Misc Play off preview: are game threads slowly becoming a cesspool that need fixing ?

[brazil]

Discuss.

 

[Fireball]

I just wish they would not be made earlier than 24h before the actual game

 

[brazil]

Before the start of the play offs, I think it is important to reflect a bit about game threads. I believe it came to the attention of everybody that game threads can sometimes become a cesspool of heated back and forth, name callings... basically everytime Spurs are not ahead by 15 pts after 5 mn of game. I understand that game threads are in the moment reactions when adrenaline is high and instant venting is the rule... at the same time calling a spurs player a pos for missing a JS or calling a female referee a K is clearly not necessary and stupid. So the question of the poll is here to judge the general feeling, more importantly let's use this thread to discuss the topic and hear your thoughts / proposals.

 

[Weeks]

game threads are fine, there's a good mix of old-st feeling without it descending into total anarchy and obscenity

 

[Neuromancer]

No. They're fine. The point of the forum is differing thoughts and opinions. People who whine because others don't agree with them or complain about the doom and gloom cliff jumpers should go back to ST. We also have an ignore function. As long as no one is breaking the rules I don't care

 

[Itzsoweezee]

It is what it is, what it’s always been. I just stay out until after the game if it gets too annoying.

 

[ginobilized]

I'm less bothered by differing opinions and emotional reactions here than by the posts that want to punish and correct differing opinions and emotional reactions. The games are the focus for me not the reactions to others' reactions. Cliff jumping is part of the drama of sports and life, I accept it and sometimes teeter on the edge myself. Mostly, it's great to get other people takes, angles and humor. I'd guess that most of us are here because we love the San Antonio Spurs. Cesspool doesn't apply to this well-curated, humane and functional site. Huge appreciation for the builders, gatekeepers and folks who keep showing up in good faith.

 

[spurs2112]

I think its fine. Everyone watches, enjoys, and expresses their feelings about the game differently. I don't agree with everything I read on here but its up to me if I want to engage in it.

 

[brazil]

It is what it is, what it’s always been. I just stay out until after the game if it gets too annoying.

That's precisely what we want to avoid, that at one point it discourages people to post because it gets too annoying. Nobody wants a vanila game threads that ressemble at a post game analysis rather than a fan instant reaction but at the same time we don't want that it becomes a lawless place where everything is tolerated including not respecting our ground rules. I personnally voted for the in between so it is not like I have strong negative feeling about it but it is not the case of several people who hate what it became.

 

[SpursFan86]

It's fine the way it is. It's not "cliff-jumping" to point out when the team is playing like dog shit...and I'm not really trying to read 30 pages of "Come on team, we got this! Let's go!" tbh

Obviously some people take it too far and start acting like the franchise is doomed because we let another team go on a 10-0 run, and that's silly. But the mixture of optimism/pessimism is what makes it enjoyable (+ some actual in-game basketball analysis of course).

 

[Neuromancer]

Also who is using slurs in the game threads? I've seen a few posters call each other idiots but not get into too much mud slinging besides that which I think is fine. But obviously hurling slurs is not acceptable but I haven't really seen that personally

 

[O_V]

No, game threads are where people who are competitive and who are fans act like fanatics and sometimes say stupid shit. You can have reflective, thoughtful conversation later, but you're allowed to be emotional in a game thread, IMO. If you don't like it, don't go in the game thread.

A lot of times I'll drop out just because it annoys me, tbh. I don't think it would be fair to ask other people to tone it down for my benefit. I'll just focus on the game and post once in a while when I feel like it's worthy of commentary.

 

[LeBowen]

A lot of times I'll drop out just because it annoys me, tbh. I don't think it would be fair to ask other people to tone it down for my benefit.

That's the thing.
If a lot of members are dropping out because a few annoying ones, then it has to be sorted out.

I said it before, there's a big difference between a reactionary post when someone fucks up and members that just keep piling on one awful post after another while having a mental breakdown because our lead dropped from 20 to 10 points against a tanking team.

 

[Seventyniner]

Keep the game threads as is. Don't go back and read them later, just use them for stream of consciousness posting and reading if you're watching the game live. Use the ignore function liberally.

 

[xellos88330]

I don't have a problem with it, but being forged in the fires of Call of Duty lobbies for years may have changed my tolerance levels. That being said, I don't see anything particularly bad such as slurs and such. There is random name calling or insulting the intelligence of another, but to me, that is normal stuff that brothers/sisters do.

