Was it Deleted?

[Gashouse6]

Was the Awards thread deleted? I was thinking up some awards:( I don't think it was hurting anyone's feelings. It was also kind of cool how creative the award names were.

Well, if it's gone, then: [{RIP: Awards}]

[Williamsburg2599]

I was thinking the same thing :( i think it was,but they atleast could of given an explanation or a notice or something.R.I.P indeed.:ughh :( They atleast could of held it around untill there was a possibilty somebodys feelings were hurt,I mean I don't think anyone else was going after the "worst knowledge of Western U.S geography" award:laugh:rolleyes:

[Gashouse6]

I was going to give out some awards like the Julio Franco award for longevity. Captain Cold Nose would have won.

[brewcrew82]

I believe that the creator of the thread deleted it himself.

[Gashouse6]

Really, I wonder why?

[Mattingly]

It's basically the main emphasis of this Web Improvements forum to either ask questions about the forum itself, forum policy, suggestions and the like.

The awards themselves were fine from my viewpoint, but since it didn't belong under the baseball forums, and since it didn't belong here, then it had no other place under BBF. Hence, the deletion.

If anyone has any questions as to BBF, any threads created which you feel are questionable, even if you have any questions as to the purpose of the various forums, or even where a thread would go, then those are the purposes of this Web Improvements forum.

As to the "fun" stuff, I, like many others enjoy those. However, unless there's a strong level of baseball content, I'm not so sure. However, posts from The Onion have appeared in BBF, so fun isn't altogether disallowed, nor is smiling at and treating your fellow human being here frowned upon. :D

[Reed Johnson]

Booooooooooooooooooooooooo!

[RedSoxVT92]

Was another post deleted too? I cant seem to find the Mascot Vote-Off Game and about 40 of my posts have been chopped off.

[RBi]

The mascot vote off game was removed, by the original poster.

It had served it purpose, and it seems some were trying to "make up their own rules" at the end, so upon the request of the thread starter, it was deleted.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Aww man, guess the Sox fans couldn't keep up with Youppi!, eh Troy? ;)

[runningshoes]

No..the sox fans were starting to piss me off so I disappeared it.

I spent the time creating the thread. AJ and myself found the pictures, resized them, put them together and uploaded them, so I wasn't about to have to tell the same person twice to leave it alone.

Know what I mean?

[Erik Bedard]

Was that by any chance... me? Sorry, guys.:( :(

[Williamsburg2599]

Was the "Reveal you age if you dare...." thread deleted, or am I just as blind as a bat?

[Erik Bedard]

Looks deleted to me, too.

I think the "disclose your first name" thread was deleted also.

[runningshoes]

God forbid we should all get to know one another around here.

I guess someone wants this site to be antiseptic, which is fine, but it's becoming a drag..quite boring.

I know I'm finished putting so much time and effort into it.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

I think the "disclose your first name" thread was deleted also.
Oh come on mods, this is seriously getting RIDICULOUS!!!
Why delete these threads? Huh? YOu know, I'm sick of threads dissapearing with no explanation or trace, maybe you can go back to closing threads!

I agree with you Troy, this is getting out of hand!:mad:

Goodbye, happy trails ;)

[runningshoes]

Because this is a baseball site..it's not about us getting to know each other. We can do that through PM's..blah..blah..blah.

They don't realize this is a community and communities socialize..get to know each other collectively.

And the funny thing, they don't realize you young fellas are the site's future. You guys will keep it going. Its the posters that keep this thing going...without us..this thing doesn't happen..no hits..no advertisers...no money.

And I've noticed a lot of new young memebers.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

You're right, we are the future.

[Williamsburg2599]

They don't realize this is a community and communities socialize..get to know each other collectively.

And the funny thing, they don't realize you young fellas are the site's future. You guys will keep it going. Its the posters that keep this thing going...without us..this thing doesn't happen..no hits..no advertisers...no money.
I quietly agree,as I don't want this thread to be deleted too:ughh :D

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

It probably will be anyway.

