"Celebrity" Posters

[greeg35]

It seems like when people in the know post here it inevitably leads to conflict with posters. At some point posters either antagonize them (maybe to get them to give more info?) or think that the person (Gamel/Salome) or people (Agent39's clients) they are close to or represent don't walk on water or cure cancer and draw their ire. I like some of what these posters bring; but I'm not sure its worth the negative PR for the site or the heartburn for the either side.

Is there a way to maybe catch these connected posters when they start to prime them for what they will encounter? This is a fan site and there is the whole gambit of brash/polite/knowledgeable/ignorant people that post and read here. All (or most) opinions are welcome. If they aren't prepared to deal with some ignorance/criticism/disagreement/negativity toward their relative or player they should consider not posting here.

[Invader3K]

It seems like most of what you wrote about is the reality of the internet these days. Just like in real life, any large collection of people is going to have some jerks and some nice folks...hopefully more of the latter than the former. I would hope most people coming onto an internet forum have skin thicker than an egg shell.

[davego]

This is an example of why I'm happy to know nothing.

[Mass Haas]

I've seen it over nine years here time and again, and it's worth mentioning -- as much as we enjoy having the friends, relatives, and coaches of Brewer players here, it never seems to end well.

 

All it takes is for one or two posters to make a comment considered the least bit confrontational (even if it's considered that way by only one other poster as such), and before you know it, our "insider" friend says goodbye, why should they even bother.

 

I'm aware of one instance, one single instance, where a very close relative of one of your Brewers has posted among us all for several, yes, several years, blending in to the Major League, Minor League, and Game Thread Forums deftly and anonymously for hundreds and hundreds of posts. That person would never have been able to do so if this person (and we) hadn't maintained his/her anonymity.

 

I know we have some current insider posters who would like to be with us for the long-term. Although it may take some of the fun and "juice" away from our Brewerfan regular readers, I just want to remind these folks to do their best to maintain their anonymity. If we combed the archives, we could list far too many friends and relatives over the years who picked up their keyboard and went home under trying circumstances.

 

Too much drama for us all.

[Invader3K]

I'm just wondering if you're saying this is the fault of the general population here, one or two confrontational posters, or the "celebrities" themselves? Maybe the problem goes both ways.

[Mass Haas]

I'm just wondering if you're saying this is the fault of the general population here, one or two confrontational posters, or the "celebrities" themselves? Maybe the problem goes both ways.

No, it's not the same one or two confrontational posters each time, but the fact is that it usually only takes one or two of these posters each time. Is that partly the fault of those insiders who have left? Perhaps, but it doesn't really matter who's at fault, if anyone, does it? I just know things usually end up poorly.

 

I'm reminded that nearly any sports talk radio host will tell you that when someone agrees to join them on air, the best hosts will always treat that person as if they were a guest in their home, regardless of how controversial or topical the guest might be.

 

That's a great policy to live by when it comes to insiders on a message board, too. But the problem is that our insiders aren't being quizzed or commented on by a single radio host. There are 100, 200, more, whatever, "hosts", and it's impossible to have all of them follow the same policy. It'd be cool if everyone previewed their comments to insiders before hitting "post", and thought to themselves, if I was interviewing that person as a guest in my home, would I ask the same question and comment in the same exact way? But that's not reality.

[colbyjack]

Great points Mass. Going off of your points, I think the best policy to take when interacting with people online is to talk to them as though you were talking live and in person. I don't think 99% of our problematic posts (and posters) would occur if people followed that advice. It's easy to be an internet bully, or even someone that can't simply let a subject die without feeling as though they won when there are no consequences other than being banned.

 

I agree that many "celebrity" posters have to understand that they are going to be targeted, and would be wise to grow thicker skin when they put themselves on the line for criticism. On the flip side, I do think these posters should also be cut a little more slack, as they offer insight and information that most to all of the rest of us can't.

