Anonymity on the board?

[sportscardtheory]

Originally Posted by Al C.risafulli

I'll tell you why its important to me, Sportscardtheory.

If I read a post from someone and I don't know their name, and they're just posting about cards, its no big deal. Ask a question, make a comment, post a scan, it's all good. Nice to have you as part of the community.

But if I read a post from someone making an inflammatory remark, or getting involved in a debate about auction houses, specific sellers, a bad transaction, grading companies, or whatever, I want to know who it is that's making the post. If that person isn't willing to disclose their name, I assume automatically that they're hiding. Maybe it's an employee of one auction house, criticizing another. Maybe its a collector who had a bad experience with one grading company, and now they're making anonymous, negative comments because they have an axe to grind. Maybe it's someone who doesn't get along with a particular collector, taking potshots at him because of a personal dislike.

And sure, maybe it's a perfectly honest criticism.

But we've seen so many times on message boards where the person posting controversial comments in an anonymous way is actually someone with a hidden agenda. On the hobby message boards, I've seen competitors arguing with each other, both using anonymous IDs. I've seen guys who are known consignors to auction house A, criticizing auction house B. I've seen guys making anonymous posts on a message board, hyping a card on eBay, where it turns out that they're the owner of the card - or criticizing a card on eBay, when they turn out to be the winning bidder. We've even seen guys who are in legal disputes with companies in the hobby, anonymously criticizing the person they're in the dispute with - or trying to clear their own name, pretending to be someone else, giving a testimonial.

If I'm going to read someone's opinion on a controversial topic, WHO is writing it is almost as important as WHAT they're writing.

-Al

If someone is in a heated discussion and not doing any of the things you have stated, then I see that this is where the line is hazy. This thing started with someone, who I hadn't even had any kind of inflammatory discussion with, calling out for my name to be publicly displayed for God knows why. I didn't say anything derogatory, nothing that would harm anyone or their business. Nothing but opinionated discussion on the topic at-hand with a few defensive posts at some posters who were being inflammatory themselves (I didn't ask for THEIR names to be exposed because I simply don't care, BTW). So I'll ask again, what would anyone do with my name when I was simply discussing the Joe Jackson T202 and someone didn't like my tone.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by sportscardtheory

If someone is in a heated discussion and not doing any of the things you have stated, then I see that this is where the line is hazy. This thing started with someone, who I hadn't even had any kind of inflammatory discussion with, calling out for my name to be publicly displayed for God knows why. I didn't say anything derogatory, nothing that would harm anyone or their business. Nothing but opinionated discussion on the topic at-hand with a few defensive posts at some posters who were being inflammatory themselves (I didn't ask for THEIR names to be exposed because I simply don't care, BTW). So I'll ask again, what would anyone do with my name when I was simply discussing the Joe Jackson T202 and someone didn't like my tone.

Well, I sort of thought this thread would get about 2-3 replies and go away. Everyone that has been on the board for any length of time (more than a yr) knows the protocol.

When we are having debates we like to "consider the source." When we don't know the source it is hard to make a determination on their judgement. This board is different than many, probably, as at least several hundred of us know each other personally. I have stayed at Teddy Z's house before and got to taste his lovely wife's lasagna. I got to stay with Barry Sloate for a weekend one time and met his lovely wife. For the last 10 yrs or so I have had a booth with my partner, Scott B, at the National. We have had 8 yrs (not this one) of Net54 Dinners at the National. So, maybe this is unlike other boards in that many of us know each other personally. We like to know who we are arguing with, and as stated many times, knowing that each and every person has to stand behind their comments makes this board a bit more real than some others where that is not the case. Hope this helps. regards

[barrysloate]

Sportscardtheory (if that's your real name)- let's look at it another way. If you insist on anonymity you've got it. The board rules allow this. But there's a small trade off, and that is you need to be very careful what you say and how you say it. I just reviewed a string of your posts on the Joe Jackson thread and they weren't that benign. I saw you get snippy with several veteran posters, among them Rhett Yeakley who is respected around here by everyone. So the bottom line is we do have some rules and you have to play by them. And that's how you earn your anonymity.

[teetwoohsix]

Since we're still talking about it, I have a question. Are you still considered anonymous when you only use your first name last initial, or when you only go by a screen name?

Clayton

[Leon]

Originally Posted by teetwoohsix

Since we're still talking about it, I have a question. Are you still considered anonymous when you only use your first name last initial, or when you only go by a screen name?

