See the top rated post in this thread. Click here

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 13 of 39

Thread: An Appeal to Maturity

  1. #1


    11 out of 11 members found this post helpful. Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No

    An Appeal to Maturity

    In the end, the problem with the great majority of recent posts to this forum is a lack of maturity. Multiple posters have simply descended into childlike posts of name-calling and insulting dialog that simply don't belong in this venue.

    I find it stunning that, given enough time, almost any thread that begins as a worthwhile topic eventually deteriorates into embarrassing drivel. And the reason is a total lack of self-control on the part of multiple posters who, after a while, grow tired of blackjack and feel a need to create a distraction or diversion and simply deflect the conversation towards infantile banter.

    Wouldn't it be nice to restore this to a high-class BLACKJACK FORUM? Wouldn't it be nice for all the snide comments, insulting remarks, and childish bickering to simply stop and disappear? Of course, there is one way for that to happen, and while it isn't the preferred way, I have suggested to Norm that it is, nonetheless, a way. And that is to simply delete, upon sight, all such offensive posts. Just take them down seconds after they appear or are read by Norm. Perhaps the offenders would get the idea that every time their posts shed no light on anything but are simply antagonistic and combative, they will disappear.

    Of course, self-restraint would be infinitely preferable, but the second choice, above, is far better than no choice at all.

    Let's see who among you have the ability to post about blackjack and not about who is the bigger asshole than the other one.

    Don

  2. #2


    0 out of 2 members found this post helpful. Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Don
    Admirable thoughts. And though I’m not one to back off from bullies, I can easily do as you suggest. The problem with that, however, are the “bigger assholes” you refer to. They’ll simply keep coming and coming. So, an endless iteration of bullshit ensues.

    Now, I don’t believe for a moment that Norm is stupid. However, until he takes the Innkeepers route (which the casino critter hordes gravitate to), and arbitrarily acts upon the cretins of condescension, the problems you allude to will continue.

    I may be wrong, but I doubt it.

  3. #3
    Banned or Suspended
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
    Posts
    326


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Quote Originally Posted by DSchles View Post
    Of course, self-restraint would be infinitely preferable...
    Good luck with that...

  4. #4


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Quote Originally Posted by Wave View Post
    Good luck with that...
    That's why there's a plan B. Summarily delete every post that contains a personal attack the minute it appears. One of two things happens: 1) the offenders get the message and stop their infantile ways; or 2) all of their posts disappear and, ultimately, they do too.

    Don

  5. #5


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Quote Originally Posted by Freightman View Post
    Don
    Admirable thoughts. And though I’m not one to back off from bullies, I can easily do as you suggest. The problem with that, however, are the “bigger assholes” you refer to. They’ll simply keep coming and coming. So, an endless iteration of bullshit ensues.

    Now, I don’t believe for a moment that Norm is stupid. However, until he takes the Innkeepers route (which the casino critter hordes gravitate to), and arbitrarily acts upon the cretins of condescension, the problems you allude to will continue.

    I may be wrong, but I doubt it.
    So, the ball, ultimately, is in Norm's court. But I don't think he can do the job alone. And I'm not sure he even wants the job in the first place. You need me to be the "sheriff." (What were the readers called who had the power to delete posts on other sites but who weren't the webmaster? I forget the term.)

    Don

  6. #6


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Quote Originally Posted by DSchles View Post
    So, the ball, ultimately, is in Norm's court. But I don't think he can do the job alone. And I'm not sure he even wants the job in the first place. You need me to be the "sheriff." (What were the readers called who had the power to delete posts on other sites but who weren't the webmaster? I forget the term.)

    Don
    Moderator? In any event, agree or disagree, there is always wisdom in your words.

    Hmmm Don Schlesinger - Sheriff of Rock Ridge?

    https://youtu.be/iBjMaUlXnjs

  7. #7
    Banned or Suspended
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
    Posts
    326


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Quote Originally Posted by DSchles View Post
    So, the ball, ultimately, is in Norm's court. But I don't think he can do the job alone. And I'm not sure he even wants the job in the first place. You need me to be the "sheriff." (What were the readers called who had the power to delete posts on other sites but who weren't the webmaster? I forget the term.)

    Don
    Don, you know what my signature line is, if it comes to that you have my support.

  8. #8


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    I know I'm relatively new here, and am not a good AP, so take what I say with a grain of salt...


    What sort of posts should a blackjack forum have?

    One thing I noticed is that someone will ask a question, and someone else will reply something along the lines of "This has been asked before", perhaps with a link or something.