[leecemark]

--This is a baseball site and the mods prefrom a valuable role in policing it. That said, I lthink the policing has become a little oppressive of late (and I have no axe to grind here - I wasn't especially interested in any of the deleted threads).
--Threads where people are getting to know one another and the site better don't do any harm.The mods should lighten up a little and only intercede when trouble arises or threads get seriously off topic. If the site isn't fun there isn't much point to hanging out here.

[Erik Bedard]

And I've noticed a lot of new young memebers.

There's the "big three" of young Red Sox fans who have joined in early '06. There's also a bunch of young Braves fans.

[RBi]

First off, the mascot vote off thread was removed because people did not play by the rules that were listed by the original thread creator.

Secondly, there is no reason for an uprising on the removal of the "what is your age" thread.

We strongly think we need to stick to our rules, baseball and baseball only.


As Darren suggested to the mods, if you all feel you want to get to know each other, perhaps someone could start a yahoo group for BBF?

that or a myspace.com network?

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

I'd gladly start one, is everyone here allright with me starting a group?

[leecemark]

--Our younger members may get a little unruly at times. The future of the game and the site depends on cultivating young fan's' interest though.

[Williamsburg2599]

I'd gladly start one, is everyone here allright with me starting a group?
Im not sure,I want to get to know everyone,but Myspace might be a little TOO personal.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Here, I created one at Yahoo:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/baseball-fever_group/

[RBi]

http://www.baseball-fever.com/announcement.php?forumid=12

VI. Appropriate and inappropriate topics for Baseball Fever:

Most concisely, the test for whether a post is appropriate for Baseball Fever is: "Does this message discuss our national pastime in an interesting manner?" This post can be direct or indirect: posing a question, asking for assistance, providing raw data or citations, or discussing and constructively critiquing existing posts. In general, a broad interpretation of "baseball related" is used.

This is the main reason the name your age thread was removed.

We try to allow some free room to roam, and in doing so sometimes people forget the rules, the rules state "Baseball Related".

We can debate this until we are blue in the face, but sometimes we just need to accept the facts.

Fact -
That thread had absolutely nothing to do with baseball, sure it helped us know the age of others we talk to, but if you want to know someones age, ask via PM. get to know each other there.

But PLEASE leave the open forums for Baseball discussions.

That will help us moderate at a higher level.

I understand this might not be a popular answer to your concerns, and by no means, is my reason the final reason, I am simply looking at it from the outside.

Heck, I even shared my age. :)


wilkerson_rulz,
I will join your group if you make a yahoo group. :)


Thanks for accepting this decision.

[538280]

I'm also glad to see many more younger members...maybe I even started that trend. :)

Maybe the mods have been a little too harsh lately, but on many other forums threads are constantly getting off topic and it is more like a chat room atmosphere (a la MySpace) than a good place for intelligent baseball discussion. I think the mods are afraid this will become like those forums, and that is a legitimate concern. New things like a BBF Yahoo Group won't do that much good. Sorry, Steve, but I won't be joining.

The site's future? When's that? 30 years? Listen, we'll be extremely lucky if this site is even around then, and older members will be constantly joining. The future of the forum could be younger members, but it relies more on older people joining this site for years to come. I don't buy into your notion that the young members are any sort of "future".

And if that future involves making this forum more like MySpace and less like a quality baseball discussion board, then I probably won't be here for it.

I'm not discouraging anyone, do whatever you want, but remember you're here to talk baseball, not to share personal information.

[runningshoes]

I agree with you Troy, this is getting out of hand!:mad:

I don't think it's getting hand; this site is just not what I would like it to be.

It was fun for awhile without losing the serious baseball discussion, but its lost a lot if what kept me here. I suppose you need a temperance of both aspects; much more of one, but still a little bit of the other.

I've seen so many new members chased away from here through rudeness and humiliation, but that never seems to stop. I would think getting a handle on something like that would be more important than letting members have a little fun.

What is everyone says, though: If you don't like the song, change the station?

