tantrums when things don't go their way.
/ idealism goes both ways
posted by dfleming at 11:46 AM on January 05, 2009
While you're at it, pick me up a new keyboard. Mine's now tea stained.
posted by dfleming at 07:56 AM on April 17, 2008
I don't want to talk about it and you don't want to hear. You sleep with Nimoy's wife once and suddenly, you're the bad guy...
posted by dfleming at 07:04 AM on April 10, 2008
You got me. I'm William Shattner.
posted by dfleming at 12:01 PM on April 09, 2008
I am not Henry James, James Joyce or Joyce Brothers. Yall can stop with the rumors.
posted by dfleming at 06:32 AM on April 09, 2008
Thanks!
posted by dfleming at 10:43 AM on April 08, 2008
I just got a spam from ArmchairGM about his NCAA pool. Anyone else?
posted by dfleming at 12:01 PM on March 17, 2008
The end result, whether you want to blame it on the responders or the pissers, is that there's plenty of piss to go around. Is the consensus here that it doesn't matter and/or that nothing can/should be done to help the situation? I think, at least personally, things are nowhere near as bad as you make them seem. The signal to noise is still quite high. If there is a particular user you think is being a problem, please single them out so that the admins can deal with it. Your reluctance to point out all the pissing going on with links makes it very hard to believe there are more than a few concentrated drops of piss around.
posted by dfleming at 04:41 PM on March 05, 2008
There wasn't an argument to respond to, dfleming. It was an observation: the guy's retiring. If you're arguing for a simple observation and move on policy on things like this, sorry, you're fucking nuts. That's not a community; that's Google News. Sports sites like this discuss not only *the* incident itself but also the effect it will have on the sporting community as a whole. Favre's retirement will lead into a discussion about his place in history because it's the most logical place to go with it. Discussing the merits of his career achievements, numbers and reputation (which are, incidentally, in the article) is important.
posted by dfleming at 11:01 AM on March 05, 2008
I don't really think that because you have issues with something that's related to the topic of the thread, it's automatically appropriate and on-topic for you to vent in the thread. Having issues with the premise of an argument is where discussion comes from. Favre's retirement thread brings out a heated debate; some people see him as a hero, some people see him as a risk-taking quarterback who doesn't belong in the elite. The day of his retirement is as good a day as any for people to discuss that. It's not like the man is dead and needs a funeral procession of people saying how wonderful he is. He's just retiring.
posted by dfleming at 07:59 AM on March 05, 2008
I call for dfleming's banning in light of these revelations and as a celebration of member growth. Which I like to celebrate in my own special way. hey, if i could link to the 1000 thread, i'd show you i admitted i was wily on my way in the door.
posted by dfleming at 10:33 AM on February 14, 2007
hey, i tricked a coworker into signing up in spot 999 and he never posted. you do what you have to for glory. edit: his name wasn't jon stewart either. no, i can't get you tickets to the daily show.
posted by dfleming at 07:48 AM on February 14, 2007
*weilds torch and trusty pitchfork* hey guys, i'm here...wait, we're not lynching anyone? *lights doob with torch*
posted by dfleming at 10:28 AM on January 17, 2007
So what's the prize for being top Canadian, then? i built an igloo for you but here on pei, it was 8 degrees all day yesterday and it melted. sorry.
posted by dfleming at 07:43 AM on January 07, 2007
Wow....I just noticed, with the exception of the SpoFie Collective there isn't a Canadian member in the top 6......Just saying....... for what it's worth....... the czechs did me in, i thought they'd be a whole lot better than they were.
posted by dfleming at 08:02 AM on January 06, 2007
And to think this site exists for the sole purpose of discussing sports without any financial incentive is nothing more than ignorance. outside of your opinion, do you have any evidence to support this? if so, please provide some clout to your claim.
posted by dfleming at 09:34 AM on December 27, 2006
As I stated earlier, I think she is a coward and a know it all wannabe. This is merely a defense against her cowardly personal attack towards me. yes, i'm sure that the majority here see you as some sort of victim of a malicious lbb, drunk off power and rum, weilding her mighty sword of fury to cut you down based on your posting style. your only defence is to go straight at her as a person, calling her a coward and a know it all! get a grip. lbb pointed out something you are doing and you went at something she is. if you can't see the difference there, perhaps you don't belong on the internet. or in society. This is a forum for sports. It should be fun. I can deal with the "people" who are way to serious about the rules. I just can't deal with them when they unnecessarily jump all over others with the "I am your parent" attitude. it's funny how in my 3 years here that i've had a ton of fun and never felt like a child. perhaps, you know, you could take the advice to heart instead of taking it as a personal insult?
