More Problems On This Board (I want everyone's take on this)

[andrew jones]

Guys, we have another ugly situation on this board that has boiled over and has me right in the middle of it even though I do not spend any time here.

The manner some people go about posting their political views and inciting friction has resulted in several posters filing complaints with the Rivals brass. Naturally, it comes back on me even though this board has nothing to do with why I was hired. Yet, I'm the publisher of the site so I am responsible.

For the life of me, I cannot understand how people can't be more civil toward each other. I also don't understand why anyone would engage in arguing politics in a forum like this. Nobody is going to change anyone else's mind, not one and not ever. So why waste the time and energy with it?

I'm told this used to be a fun board but has become toxic. Some who have enjoyed this board for many years have finally said they think it should be shut down. I can tell you if Rivals is okay with it, that is now something I'm seriously considering.

I work 80 hours a week from the start of football practice through the end of April (sometimes more), so I have no time to deal with this stuff, but here I am again now spending considerable time the last two days trying to determine what's what with a lot of ugly finger pointing by grown adults.

I am fine with a board like this being a part of THI, but not if it continues to drag me into its heap taking me away from creating content and keeping THI humming.

So I am taking an informal poll here, and vote for just one:

A - Eliminate the board entirely

B - Keep the board but have no moderators so anything goes other than porn, racism, bigotry and physical threats

C - Keep things as they've been but permanently ban the posters in question and remove for good the mods in question?

 

[strummingram]

I don't want to eliminate it, and I don't want to ban people.

I choose B

 

[WhatTheHeel?]

I am not on this board daily, but I would hate to see it go away. I bounce ideas off people, get trip ideas, get some laughs, and, I feel like I would enjoy hanging out at a ball game with any of them.

I see the political threads and usually ignore them. I decided long ago you can't change someone's opinion by telling them they are wrong or by criticizing them for their views. Emotions run high in politics and those threads can at times get heated. So, I stay away.

Of the options, I like number 3 the best. I don't really know who might be at risk for a ban, but have to believe a lot of good people would continue to frequent the board.

Edit. Just reread the options. I missed "other than" on B. So B is fine with me.

 

[grillheel]

I don't want to eliminate it, and I don't want to ban people.

I choose B

For once, I agree with Strum. I’m not too sure how the lack of mods would work, but B seems to be the best option.

 

[Louigi]

I don't like a b or c. Although, anybody who wastes AJ's time by going to rivals brass should be banned permanently. C for me if that happens.

 

[toophly1124]

Maybe I’m just oblivious (or dumb) but I’m unaware of any ugly situations going on recently. Although I tend to bypass the political threads as well. At most I may skim them over or add a stupid meme to try to be funny. Anyway B, I guess.

 

[toophly1124]

I don't like a b or c. Although, anybody who wastes AJ's time by going to rivals brass should be banned permanently. C for me if that happens.

That’s a good point.

 

[strummingram]

For once, I agree with Strum. I’m not too sure how the lack of mods would work, but B seems to be the best option.

It would work just fine. We're adults. This is an internet message board. Moderators seems unnecessary to begin with.

 

[cletusnow]

B for me.

 

[TarHeelMark]

I would hate to see the site shut down. Likewise I’d hate to see a permanent ban to a Tar Heel fan. I think B is the best option of those you presented.

This board used to more fun and a place to goof off a bit. Maybe we could get back to that, if we could somehow ban political threads ...

 

[BillyL]

As a 14 year Premium member of this site, I'm voting for option 'B' . . and btw, to my knowledge, there is only one poster that is currently being unjustly banned from THI.

I do however, wish there was an option 'D' . . Immediately reinstate UNCBoy10 and permanently eliminate any and all moderator interference here on OOTB going forward.

 

[HookUNC75]

Andrew, I think we should give option B a try. If someone violates any of the items you listed, they should be banned. Also, if uncboy10 is banned currently, he should be reinstated. I have seen no post from him lately that would deserve a banning.

 

[coryfly]

I don't really know what the hell is gong on tbh. I also didn't read the entire first post. I think people on both sides of the political spectrum are probably to blame. The only real solution it to probably completely eliminate political discourse. Not many are reasonable enough or unbiased enough to discuss anything political.

