CAMELOT FANTASIES

Howdy,

Just thought I'd chip in with a few comments...

Giving people total freedom of speech is basically offering an unmoderated forum.  There are big negatives on providing that facility.  No control = Total carnage.  I've it seen on tennis.com and you've witnessed it on tennis 4 you where moderators weren't around to stem the bleeding.  If you don't have parameters in place then it doesn't work - what you build gets destroyed.

As an example, let's just say you have 100 members of a forum...  You get one member pissing off the rest of the community... people start leaving.  What do you do?  let them all go in the name of Freedom of Speech or bin the troll?  I'd go for the latter, or else you're left with a vacant space.

The real question is not about Freedom of Speech it's about the parameters you put in place and how adaptable and flexibile you are.  For instance, on the Tennis Frontier  - posters complained that the parameters were too tight... So we adapted.  That's the way the show should be run IMO.

There really is no such thing as total Freedom of Speech.  These are lessons learned as a forum evolves.

CD... I know you give tented a bad wrap on TF and his remark was grouchy but I've got to say he's an unsung hero on that website.  Most of his work goes under the radar as forum posters tend to focus on the forum without considering the rest of the site too much.  Just for the record, tented does the most news articles out of any of us, does all the proof reading on the entire website, does the TV schedules, orders of play, some board moderating and plenty more.  Take it from me, he pulls his weight... and some.

Running a board and developing an overall strategy takes time and effort.  None of us guys are getting paid, we are doing it primarily for the love of the sport and to keep an ongoing community together.  Sure, money would be nice further down the line, but it was and never will be the driving force in what we are doing. We're doing it anyway.

Cheers, BB

I think I have to do a better job of handling my own emotions. I was attacked so viciously at mtf that I developed relatively strong defensive mechanisms.

I have got to take this dynamic in a more constructive light. why let the fighting continue. somebody has to step back so everybody can cool off.


I started this "creative tennis sports images" place at tennis warehouse. I have had a few people come there only to attack me even though I have never known these people. I have never said a single word to them. they come out of woodwork.

there is even a book that is titled "don't sweat the small stuff".


at any rate it looks like Camelot, tennis frontier, and tennis warehouse will be home for me going forward.


with these 3 I get the best of all worlds.



action is heating up in shanghai. hate to see roger lose today. I had been looking forward to a major gunfight between him and nole.

Bacon buttie and a cuppa please emma

Howdy,

Just thought I'd chip in with a few comments...

Giving people total freedom of speech is basically offering an unmoderated forum.  There are big negatives on providing that facility.  No control = Total carnage.  I've it seen on tennis.com and you've witnessed it on tennis 4 you where moderators weren't around to stem the bleeding.  If you don't have parameters in place then it doesn't work - what you build gets destroyed.

As an example, let's just say you have 100 members of a forum...  You get one member pissing off the rest of the community... people start leaving.  What do you do?  let them all go in the name of Freedom of Speech or bin the troll?  I'd go for the latter, or else you're left with a vacant space.

The real question is not about Freedom of Speech it's about the parameters you put in place and how adaptable and flexibile you are.  For instance, on the Tennis Frontier  - posters complained that the parameters were too tight... So we adapted.  That's the way the show should be run IMO.

There really is no such thing as total Freedom of Speech.  These are lessons learned as a forum evolves.

CD... I know you give tented a bad wrap on TF and his remark was grouchy but I've got to say he's an unsung hero on that website.  Most of his work goes under the radar as forum posters tend to focus on the forum without considering the rest of the site too much.  Just for the record, tented does the most news articles out of any of us, does all the proof reading on the entire website, does the TV schedules, orders of play, some board moderating and plenty more.  Take it from me, he pulls his weight... and some.

Running a board and developing an overall strategy takes time and effort.  None of us guys are getting paid, we are doing it primarily for the love of the sport and to keep an ongoing community together.  Sure, money would be nice further down the line, but it was and never will be the driving force in what we are doing. We're doing it anyway.

Cheers, BB

I appreciate your comments on this matter, Owen. I do however approach/prefer a different style/policy etc. as you know, not all are the same.  I believe on some accounts you are right. For example, it's safe to ban a troll whose only purpose is to stir. It is also safe to ban a troll who has multiple accounts.  Alex's case is however unique. He wasn't originally a troll and don't think he had any intention at first. So I thought this should have handled differently. I know what I would have done and I do know never once I complained to Scott or told anyone to ban him. I thought if I was the reason he was acting so crazy then I should go away. I was perfectly willing to sacrifice a mere forum if it meant Alex would behave or get better. I was quiet most of the time anyway, because I needed to see to what extent Alex had gone crazy and what kind of measurement needed for that. In any case, I am just not a big fan of suppressing problems. I'd like to solve them once and for all.

I like your forum however I still find it a bit controlled so it's really not for me. I can see though others are just fine with it.

I don't know tented all that well but herc had gone a bit overboard when he called him 'monkey' no doubt. I don't think herc gets mad instantly; one too many buttons were pressed until that time and he finally kind of gave it in. Still, I am not saying herc was right in calling him a monkey. Just showing you what it takes to get to that point. I need to be fair. For all I know, there's always two sides of a story.

I also don't know if tented is an unsung hero. I am sure he did and does all those thing you've mentioned and I am also sure his own interests are invested just as much, but he didn't handle the matter all that well, especially given that he's a Mod himself. He came off a bit rude IMO not once but a few times. A mod should keep his cool and handle the matter fair and in a mature manner. It matters how a poster feels after he or she is told to do something. For example, I did not feel good about a certain thing I was told - not the content but in the manner it was told. A mod should be much more polite and yet assertive if you get my drift. Well, anyway, I do intend to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and believe in heart that, lessons are to be learned by everyone. No one's perfect after all. I am however nearly there...lololol. :p

Anyway, since I am not there anymore, I can only speak so much. I do wish you all the success!

Decaf cappuccino for me, por favor

So people don't say hi/hello to waitresses these days anymore, huh? It's all 'please give me this' or 'please give me that'. Maybe I should become a bartender so that you can share your drunken nights with me and pour your hearts out and tell me what went wrong in your life when and where. lol.

just waking up here.


I will take a cup of strong coffee.

morning lady emma and the others.