January 16, 2008

elijahin24- Jay;s leaving: Newer member quits over criticism of spelling.

posted by Nakeman to bugs at 06:07 PM - 49 comments

Eh?

posted by Ufez Jones at 06:19 PM on January 16, 2008

< homer voice> Well, FINALLY!! < /homer voice>

posted by NoMich at 06:21 PM on January 16, 2008

I feel responsible for Jay leaving. I started this shit because of something he said. I emailed a few of his comments to my daughter (she working on her PH.D on special education for disabled children). She called me back and said he wasn't being lazy but has the classic signs of dyslexia. Well, I emailed him and apologized again and got to know him a little. He's in the Army with a family and going to college in his spare time. To make matter worse he sees the beginning signs of dyslexia in one of his boys. Boy I tell you this is the lowest I felt since my daughter was diagnosis with cancer in college. I wish some of you guys would encourage him to come back. I feel like a real shit.

posted by Nakeman at 06:24 PM on January 16, 2008

Nakeman, if that's the worst thing that happens to you this week, you're in good shape. It's an easy fix that another member offered advice on to help him fix. Sarcasm and togetherness from long-time members are part of the deal on SpoFi. That said, you have adapted well. Take it in stride, and remember that you don't even know the guy. I also commented on his spelling, and I think he was kind of combative to you. (Not that I even agreed with you). We may be an on-line community, but we're still a community nonetheless.

posted by hawkguy at 06:44 PM on January 16, 2008

Thank you for that statement, Nakeman. A lot of the senior SportsFilter members seem to think that we newer members have nothing to contribute. Hopefully this incident will correct some of that.

posted by Goyoucolts at 06:53 PM on January 16, 2008

Ah, I see, you're coming clean. On the one hand, you had no idea what his deal was, but on other, you may have violated what should be the only rule in all of life: Don't Be A Jagoff. Obviously, since you feel so bad, bad enough to confess your sins publicly, you're not actually a "real shit." People who are "real shit[s]" don't know that they are "real shit[s]." Oh, and if penance is what it takes to make yourself feel better, then I prescribe three consecutive viewings of Juno.

posted by NoMich at 07:08 PM on January 16, 2008

Oh, and if penance is what it takes to make yourself feel better, then I prescribe three consecutive viewings of Juno Thank you father, I'll get right on that. NoMich-thanks for the laugh, I'm really down.

posted by Nakeman at 07:14 PM on January 16, 2008

How could you email him when his address isn't on his profile page? I'm sorry if I wasn't patient enough with Elijahin, but I got to that discussion 30 comments in, and a lot of the heat was of his own making.

posted by rcade at 07:29 PM on January 16, 2008

A lot of the senior SportsFilter members seem to think that we newer members have nothing to contribute. No. I don't think anyone has ever said that, though I can appreciate why you might feel that way. The truth is, there aren't all that many "senior members" left because it gets to be a losing battle to try to maintain an atmosphere free from blind laundry loyalty and name-calling. To answer Hal's repeated complaint that we're too tough on new members, let me just say he's 100% right. I feel like a complete cock running around acting like I'm somebody's den mother or like I should decide how people should act. And it's all the less rewarding as established members wink out, never to be heard from again. But what's the other option? Hal's Pollyana idea that a million mouth-breathing new fish will blossom into unique voices is crap. I used to firmly believe the anarchy of the web would result in gorgeous communities. As a counter-point, I give you Youtube. Because that's what happens to untended gardens on the web. They all turn into a shithole. It's the easiest thing in the world: stop weeding and new members will multiply like crazy. And choke off all the interesting discussion that brought people here in the first place. I wish there were a ton of regular members. And new ones. Too often it feels like there are no more than two dozen. But it's going to take someone with an ear for dialog to show me the gold in stuff like this. We need another World Cup. College football does nothing for us. And I'm sorry for laughing/ getting pissed every time I saw "aixelsyd" misspelt.