Clayton

Unless we know your real first and last name you are publicly anonymous. I would still give out your info, at least privately, when warranted.

[sportscardtheory]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Sportscardtheory (if that's your real name)- let's look at it another way. If you insist on anonymity you've got it. The board rules allow this. But there's a small trade off, and that is you need to be very careful what you say and how you say it. I just reviewed a string of your posts on the Joe Jackson thread and they weren't that benign. I saw you get snippy with several veteran posters, among them Rhett Yeakley who is respected around here by everyone. So the bottom line is we do have some rules and you have to play by them. And that's how you earn your anonymity.

You know why I got snippy with him. It's right there in the thread. He was editing my posts and displaying them out of context to make me look bad. I'm not one to let someone punch me in the face without defending myself. He didn't have to do that, but he chose to. I believe my tone in that thread was fine and I stand behind every word I typed. I went through and read every single post I made and I didn't see anything that would warrant any kind of "punishment" or metaphorical "public flogging". Many others were FAR more inflammatory than myself and no one said a word. Just because you all don't know me personally, doesn't mean I'm any less of a person. I deserve the same respect as someone with their full name displayed. I'm not going to keep posting in this thread, I don't want to step on any toes as I enjoy this site and just want to be left alone. Sorry to anyone who doesn't like my posts, they are not and were not meant to disrupt. Good day.

[teetwoohsix]

Thanks Leon.

Clayton

[barrysloate]

Well I'm not a moderator so I will defer to Leon to sort this all out.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by sportscardtheory

You know why I got snippy with him. It's right there in the thread. He was editing my posts and displaying them out of context to make me look bad. I'm not one to let someone punch me in the face without defending myself. He didn't have to do that, but he chose to. I believe my tone in that thread was fine and I stand behind every word I typed. I went through and read every single post I made and I didn't see anything that would warrant any kind of "punishment" or metaphorical "public flogging". Many others were FAR more inflammatory than myself and no one said a word. Just because you all don't know me personally, doesn't mean I'm any less of a person. I deserve the same respect as someone with their full name displayed. I'm not going to keep posting in this thread, I don't want to step on any toes as I enjoy this site and just want to be left alone. Sorry to anyone who doesn't like my posts, they are not and were not meant to disrupt. Good day.

Just to be clear no one edited your posts although they may have quoted you out of context. I don't know that for sure nor am I going back to sort it out. Only moderators have the ability to edit a post. The moderators on this board are Matt Wieder, Brian McQueen, Dan Bretta and myself. I can safely say that none of those guys have ever edited anything out of a post (except maybe profanity or possibly personal info). I do it on very rare occasions, and I mean very rare (I don't even remember a time but there could have been 1-2), or when there is profanity. If a post is edited it is automatically seen as an edit by whomever edited it. Us moderators all try to keep out of disputes as much as possible, unless we are the ones IN the dispute . I really find it hard to believe there is this much discussion about this subject but I guess with so many new folks it makes sense. regards

[rhettyeakley]

How was I qouting you out of context within the exact thread that you made the statements that I was quoting? The fact that they were within that thread implies the context.

I really had no idea any of this was about our little spat on that thread. I did no editing in any way. All I did was click on your "name" then click on the "see all posts by user" and went down the list and copied some of your remarks, total time to do that...2 minutes between patients at work. You give me way too much credit if you think I would waste my time taking any statements by you (whoever you are) out of context.
-Rhett

[jmk59]

Originally Posted by Leon

Everyone that has been on the board for any length of time (more than a yr) knows the protocol.

This. This is exactly it.

Maybe I'm just crabby from being gone all week and a long travel day today, but I am honestly just so sick of newer or unknown people coming on this board and bitching about the way it is - things that have been done for years.

People say that new people don't want to post here because they will get bashed for lack of knowledge about cards. Honestly, I don't know if I can really think of that ever happening. But they might get bashed for coming on here and immediately splashing around with lack of knowledge of culture. Or worse, having the culture explained to them, they insist and demand it should be different.

There are a lot of us that have been around here for a long time. That doesn't make us better people or better collectors or whatever. But we have invested in this board and this culture - have dedicated time and emotion and relationships and thinking and every other damn thing so that it has a certain tone of civility and certain ways about it.

