Getting attacked and not given the opportunity to respond

[allstar1579]

Wow, you really are the king at the jerkstore aren't you? Well "Mr. thinks he smarter then he is"-pants, the first day without Sports Guy our page views actually jumped 7,000 more. Maybe some people feel better about posting their thoughts without fear of having their intelligence questioned or being called a moron. Thanks for trying to indicate more people are jumping. I'm going to go ahead and consider this an attack on our site and give you a break. I think your run here is over and you have perfectly good place to start chatting away at. Thanks for your previous support and good luck to you. Maybe your buddies mweb and Allstar will follow?

Your buddies? I hope people are really watching you right now, because despite the ability to be a really good guy, that hot-head side of yours that everyone knows you have is full-on display. Everyone here should remember that it could be any one of them next. That ONE time someone disagrees with you, or chooses to post on some other website, and they are enemy no. 1. All I wanted to do is stay out of your little drama with Chris and be left alone to have conversations with some good people online, but now I have to deal with your little "shots" hoping that I'll leave?

I understand you feel offended because I don't think there is anything wrong with posting on another site and I don't have the "loyalty" you want, but I'm a paying customer, I don't owe you loyalty, and we aren't going to be friends, you ruined that one with your little hot-headed outburst when I didn't agree with you about a prospect, so don't come crying to me about loyalty when you didn't show me any in the first place. I thought we could just be civil adults and coexist on a rather large forum, but I guess not huh?

[ScottieBaseball]

So, if someone says they like you and think you're a good guy, does that make it cool for someone else to just trash you and take things to a completely different level?

Me personally? Wouldn't bother me as long as it wasn't a lie/half-truth.

A wise man here on this message board (who's last name rhymes with 'Vente' ) once told me, "Once you start writing officially for the site, start going on the radio, etc., you're opening yourself to scrutiny and criticism. You've got to have thick skin." He was absolutely right. I've been called lots of names, had my work harshly criticized, etc. It comes with the territory.

[Tony-OH]

Your buddies? I hope people are really watching you right now, because despite the ability to be a really good guy, that hot-head side of yours that everyone knows you have is full-on display. Everyone here should remember that it could be any one of them next. That ONE time someone disagrees with you, or chooses to post on some other website, and they are enemy no. 1. All I wanted to do is stay out of your little drama with Chris and be left alone to have conversations with some good people online, but now I have to deal with your little "shots" hoping that I'll leave?

I understand you feel offended because I don't think there is anything wrong with posting on another site and I don't have the "loyalty" you want, but I'm a paying customer, I don't owe you loyalty, and we aren't going to be friends, you ruined that one with your little hot-headed outburst when I didn't agree with you about a prospect, so don't come crying to me about loyalty when you didn't show me any in the first place. I thought we could just be civil adults and coexist on a rather large forum, but I guess not huh?

I haven't said a thing about you personally so stop all the dramatics. I'm hoping you will follow through on your promise to leave the site once the other one gets going. Maybe you don't get the fact that I don't want your money. I don't want people with the attitude that you and few other people seem to have. I'm not being hot-headed, I'm being truthful. I want community members here, and if that means I have less posters on the site then so be it. Yes, you are a paying customer, but that doesn't mean I need you to come in here and tell everyone how great it is at another place. If it's so nice, by all means go there and enjoy. This is a free world we live in, and I'm sure you will be a welcome addition to their new message board.

I will be as clear as possible and then I'm not going to get back into this anymore, if you want to post over there, post over there. Be my guest. The Hangout prospered before you and it will prosper after you. When you leave, others will join up, realize how special it is to have a great group of people to Hangout with, and the community will continue to grow. I don't need to, or will I ever cater to one poster or another, even if they are a "paying customer." At the end of the day, I'll take a great loyal community over a larger more profitable message board full of self-serving posters.

There is no problem with being part of other message boards, but when you are proudly part of community that is trying to build itself upon the members of our community, then you are being disloyal to not only me, but to the great people in this community. I really don't care if you believe this or not. You are free to believe what you want, but I'm also free to ask you to follow through on your stated promise. After all, you are the one that said you were just waiting for things to pick up there before cancelling here (notice you didn't say you intended to post on both but stated you were going to leave), well according to your buddy BTerp, things are. Quite simply, if you say you are going to do something do it. That goes for anyone else who thinks like you as well. I'm not going to kick you off for posting there, but I'm not going to like it. I know the kind of people I respect and those are the people I want to interact with in this community.