posted by yerfatma at 07:30 PM on January 16, 2008

If any newer members want to see more on the topic, this is a good example of our bi-annual, self-administered colonoscopy. And a thank you to rcade for asking the question on everyone's mind: how were the legions of supporters emailing our mutual friend to beg him to return?

posted by yerfatma at 07:37 PM on January 16, 2008

And a thank you to rcade for asking the question on everyone's mind: how were the legions of supporters emailing our mutual friend to beg him to return? Because he has 2 SpoFi names, one of which has an email address. And I wouldn't exactly call him a newbie. elijahin may have just joined this past December, but elijahin24 has been around since October of 2005.

posted by goddam at 07:47 PM on January 16, 2008

First off, Nakeman, I realize that you had the argument with Elijahin, but you've been nothing but standup since then. So please stop worrying about it. Second, I don't want to nit pick about about misspelled words or improper grammar. We all do it occasionally. I know I do. But, as a general rule, when a post has enough misspelled words, grammar and punctuation errors that it becomes difficult for me to read, then it becomes a problem. Where to draw that line? I guess everyone has a different threshhold. I don't generally make a comment if this happens. But I do understand that the site is self-policed ("Hot Fuzz" as Weedy said) and expect there to be criticism from the site members. I'm not surprised that there was criticism here. For my own posts, I tend to rely heavily on my PREVIEW button for editing purposes. I take pride in what I post and do expect the same from others. As far as this specific situation, I have a lot of sympathy with anyone who has dyslexia. It's a bitch. And I hope Elijahin does come back.

posted by cjets at 08:14 PM on January 16, 2008

I couldnt agree with cjets more. Nakeman has been nothing but stand-up. The beginning of this whole thing, for which he blames himself is the result of a perfectly understandable statement that he made, without all the information. He didnt have all the information because its a web site, not the FBI. Nobody could have been expected to assume any of the things that he learned about me. At this point, I hope anyone who blames any of this on Nakeman, can forgive him. Im relatively certain that the only person on that list would be Nakeman himself. I now consider that subject closed. second i will not defend my spelling anymore. I will not defend my lack of caps anymore. As you can see, i am making a serious effort in both departments. I will still miss one on occasion, i hope thats ok. as for my behavior regarding this entire situation, i probably did bring alot of the early part of this on myself. I still think some of you kept pushing after i had backed down (apparently surrender wasn't enough?) but that doesn't make it ok that i would get that upset over a thread on a web-site. the reason i didnt comment from october of 05, until last month, is that i was in a place that has very limited internet access for the majority of that time. Im told that since i've been back i get way to angry, way to quickly. This is the first time i've noticed. Again, that doesn't excuse my behavior. As it turns out, all the other sports-related blog/chat/message board sites, that i have found tonight, kinda suck compared to this one. So i put it to you: I would like to come back, if you'll have me. I will continue to try to spell better, and use caps at least at the beginning of sentences. im having a hard time installing firefox, but i'll get it worked out before i go to bed. My only requests are as followes: let me come back, and can we forget this other shit, and just talk sports?

posted by elijahin24 at 08:38 PM on January 16, 2008

By the way bo, im not from StL, im from Indiana. Im just a cards fan.

posted by elijahin24 at 08:41 PM on January 16, 2008

Sorry, eli. My false assumptions occur daily. So i put it to you: I would like to come back, if you'll have me. Aces in my book eli.