[1992casey]

This is what Fan Forum Etiquette has to say:

• Please give members who post "inside info" the benefit of the doubt. If we continually attack the credibility of those who offer that information, chances are we will stop receiving it. Expressing skepticism about the information in a civil manner is fine; outwardly challenging the member isn't.
• If you are an "insider" providing information, please don't use the topic as an attention grab. Followup posts should be for the purpose of answering questions and providing additional information. If someone questions your credibility, blow it off. Attempts to defend yourself don't help your cause.

[wvpowerblkwel]

I can tell you that all of us, especially from someone who watched the Brewers minor league Prospects from Braun, to Yo, to Matt LaPorta, Michael Brantley, Jeremy Jeffress, Zach Braddock, and Angel Salome, have many of our own personal opinions...heck, my opinion on the Lucroy/Salome debate has kept me quiet and lurking in the shadows since the young Crew left town here. But those things are just like certain anatomical parts, and none of them are wrong....so why does an opinion EVER need to be challenged? I think we should have a new rule, that if a poster starts a post with "THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION BUT", it cannot be quoted, debated, or discussed any more! Sometimes I think, from a guy who used to have first hand opinions from watching guys proabably 3 or 4 years before some of you have the opportunity, its a shame that certain folks can not take OPINIONS as one man's first hand account, and let it go.

[Invader3K]

This is a discussion forum, though. There is inevitably going to be debate, even on opinions. It's supposed to be fun and interesting. Unfortunately, sometimes things can cross a line, but that's what the moderators are supposed to be for.

 

I've said this before, but do we always have to walk on egg shells around here? Like I said earlier, there are certain realities of the modern internet that people should accept before posting on a public forum.

[TheCrew07]

A certain amount of cynicism should be expected with every post, but the "know it all" ness gets extreme. There are people that have to comment multiple times in every single thread on the forum just like there are people who pick their spots. Which way is correct? Is it even worth debating? How could one side prove it's argument?

 

Outside of a message board how do you respond when people attack your family and/or friends? What about at the bar? The situations wouldn't escalate like they do if people would use more tact and have some understanding about how they would react if the situation were reversed. It's unreasonable to attack players the way some people do around here and expect family members and friends to always take the high road and not lash out in retaliation. Too many times we the fans throw the first stones, let them bury themselves if need be like with Little Ben's dad, there's no reason for us as a community to pick fights unnecessarily.

 

Way too many people treat their opinions as facts, which is the root cause of much of this. I still spend time on gaming forums and sometimes I'm waiting for the "fanboy" and "leave your mom's basement" flames to pop up, and sometimes the responses aren't very far away. Honestly I think some bias should be expected and tolerated from family and friends of players inside the organization, especially on the MiLB side.

[kramnoj]

I've said this before, but do we always have to walk on egg shells around here? Like I said earlier, there are certain realities of the modern internet that people should accept before posting on a public forum.

 

What benefit is there to not walk on eggshells? What positive discussion can't be done, in a polite and respectful manner?

 

As far as accepting realities, there is no need to lower the bar to what the mass public normally does. The administrators can moderate behavior to a better standard. This site is better for it's standards.

[homer]

I completely agree with the "treat them as a guest" philosophy but its a two way street. We've had two incidents recently one of which I got caught up in. I felt in that incident our "guest" wasn't being very respectful of his hosts. I'm sorry but you are just a person and you are not better than me. Just because you happen to have a connection to the game does not give you the right to be disrespectful of everyone here.

[sbrylski]

I completely agree with the "treat them as a guest" philosophy but its a two way street. We've had two incidents recently one of which I got caught up in. I felt in that incident our "guest" wasn't being very respectful of his hosts. I'm sorry but you are just a person and you are not better than me. Just because you happen to have a connection to the game does not give you the right to be disrespectful of everyone here.

You're right. You lowered yourself to his or her level to balance out the playing field.

[logan82]

Way too many people treat their opinions as facts

 

I fault the readers. Almost everything posted on this board is an opinion. Almost nothing posted should be treated as fact. Just because somebody has a strong opinion it shouldn't be read as them posting something thinking it is a fact.