Maybe the mods have been a little too harsh lately, but on many other forums threads are constantly getting off topic and it is more like a chat room atmosphere (a la MySpace) than a good place for intelligent baseball discussion.

Don't you think a comparison to an eventual My Space format a little extreme? We're just talking about the members getting to know each other.

It kind of scares when someone says that youth aren't the future of anything, and you in case you have noticed, these are the guys have been doing lots of posting lately.

These threads also prompt those who may be a little reluctant, for whatever reason, to get involved involved with the site; break the ice, so to speak.

We need to have a balance. The balance should, of course, be tipped to baseball discussion in a huge way.

Having said that, I understand the dictatorial nature of these forums.

[leecemark]

--I wonder how "Who are we" has managed to last so long? It is exactly the same type of thread as several deleted in the last week. I don't think it should be deleted, but then I didn't see the harm in the others either.

[The Commissioner]

The deleted threat that started this discussion was axed by me. I apologize that this action has resulted in hurt feelings and detracted from the enjoyment of some of our members. However, as CubsHub cited it is this site's clearly stated policy to stick to on-topic baseball related discussions. There are literally hundreds of other baseball related websites where people can go to discuss their personal lives, talk smack, and have more of those types of interactions. Here at Baseball Fever, our goal is, and always has been, to be a different type of baseball site. We aim to be the best baseball forum on the net, and in my highly biased opinion, I think that we are. I believe that we are because we tend to have more highly intelligent members who post more substantial and well-thought out writings dealing with the game that we all love than do the other sites.

The problem with straying from this policy is that it then becomes a slippery slope. We all agree that there should be a point at which the moderators step in and take action, right? I think that where we don't see eye to eye right now is on where that line should be. For me, I'd say that it is much easier to keep things from spiraling out of control if we, to quote Barney Fife , "nip them in the bud". By keeping all non related items off this site, it is much easier to maintain order than to draw another arbitrary line in the sand.

If anyone has any better suggestions for a specific and improved forum policy we are always willing to listen to ideas.

[four tool]

Commissioner,

Why delete a very popular thread after a year? That's not exactly nipping in the bud!

I don't understand the concept of intelligent discussion without community building. All the best classes I have ever attended included a shared community of one sort or another. The most fun I've had at ball games has been interacting with others and getting to know them. That connection makes sharing baseball easier and much more enjoyable. Going to a ballgame and not interacting belies the spirit of baseball.

Whatever happened to teamwork and chemistry?

If community is taboo, then this isn't a baseball site that truly reflects the national pastime.

[Erik Bedard]

AND the "What's your favorite other sport?" thread is gone too now.

OK, this is starting to bug me.

[RBi]

It is starting to bug you that we are asking you all to stick to the rules that we have had here WAYYYYY before most of you were members here?

Please realize that this forum is a Baseball forum. We have a "baseball only" rule, we do not purposing delete random threads to "bug you".

Good way to avoid this in the future:
Stick to the rules.

Thanks!
Sorry again,
A.J.

[Erik Bedard]

What "bugs me" is that threads that members are actively posting in are being deleted at the click of a button. Sure, it's not technically in the rules, but why wasn't this thread axed earlier? I have no problem with mods nipping the threads in the bud, but once it blooms, why would you kill it?

[RBi]

If a post has 300 replies to it or 2, if it is against the rules it will sooner or later be brought to our (mods) attention.

We (mods) discuss most threads before removing them. During this time, we also like to talk about baseball ourselves, so unfortunately some threads fall through the cracks. Like I said sooner or later we will most likely catch them.


"Bloomed or Blossoming" it doesn't matter one bit.

What I would like, is to ask for your help personally.

PM me ANYTIME you see a non-baseball topic, and I give you my word. I will address it asap.

Sound like a fair request?

[Ontarioguy]

AND the "What's your favorite other sport?" thread is gone too now.
Like CubsHub said, it's all in the rules.