Now, let's move on. Do what you gotta do one way or the other, but I'm done with this subject. I've said my peace here for you or anyone else who thinks like you.

[lordbrook]

This is just ridiculous. For all the claims of having thick skins and not caring about being internet tough guys, there sure are a bunch of people getting their feelings hurt here.

Tony, I don't contribute to this site other than monetarily because I don't feel like I have the baseball knowledge to add anything new. I do however have this site open every day I'm working and check it several times to see what is happening. I suppose by default I can't be part of your community because I live so far away that I can't meet any of you in person. I have to say though that you have become a parody of a paranoid dictator seeing enemies in every corner. You have said that a good measure of whether we are loyal to this community is if we feel creepy by going to Stoner's site. Well I feel creepy seeing you belittle and ban anyone that may not share your sense of loyalty. Your analogy of foxhole guys and non foxhole guys is so hyperbolic that it really makes you look like a borderline megalomaniac.

I don't have a reason to take sides, and since I know that I'm not coveted by you or Stoner as a poster and wouldn't be missed if I died tomorrow, I feel like I am in the perfect position to play the role of Tibetan monk and self immolate in protest (thus feeding my own brand of megalomania). I understand that you have issues with Stoner. I understand that he did something shady, and I also see where he owned up to it, apologized and tried to move on wishing you continued success.

Perhaps I don't get it. Your world seems dichotomized into black and white, but mine is a perpetual gray. I've been around these types of boards starting with the local BBS's. I've seen boards like this fracture when someone believes they own it. I know you started it, you do the upkeep and format changes, and I'm sorry to break it to you but you don't own it. A board is owned by the people that contribute to it, and if you treat everyone with the type of disdain you've shown, you and your core 3 or 4 foxhole guys will be the only ones left here talking about how disloyal the world is. No one owes you loyalty, you earn it through your actions and your actions to me say everything I need to know. No need to ban me because I'll go ahead and cancel my membership. If anyone wants to contact me they can do it through email at jrhodehouse at gmail dot com.

[weams]

This is just ridiculous. For all the claims of having thick skins and not caring about being internet tough guys, there sure are a bunch of people getting their feelings hurt here.

Tony, I don't contribute to this site other than monetarily because I don't feel like I have the baseball knowledge to add anything new. I do however have this site open every day I'm working and check it several times to see what is happening. I suppose by default I can't be part of your community because I live so far away that I can't meet any of you in person. I have to say though that you have become a parody of a paranoid dictator seeing enemies in every corner. You have said that a good measure of whether we are loyal to this community is if we feel creepy by going to Stoner's site. Well I feel creepy seeing you belittle and ban anyone that may not share your sense of loyalty. Your analogy of foxhole guys and non foxhole guys is so hyperbolic that it really makes you look like a borderline megalomaniac.

I don't have a reason to take sides, and since I know that I'm not coveted by you or Stoner as a poster and wouldn't be missed if I died tomorrow, I feel like I am in the perfect position to play the role of Tibetan monk and self immolate in protest (thus feeding my own brand of megalomania). I understand that you have issues with Stoner. I understand that he did something shady, and I also see where he owned up to it, apologized and tried to move on wishing you continued success.

Perhaps I don't get it. Your world seems dichotomized into black and white, but mine is a perpetual gray. I've been around these types of boards starting with the local BBS's. I've seen boards like this fracture when someone believes they own it. I know you started it, you do the upkeep and format changes, and I'm sorry to break it to you but you don't own it. A board is owned by the people that contribute to it, and if you treat everyone with the type of disdain you've shown, you and your core 3 or 4 foxhole guys will be the only ones left here talking about how disloyal the world is. No one owes you loyalty, you earn it through your actions and your actions to me say everything I need to know. No need to ban me because I'll go ahead and cancel my membership. If anyone wants to contact me they can do it through email at jrhodehouse at gmail dot com.

Read your email.
Thanks

[Gurgi]

Just my two cents. I would never go to any site where Sports Guy was a moderator.

