Jonathan is a beat writer; it doesn't make him a mouthpiece. I'm glad he wrote the article, and for those of you who like the fact he got the quotes and broke the story, I would recommend his blog, too. He's more candid in his blog than his official Chronicle articles. He'll also comment on other pieces by Solomon (and others), which typically means he is backing their story and sources. As for Clutch, isn't he still holding back on some juicy quotes from his lunch with JVG (j/k)
I really wished this board had a rule of no name-calling, no matter how trivial the name calling is. There's nothing more aggravating than being called a troll or an idiot by some cat that just joined the board and doesn't know anything about the poster they are calling a name and doesn't know the long history here and the basketball acumen of some of the tenured posters. And for us that have been here for awhile to be doing it....just not acceptable. Name calling should be grounds for being barred from the board, no second chances. Just bar the poster. I have called other posters names in retaliation to bring emphasis to the problem, especially rookies, but it doesn't seemed to have made any difference. Dada, as for you. I've been exchanging with you for a long time.....a long time friend. I have agreed with you at times (the famous VSPAN vs. Rafer debate) and disagreed with you about others (Brooks vs. Lowry). And I appreciate your love of bball and the Rox. With all that said, you have an ego the size of Texas and India put together. It gets plum ridiculous. I remember when you went on this posting rampage several years back to get your post count up. I saw it happening. I remember thinking then how overboard you were getting with your posts. I actually decided to keep pace with you for a few days and then I realized how stupid I had to be to make that many posts, repeating myself over and over and not saying anything new, and I felt for myself I was being a nuisance, not a contributor to this baord. You did CLUTTER up this whole board for a long while, just because of your ego wanting to blow everybody away with post count. I think that was the beginning of your mistake and downfall in popularity on this board. At least it was for me. I still recognize you as a knowledgeable poster. But I do not enjoy your tactics and I do not enjoy the name-calling and snide remarks that are desparaging of other posters when they disagree. I wished you'd stop and go back to just talking about basketball and the Rox. Stop all the literary arm-wrestling with posters and show some respect for other educated basketballers here. We may not agree on everything. I certainly have not agreed with all of Clutch's or Bima's thoughts and ideas just like I haven't agreed with everything you've put out here. But we should be able to express another view of a subject without making it personal. And you do have to remember, Clutch does run this board, like it or not. If you don't like the way he does it and it eats on you so much you got venom over it, then leave and go start your own board. I don't want you to do that but it would be a better alternative than yucking up somebody else's board. And if you want to be a part of his board, then accept Clutch's guidance and accept that you are not going to be #1 banana here and keep talking about the Rox and the NBA in a positive intellectually stimulating way.
On the first, no one can understand other people's intentions most of the time; one only thinks, and almost invariably incorrectly, (s)he really knows other's intentions. (Insert cheap spousal joke here.) On the latter, let's all move on. Damn er d*** the ban momentum. Use ignore. Now, about that Lowry chap. And the Feigan fella...
Not that I'm over eager to chime in, but DD - I've backed you publicly before, and have been open that I don't like the way the BBS has turned you into a fair game punching bag. My first message board "home" was not tolerant of things getting personal, which was IMO a very good thing. I've been on other boards where things devolved into schoolyard BS. I come away from all that trying* to steer clear of flaming and to try** to blind myself from usernames and just respond to content. Having said all that, there are a few things I see you doing that are putting icy hot on the genitals of the BBS: 1) Your posting MO gives me the perception that you are at least somewhat caught up in your internet celebrity status around here. I'd go so far as to say that you've embraced a "they love to hate me" role since it feeds into your notoriety. You are lightning quick to leave a thread topic and refocus on specific posters calling you out - which hijacks a discussion every time. I find it worrisome that in this thread you've echoed the "if people want me to be a troll I'll become one" line that's never ended well for anyone. You can ignore folks. You're only encouraging them when you engage. Almost everyone eventually picks up a random hate-stalker or two along the way without trying. There's a renamed one that I noticed was sniffing around half my posts hoping to bait me into a never ending lose-lose fake debate or call out in the Texans forum. Slapped the ignore on him, and problem solved. 2) You are definitely shifting sands here in this thread. Your earlier posts absolutely carried an accusatory tone - but now that all hell has let loose you're backtracking to say that sitting on (juicy) info is fine and normal. I'm going to go on a tangent on that as well - back to my original internet home: that site and a "competing" one focused on the same subject had starkly different standards regarding news. Those that ran mine were equally/more connected with insiders than the other, but were tight as a drum letting out things they privately knew and did not allow gossiping (even if true) about dirty laundry (drugs, affairs, sexuality, etc). The "rival" site, partially to establish themselves LOVED to openly tease and suggest all the things they knew. But they made themselves into a joke constantly jumping the gun spilling things they found out....because 90% things change. Take Peter Vescey - almost everyone regards him as a clown. As connected as he is, he puts things in print (trades and gossip) before they officially come to pass....and 95% of trade talks in this league never bring about an actual trade. 95% of beefs between players/coaches in this league blow over and never really matter. You (and others) made a lot of comments about journalism and subtly questioned their integrity. The reality is, fans are overeager for childish gossip that doesn't really matter. It doesn't matter that the Rockets thought they were going to get Howard when they didn't. It doesn't matter if certain players don't like McHale....so long as they suit up and play like professionals. A lot of things SHOULD stay private and in the locker room. Lowry going public with a him or me declaration only hurts the team - which is what would have happened if Feigen put it out there himself. 3) As much as I want to have your back, you're really begging for a ban with Clutch. You know this isn't a public forum - it's his house, his mods, his rules. I don't blame you for getting riled up when he goes to town on you....but you're on his site. Say what you want on Twitter or over at Spurstalk, but I'd like you to remain on the BBS. I again have to wonder if, in the back of your mind, you want to go out in a blaze of glory (notoriety). If you're all about discussion, I have a tough time seeing why you would be so quick to post like you have been. 4) Posting-Diarrhea. No one likes "that guy", and you've admitted a couple of times in this thread that you recognize you post too much. I can only share how I try to operate on a BBS, I'm not telling you what to do, but maybe put it out there as food for thought. -One big post >>>> 5+ two sentence posts. Consider what you want to say, get it all in there, and let it be. -Repetition doesn't improve any discussion. Saying and rephrasing the same points over and over only weakens your position. You're either talking to a brick wall (no sense in continuing) or no one agrees (no sense in continuing). Again, I like seeing you on the BBS regardless of your individual opinions. I'd rather not see your time here end because you're getting too consumed in massive pissing matches. Even if you're the one getting punched in the face, you can walk away. *trying **try
How about Clutch hide everyone's post count? That should hinder those with motives of simply increasing their popularity to a certain degree. No names here.
