Updated Comment Policy Thread

[John Bonnes]

For discussion about the updated comment policy:

 

http://twinsdaily.com/minnesota-twins-talk/5759-updated-comment-policy.html

[PseudoSABR]

I appreciate the changes. I'm sure others will too.

[TheLeviathan]

It's nice to see them posted and clarified, thank you.

[Mark_RM]

A needed update, thanks.

[John Bonnes]

bump

[James]

Thanks for the update. I appreciate the new definitions.

[glunn]

We are working on some updates to the TD comment policy. If any users have any suggestions, please feel free to post them here.

[Monkeypaws]

My policy would read: "Don't let this become the Twins board at MLB.com."

 

People should check their hostility and anger at the door.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'd caution on vague statements like "negative". It's really vague and can chase off good contributors.

 

I don't have a problem with negative posts personally. I have an issue with people (positive or negative) who knowingly post irrational things over and over and over again in multiple threads derailing them all into a *****fest when most of the time their comments are unreasonable... That's my 2 cents.

 

You guys have a pretty tough job, so I don't want to knock you, and the tone of the board has improved a lot of late, so I shouldn't complain too much.

[jorgenswest]

Do the game threads serve their intended purpose?

[MichiganTwins]

I agree with the game thread thing too. Although, it is fun to joke about random stuff too.

[glunn]

My policy would read: "Don't let this become the Twins board at MLB.com."

 

People should check their hostility and anger at the door.

 

And you have also identified a better place for someone to go if he/she is more interested in drama and flame wars than in friendly, intelligent discussion.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Do the game threads serve their intended purpose?

 

If that purpose is to remind you that you're not the only idiot in Minnesota still following a game when your team is down by a dozen runs, then it worked great for me today.

 

Thank you!

[glunn]

I'd caution on vague statements like "negative". It's really vague and can chase off good contributors.

 

I don't have a problem with negative posts personally. I have an issue with people (positive or negative) who knowingly post irrational things over and over and over again in multiple threads derailing them all into a *****fest when most of the time their comments are unreasonable... That's my 2 cents.

 

You guys have a pretty tough job, so I don't want to knock you, and the tone of the board has improved a lot of late, so I shouldn't complain too much.

 

Thanks for this response. The policy allows people to be as negative as they want, so long as they are respectful of other posters. Some people have mastered the ability to do this, and others need to work a little harder at it. We are going to be providing some useful examples in the new policy thread that we started tonight.

[glunn]

Do the game threads serve their intended purpose?

 

At this time, the purpose of the game thread is for fans who seek camaraderie to watch the game together and chat as if they were all sitting together in left field.

 

If you think that this can be improved, we are always open to suggestions.

[Squirrel]

Do the game threads serve their intended purpose?

 

I think they do. Game threads are where people hang to watch the game and chatter. Sometimes it's about baseball, often about other stuff. It's not a forum thread or an article; it's a different 'animal.' Would you sit at a baseball game and spend the entire game debating a baseball issue in a manner of a typical forum thread? Or would you be sitting there with your pals, beer in hand, commenting on this or that bad call, good/bad play, in game stuff, while mixing in talk about your day, your job, life in general? Personally, I find the game threads refreshing after reading most of the forum threads. And for someone who is outside of 'Twins' Territory,' it's not like I can gather at the local watering spot to catch the game with a group of like-minded fans.

[snepp]

Do the game threads serve their intended purpose?

 

Short answer, yes.

 

 

 

Long answer, yessir!

[Craig Arko]

Do the game threads serve their intended purpose?

 

It would be instructive to hear John and Seth's takes on this.

[Mike Sixel]

abj and I chatted on this already, but at some point (and I am guilty of this), once you've made a point 5 times in a thread, maybe it is time to stop.

 

Not sure how this works, but once 2 people are talking to each other, with huge quote blocks, for a page or so, it might be time to move on.....

 

I like the game threads, they are light and airy, and frankly, this board could use more humor and fun. It is the one place to escape. Compared to the game thread on footballsfuture during the last Vikings game, the threads here are like air in a vacuum (wow, that was bad....).

[Brock Beauchamp]

It would be instructive to hear John and Seth's takes on this.

 

Game threads are exactly what we want them to be... Basically, a group of people discussing the events of the game... and whatever else comes to mind. We want to keep it loose and interesting, not necessarily about in-depth game analysis on the fly (though that's okay as well). Basically, a way to hang out and talk with other fans like you're sitting in bleacher seats in the outfield when you can't talk with other fans sitting in the bleacher seats in the outfield.

[Craig Arko]

Game threads are exactly what we want them to be... Basically, a group of people discussing the events of the game... and whatever else comes to mind. We want to keep it loose and interesting, not necessarily about in-depth game analysis on the fly (though that's okay as well). Basically, a way to hang out and talk with other fans like you're sitting in bleacher seats in the outfield when you can't talk with other fans sitting in the bleacher seats in the outfield.

 

And that's great, but it seems like it's the same small (10-15) group of fans every time. Season tickets?

 

And if other members of the site express concerns, do "we" care?

[Winston Smith]

We are working on some updates to the TD comment policy. If any users have any suggestions, please feel free to post them here.

