The New Tagging System Further Erodes My "Enjoyment" of MGoBlog
There was a time in the "old days" when I actually liked this site. I discovered this blog during in its early days and at that time it was the only source of Michigan Football material on a daily basis.
Then things began to change...
The whole points and neg bang thing has largely ruined my posting experience. I find people post stuff simply to get up votes, basically kissing up to the board. There are too many "clever" and redundant posters. Restraint is not a virtue among many. Gaining points for simply posting encourages lost of meaningless comments.
At one time I had another account [I suppose I technically still have it] that I had from day one of the "account" era and when points came on board I thought they were a bad idea that would change how people post. It did. But I did manage to accumulate a rather large amount of points over time, a five figure number. Then I had a bad day and someone on the board annoyed me so I ended up spouting off and getting justifiably neg-banged. I am a big boy and can take my medicine, but then I got an automated message that because my one message had received a threshold number of negs [I am still not sure what that number is], that I would be reduced in points below the point where I was a "trusted user."
That pissed me off enough that I walked away from the blog for a while. I have a busy life and it was fairly easy after the first few days not to read the blog, but then during the jihad, came back but did not post anything, and because of that discovered that the rest of my points were being taken away because I had not posted for too long a period.
If in any way points = reputation, then the automatic systems of the blog had completely obliterated my reputation over one hissy post. I walked away again. Then after a while I thought I might start fresh and just read the news and dip into the diaries and the board only if something compelling came up worth commenting on. After pretty much a full season with my new identity, I have managed just a 150 or so points, have no reputation on the board and do not care anymore.
I used to enjoy posting in this community and as I am self employed, I enjoyed the regular banter and dialogue that the board used to provide me. But points and negging has really made me shrug when it comes to the diaries and board and in some ways to the blog as a whole. I read each main page story and sometime have a look at the comments, but for the most part, if it were not that this is the still the best place for Michigan Football news I would have said good riddance a while ago. Ever since Hoke has been hired Brian seems to be pissy [although in fairness that is starting to diminish]. Over all, though, it has been this stupid points system that has slowly ruined my experience of this web site.
I can understand the need to self police the board and comments, but if Brian is intent on making this system work there needs to be helpful categories such as:
troll, flame bate, idiotic, poorly written, repetitive, makes no sense, insightful, smart, funny, interesting, well written, informative, well researched, sublime, elegant, nails it and the like.
Also, it should take a number of negative grades to make something disappear, something like -5 or -10. That way it encourages people to both rate content and write stuff that people want to read [or just not write in the first place].
There should be no points simply for posting. Reputation should be based entirely on the evaluation of the community.
Like I said, the whole points thing has soured me on the this blog and this board, perhaps irreparably. The exceptions as posters are Misopigon, Magnus and Ctitown...all of whom I find actually add something when they post...
[Edit: now for some reason that i cannot figure out, I can no longer rate other posts, even if I wanted to...]
I realize that plenty of people complain about trolls on the board. Frankly, I just don't see it. On a very rare occasion there seems to be a sparty or buckeye (not including those who bravely step in with fair and decent posts), but it seems more the case that the "troll" label is applied to anyone that the majority disagrees with. That disagree, in turn, is what keeps things (relatively) interesting.
I'm probably in the minority, but I think the board would be a much better place without the cats and assorted gifs. Trolls, just like in real life, tend to be imaginary.
I realize that plenty of people complain about trolls on the board. Frankly, I just don't see it.
Yes, and it seems to me that's largely because of the various troll fences already in place like the point system, yes?
"it seems more the case that the "troll" label is applied to anyone that the majority disagrees with."
Attitude is everything, and my mother used to say that you can disagree without being disagreeable. Magnus disagrees with a lot of crap, but he does so in an informed and rational manner. As such, he isn't labeled a troll.
Compare that to the one guy from the basketball season (MFaninOH?) who took every opportunity to say how Michigan couldn't make the tournament because of all of the flaws in the team. He wasn't a troll in the technical sense (he was apparently a MIchigan fan), but he was considered a troll because he was a douche about it. People who state unpopular opinions might get individual posts negged, but they won't get the troll treatment unless they do so in a shitty manner.
For the record, I've also waded through several waves of negbangs for various "missteps" such as supporting Morgan Trent, pointing out that Denard sucked as a quarterback in 2009, insisting that Brandon Minor should play more, going on one of my anti-Vincent Smith-playing-time tirades, etc.
If negbangs were a death knell, I wouldn't have been able to earn this Brandon Graham avatar, a hot tub rendezvous with Jessica Alba, and my $10 Chili's gift card.
+1 meaningless MGoPoint to you.
I understand that you think you've got some sort of "insight" or are due something because you've been "here" awhile, but enough of this whinny points talk. This blog is the best because it provide unique in-depth analysis of the team we all love - not because it allows us to have our own online "identities." Grow a pair and enjoy the content.
I think you take message boards way too seriously. I don't really post all that often but there is a lot of good, free info here and I like that. I also like the cast of characters here. If you don't want to read good information with a small bit of BS posted by some dumbass user, don't go to a message board. They are all like this regardless of how they are run or how points are accrued. You also didn't approach the point that the threat of neg banging may prevent a bunch of ridiculous posts per day. You have to realize this site has gotten a lot bigger. Bigger=More of everything. There's more good info but there's more stupid stuff as well. That's how it works and that's why this place can operate.