    Should the simple question posts be allowed? Should snarky replies be allowed? What sort of topics do we want to see? Because, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't blackjack considered to be a solved game? Can we reasonably expect to see new information appearing on the board?

    I do not ask this with any malice or sarcasm, I generally am curious. I personally read all the posts in every thread, because a lot of it is new to me. But I can see how more experienced members might be annoyed with the same gamut of questions cycling through every year or so.


    Yes, there can be a good bit of "drama" on the board, but I think most forums with a small userbase devolve into that. I think that if we strictly enforced a "blackjack only" rule, the board would lose a lot of its personality. Sorry to call you out specifically in this post, Midwest Player, but there tend to be a lot of posts that aren't 100% blackjack related by you. And I love it! I genuinely enjoy reading about your drives/weather photos and such.


    Before I continue rambling, I'll summarize my post with: I think we could probably have less personal attacks, but I think making the board strictly about blackjack (and other AP plays I assume) would kill the personality some of us love.


    Quick edit: I do like Don's post where he said "given enough time, almost any thread that begins as a worthwhile topic eventually deteriorates into embarrassing drivel". It reminded me a lot of Godwin's Law
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law


    Edit 2: I would be biased if I didn't say that I have not been the target of any personal attacks/drama, so my opinion might be biased.

  9. #9


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Quote Originally Posted by DSchles View Post
    So, the ball, ultimately, is in Norm's court. But I don't think he can do the job alone. And I'm not sure he even wants the job in the first place. You need me to be the "sheriff." (What were the readers called who had the power to delete posts on other sites but who weren't the webmaster? I forget the term.)
    In the heyday of BJ21, if a poster got out of control, peer pressure seemed to work 99% of the time. Backoffs were rare. Here, it doesn't work. Perhaps a "consultation" with Al Rogers on how it managed to work there?

    In any case, Norm has said many times that he doesn't have the time for this. Perhaps that's why his "selective" moderation isn't working. I concur that somebody willing to do the job and has the time to do it is necessary.

  10. #10


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Quote Originally Posted by DSchles View Post
    That's why there's a plan B. Summarily delete every post that contains a personal attack the minute it appears. One of two things happens: 1) the offenders get the message and stop their infantile ways; or 2) all of their posts disappear and, ultimately, they do too.

    Don

    Personal attack, mod plz delete.

  11. #11
    Senior Member Gramazeka's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Ukraine
    Posts
    1,438


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Quote Originally Posted by DSchles View Post
    So, the ball, ultimately, is in Norm's court. But I don't think he can do the job alone. And I'm not sure he even wants the job in the first place. You need me to be the "sheriff." (What were the readers called who had the power to delete posts on other sites but who weren't the webmaster? I forget the term.)

    Don
    + 1000
    "Don't Cast Your Pearls Before Swine" (Jesus)

  12. #12
    Random number herder Norm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    The mote in God's eye
    Posts
    12,461
    Blog Entries
    59


    2 out of 2 members found this post helpful. Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Quote Originally Posted by 21forme View Post
    In the heyday of BJ21, if a poster got out of control, peer pressure seemed to work 99% of the time. Backoffs were rare. Here, it doesn't work. Perhaps a "consultation" with Al Rogers on how it managed to work there?
    Not only did it not work there, AP.COM was formed because BJ21 had become so nasty and there were no backoffs. The "peer pressure" you refer to is exactly the problem. There is nothing wrong with telling a poster that their thinking is wrong and why it is wrong. That is useful to the poster and lurkers and is not peer pressure. What must stop is calling the poster names which is not useful and simply generates more name-calling.
    "I don't think outside the box; I think of what I can do with the box." - Henri Matisse

  13. #13


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    A perfect example for a thread getting completely nasty and useless is the current Insurance thread. Only fights in the trenches, and nobody even tries to explain and reason his thoughts. Just personal attacks and building up "fractions" / parties.

    This is also annoying for newbies and unexperienced players, for they often are not sure why some forum veteran so decidedly insults some other veteran, without giving sound reasons (and "you talk nonsense, as you always do" is no sound reasoning in a discussion!). Maybe they could learn something from sound reasonings, if they were given (in this case, why one should or should not play heads-up for improved insurance betting, or why this is voodoo or not).
    Last edited by PinkChip; 11-10-2019 at 05:31 AM.

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

About Blackjack: The Forum

BJTF is an advantage player site based on the principles of comity. That is, civil and considerate behavior for the mutual benefit of all involved. The goal of advantage play is the legal extraction of funds from gaming establishments by gaining a mathematic advantage and developing the skills required to use that advantage. To maximize our success, it is important to understand that we are all on the same side. Personal conflicts simply get in the way of our goals.