Whining is a big no-no for me since I teach elementary school kids. So any whining or complaining to mods or whatever should result is something crappy.

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

I don't like a b or c. Although, anybody who wastes AJ's time by going to rivals brass should be banned permanently. C for me if that happens.

I agree that anyone wasting AJs time over this crap is ridiculous.

I do however, wish there was an option 'D' . . Immediately reinstate UNCBoy10 and permanently eliminate any and all moderator interference here on OOTB going forward.

I can agree with this. Even though it’s blatantly obvious that Boy is the one who got his undies in a bundle and whined to the brass, I’d be willing to live and let live. I always thought this board was somewhat “open-season” anyways. It’s a shame not everyone sees it that way, but option B is the closest to that (although I do fully support the current moderator of this forum).

 

[strummingram]

I think we can talk politics and religion and sex and anything we want, as much as we want... or, not at all. This board is OPTIONAL! If you don't want to indulge in a thread, don't. If it gets heated and tensions run high, then they do. Take a break, if you need to. Just read the board. It's entertainment.

As Andrew stated, you're never going to change people's core beliefs. But, you can learn things and they can learn from you. We all share a common thread, too:

 

[sctarheel30]

As a 14 year Premium member of this site, I'm voting for option 'B' . . and btw, to my knowledge, there is only one poster that is currently being unjustly banned from THI.

I do however, wish there was an option 'D' . . Immediately reinstate UNCBoy10 and permanently eliminate any and all moderator interference here on OOTB going forward.

B & D

 

[prlyles]

I don’t understand. This board has fewer political post than any other “open forum” type board I know of. Are you sure the complaining is not coming from just a poster or two?

 

[Louigi]

If those who complained to rivals are allowed back, then I am gone for good.

 

[Grayhead]

I've watched this board thru 3 administrations. There are always people trolling each other. When one side is on top, the others mission is to blast the other side. As for someone who whines, that's kinda childish. Unless someone is absolutely cyber bullying, then it should be somewhat open game.
I quit coming to this board for a couple of months recently due to the over abundant political ideals being pushed. I'm a grown adult. I know any discord I add to any thread is like playing is someone else's sandbox. Banning political threads would be an answer, but it would limit free speech. To be completely honest, even with the tensions created on this board, at times, Radar can be just as bad. But I would never push anything to the brass to have anything change at all. That's childish.

My take is this, if a mod sees someone maliciously attacking another, then deal with it accordingly. If a mod is guilty of the same thing, then you guys handle that. Controlling this bunch of Neanderthals is difficult, but they are contained to this board. I say keep the board unmoderaded, but glance in from time to time. Most would never want this unique place to go away. Unless they are butt hurt about something

Plan B for me

 

[toophly1124]

I change my vote to C. This behind the crap BS is as immature as it gets. Ban the poaster(s). The boards better off w out them.

 

[toophly1124]

If those who complained to rivals are allowed back, then I am gone for good.

Same here. I’ll cancel my premium.

 

[toophly1124]

IAre you sure the complaining is not coming from just a poster or two?

DING DING DING DING

 

[andrew jones]

I appreciate the input, everyone.

I obviously don't want to lose subscribers, especially over a message board that has zilch to do with UNC sports, which is the reason everyone came here in the first place. Honestly, I can't stand dealing with this stuff. It's a complete waste of my time, yet it's now taken up about eight hours over the last couple of days and the end result is no matter what we end up doing people are threatening to leave the site.

I'm sorry people will leave a UNC sports site because of a non-sports message board. It doesn't strike me as very logical, but I guess I just don't understand the lines that have been drawn here. I hope those who are making that threat or quietly considering it would re-think it. The people punished by those decisions would be the THI staff, who have had absolutely nothing to do with this.

But a decision has to be made soon, and I have to come to terms with the fact that whatever we decide quite a few people are not going to be happy and will leave THI. I've tried to appease both sides, as this specific battle dates back about five months, but to no avail.

It just blows me away that adults carry on like this and take it to the extremes some have. Just mind boggling.

AJ

 

[strummingram]

I don't understand threatening to leave if you don't get your way... which is basically using your membership as a weapon to get your way.

