The first thing I would like to say is I hate being in the middle of this. However, it appears from all the feedback I am getting that is exactly where I am. But the middle is probably where I should be. You see I get accused by the Dark Side of catering to the Candylanders. And I get accused by the Candylander of being on the Dark Side. Sounds like I am right where I need to be.
Generalities of the conflict . . .
Candylanders: Generally the more chit chatty group . . . however one would define that . . . are without shame in posting their most personal information on the board . . . generally very open and very friendly . . . probably looking for virtual companionship and friendship with like minded Auburn (and other) people on this board. Major complaint leveled against them: Post innane, personal, and generally unentertaining (as defined by the other side) stuff on the board. Major complaint leveled by them: The Dark Side is mean, vicious and generally gangs up on them replying in a vulgarities and crudeness.
The Dark Side: Generally the more concise, droll, less personal . . . like to hide their identities behind proxies . . . looking for crass confrontation . . . finds this entertaining . . . dangerous wit. Major complaint leveled against them: vulgar, vicious, pack oriented. Major complaint leveled by them: The board has become (since some mythical age gone by) unreadable because of all the chit chat, personal carthese and friendliness.
Where have I seen this before? Oh yeah! Highschool. We have come no further. What can I say? Am I supposed to delete the Candylanders because they want to be friendly, post about their lives, and chit chat? Am I supposed to delete the Dark Side because they choose to use their dangerous wit and generally take confrontational approaches to discussion? This is a message board about college football and other such topics after all. You see this is an untenable position for me. Because GENERALLY this is an issue about style.
We are all adults here and I am not here to protect you from vularity and verbal bullies . . . DEFEND YOURSELF. If rules are broken I will step in. Don't post your most personal information on the board. Don't open yourself up to attack in this way.
I am also not here to make sure the board is readable to the Dark Side. They are great at bitching about the nature of the board . . . in various other media . . . but when it comes to contributing to substantiative, engaging, entertaining discussions . . . well they are lacking. This ain't a TV where you can flip the channels and watch the commericals to pay some guy to make it up for you. Your contribution WILL help change this situation. And I don't mean the every-6-month driveby threads that are nothing more than complaining about the Candylanders, attacking the Candylanders and talking about what "used to be". If you want change . . . put your considerable wit to the challenge and CONTRIBUTE!
Now, let's make no mistake about it . . the past few months have been ugly and I have let some things go that I should not have. There is a growing list of people that say they are not going to post here any more . . . I have heard from long time members (long, long time) that have not posted in years . . . who thought this was the time to email me and say they don't post BECAUSE of the vicious attacks that take place here.
And then, of course, we have heard from Jeremy as representative of the Dark Side on what used to be and why certain people suck. And I have heard from a few others and generally this thesis describes how they feel.
Well I have no magic bullet for all this . . . however I will not allow the type of attack that took place here recently to happen again. That was a shameful experience. I hope some measures are in place to keep the conditions for such from happening again.
Some people like to proxy to the board and use an alias . . . This contributed majorly to the problem above. I have implemented system of requiring a VALID email address to help with this problem. If I cannot reach you via email (or your alias) then you do not get to post here. If you do the alias thing it would be better if you let me know, provide the same email address in all aliases as your normal profile and DO NOT consider it a license to break the rules or be overtly mean. I have ways to harass you proxy guys like you have harassed me now . . . If I cannot get the answer I want from you I will keep making you reconfirm your aliases . . . it would be best to just tell me who you are.
In this regard, and following Hobbes' and Mud's lead if you do provide me with information such that I know who you are (your normal board alias) I will NOT provide this information to others UNLESS you break the rules. If you DO NOT provide me with such information, I will divulge your identity as soon as I learn it.
How to fix this place . . . well I don't subscribe to the "we suck now and we did not in 1996" theory. This place ebbs and flows . . . my general prescription would be for the Dark Side to stop diverting their energies into attacking hapless Candylanders and newbies and put your bitching on the keyboard and CONTRIBUTE . . . and for the Candylanders don't throw your feelings out their and then get miffed when someone steps on them . . . not everyone wants to hear it or is nice. Skip what you don't want to read . . . and post something you do!!!