[MPK76]

This is the place I go to daily for all of my Orioles news and analysis. I post very little but I read the board continuously throughout the day. I have learned a lot about the Orioles, baseball, football, music, and even life in general from this board. I found this site back in 2005/early 2006 and I never looked back. I have no problem spending the little bit of money each year to post on here if I would like. In fact, as I was going through a divorce a couple years ago and money was tight, I cancelled my membership. Once money was good again, I signed back up.

That?s not to say that I don?t look at or read any other sites as well. I have signed up for Chris?s board and I think I?ve posted 3 or 4 times. I still do read that board occasionally. I never got a PM about joining his site, but that?s most likely because I do not post enough or get into many discussions on the OH. I actually had heard about his board through Facebook and signed up a couple months ago.

I have read both board?s thoughts and responses on what had happened with Stoner, Tony, SG, Scottie, etc. I will only say that I do not have a problem with any of them. I have never met Chris before, but I have enjoyed the work he has done. I have met SG a couple times and I had just bought my girlfriend a ring from him (although I haven?t given it to her yet!!). I have never had a problem with him either, although I could see how some people would get offended by his ?tone? and remarks. I have met Tony at least once (maybe twice at Hangout nights) and he seemed like a very nice guy. As far as I know, I have never met Scottie either, but I have enjoyed his posts and he seems like a good guy also.

I guess what I?m trying to say is that I am going to continue to do what I?ve been doing. I will post occasionally. I will not be getting into message board arguments. I will do my best to not offend anyone. I will read the message board constantly. I will continue to hope for a winning baseball season in Baltimore.

[allstar1579]

I haven't said a thing about you personally so stop all the dramatics. I'm hoping you will follow through on your promise to leave the site once the other one gets going. Maybe you don't get the fact that I don't want your money. I don't want people with the attitude that you and few other people seem to have. I'm not being hot-headed, I'm being truthful. I want community members here, and if that means I have less posters on the site then so be it. Yes, you are a paying customer, but that doesn't mean I need you to come in here and tell everyone how great it is at another place. If it's so nice, by all means go there and enjoy. This is a free world we live in, and I'm sure you will be a welcome addition to their new message board.

I will be as clear as possible and then I'm not going to get back into this anymore, if you want to post over there, post over there. Be my guest. The Hangout prospered before you and it will prosper after you. When you leave, others will join up, realize how special it is to have a great group of people to Hangout with, and the community will continue to grow. I don't need to, or will I ever cater to one poster or another, even if they are a "paying customer." At the end of the day, I'll take a great loyal community over a larger more profitable message board full of self-serving posters.

There is no problem with being part of other message boards, but when you are proudly part of community that is trying to build itself upon the members of our community, then you are being disloyal to not only me, but to the great people in this community. I really don't care if you believe this or not. You are free to believe what you want, but I'm also free to ask you to follow through on your stated promise. After all, you are the one that said you were just waiting for things to pick up there before cancelling here (notice you didn't say you intended to post on both but stated you were going to leave), well according to your buddy BTerp, things are. Quite simply, if you say you are going to do something do it. That goes for anyone else who thinks like you as well. I'm not going to kick you off for posting there, but I'm not going to like it. I know the kind of people I respect and those are the people I want to interact with in this community.

Now, let's move on. Do what you gotta do one way or the other, but I'm done with this subject. I've said my peace here for you or anyone else who thinks like you.

That's fine, I'll offer my explanation one time in the spirit of trying to talk things out and I will be done as well in interest of it all just going away. You saying you hope I leave and you don't want my money is exactly what I mean, that is pretty personal. You may have taken one thing from the comment I made over there, and I don't need to explain myself but did you ever think that the context could have also been a polite way to say I'm not leaving over there because when I do it will be for good? I'd think it'd be more of a slap in the face to leave and come back then to just move on. I digress...I know you don't need me here, I read here way back to the days of John Hoffman doing minor league coverage, I also know one, two or 50 people leaving here won't have that large of an impact, nor have I ever claimed otherwise, so this isn't the typical "I'll take my ball and go home" rant that you get all the time. I've also NEVER come here and said a WORD about Chris' site, and that's where a lot of my problem is, I haven't promoted, or recruited, or even acknowledged it existed. If there were people over here I wanted to converse with I didn't try to get them to come there and talk, I came here to talk to them.

