Should there be MOTM???

[Francoeurstein]

Hello BBF. I thought it over with myself and having a member of the month sounds like a good idea to me. It could be most generous member, most helpful member, highest posting member. And if you do approve of my idea the voting will be like the top 100 pitchers. ex.
Voter number 1
1. Bob
2. Bob2
3. Bob3
4. Bob4
5. Bob5
6. Bob6
7. Bob7
8. Bob8
9. Bob9
10. Bob10

1. Bob2
2. Bob3
3. Bob
4. Bob4
5. Bob5
6. Bob6
7. Bob7
8. Bob8
9. Bob9
10. Bob10

Bob 2 will win because he has a first place vote and a second place vote. Bob won't because he has a first place vote but a third place vote, too. So Bob is the member of the month or member of the week.

[Ontarioguy]

This has been suggested before, but there's a fear that people's feelings would be hurt, so it's never flown. Also BF is about baseball and baseball only.

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure this has been the line of thinking for years now. You'll probably just hear it again.

[Francoeurstein]

Ok, thanks. *sigh* I've been trying to come up with a cool fun idea for bbf for months now and it is all unsuccessful.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

This has been suggested before, but there's a fear that people's feelings would be hurt, so it's never flown.

Really? People's feelings would be hurt? What a shame that they would lose sleep or self esteem because someone across the country or the world didn't vote for them. PC society wins :rolleyes:

For the record HankAaron86, you'd get my vote for goldkeyboard :D

[Francoeurstein]

Well I kinda agree with Sultan, if they're not voted then they can suck it up. How emotionally scarful is it to not get voted #1 on a website!!!???

[Sultan_1895-1948]

I think it would be kinda fun really. Most stubborn, best comedian, most knowledge pre 1900's, most knowlege NgL's, etc.. It's not about baseball, so maybe that's where it would cross the line, but if handled the proper way, and an initial notice was given that it needs to stay friendly, it could work. Then again, just thinking about some of the posters here, maybe it's not such a hot idea. These mods already have enough work, without causing a S-storm on purpose :cool:

[Captain Cold Nose]

I really don't see much harm in having a potm/motm. Just don't lose site of what the site is about. The biggest concern I have is not having someone's feelings hurt, but we start getting a lot of unneccessary posts from people because that's what they think is necessary to win this.
Self-serving goals should not be a reason to post on this site.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Agreed. We could pretty much tell if someone was "playing to the voters" and going away from who they really are. That would be pretty pathetic to do that, just to try and win an online award anyway, but...

Maybe it could be a secret vote, sent into a mod. That way nobody sees who voted for who, to eliminate the "hurt feelings" worry.

[Captain Cold Nose]

If this does happen, we should break it down into a couple categories, to cover the many topics we cover. For example, while your photos, Sultan, don't set out to educate someone trying to find out why the Reds can't seem to figure out how to develop starting pitchers for the last 15 years or so, the photo of Babe Ruth standing over Lou Gehrig's casket is one of the most moving photos I have ever seen. There's room for more than one aspect of quality.

[runningshoes]

Maybe it could be a secret vote, sent into a mod.

Sent into three or four mods. ;)

[Go Bravos!!!#1]

I like it, it would be a way for BBF to show appreciation for exceptional posters/users. Sooner or later almost everyone would come up, unless they rarely post, and posts are off topic.
Plus I think people would be happy for who won, I know I would. Plus it'd give a warm feeling to whoever won. To show that they are greatly appreciated on this wonderful site. :waving

PS. I'd do week. To get more people in.

[Francoeurstein]

After I get 15 votes I will do whatever gets majority. If you don't like the idea then just don't vote.

[digglahhh]

I've advocated the Mamber Hall of Fame before.

We just elect two members a month or something. There's no vote off or anything so nobody's feelings get hurt.

It would be nice for those who have been making substantial contributions to the site for a long time to get recognized.

Of course you don't have to have not posted in 5 years to be eligible.:laugh

The point is to remove the competition element from the equation and retain the recognition and gratitude elements.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

After I get 15 votes I will do whatever gets majority. If you don't like the idea then just don't vote.