 

Do you need a degree in psychology to be a "head moderator"?

http://sp5.fotolog.com/photo/37/31/75/lapityintoxicada/1210142551_t.jpg

[Brock Beauchamp]

And that's great, but it seems like it's the same small (10-15) group of fans every time. Season tickets?

 

And if other members of the site express concerns, do "we" care?

 

If you have concerns about the game threads, we're always open to hearing them. If you have any questions about moderation policy or would like to weigh in on things you see happening, PM glunn about it.

[IdahoPilgrim]

Do the game threads serve their intended purpose?

 

For me they have become the most enjoyable part of the site - a place to go and hang with Twins fans without descending into the contentiousness that seems to pop up elsewhere.

[James]

And that's great, but it seems like it's the same small (10-15) group of fans every time. Season tickets?

 

And if other members of the site express concerns, do "we" care?

You're right that there seems to be the same 10- 15 people in the game threads. However, that could be said about threads about payroll, minor league players, etc.

 

The great thing about the game threads is, if you're not one of the 10-15 regulars, you're still welcome to post and you will be welcomed at any moment by all the regulars. The threads are very lighthearted, but there still is talk about the game going on.

 

When I post on the game threads, it makes me feel like I'm at a the game chatting with other fans, which is one of my favorite parts of going to a baseball game.

[PseudoSABR]

If you think that this can be improved, we are always open to suggestions.

While I have nothing against camaraderie, it's too bad we don't have an alternative for the people interested in talking about baseball. While it's clear the gamethreads serve some very prominent members (of which so many moderators participate), the number of posters that actually participate in the game threads seems pretty limited, and after a time, that club, in my opinion, becomes more and more exclusive (not with anyone's intent) and less penetrable to casual members or those of us who just want to talk about baseball. The conversation that seems to take place in game threads, might work better in a real-time chat room, saving a game thread for actually discussion of the game.

 

Too often, when I wish to see responses to what is happening in the game, I find it very difficult to sift through various inside jokes and silly pics, and just give up. I mean it's fine when we have a losing season to have playful gamethreads. But when we/if start winning games, and people start actually watching the games, I bet there will be some earnest disagreement about the best role of game threads. As another losing season unfolds, I'm not sure this is the best time to have this debate though.

[howieramone1406390264]

I got in the habit of reading game thread just before I went to bed at one time. Good group of guys and gal. RB should be on television. Not a lot of structure and they seem to go wondering off in different directions at times. It's kind of a boys will be boys type thing.

[Squirrel]

While I have nothing against camaraderie, it's too bad we don't have an alternative for the people interested in talking about baseball. While it's clear the gamethreads serve some very prominent members (of which so many moderators participate), the number of posters that actually participate in the game threads seems pretty limited, and after a time, that club, in my opinion, becomes more and more exclusive (not with anyone's intent) and less penetrable to casual members or those of us who just want to talk about baseball. The conversation that seems to take place in game threads, might work better in a real-time chat room, saving a game thread for actually discussion of the game.

 

Too often, when I wish to see responses to what is happening in the game, I find it very difficult to sift through various inside jokes and silly pics, and just give up. I mean it's fine when we have a losing season to have playful gamethreads. But when we/if start winning games, and people start actually watching the games, I bet there will be some earnest disagreement about the best role of game threads. As another losing season unfolds, I'm not sure this is the best time to have this debate though.

 

For me the game thread provides an alternative to the typical thread. As I said above, it's a different animal. I was a more involved poster on BYTO than I am here as the way the threads here become, or in some cases, start. They get over-run with same posters beating a point into the ground that the actual information wanes or has been stated 100 times over that it's no longer enjoyable to read, not to mention the posters who can never get past a single theme and spiral every thread into that.

 

But you hit on a point ... 'I mean it's fine when we have a losing season ...' I bet when there is more to talk about than mostly abysmal game watching things will change. As you said, let's have a winning season to compare what we have. But, even in a winning season, I would still hope the game threads keep their light-hearted feel. While I'm not a casual fan, I'm also not going to bring my spread sheets, stats reports, and rule book to a game.

[TheLeviathan]

While I have nothing against camaraderie, it's too bad we don't have an alternative for the people interested in talking about baseball. While it's clear the gamethreads serve some very prominent members (of which so many moderators participate), the number of posters that actually participate in the game threads seems pretty limited, and after a time, that club, in my opinion, becomes more and more exclusive (not with anyone's intent) and less penetrable to casual members or those of us who just want to talk about baseball. The conversation that seems to take place in game threads, might work better in a real-time chat room, saving a game thread for actually discussion of the game.

 

Too often, when I wish to see responses to what is happening in the game, I find it very difficult to sift through various inside jokes and silly pics, and just give up. I mean it's fine when we have a losing season to have playful gamethreads. But when we/if start winning games, and people start actually watching the games, I bet there will be some earnest disagreement about the best role of game threads. As another losing season unfolds, I'm not sure this is the best time to have this debate though.

 

To slightly add to this, if you do pop in to comment on a game event it gets lost in the sea of extraneous comments.

 

Maybe, as a testament to this threads remarks on it, the game has two threads - one devoted to bleacher-esque fun and zany antics and another more in the vein of those who fill out stat sheets and are 100% focused on the game. Might help soothe some of the concerns. Just call one "in the bleachers" or something.

[Winston Smith]

I vote for a better team to watch and find out what happens on game threads.