I understand that you say you won't cater to one particular poster, yet I've seen multiple times if one poster offends you or doesn't give you personally (not your site) the respect you feel you deserve you blast them publicly, that doesn't feel like doing what's best for the community. I appreciate it's your house and you can do what you want, and you want people loyal to you at your site, but don't claim that you want people loyal to the community when your entire argument thus far has been about being loyal to you personally. I'm sorry if I can't give you that, but after our first incident that just wasn't going to happen. I might forgive, but I don't forget. I'd like to think that since it's been 3 years and no incidents between us at all that we could still co-exist like adults, as I like the people here and I feel like I my contributions here and there help make this place better, but since you keep saying you want me to leave and don't want my money I feel like that might not be possible.

I've never said anything about being "proudly" part of some other community, so that's by my count the 3rd time in this one post that you've put flat out wrong words in my mouth. I also post at another site...the end. No selling it, speaking up for it, condoning actions...nothing. I said that I wouldn't pick up and leave here without things picking up more over there. I also never said how much it would have to pick up for me to consider it, but when I do it'll be an equation of money paid versus conversation had here versus not paying and conversation over there. That decision wasn't something I was planning on doing anytime soon, but it's been something I've debated long before that site existed since others have mentioned when you have mortgages and children with sports and school to pay for sometimes extra expenses for yourself have to disappear. (If it makes you feel better I cancelled my Magazine subscription and Netflix streaming before this, not that I need to justify it though). A simple PM to ask if I was really thinking about leaving would have told you all of this, but since you have said that you don't care if I leave, that explains that.

Again with the "buddy" thing. Just because we have a similar opinion on one particular subject? Now you're flat out asking me to leave? Plenty of people here share the same view that they should feel like they can post anywhere they'd like to without being told or made to feel disloyal or disrespectful, but I don't expect many of them to speak up for fear of being labeled my "buddy" and being told that you'd wish they'd leave.

I've explained myself as well and I will leave the subject alone, thanks for the dialogue about it.

[Tony-OH]

This is just ridiculous. For all the claims of having thick skins and not caring about being internet tough guys, there sure are a bunch of people getting their feelings hurt here.

Tony, I don't contribute to this site other than monetarily because I don't feel like I have the baseball knowledge to add anything new. I do however have this site open every day I'm working and check it several times to see what is happening. I suppose by default I can't be part of your community because I live so far away that I can't meet any of you in person. I have to say though that you have become a parody of a paranoid dictator seeing enemies in every corner. You have said that a good measure of whether we are loyal to this community is if we feel creepy by going to Stoner's site. Well I feel creepy seeing you belittle and ban anyone that may not share your sense of loyalty. Your analogy of foxhole guys and non foxhole guys is so hyperbolic that it really makes you look like a borderline megalomaniac.

I don't have a reason to take sides, and since I know that I'm not coveted by you or Stoner as a poster and wouldn't be missed if I died tomorrow, I feel like I am in the perfect position to play the role of Tibetan monk and self immolate in protest (thus feeding my own brand of megalomania). I understand that you have issues with Stoner. I understand that he did something shady, and I also see where he owned up to it, apologized and tried to move on wishing you continued success.

Perhaps I don't get it. Your world seems dichotomized into black and white, but mine is a perpetual gray. I've been around these types of boards starting with the local BBS's. I've seen boards like this fracture when someone believes they own it. I know you started it, you do the upkeep and format changes, and I'm sorry to break it to you but you don't own it. A board is owned by the people that contribute to it, and if you treat everyone with the type of disdain you've shown, you and your core 3 or 4 foxhole guys will be the only ones left here talking about how disloyal the world is. No one owes you loyalty, you earn it through your actions and your actions to me say everything I need to know. No need to ban me because I'll go ahead and cancel my membership. If anyone wants to contact me they can do it through email at jrhodehouse at gmail dot com.

I have no idea what your beef is here. I never said if you don't come to our events you are not a community member. There are a ton of ways to be member of our community including just talking baseball. As for the above bolded, I think I've earned that respect, but apparently you do not. Nice rant though, sorry you took offense and sorry you felt like no one cared about you as a poster. Got your cancellation notice though, sorry you feel that way, but hey, life will move on. Good luck.

[Tony-OH]

I understand that you say you won't cater to one particular poster, yet I've seen multiple times if one poster offends you or doesn't give you personally (not your site) the respect you feel you deserve you blast them publicly, that doesn't feel like doing what's best for the community. I appreciate it's your house and you can do what you want, and you want people loyal to you at your site, but don't claim that you want people loyal to the community when your entire argument thus far has been about being loyal to you personally.