Make sure the mods are cool with it, and it's a go. I was gonna vote for "week," but that seems like it would water it all down. Month almost seems to long. Maybe a bi-monthly would be best. I kinda like digg's idea of a "hof" too. Where would the plaques go though :confused:

[RuthMayBond]

I think it would be kinda fun really. Most stubborn, best comedian, most knowledge pre 1900's, most knowlege NgL's, etc.I'm still hoping for a "most annoying" category :D On a serious note, Bill Burgess should be elected first

[DODGER DEB]

This sounds like an idea who "time has come". IMO, it would take BBF to a new level of professionalism, one that all present and future MODS could strive to achieve.

c.

[Bob Hannah]

I'm against it. The site is about baseball and that is where the focus should remain. Moderators have discussed before, as noted above, and the decision was to not carry through with the idea primarily for the reasons noted.

As for precedent, a vote off game that involved members was removed shortly after it began. In this game there WERE expressions of hurt feelings because some were left out. I know personally others were miffed because they had been included without their knowledge and didn't want to be associated with it and were not asked about their inclusion.

[Mattingly]

I'm not too crazy about it, but if certain members did not wish to have their names included in this, perhaps they could have an option that they not be voted for. I believe that would at least allow people to bow out gracefully for whichever reason.

Oh yeah, it's "there", not "their". I've since edited the thread title and poll questions (but not the poll numbers). I also changed "should" to "should't" in Question 4.

[webmaster]

The moderators are discussing it as I type. I can tell you that my initial reaction is I'm against it being a poll type event. I would not mind if the moderators chose to select somebody on a monthly basis, but they would have to accept that as an additional responsibility and it would have to be based solely on the content & quality of posts made (not quantity).

Sean

[runningshoes]

If it's done as a vote for instead of a vote againt, it should be no problem.

The poll idea is actually the best one. We take nominations for the poll and then whoever is so inclined can vote.

Don't make the poll public.

I would not mind if the moderators chose to select somebody on a monthly basis, but they would have to accept that as an additional responsibility and it would have to be based solely on the content & quality of posts made (not quantity).

No one is going to care who the Mods choose on a monthly basis.

You may as well just keep it between the Mods if you do it that way.

Memebers want to be involved.

[Ubiquitous]

One of the reasons why I have stayed here so long now (is that a good thing?) is because the mods and creator of this boards have managed to maintain this site in a baseball fashion. This message board for good or bad doesn't get sidetracked into non-baseball subjects. It doesn't stop being a baseball site and suddenly start having conversations about some favorite movie or artist or college football or something that is happening in high school.

Everything starts innocent enough. "who is it going to hurt?" "Whats the big deal?" so on and so on. But the bottom line to me is this something that will add to the baseball discussions? The answer for me is no. Is this something that will draw new people to this site? Answer again no. Is this something that will keep people here? Again the answer is no. The only thing this does is give a shout out to popular posters which don't really need any incentive to stay. There here, there contributing, they already get a response so what is it going to achieve. Its a cookie with very little reward and with a possibility for some negatives. Is it worth it. Personally I think what is happening already is fine. Most posters who would probably win these awards get made into mods isn't that good enough? Are not mods supposed to embody what this award would represent. Posting thoughtful and inciteful posts in a manner that is appreciated by many, isn't that what it is supposed to be about?

[Captain Cold Nose]

The last few posts in this thread pretty much have convinced me such a distinction would detract from the apparent reason Sean started this site to begin with. This is a unique baseball site. It's not loaded down with a bunch of formulas that the majority of baseball fans find too dry to bother with, and it's not loaded down with people just looking to make friends. To maintain the uniqueness of the site, we shouldn't go down roads so many other sites have tackled without any true benefit to that site.

[Mattingly]

I think we have here the finest reason not to have such posts.

Some of the threads about forumers, I can tolerate. First names, that's fine. Interests, especially about favorite or less-than-favorite, yes. Pats on the back, not so much.

I'm sure that there are other boards out there that use such gimmicks, but to me, it's just that: a gimmick.