 

[toophly1124]

Two bad apples AJ. Everybody else here is fine for the most part. To me, it makes sense to deal with them and leave everybody else to enjoy this board that we have for such a long time.

 

[toophly1124]

I don't understand threatening to leave if you don't get your way... which is basically using your membership as a weapon to get your way.

It’s not for you to understand Strum. So stop trying.

 

[toophly1124]

And it’s not “my way” ...it’s 98% of this boards WAY.

 

[toophly1124]

And I’ll call a spade a spade ..I think it’s TOTAL BS that @heelbent is “in question” when it comes to the likes of uncboy ...cut the weakest link and move on.

 

[JuleZ '02 HEEL]

Sorry you're having to deal with this, Andrew. It really is a shame. There's always been partisanship and bickering on this board, but it seemed to be fairly friendly ribbing and was usually taken that way, with a few exceptions. But with political tensions as they are, many on this board have taken it to a new level, to the point that few threads are free of it.

None of the choices of shut it down, let it run wild, or wield the hammer are ideal, but if something has to be done, so be it.

I'm not a paying customer, and I've cut way back on posting here, but I have enjoyed this board for a long time, so I'd hate to see it go away. Although I will say productivity rates would probably see a noticeable uptick in certain areas.

I don't know specifically what's been going on as far as the offline complaints or who's involved. I've always been in favor of less moderation/censorship rather than more (here and in general) but that requires people to act human, and at this point I wouldn't be opposed to getting rid of those who can't be civil.

 

[strummingram]

And it’s not “my way” ...it’s 98% of this boards WAY.

From what I can tell, choice B is the majority.

And, I'm not trying to understand why you're threatening to leave. I said I don't understand. I didn't say "help me understand why you're threatening to leave if you don't get your way." You and Louigi are trying to get another poster banned for good by threatening to withdraw your paid membership.

 

[toophly1124]

From what I can tell, choice B is the majority.

And, I'm not trying to understand why you're threatening to leave. I said I don't understand. I didn't say "help me understand why you're threatening to leave if you don't get your way." You and Louigi are trying to get another poster banned for good by threatening to withdraw your paid membership.

I’m not trying anything strummy. Why don’t you practice minding your own business.

 

[toophly1124]

And choice B is the majority bc NOBODY wants @heelbent gone save the two poasters in question. Sometimes it helps to know what’s going on eddie.

 

[strummingram]

I’m not trying anything strummy. Why don’t you practice minding your own business.

Because I've been asked to participate in this thread.

 

[keysersosay#1]

I used to be heavily involved in political threads , Now I just ignore them.

The board has changed a lot and not for the better. But it is a message board and if you do not want to be a part of a discussion then just ignore it , you will be better off believe me.

I vote for Option B and thank the moderators for all the work they do and have done on this site.

Just realized That was my 10,000th post!! Gonna have a a party tonight!!!!!

 

[strummingram]

And choice B is the majority bc NOBODY wants @heelbent gone save the two poasters in question. Sometimes it helps to know what’s going on eddie.

None of us know exactly what is going on because what actually happened hasn't been made clear.

 

[toophly1124]

Because I've been asked to participate in this thread.

You were asked to vote. Everything above that is you.

 

[toophly1124]

None of us know exactly what is going on because what actually happened hasn't been made clear.

If you can’t figure out what’s going on by AJs poast then idk what to tell ya. You’re a smart fella you’ll figure it out I’m sure.

 

[strummingram]

You were asked to vote. Everything above that is you.

That's true. And, the same goes for you. You didn't just vote. You made threats to get leverage. If the results aren't to your liking, you're going remove your paid membership. I don't feel bad about pointing that out.

 

[toophly1124]

That's true. And, the same goes for you. You didn't just vote. You made threats to get leverage. If the results aren't to your liking, you're going remove your paid membership. I don't feel bad about pointing that out.

Yes Strum. If the likes of some piss poor poaster like uncboy can get @heelbent blackballed then I will GLADLY cancel my subscription bc that’s total BS. @heelbent is one of the best mods on this site.


What else ya got for me??

 

[toophly1124]

Lol at “pointing it out” like it’s not a public forum for everybody to read.