posted by BoKnows at 08:48 PM on January 16, 2008

Nakeman, you're being too hard on yourself. You emailed him personally and sorted it out. That's cool, dude. I don't think encouraging everyone here to flog you is necessary. (Cue the self-flogging jokes here.) If he comes back, great. If he comes back and stops screaming SELF RIGHTEOUS PRICKS, even better! But if he doesn't, I don't think he's got a hitlist with your name on it like Steve Buscemi in Billy Madison. I agree with rcade's earlier point on the front page which was: You can't call somebody out for "volentary ignorance" without catching some hell. If he had taken that in stride, rather than getting madder and madder to the point that he's calling us all "SELF-RIGHTEOUS PRICKS" for a discussion he started about spelling and intelligence, we don't get to this point. There was no way that was going to end well once he got really really pissed. He was going to try firefox as a solution, so that seemed all good... until he got really riled up again and wouldn't let the name calling die. A lot of us have flipped out on occasion. Shit happens. A lot of the senior SportsFilter members seem to think that we newer members have nothing to contribute. Hopefully this incident will correct some of that. Not necessarily. But do understand that people who have been here for 5+ years have pretty much seen it all. And out of everything we've seen and gone through around here, the guidelines were born. For every newbie who has something to say and wants to be part of the community, we have probably 2 who show up and scream something like, "FUCK THE PATRIOTS!" So if we're tough on you, it's not personal and please understand that. If your doorbell rang and 66% of the time, someone kicked you square in the nuts, you're going to be a little wary of the doorbell. YingYangMafia got his fair ration of shit when he arrived, but to be fair, he was a pain in the ass. Sorry, YYM, you were kind of. But then again, I think you were like 13 or something? Show me a 13 year old who isn't a pain in the ass and I'll show you Britney Spears making a rational decision about her weave... or her life. But he's turned into a good poster and he's like the little brother we never asked Santa for but we got anyway. Finally... Why'd he have the two active Elijahin usernames? Edit: I should have previewed. Welcome back elijahin. Sorry today sucked. Thanks for trying.

posted by jerseygirl at 08:50 PM on January 16, 2008

Thank you Bo. No appology necessary. I love StL. Im just letting you know.

posted by elijahin24 at 08:51 PM on January 16, 2008

can we forget this other shit, and just talk sports? Second that.

posted by DrJohnEvans at 08:54 PM on January 16, 2008

Finally... Why'd he have the two active Elijahin usernames? I got deployed before i actually got to use the first one. By the time i saw a computer with full internet access again, i couldnt remember my pass word. I thaught i was just using elijahin24 now, but i guess not. I'll look into it. If i can, ill close the old one.

posted by elijahin24 at 08:57 PM on January 16, 2008

our bi-annual, self-administered colonoscopy. While i dont like being the prostate tumor that's being removed, that is very well put.

posted by elijahin24 at 09:00 PM on January 16, 2008

Being a new member is tough. I'd liken it to being a freshmen playing a varsity sport. You're going to get hazed. But if you can make it through the hazing and criticism you'll find that the SpoFi community can be very welcoming. Like yerfatma said, no one here wants SpoFi to turn into a shitfest like youtube. Sportsfilter is our haven from the idiocy of the internet. I cannot speak for the community as a whole, but it would be great if you'd stay eli. For every one good new member there are countless ones who either don't post or make us wish they hadn't. You've indicated you're willing to download firefox and work on the spelling and that is good enough for me. On a seperate note, looking at my early comments is quite embarrassing. Very, very ugly indeed. Of course I like to believe I've improved. On preview: I was 15. Of course give me a little credit, I was new to the whole blogging thing.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 09:00 PM on January 16, 2008

BTW, No i don't have a hit list, and even if i did, if im too lazy to reach for the shift key, do you really think i have the work ethic to track down someone on the internet who could, for all i know, be much much bigger than me? and yes the caps thing is a matter of laziness.

posted by elijahin24 at 09:05 PM on January 16, 2008

May I say, glad to have you back and I've learned a valuable lesson. Put your brain in gear before opening your mouth. I'll always remember the quote from to Kill a Mockingbird. "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it". Atticus Finch

posted by Nakeman at 09:09 PM on January 16, 2008

That's not a bug, it's a feature.

posted by scully at 09:13 PM on January 16, 2008

Ok who can tell me how to get my firewall to allow firefox? Yes i am a bit 'puter illiterate.

posted by elijahin24 at 09:15 PM on January 16, 2008

wow. I need a tissue. The love in this place. *sniff* It's just something in my eye... "We need another World Cup." CISSE!

