Our mission has always been clear, learn to win together . . . but getting there is never easy.
Anytime you have more than a few people, it's hard to achieve 100% agreement . . . and I have spent many hours writing about (and talking about on podcasts) the concept that the Pregame community is about:
1) Respect
2) Accepting that the best you can do is agree with most of the people, most of the time.
3) Accepting that your way is not the only right way.
4) Caring about helping people more than personal attention.
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About two weeks ago there was a big blowup because a poster (Harry Beggs) was playing in a style that some people didn't think was sharp. The mistake I made at the time was not getting involved quick enough, and harsh things were said. I banned Harry for 7 days, but told him he had a fresh start after that in my eyes. I also made it VERY clear that Pregame.com will not be about people judging the sharpness of others (said another way, a place where each person thinks their way is the only way) . . .
There's two reasons for someone to act that way:
* They just can't deal with someone disagreeing with them.
* They want attention at the expense of the community.
Neither are OK at Pregame.
Today, Cheech made a post clearly trying to bait Harry - a post driven by one of the two motivations I just listed . . . I received no less than 10 emails saying that such a post is not what Pregame.com is about, and I totally agree.
The post has been deleted, and Cheech has been banned.
Cheech has been banned many times in the past - for disrespect, and for hating on Pros, and more . . . but I always gave him chance after chance . . . but after spending hours explaining how important it is not to look for drama, and how important it is to be open to disagreements, to have him post with full intention of hating on someone who thinks different, and looking for drama . . . well that's not OK.
The forums will be 5 years old in June, and I can assure you from someone who as seen it all, that our future is best if it's built on respect, tolerance, and a desire to help each other win.
If you agree with that, then I want to hear everything you have to say (even when you disagree with me!) . . . no one can accuse me of not being open to those who disagree with me (some of my longest threads have been about disagreements, and more times than not I learn something from the debate).
If you don't agree that a community built on respect, tolerance, and a desire to help each other win is best, then no hard feelings, and good luck . . . but the USELESS DRAMA IS OVER . . . and any post that is about useless drama will be deleted as soon as a mod sees it.
For the 99% that like that idea, then let's make some money.
For the 1% that want the drama or can disagree with respect, there's lot's of other places you'll like better.