In short, if you don't like it, don't read it. Pay your $100 to read the Rivals board or something. Afterall, there's no junk ever posted there.
However, resistance is futile. Just keep this point in mind. There are post of interest on the site which appeal to you, correct? The other banter, let it be! I believe you mentioned as much in listing your diary favorites. Democracy has always been a messy affair my friend. Easy!
The site has a creator who rightfully calls the shots.
And that's not a critique - if this was truly democratic, it would be a lot worse (think mlive).
Re: the "why don't you cry about it?" comments - nothing that arguably needs fixing will ever be fixed unless someone first points out its deficiencies. I'm sure the OP doesn't take the position that "mgoblog doesn't work for me, it's just not good enough."
Instead, he appears to take the reasonable position of "here's what I think is wrong with it, and perhaps you all have noticed the same," which BTW many of us have. This thread needed creation IMHE.
Why? Perhaps the accumulation of feedback may lead the presumably benificent dictator/creator to make some changes if he sees fit. And if not, that's cool too - but at least there has been a hearing of public opinion.
That much democracy won't hurt anyone.
EDIT: Boom, Aristotle'd.
(Y'know, in the sense of advocating for a mixed regime, not in the sense of comparison - christ I'm not that self-preoccupied/assertive)
It's a capitalist proprietorship. Brian calls the shots subject to price mechanism pressures, and will adjust his business model according to the demands of his consumers.
BOOM von Mises'd
getting into a political economy pissing contest?
If so, I don't stand a chance. I suggest we kill this whole thing before I sustain serious damage to my self-importance.
My only alternative will be to quote even more obscure shit, all the while possibly making it all up, in an effort to show I'm better than everyone.
Boom, Don't-make-me-do-it-bitch'd.
BOOM, I didn't make you do it bitch'd.
Your brain can synthesize categories in an original way?
Mine can only quote shit. As noted, even that is mostly made up.
boom fml'd.
...a fucking lot.
BOOM plagiarize'd
So your saying Brian is a user and we are just programs?
Who is his Clue then?
What kind of clue are you talking about?
Play the game.
Please moderate the above "squirmish."
benign gesture, arbitrator'd.
I am Confuse'd.
rightfully preclude my explanation.
I just want to know the OP's other account.
I don't want to start a new thread just to deal with my own board issues (cough cough OP cough), but I'm curious.
I will soon be leaving South Bend for East Lansing (WOOO employment). And yes, I know, out of the holier-than-thou frying pan and into the inferiority-complex-broseph fire. The question: should I change usernames? Have others dealt with this problem?
Making a note of the change in your sig line should clear up any confusion. I vote to keep the user name.
Like it or not, you are who you are.
Definitely keep the username
could care less:)
So you're saying that you do care?
Blue in South Bend >>> Blue in East Lansing. Also, I think we already have a 'Blue in Lansing' user.
...keep the dog picture as your avatar.
Also, BISB is better than BIEL.
But there's no such thing as Jessica Bisb.
If you do change the name, make sure to keep the avatar. It's embarassing how much I use that to identify certain posters.
(And how did this get modded as "flamebait?" Off topic I can see, but on such a meta thread...)
"Where in the hell you from private?!?"
"sir,Mgoblog,sir!"
"Holy dog shit Mgoblog! Only mgoblog points and shitty comments come from there and you dont look like you got any points under your name!"
"The Old Days" = 09/05/2010
Methinks you didn't read his post.
Than sissy points is the tag of "funny" or "insightful" or and this one is really good, especially on a college football message board--NORMAL.
What, are the moderators some sort of group of fucking wannabe psychiatrists now, and judges of humor?
This blog now sucks ass and even makes Scout look good.
Community does
Brody, is that you?
Maybe its Bistro from Scout lore
Although I agree that the point system needs fine tuning, I think the site is still enjoyable. It was enjoyabe during the Haloscan days, and it is enjoyable now. Although I'm not an avid poster, I don't think the message board is the main function of this website (at least for me). Read what you want to read, post if you want to post, and who cares what everone else thinks - as long as you don't get the almighty ban hammer.
I think one of the biggest problems with the blog is all the MGoHating. I understand that redundant posts and spelling/grammar issues are obnoxious, but how many posts with decent content are overly blasted for their faults. A bad post deserves to be called out, but for 50 different people to call them out is just as cluttering and unnecessary. I understand that many MGoPosters are Michigan graduates, and thus highly educated, but must we extend our academic snobbiness to blog posts?
That's part of the self-monitoring of the board, especially with redundant posts and comments. Instead of messing with points, a few "Hey, we landed on the moon!!!" comments is a form of good-natured embarassment that will make posters check the board first. The threat of a "Cool Story, Bro" is a way of get people to ask themselves, "is this personal anecdote really worth its own post?"
I'm not a huge grammar Nazi, and I only support those kinds of things in extreme situations (see: every post on RCMB). Often that happens as a result of people responding to a post they disagree with.
the moon "landing" was faked.
I hope our defense is like that - swarming over each ball. Not one of them - but EVERYBODY - much like Mgobloggers swarm over a bad post.
GO BLUE! GO MGOBLOGGERS!
Check out the RCMB, especially the thread that aaamichfan linked in the Ojemudia discussion on the mgo.licio.us board, and you'll have your answer. We absolutely need it.