There’s been 3 different responses to our increased moderation.
A) Gratitude. As is obvious, most just want to talk betting in a pleasant environment.
B) A handful would like us to return to less moderation (more of a “wild west”). We tried that for quite a while, and it doesn’t work. A forum the size of Pregame.com’s cannot rely on people liking each other not to be in conflict. The key to rules is that they are fair. I’ll take the blame for not making No_Limit’s deleted bash and a personal promise to Johnny to be respectful public sooner. But, with that knowledge, and his history, a month for NL was fair. There doesn’t even seem to be a debate concerning the fairness of any other bannings (I’ve been asking for people to make the case otherwise).
In one way I will be as firm as possible: this level of moderation will continue no matter what.
In another way, I’ll be as soft as possible: as this thread proves, I’m open to discussions concerning moderation “judgment calls’ – because being fair and consistent is of the utmost importance to me.
C) Some who think the real problem are the handful of posters who approach the community in a way they don’t personally find valuable or enjoyable.
This is the most complicated, but maybe the most important.
It is NO ONE’S job to decide what type of posting, and posters, belong in the community. Posting is a right earned through following the rules. (Heck, it’s not even my job . . . there are certainly posters who I don’t enjoy that have never been banned once)
So, for example, one poster brags too much for your liking, or posts big money line bets you don’t think are wise, or whatever . . . it is their right to do so as long as they follow the rules. Your personal preferences about what makes a good poster should dictate who you read, not who has the right to post.
If they don’t follow the rules, THEN SEND A PM to Mod 1 and it will be addressed.
To make vague accusations about rules they broke in the past is not enough. Send proof to Mod 1, and see what happens. I promise the rules will be enforced (or, you’ll have every right to post about the rules being ignored).
I simply don’t understand why a poster would be willing to spend the energy to harass a poster they don’t like, but not spend the energy (as simple as sending a PM) to establish the actual broken rules. There’s only two possible reasons . . . 1) no rules are actually being broken; 2) the harasser is the type that thinks his personal preferences should be the rules.
Pregame.com was established upon the belief that disagreement is THE SOURCE of growth for a sports bettor (and in most other areas), so we cannot allow those who disagree to harass each other. Heck, I prove my belief in this approach by always being open to posters disagreeing with me (like this thread) as long as it’s done with respect.
You might say, so-and-so is more trouble than he is worth. And the fact is, I likely agree with you in many cases . . . BUT, the rules that protect the thought-provoking minority opinions will also protect the irritating minority opinions too (making such small irritations worth it!) Please re-read that last sentence, it is one of my core community beliefs that will move us forward. Not persecuting the unpopular, no matter what, is necessary for a healthy exchange of ideas.
Those with a problem with a handful of posters have the choice between:
1) prove a rule has been broken (allowing the mods to moderate)
2) accept that you will never like everyone, and that your personal preferences do not dictate who has the right to post
3) decide the forum does not offer you value, and leave
The choice of not proving anything but continuing to complain that you don’t like a poster will not be tolerated.