Just stop. That's Baltimore sun board kind of nonsense. I don't get "blast publicly" every single person I disagree with. Sure, I've had dust-ups with people and I've gone too far occasionally, and 99 times out of 100 we've patched it up and if I said something publicly that I later regretted it, I've said I'm sorry. I'm not perfect, but I'm not going to have you try and label me as some kind of guy who just jumps on people all the time. Yes, if people show me or my site a lack of respect, I'm not going to let it go without saying something, but lots of people do the same thing,. I just happen to run the place so people tend to notice it more. Either way, maybe you enjoy being publicly disrespected, I don't.

I'm sorry if I can't give you that, but after our first incident that just wasn't going to happen. I might forgive, but I don't forget. I'd like to think that since it's been 3 years and no incidents between us at all that we could still co-exist like adults, as I like the people here and I feel like I my contributions here and there help make this place better, but since you keep saying you want me to leave and don't want my money I feel like that might not be possible.

I agree. I saw what you wrote, I might forgive, but I won't forget. Instead of apologizing like some others have done after they learned about the situation, you've done just the opposite by telling me to basically stick it because you don't owe me anything because you are a paying customer. I kindly reminded you that with that attitude, I'm happy for you not to be. You have contributed well to this community and before this I respected you, but I think we're past that point by now.

I've never said anything about being "proudly" part of some other community, so that's by my count the 3rd time in this one post that you've put flat out wrong words in my mouth.

Actions speak loader than words. Let me remind you, you basically told me you don't owe me or this community loyalty, you post on the other site, and you've said publicly on that site that you are just waiting for things to pick up so you can quit this place. Why wait? Sports guy posting there full-time alone should quadruple the activity.

I also post at another site...the end. No selling it, speaking up for it, condoning actions...nothing. I said that I wouldn't pick up and leave here without things picking up more over there. I also never said how much it would have to pick up for me to consider it, but when I do it'll be an equation of money paid versus conversation had here versus not paying and conversation over there. That decision wasn't something I was planning on doing anytime soon, but it's been something I've debated long before that site existed since others have mentioned when you have mortgages and children with sports and school to pay for sometimes extra expenses for yourself have to disappear. (If it makes you feel better I cancelled my Magazine subscription and Netflix streaming before this, not that I need to justify it though). A simple PM to ask if I was really thinking about leaving would have told you all of this, but since you have said that you don't care if I leave, that explains that.

Sorry for your financial woes. If less than 11 cents a day is taking food off your table or not allowing you to pay your mortgage, then I totally agree with you, you should stop paying for this community. Regardless of our current beef, I would not want this community to cause any financial problems for your family. In this case, perhaps joining a free community full-time is in better interest of your family. Regardless, I'll wish you well.

[Moose Milligan]

Yikes...this whole drama is just...yikes.

[mweb]

But it's okay that a few people in that thread said they like him, have no problem with him, etc. I offer up facts and an opinion to the contrary and that doesn't fly with you. Makes sense.

If you somehow interpret it like that, then I can see why you'd use the roll eyes face.

[mweb]

Yes, when you're in your house, you can do what you want to do. Apparently Stoner came into Tony's house and tried to underhandedly steel his members. As someone who works with Tony, its fair game for Scottie to let us all know this wasn't a friendly game. He simply let us know that Stoner isn't such a nice fella.

That's my take anyway....I didn't know anything about this situation until this all started with SG. I guess I'm naive, but this is the place I go everyday online, and I have never even had a thought of looking anywhere else. To me, if there is Orioles news, its gonna be found and discussed on here. Why go elsewhere?

No one is saying otherwise. The quotes I referenced is beyond that imo.

Oh, and once again, Stoner had nothing to do with that thread so it was rather odd for it to go the way it did. The total high road of not commenting would have likely been most wise in order to not provide the publicity and to come off looking well, or the high road of simply saying that they didn't respect/think much of/etc of Stoner sending the PM's and leaving it at that.

[TGO]

I hereby declare my respect for whoever chooses to take the high road and stop participating in this nonsense, no matter what "side" they're on.

[ScottieBaseball]

If you somehow interpret it like that, then I can see why you'd use the roll eyes face.

And if you can't somehow see things from my point of view then you're not looking at things with a balanced perspective.