Future of Orioles Hangout

[atomic]

27 minutes ago, weams said:

Monica Pence Barlow was tough as nails. But she appreciated the reach of this communities and showed it the respect that it had earned. I know some other web sites objected to the presence that the Hangout had. But Monica always showed that she understood. 

So what do you guys need? Press Passes?   

[Sessh]

2 hours ago, ThomasTomasz said:

I can't speak to the advertising pieces, but I always felt that, unless someone is getting porn links, redirected off the site, or something egregious like that, that they can put up with a few advertisements.

If only that were true. The thing is any website that has ads on their site has little to no control over which ads get displayed on their site. That is entirely up to the advertiser, so an ad choice one day may be acceptable, but the next it may not be. Porn links are the least of anyone's concern and any ad that is malicious does not need to be clicked on to infect a computer or device. It only needs to be allowed to load in the browser. There's also the aspect that some of these ads use up so much memory and run so many scripts that it negatively affects the ability of the browser to load a functionally acceptable page.

So, I've been burned by this stuff one too many times (though it's been a long time now) by this stuff. Sites I considered to be safe ended up putting something on my computer through advertisements that I didn't click on at all and cost me time and stress having to fix it again. In addition to ad blockers, I have a custom DNS server set up here with blacklists that update nightly, a hosts file and soon to be a Pi-Hole device that blocks all this stuff. So, my security layers are multiple and it's not so easy to just allow ads anywhere at this point. If advertisers could be trusted to not be malicious and unethical, ad blockers wouldn't be necessary. Unfortunately, they are and that has only become more necessary as the years have gone on.

Another aspect is for those who aren't so tech savvy and don't keep regular system backups, who pays to get that PC fixed when it breaks? The victim does. These advertisers have zero liability when it comes to damaging people's property and any losses that may be incurred as a result. Being on the web without any such protections in place is downright reckless and dangerous in today's internet era. This is why other means of revenue generation are necessary. The days of being able to rely almost exclusively on advertising revenue are gone and it's the fault of the advertisers, not folks who choose to use ad blockers to protect their data and property.

11 minutes ago, atomic said:

So what do you guys need? Press Passes?   

I believe so. Tony said he has been treated well by ME, so maybe Mike can help him out with that. I know he's a very busy man these days, but maybe he understands the importance involved with this and can help. This does seem to be the main issue here, so it's just a matter of getting through to them. Hopefully, Mike can help.

[atomic]

15 minutes ago, 7Mo said:

My email has been sent.

I think if anyone is a season ticket holder , mentioning that in your email or phone call would not hurt. 

[Tony-OH]

I'm starting a much needed vacation today and won't be around much but wanted to say a few things.

First, let me thanks everyone for their thoughts, words of gratitude, and ideas. Just wanted to clear up a few things. I had full season credentials to Camden Yards last year so the PR department has not denied me anything until the strange incident in Sarasota last year. They have always been supportive up until then so it was more of a surprise and disappointment. 

As for the message board, I can say right now that I ave decided after reading all these comments that I will not shut down the  board no matter what, so let me alleviate any concerns there.

Thanks again and sorry for any concern I caused.

[Number5]

4 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

I'm starting a much needed vacation today and won't be around much but wanted to say a few things.

First, let me thanks everyone for their thoughts, words of gratitude, and ideas. Just wanted to clear up a few things. I had full season credentials to Camden Yards last year so the PR department has not denied me anything until the strange incident in Sarasota last year. They have always been supportive up until then so it was more of a surprise and disappointment. 

As for the message board, I can say right now that I ave decided after reading all these comments that I will not shut down the  board no matter what, so let me alleviate any concerns there.

Thanks again and sorry for any concern I caused.

Thanks, Tony.  Relax and enjoy your vacation.

[Frobby]

47 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

As for the message board, I can say right now that I ave decided after reading all these comments that I will not shut down the  board no matter what, so let me alleviate any concerns there.

Thanks again and sorry for any concern I caused.

OK, I will exhale now.    Have a great Thanksgiving, Tony, and enjoy your time off!

[hoosiers]

Chiming in very late, apparently, and I haven't contributed much lately, but I have to express my gratitude to Tony for the outstanding website and its content and the wonderful community he has built here. I joined the OH and started posting during the discussion of why Mike Fontenot was holding out in the summer of 2001.  I was wrong in my opinion and Tony actually accused me of being a second account for a poster creating trouble during that period.  Things turned around quickly and I was in charge of writing draft profiles for a couple years and several articles about our drafts when we were selecting the likes of Brandon Snyder.  Tony managed to get me a couple of 15-20 minute phone calls with Joe Jordan to discuss the drafts and Jordan's thinking - pure gold to a draftnik like myself.  I was at a pre-season OH contributor meeting at Tony's house one year.  I have personally met RZNJ (watched a minor league game together in Brooklyn or Staten Island) and Frobby (watched a game at Camden Yards a couple years ago also with my son).  I belong to other fan sites and the administrators at those are so concerned about revenue that the worst and attacking posters can dominate the board.  Not here.  Folks get kicked off or learn to be civil here and the relative "we get along here" at OH is something every other fan board can only hope to approach.  I have spent 90+% of my days since 2001 here.  