From the Baseball-Fever Site Policy:
Most concisely, the test for whether a post is appropriate for Baseball Fever is: "Does this message discuss our national pastime in an interesting manner?" This post can be direct or indirect: posing a question, asking for assistance, providing raw data or citations, or discussing and constructively critiquing existing posts. In general, a broad interpretation of "baseball related" is used.


Also, I second the offer from CubsHub. Feel free to contact me as soon as you see an off-topic thread. I will look into it without hesitation.:)

[Erik Bedard]

I've seen the Policy and the FAQ section. I actually DID read them before I joined.

Anyway, I'll try and refrain from posting in the off-topic threads. Hey, I might even report a few!

[RBi]

Outstanding!

Having the support of the regular posters here is simply priceless when it comes to managing a forum of this size.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any question.

Thanks!
A.J.

[webmaster]

AND the "What's your favorite other sport?" thread is gone too now.

OK, this is starting to bug me.

I am incredibly sorry this has bugged you. I, along with the moderators, are constantly doing everything we can to keep Baseball Fever the best place for true fans to discuss baseball. There have been some "light hearted" threads that have gone by under the radar and the fault for those belongs to me.

For the past week or so we've been brainstorming a solution for allowing "light" baseball threads to exist here on the site, yet remain a serious place for serious fans. That solution will be in put in play fully by Monday morning of next week and I only ask for a bit more patience and again apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.

Sean

[sandlot]

As the mods could attest, I've objected to a number of closures, moves, etc., and have generally, but not always, done so in PMs. So I'm definitely in the "anti-censorship" camp on BBF. That said, I myself raised several privacy-related questions in a PM to the mods because I felt, and still feel, that some threads -- benign in intent and fun to read -- were open to serious abuse, especially if taken together. I refer specifically to identity theft. E.g., giving your exact age seems harmless, and by itself it is; so is telling people how you selected your handle, where your home town is, etc. Some of these stories are funny, some heart-warming, some self-evident. But many posts on BBF also include people's names, locations, personal identifiers of various kinds, and it doesn't take long before some people -- whose interests extend well outside good fellowship and who need not even be BBF members, just visitors -- could put that information together for purposes commercial, unethical, immoral or illegal. I suspect, though I have no proof, that the mods might be reluctant to raise this point in their defense, as it could give some people ideas, while tipping off others that they're actions are monitored. If by any chance my concerns, expressed to the mods, have in any way contributed to forumers losing something that has given them pleasure, I apologize. At the same time, however, privacy issues have a lot to do with my line of work, and I make no apologies if raising these concerns has helped, in any small way, to protect BBFers from identity theft. The fact that BBF does not have a minimum-post rule or any other restriction on creating threads maximizes freedom and access, which is good, but also opens an avenue to abuse. This is not paranoia. As it happens, on the very day that I'm posting this, I've also begun dealing with just-proposed legislation regarding Internet and wireless intrusion, to go along with other proposed legislation on covert surveillance, media intrusion of privacy, stalking, etc. No one wants to be a wet blanket, least of all the mods who work very hard on this site. But sometimes they have deal with issues that the rest of us wouldn't even think of. They deserve support for making some tough and unpopular calls.

[soberdennis]

I understand the rules and have always tried, I think successfully, to abide by them.
I personally feel that the Mod of the Philly forum was a little overzealous in closing the Philly ABC thread. Those threads seem to be very popular with other teams. But he called them SPAM and closed it.
Maybe they belong in some other forum, but not closed outright. They are baseball related, though in a fun way.

[webmaster]

I personally feel that the Mod of the Philly forum was a little overzealous in closing the Philly ABC thread. Those threads seem to be very popular with other teams. But he called them SPAM and closed it.
Maybe they belong in some other forum, but not closed outright. They are baseball related, though in a fun way.

Consider it taken care of - the thread was "yours" (started by you) so I opened it and moved it to the new forum we started just today for these type of "light" threads. It is now in the Between Innings forum and you and other Philly fans may continue having some fun.

Take care,

Sean