A request from everybody
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- March
- 18
I really enjoy this blog. I put a lot of effort into it and the reward is reading your comments and the interaction.
I received an email from a gentleman the other night who said he likes it but won’t visit anymore because some of the comments are mean spirited and racist. I went back and had to agree with him. Maybe it is my fault for not stopping it earlier, but I hate to censor people.
Actually, I would appreciate you guys self-police yourselves. You know when somebody is being a jerk and racist baiting. The best response is TO IGNORE them. Responding only encourages it.
This blog should be a free-flowing forum of ideas. I like my blog over a lot of others because the comments are long and well thought out. There’s a lot of drivel out there, but for the most part the contributors here have it together.
So, please, keep it light, disagree all you want, but no personal attacks. Thanks. JD
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, March 18th, 2008 at 11:29 am by John Delcos.
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Hey JD, you need to update your bio. Doesn’t this make your 3rd year? or does it not count until the regualr season starts?
Stick … I know. Truth be told, there have been a lot of problems with the blog the past few weeks in the transfer to a new server. The bio can’t be updated, links have been lost and the time line is from another century. We’re trying. Believe me. It has been frustrating for everybody. Thanks for your patience.-JD
I think we can all agree that this blog is for the serious and knowledgeable baseball fan. Many blogs are just text/IM messages back and forth from kids whose baseball history only goes back to last season. That’s not true here.
John is a serious writer and sports fan and we are the beneficiaries of his knowledge and interaction with the team. He can find a story within the shyest player, on the slowest baseball day, and even in the midst of a rainstorm.
I hope the gentleman who wrote will give us another chance – the season is only beginning and it looks so very promising.
While I agree with that guy about the content of the comments (some of the posters here REALLy need to grow up), it’s still pretty ridiculous to boycott the blog because of them. He does realize that he doesn’t have to read the comments, right?
Look at YouTube. It has some of most idiotic and offensive comments of any website out there, but that doesn’t mean that I stop watching videos because of it. My suggestion to that reader is to do what I usually do: don’t click on the comments link. Shocking how easy it is, huh?
Hey John,
Just wanted to let you know that I love your blog and usually find the comments to be worth reading, even if a few people can be a bit immature. Also, I loved your peice on the what the players are doing today with their day off. It was a great read.
Keep up the good work.
John, thanks for the statement which is overdue.
It’s too bad some are more interested in throwing around personal insults than talking about baseball. I think a sign-in procedure with usernames and passwords would lessen that a lot, and I’d be all for that. But I can understand how it might also keep some fans away who might not want to bother signing in. Still, I think it would improve things.
And ditto about the piece on the players’ off day.
Good idea, JK – I certainly would have no objections to having to create a login & password to post here. Furthermore, I think (for the most part) such a procedure would only scare off the immature fans that we’re trying to avoid anyway.
I don’t know what the paper’s policy is, but removing blatantly racist comments isn’t censorship, it’s maintaining the community. It’s great to tell people to not respond to the trolls – which is absolutely true, it’s the only way to keep them away, because they’ll give up and go somewhere else – but in 2008, no one does that any more. Everyone feels all “i need to respond” so they do and the troll keeps going.
This is not a government resource. Their first amendment rights aren’t impeded by your removal of their trash. there’s no reason your employer should have to fund a platform for frustrated morons.
I’ve never seen any racist comments. I wonder what he was talking about. I’ve seen management accused of racism for trading Milledge but accusing management of racism is not itself racism. Must have been something else. Glad I missed it.
JD
Unfortunately I think you will have to step in from time to time. The makeup of this blog has changed considerably from the first year where things were civil and interesting.
It may be general frustration from losing last year, but this offseason and spring has gotten very personal and nasty.
And now for something completely different.
Have you noticed the timestamps on this site are gone? Both on your posting and all the comments. It has the date but no time..
Strange, I see it on my blackberry tho.
There is no room for slurs and nastiness. It has kept me from posting many times because I am of the belief to not acknowledge such nonsense, it only fans the flames. I agree with others that when there is a blatant slur it needs to be removed.
I agree with ChooChoo. There has been racial slurs and nastiness. I will monitor and start re-posting under my name of last season if the posters show respect for each other and for ethnic diversity.
“I never questioned an umpire’s integrity. Just his eyesight”
Leo Durocher, a true master of the soft spoken word.
“Too err is human. To forgive is a Met Fan” – Somebody mush wiser than I am. Let’s enjoy the opportunity to share views and agree to disagree. I appreciate and look forward to see what are the hot topics on here. The Mets give us more than enough to talk about. No need to attack each other.
Craig – Isn’t the point of the blog to read comments?
Choo-Choo: Watch what you say, and you too, JD, I have pointed out many times to posters where they are going over the line from criticism to insults, and worse, and asked them to tone it down. Only to find myself in the attacked mode.
It’s baseball and it should be fun and the criticisms should be fun. Or at least realistic. Funny how many of those that said they would never boo the players at the stadium did worse here.
John … a long overdue thanks to you for working on this blog. Your information is always informative and timely. This is one of my trusted sources for Mets news. It’s obvious that you put a lot of effort into it and that you really care about it.
People should just calm down when they disagree with someone. Forget about the name calling and ignore the comment you disagree with or respectfully respond with friendly opposing thoughts. We’re all in this together!
I’m here to fess up…I’m the one who emailed JD. I apologize to the great number of you who post your thoughts and arguments in a firm, but respectful manner. I find your insights and opinions to be both interesting, and, in alot of cases thought provoking. Do I agree with everyone? No. Does everyone agree with me? God, I hope not!!
It is THE PASSION for this game and OUR team that drives each of us in our opinions and in the defense of them. IMO you simply can’t be a true fan without passion. While it can be difficult at times, we can debate passionatly without the nastiness. Who wants to come in from work after a long day(and in my case a 70 mile drive home) to enjoy hearing about baseball and all you get is attacks and other stuff instead of baseball…That was my beef.
As Dave said, lets get back to the civility we all enjoyed not long ago. In the heat of debate, lets step away from the keyboard for a moment, before we say something and hit “enter”.
I sincerely appreciate the knowledge, opinions, and the passion each of you bring to this blog. I have been a Mets fan for 32 years and I know what this team can do to us GOOD AND BAD :) Living deep in Braves territory does not afford me the luxury of talking with many KNOWLEDGEABLE baseball fans….You guys are my Lifeline….
Thanks
Luca,
Well said – sleep well with the fishes.