And it just grinds me to freaking sawdust that people who have invested next to nothing in this board and its culture want to call shots on how it should be. People like Chicago and others even more recently. Not all new people - Clayton, for example, has fit in here seamlessly from his first day - so definitely this is not painting a broad brush to all newer people.

I actually miss the rule of the old board where you had to put your full name ON YOUR POSTS for controversial posts and/or threads. It wasn't enough that Leon knew it and no one had to request it. Full name on your posts. Now that contributed to some self-moderation. [OK. sometimes self moderation ] If you wanted to keep your name off the board, you had to shut your mouth on controversial posts. Simple as that. And it worked.

I'm just tired of people with little history here b1tching about this or that part of the culture and wanting it different, even after people - long term, decent, nice people that have CONTRIBUTED TO WHAT THIS BOARD WAS BUILT INTO - nicely explain to them the reason and history behind some of our idiosyncrasies.

Sorry for the rant. I must be just really worn out here. But this has been really bothering me for a very long time, and in my opinion has weakened the sense of community of this board.

J.oann K.line - see? That's how it's freaking done.

[sportscardtheory]

Originally Posted by jmk59

This. This is exactly it.

Maybe I'm just crabby from being gone all week and a long travel day today, but I am honestly just so sick of newer or unknown people coming on this board and bitching about the way it is - things that have been done for years.

People say that new people don't want to post here because they will get bashed for lack of knowledge about cards. Honestly, I don't know if I can really think of that ever happening. But they might get bashed for coming on here and immediately splashing around with lack of knowledge of culture. Or worse, having the culture explained to them, they insist and demand it should be different.

There are a lot of us that have been around here for a long time. That doesn't make us better people or better collectors or whatever. But we have invested in this board and this culture - have dedicated time and emotion and relationships and thinking and every other damn thing so that it has a certain tone of civility and certain ways about it.

And it just grinds me to freaking sawdust that people who have invested next to nothing in this board and its culture want to call shots on how it should be. People like Chicago and others even more recently. Not all new people - Clayton, for example, has fit in here seamlessly from his first day - so definitely this is not painting a broad brush to all newer people.

I actually miss the rule of the old board where you had to put your full name ON YOUR POSTS for controversial posts and/or threads. It wasn't enough that Leon knew it and no one had to request it. Full name on your posts. Now that contributed to some self-moderation. [OK. sometimes self moderation ] If you wanted to keep your name off the board, you had to shut your mouth on controversial posts. Simple as that. And it worked.

I'm just tired of people with little history here b1tching about this or that part of the culture and wanting it different, even after people - long term, decent, nice people that have CONTRIBUTED TO WHAT THIS BOARD WAS BUILT INTO - nicely explain to them the reason and history behind some of our idiosyncrasies.

Sorry for the rant. I must be just really worn out here. But this has been really bothering me for a very long time, and in my opinion has weakened the sense of community of this board.

J.oann K.line - see? That's how it's freaking done.

I don't see anyone "bitching" about it. Personally, I was just curious as to why some protocol is how it is. It's simple curiosity. No one is trying to harm you or this board. People seem to be so paranoid around here, has there been a lot of "moles" in the past trying to harm board members? Again, just curiosity.

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by sportscardtheory

I don't see anyone "bitching" about it.

You did. You demanded that Leon remove your name from the board after he posted it. You opted for the banning, albeit temporarily. You mentioned consulting an attorney, which Leon interpreted, rightly or wrongly, as a threat to sue.

Yet everyone who has been here for any period of time KNEW that your name could be published. (I believe it's in the rules.)

That constitutes "bitching" in my book.

Granted, since then you have been very conciliatory, and have tried to fit in. But for a period of time, you were unhappy with the rules governing this board. And they weren't new. You were.

[sportscardtheory]

Originally Posted by Jim VB

You did. You demanded that Leon remove your name from the board after he posted it. You opted for the banning, albeit temporarily. You mentioned consulting an attorney, which Leon interpreted, rightly or wrongly, as a threat to sue.

Yet everyone who has been here for any period of time KNEW that your name could be published. (I believe it's in the rules.)

That constitutes "bitching" in my book.

Granted, since then you have been very conciliatory, and have tried to fit in. But for a period of time, you were unhappy with the rules governing this board. And they weren't new. You were.

I didn't know that's how it is until it happened. I'm certainly not bitching about it now that I know it's policy.

P.S. I never "demanded" anything. I asked.

[FUBAR]

can we stop kicking this dead horse please!!!!!!