I can honestly say I was concerned when I first saw the rep system announced. Anything that encourages a popularity contest on the internet tends to sour the milk. But hats off - I think it's done very well, aside from some occasional shameless rep-begging and jealousy. Post count and join date haven't been too bad. The board seems to have done a good job getting away from the ubiquitous "shut up noob" atmosphere most places have. Only a couple of folks jerk off to their own seniority, and I don't think anyone sincerely attempts to "pull rank"
I have done the "shut up noob" when new posters come on here spewing like they know everything and start calling me a troll and idiot. I don't like doing it. Don't want to do it. I would rather nobody be allowed to call names. That would eliminate noobs and vets alike calling names and would contribute to a more positive atmosphere here.
In reading through all this I keep thinking about all the heat being generated just over being annoyed. Day in and day out folks name call and insult others just out of the blue. It is as if they got up on the wrong side of the bed, read something they don't agree with and spew insults. If these folks were not hiding behind a keyboard they would be getting bloodied on an almost daily basis. I am not sure you should reach an arbitrary post count that allows you insult privileges, common courtesy is common courtesy whether it is post number 80 or 80,000.
personal attack posting there are a lot of immature people posting on clutchfans that have a running skirmish going with certain other posters --- that just wreck clutchfans for the rest of us
I am forced to agree with CH here DD. Your biggest problem here is that you have allowed your passion for the Rockets completely overwhelm your sense of propriety and judgement. The incessant postings of accusations, conspiracy theories and endless cheerleading for marginal players have rubbed many the wrong way yet you are so blinded by the red koolaid that you have no conception of how you have PO'd folks off on this BBS. Not that you should care what others think of you but in many cases, the animousity hurled your way is self inflicted. So now I sense that you are hurt and angry because so many here dislike you but before you mount up and go forth to tilt against windmills it would behoove you to take a big step back and take a critical look at your behavior over the past 7 years. Case in point: Your holy crusade against JVG. That lasted for nearly an entire year with your blasting post after post after post railing against JVG. You argued with anyone and everyone who dared to have a different viewpoint from your own. Those who were not on your side were not only idiots but morons on a biblical scale. You literally swamped Clutchfans with all your postings. And then, when JVG was finally fired, you came here and offered up a half-hearted olive branch to those you had offended which was meant to atone for the incivil way you have behaved here. Sorry but that wasn't enough to erase the stench of what you'd done. Once you start this process, it just mushrooms out of control. And I won't bother to mention what went on about V-Span. Just look at what happened here - yet another thread hijacked by your actions. And for the record: personally insulting Clutch by publicly questioning his professional integrity while publicly questioning Bima's sincerity is not the way to win friends and influence people around here. C'mon DD. I really like you but Enough is Enough.
Ive been on this board for a few years now pretty regularly and never once even noticed the "post count" that everyone on this thread is talking about. Ill admit, I wrote this one just so I can check out my own now.
Reached a point awhile ago when I could not tell if this was Clutch's board or a certain poster's personal blog. I engaged the ignore list and while it dramatically improved my experience on the board, it doesn't change the fact that topic after topic gets derailed and or trolled into a degenerating back-and-forth of nonsense as what regularly occurs in the D&D.
Name calling is definitely childish but I don't it deserves a poster being barred from the board as you suggested before. Perhaps Clutch gives negative rep to said poster and after a collected amount of times a suspension from the board. It'll almost replicate technicals in basketball. Personally, I do not post much unless I feel I want to say something or if I want to throw a joke in. However, its funny how certain posters will take a jab at someone else but when it happens to them they feel the need to respond with a condescending tone. Thus leading to the reputation of a douchebag which everyone dislikes. Not saying this applies to DD, but there are quite a few on this board that feel they are the know all of basketball.