posted by dfleming at 08:59 AM on December 27, 2006
panteeze, i would doubt that if you're able to go on such a self-serving diatribe like that about one of the most active and respected members of this community that you're doing much for those "pressing issues in this world". (after all, you're here now, aren't you?) she might not have been one of the founders of this site but lbb's been one of those most active in preventing this from becoming another "your team sucks, mine rules" sports forum. she's keeping this place as a somewhat intellectual sports forum, something that unfortunately requires a whole lot more adherence to the rules than other types of sites do. so kindly and repeatedly sod the hell off.
posted by dfleming at 08:30 AM on December 27, 2006
I thought christmas day would be quiet. I then deleted a link that shouldn't have been deleted. Bad day. Back to the grind. i remember this place when it wasn't so OVERMODERATED. too soon?
posted by dfleming at 01:04 PM on December 26, 2006
Christ, baseball prospectus has taken the fun completely out of baseball.
posted by dfleming at 10:08 AM on October 16, 2006
Speaking of cats who are on fire, volfire's got it going on.
posted by dfleming at 01:10 PM on May 20, 2005
I'd say Westbrook; Baltimore is going to focus on taking away the run and making Big Ben pass. Westbrook's game should still be effective, even without T.O.
posted by dfleming at 06:07 PM on December 24, 2004
I have 2 invites to give out. I'd love a mix tape or CD but I'm definitely not going to require it. Email me.
posted by dfleming at 08:44 PM on June 11, 2004
You can't tilt a video game console. See, you never had one of those PS1's who would slowly die by having to be on an tilt in order to play the game correctly. That, in itself, was a challenge. The games weren't so cool. NES 4ever.
posted by dfleming at 12:59 PM on April 01, 2004
Is this something I'd need to own a computer to know about?
posted by dfleming at 10:36 PM on March 31, 2004
jgirl, re-reading the thread I think you're right. Consider my comment retracted, except the missing part.
posted by dfleming at 07:54 AM on March 31, 2004
Well, in the irish thread, I can say that I see what he's saying but he just didn't know when to accept that certain people weren't going to get it. It's something that plagues interweb discussion; despite how right you might think you are, chances are someone else isn't going to get it and you've just got to move on. Arguments are rarely won on the web and there are a lot of people who can't accept that. Sad to see garfield go, while I butted heads with him once or twice on issues, I found garfield's arguments to be pretty well thought out and his contributions to SpoFi will be missed.
posted by dfleming at 01:15 PM on March 29, 2004
Wicked, thanks yerfatma. I searched high and low and could find nary a mention.
posted by dfleming at 12:02 PM on March 29, 2004
Wow, I can't even believe there are 20 places in your nose to break.
posted by dfleming at 08:19 PM on March 28, 2004
I thought jerseygirl was considering she won last year. Ugh. I missed the first few rounds and ended up with David freaking Wells.
posted by dfleming at 12:22 PM on March 16, 2004
I just wonder who does some of the pre-rankings for Yahoo. I'd bet that the majority of the people drafting last night knew more about baseball than the people paid to do that type of thing. I missed the first couple of rounds and the pre-draft kiddies are just not cool at all. S'ok though, grum's right, it's all about the swindles and the waiver.
posted by dfleming at 03:01 PM on March 12, 2004
"Yeah, Moe. That team sure did suck last night. They just plain sucked, but they were the worst bunch of sucks that ever did suck. Sorry, Moe. Gotta go. My damn wiener kids are listening." - H. Simpson
posted by dfleming at 08:30 AM on February 29, 2004
Comment Editing
Not because Sportsfilter moderation is the vanguard of some fascist uprising, as dfleming would like to paint me as suggesting, but because it should just be a thing that's not done.
You brought up Orwell in an appeal to something larger than what actually happens here, not me. It's a common slippery slope reference, but you introduced a fascist, dystopian novel. I didn't.
Look, this is about principle: this site should not delete user comments.
But the deletion of content seems very problematic, on principle.
Where are you getting this principle? You having a belief does not make it a principle. A principle is a fundamental tenet at the heart of whatever it is you are discussing. You disagree, but argue based on the merit and logic you present, not on an appeal to something that overrides a mod's decision how they moderate their own site.
You haven't made any arguments here that contain any logical reason other than "it's not done" and "an abuse of power." In fact, it is done on virtually any website not called 4chan because unfortunately, productive discourse sometimes needs a guiding hand. I mean, you now ackowledge it was a dick thing to do, and (I assume) you won't do it again, so in theory this won't have to happen again...which is proof that it works.