 

[OK Computer]

“Game threads are ok!… I don’t really go into them though because it can get bad…”

This topic is interesting because any time any form of change is suggested, people think it’s going to somewhere extreme. No one wants an echo chamber of thoughts from either side. I think there’s a happy middle that can be achieved and I’m not sure this site is there yet, as much as folks are praising it.

The cold hard truth is, the site has grown much slower than those first few months since it launched. If we want more members on this site to interact with, some compromise or change is needed to make this place more welcoming (what about less women hating, for example?). Otherwise, you don’t get more good posters to sign up here.

Those are my two cents.

 

[Weeks]

the site has grown slower? really? we've got a 12 page thread on our first playoff game already and it's not even the weekend yet

 

[OK Computer]

the site has grown slower? really? we've got a 12 page thread on our first playoff game already and it's not even the weekend yet

That’s correct - member-wise.

A 12 page thread is driven by how active the existing members are, not by the amount of new members are coming in.

 

[brazil]

That's the thing.
If a lot of members are dropping out because a few annoying ones, then it has to be sorted out.

That's indeed the main point tbh... We have quite a few people saying it is fine as it is but when it gets annoying I turn off. There is no need to reach that point. Also I don't agree with the if you don't like it, don't participate, the forum is for everybody.

Also trying to improve does not mean to change its purpose, we can twist a bit so that it does not become a jerking circle for half of dozens posters.

 

[Neuromancer]

I dunno man. Again as long as no one is breaking rules I don't see what the big deal is. I don't see how we're going to moderate against people being emotional in the moment or whatever. It shouldnt be my job to make sure your feelings are in tact because I said we should fire Mitch in the heat of the moment or something. If dissenting opinions bother some of you so much that you can't read a thread then why are you even on a sports forum

I think this place has a great system in place already. Maybe everyone just needs to lighten up. Like I said as long as no one is breaking the rules I don't see what the issue is. Feels like we're trying to proactively solve a problem that really isn't much of a problem

 

[LeBowen]

I dunno man. Again as long as no one is breaking rules I don't see what the big deal is. I don't see how we're going to moderate against people being emotional in the moment or whatever. It shouldnt be my job to make sure your feelings are in tact because I said we should fire Mitch in the heat of the moment or something. If dissenting opinions bother some of you so much that you can't read a thread then why are you even on a sports forum

There's a difference between heat of the moment comments everyone makes here and there compared to certain members constanly spewing nonsense and using this forum exclusively as a place to vent, without ever providing useful content.
Especially when those comments are uncalled for during games we're winning, they're just ragebaiting people.

 

[Neuromancer]

There's a difference between heat of the moment comments everyone makes here and there compared to certain members constanly spewing nonsense and using this forum exclusively as a place to vent, without ever providing useful content.
Especially when those comments are uncalled for during games we're winning, they're just ragebaiting people.

I mean I honestly don't go back and read comments a lot in game thread so maybe I'm ignorant but is this really a big issue here?

There are definitely a couple of troll posters on here but that kind of adds to the flavor. If I wanted vanilla discussion I'd just go to realgm.

 

[LeBowen]

I mean I honestly don't go back and read comments a lot in game thread so maybe I'm ignorant but is this really a big issue here?

If we have a lot of members that don't bother with game threads because of suicide squad in wrist-slitting mode, then it's an issue.
I can't even imagine what would GT look like if we drop a home game against the Blazers.

 

[Neuromancer]

If we have a lot of members that don't bother with game threads because of suicide squad in wrist-slitting mode, then it's an issue.
I can't even imagine what would GT look like if we drop a home game against the Blazers.

So what is the solution? Posters can't lament a loss? Only allowed to use a couple negatives per post? I just don't see how we reasonably restrict someone expressing their opinion. I get this is a private forum so we're subject to whatever rules are imposed but there's a fine line between normal moderation and over moderation imo

Regardless I'm not a wrist slitter so whatever decision is rendered won't bother me much tbh

 

[Weeks]

That's indeed the main point tbh... We have quite a few people saying it is fine as it is but when it gets annoying I turn off. There is no need to reach that point. Also I don't agree with the if you don't like it, don't participate, the forum is for everybody.

Also trying to improve does not mean to change its purpose, we can twist a bit so that it does not become a jerking circle for half of dozens posters.

the only way to make the forum appeal to 'everyone' - that is, the mainstream normies - is to make it as bland and reddit as possible