If you're here to talk baseball, what more than this do you need? Please, folks, it's not an "everything about everything" forum. It's strictly about baseball.

[Bob Hannah]

But the bottom line to me is this something that will add to the baseball discussions? The answer for me is no. Is this something that will draw new people to this site? Answer again no. Is this something that will keep people here? Again the answer is no. The only thing this does is give a shout out to popular posters which don't really need any incentive to stay. There here, there contributing, they already get a response so what is it going to achieve. Its a cookie with very little reward and with a possibility for some negatives. Is it worth it. Personally I think what is happening already is fine.

Very well put.

The feedback received from one's contributions ought to suffice and in most cases please those contributing. Members recognizing a quality post more than likely inform the originator of that post or thread started. A MOTM recognition wouldn't add anything of value to the site. The contributions of the members do add value.

[Erik Bedard]

I agree with everything Captain Cold Nose, Mattingly, and Ubiquitous have said here. However, if this motion were to pass, which I hope it does not, I am in favor of digglahhh's HOF proposal.

[Captain Cold Nose]

We did have a HOF vote a few years back. It was a different atmosphere at the time, and some feelings were hurt for those who didn't get in. Not that feelings getting hurt should be a big deal, and those who got voted in never made anything of it, but it really served no actual purpose.
Do we actually need a diversion like this?

[Sultan_1895-1948]

I stand by my earlier comments, that if thought about, and done the right way, it could work.

Having said that, I have reservations, and it's why I haven't put a vote in. Reading through some of these recent posts, especially Ubi's, has convinced me that the benefits do not outweigh the negatives.

I vote no.

[Mattingly]

My thoughts are that people will make their own thoughts and conclusions upon one another. If someone "knows their stuff", has "great links", "witty replies", "sense of humor", etc, those are all things people keep in the backs of their minds when sharing baseball stories, asking questions of, or even replying to someone, much less even *DECIDING* whether or not to reply to someone.

If someone is an excellent forumer who often brings some useful information, a different and quality perspective, asks or adds whatever may be helpful, then that's what said forumer is known for.

When we start giving out awards, going into categories, I believe that tends to falsify what people are here for. I've often gotten the same good feelings amongst people by merely telling them that I very much appreciate their post. If they want a pat on the back, that's what I give them.

Not only does it lend itself to being a popularity contest, I can see the post count increasing (like I should talk) :D, but the quality being reduced.

Since we're all here to share our passion, love and knowledge of baseball, regardless of our widely varying perspectives, I think it should be kept just that way. That to me is the key.

[digglahhh]

I certainly hear Ubiq's argument. This is not something I am particularly ardent about. I know that being a Mod is really kind of akin to the spirit of the HOF.

If we did do it, the HOF is the way to go because it follows the form of the game. We should take our metaphor from the game of baseball and not from fast food chains.:crazy

[Francoeurstein]

Enough debating, you have proven to me that their doesn't have to be a MOTM let's get back to old-fashioned baseball!!!

[Yankee Legend]

it's a great idea but it wont happen cause these mods will think it hurts others feelings.

[CuriousBoston]

No, no, no. Don't the mods have enough to do already? Put Bonds/drugs in a forum, put umpires in another, don't start this. Geez.

Have a HOF, if you must. Put Bill in, have him choose the next, have that person chose the next. Every few months or so.

Vision: people having a gazillion of their friends register to vote in a poll. 99% of us could care less, but just 1%....:noidea

The baseball season is just starting. What more do we need? Everything but ketchup on my hot dog, but lots of ketchup on the skinny fries, and any tickets.... :dance

[Captain Cold Nose]

it's a great idea but it wont happen cause these mods will think it hurts others feelings.
Did you even bother reading the other posts in the thread before you spouted off? But why change anything about your posting style now?

[Brian McKenna]

if there is a member of the month all my votes will go to members younger than 18

[Francoeurstein]

Looks like MOTM wins... I need somebody to host it with me any takers???

Anyone????

[Mattingly]

Anyone????
Sorry, there won't be any MOTM thread.

Thanks. Closing.