posted by scully at 09:22 PM on January 16, 2008

let me come back, and can we forget this other shit, and just talk sports? Welcome Back.

posted by cjets at 10:53 PM on January 16, 2008

I will not defend my lack of caps anymore. As you can see, i am making a serious effort in both departments. I will still miss one on occasion, i hope thats ok. Sure. I think we've reached the point we can all hug this out.

posted by rcade at 07:30 AM on January 17, 2008

[WOULD PREFER REACH-AROUND]

posted by yerfatma at 08:09 AM on January 17, 2008

What is that on my ass? That is my hand. Rubbing my ass? So what? Your fingers are up my cheeks. What you doing in there? lt's an orgy, Bob. So you can just touch my ass? I thought you liked it. - I thought it was her! God! What's the difference? The difference? You got your fingers up my asshole! Sorry. Fuck you very much. Bob, I said I'm sorry... It's a group grope!

posted by NoMich at 09:21 AM on January 17, 2008

No World Cup, but hey, the Olympics are coming. Though with that grip, anonymous person behind me, I sure as hell ain't.

posted by chicobangs at 09:31 AM on January 17, 2008

CISSE! terrapin Much love all around yall!

posted by Folkways at 09:34 AM on January 17, 2008

You guys misspelled some stuff.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 10:00 AM on January 17, 2008

Ax please.

posted by yerfatma at 10:19 AM on January 17, 2008

I sent an email via Contact Us in regards to that account yesterday after his first comment... Bishop-y no?

posted by jerseygirl at 10:27 AM on January 17, 2008

I don't think so. I didn't notice any mass posting of fanatical comments criticizing SpoFi.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 10:57 AM on January 17, 2008

He doesn't start out that way.

posted by jerseygirl at 10:57 AM on January 17, 2008

What jerseygirl said. The misogyny is a possible giveaway too. Worth keeping an eye on, anyway.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 11:18 AM on January 17, 2008

In his last rant, he told me to shut up and remember "a womans place" so... the parallels are interesting.

posted by jerseygirl at 11:31 AM on January 17, 2008

The Oxygen Network?

posted by yerfatma at 11:36 AM on January 17, 2008

Lifetime Movie Network, actually.

posted by jerseygirl at 11:46 AM on January 17, 2008

In his last rant, he told me to shut up and remember "a womans place" so... the parallels are interesting. Telling phrase; if I'm not mistaken, way back when he flamed Yang and told him to stay in "a child's place".

posted by lil_brown_bat at 12:21 PM on January 17, 2008

I sent an email via Contact Us in regards to that account yesterday after his first comment... Bishop-y no? Wow, maybe I am getting smarter in my old age. As soon as I read that first comment, some strange voice in my head just screamed ''BISHOP'' at me. Not one of my regular inside my head voices, but a different one, does that signify something? Elijahin: I'm glad you're staying, you have something to contribute. I appreciate the effort you're making with the caps, and hey, we all misspell on occasion, and if you miss a cap here or there, I don't think anyone is going to get on you about it. It's kind of like life, as long as you make the effort, that's what matters, thank you for doing so.

posted by tommybiden at 12:42 PM on January 17, 2008

But it's going to take someone with an ear for dialog to show me the gold in stuff like this. May I submit the following? there not squeling on their athletes, their keeping their butts clean. Do I have an ear or what!?

posted by tselson at 01:21 PM on January 17, 2008

Telling phrase; if I'm not mistaken, way back when he flamed Yang and told him to stay in "a child's place". I was just reading that thread today actually.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 01:22 PM on January 17, 2008

Do I have an ear or what!? Two, even.

posted by yerfatma at 01:25 PM on January 17, 2008

Wow! Sounds like i missed a lot today!

posted by elijahin24 at 02:08 PM on January 17, 2008

This thread in all its apologetic and then unabashed insider jokey glory reminds me why I love this place.

posted by trox at 11:35 PM on January 17, 2008

Red, I'm glad you could finally face the truth about your ox.

posted by DrJohnEvans at 10:08 AM on January 18, 2008

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