I would suggest to Tony to see what level of commitment he has for the upcoming year and then see what posters can fill in the gaps - whether it is in articles and contributions, tracking things on the business end or whatever.  I would also caution not to shut down or end the business in a time of non-competitiveness by the Orioles.  Things will perk up again, but obviously a real turnaround is still a couple of years away - don't sell or quit at a low point.

All the best to Tony in whatever direction the OH is taken.  And this is an early - Have a Great Turkey Day.  

[Chavez Ravine]

I am just reading this thread now, so I had a time compressed roller coaster of emotions!

I will just add my thanks to Tony and everyone else that makes the OH happen. The message board in particular has become a significant part of my life. If it didn’t exist I would be very sad. I suppose that I would have more time to do useful things with my life, but I am pretty sure the net result wouldn’t be a better me. I would engage with far fewer people than I currently do. I would learn less about the Orioles, baseball, and interesting music. I would laugh less.

So yeah, thanks Tony!

[Sessh]

On 11/22/2019 at 1:07 PM, Tony-OH said:

I'm starting a much needed vacation today and won't be around much but wanted to say a few things.

First, let me thanks everyone for their thoughts, words of gratitude, and ideas. Just wanted to clear up a few things. I had full season credentials to Camden Yards last year so the PR department has not denied me anything until the strange incident in Sarasota last year. They have always been supportive up until then so it was more of a surprise and disappointment. 

As for the message board, I can say right now that I ave decided after reading all these comments that I will not shut down the  board no matter what, so let me alleviate any concerns there.

Thanks again and sorry for any concern I caused.

That's great news, Tony. Enjoy your vacation and you don't need to apologize for anything. I appreciate your honesty and candor. Hopefully, the PR department stuff will get sorted out soon. Take care and enjoy yourself!

[scOtt]

On 11/21/2019 at 7:46 AM, bobmc said:

Hear hear (here here?)!  I have been a Plus member for seems like (what is that xword answer?) eons.  Recently, @Tony-OH said to me on here that since I have been a loyal follower for so looooong, that he would just let me pass and become a free member (honorarium?).  But,  since I rarely add anything substantive and mostly troll @Can_of_corn, I decided to just keep paying this pittance of $24 per annum.  What is he giving this stuff away?  We gots @Frobby (without avatar), @Luke-OH and now (recently minted Plus member)  @Philip and of course @interloper chiming in every few minutes.  And who's to say that @atomic isn't one of my mainstays?

 

Keep it coming, boss, but as others have said, if you gots to go, do it with the concomitant style that brung ya!  

Sad and lonely retiree in FL

I suspect he's done that for me on and off thru the years. When my finances were less than stellar. It just always got paid. If true thank you very much Tony!

[scOtt]

On 11/22/2019 at 9:01 AM, weams said:

I really appreciate all you guys who have helped keep this afloat. Many of you are my very good friends. I hate to see this community dispersed as it will surely seek to find some place to satisfy their constant Oriole itch. And make no mistake, the stadium will be shaking like it did when we all jumped up and down for Delmon again. 

 

 

[scOtt]

On 11/22/2019 at 1:07 PM, Tony-OH said:

I'm starting a much needed vacation today and won't be around much but wanted to say a few things.

First, let me thanks everyone for their thoughts, words of gratitude, and ideas. Just wanted to clear up a few things. I had full season credentials to Camden Yards last year so the PR department has not denied me anything until the strange incident in Sarasota last year. They have always been supportive up until then so it was more of a surprise and disappointment. 

As for the message board, I can say right now that I ave decided after reading all these comments that I will not shut down the  board no matter what, so let me alleviate any concerns there.

Thanks again and sorry for any concern I caused.

This is approaching tinfoil hat cat territory... Could it be that the org considered the intrigue of all the new edgetronic cameras and K vests and other doo dads that they didn't want to give any "independent" reporter looking around free access? ME's 1st ST after 4 months on the job... Shut down all access and reevaluate later when we get time for that.

 

My typical mantra... Never give up!

[Can_of_corn]

8 minutes ago, scOtt said:

This is approaching tinfoil hat cat territory... Could it be that the org considered the intrigue of all the new edgetronic cameras and K vests and other doo dads that they didn't want to give any "independent" reporter looking around free access? ME's 1st ST after 4 months on the job... Shut down all access and reevaluate later when we get time for that.

 

My typical mantra... Never give up!

[Chelsea_Phil]

As a long time lurker and long time O's fan, and someone to this day remembers Dave Parker's mistimed catch in the '79 World Series like it was yesterday and remembers Merv Rettenmund's groundout for the last out in Game 7 of the '71 Series as well, and who will violently change the radio dial whenever I hear "We are Family" (God, I hate that song!), thank you so very much Tony for this great web site, and I am glad it is not going away anytime soon.

Cheers,

Phil

[Ohfan67]

IF the board closed it would feel like a close friend died. And I’m not Really exaggerating.