META: A surrender in the battle for nice things
As I posted in the "Y IZ U SO FASCIST I THOUGHT THIS WAS AMERICA" thread, I have reached my braeking point, and have informed Brian that I will no longer be able to serve as a mod. And by that I mean, "I am able, but can't deal with humanity anymore."
I was planning to take a step back when my wife gives birth to our first in a few weeks, but I couldn't last that long. Most of you seem like great people who come here for the conversation and the community, and I have no beef with majority of you. But I couldn't deal one more day with the complaining, the immaturity, and the inability to just be reasonable. People's continued insistance on acting like children has sapped a lot of the enjoyment from this board for me.
None of us mods enjoy being a babysitter. Nothing makes me happier than a bunch of insightful, rational discussions. But those are becoming rarer by the day; instead, the board has taken on a certain Drew Sharp-esque quality. And maybe part of it is my fault. I've been a rather involved figure around here, and lord knows I've got some rants under my belt. But for whatever reason, things have taken an MLive turn, and I can't take it anymore.
I'm not asking any of you to change your internet ways, because it's no longer my problem. But I would say that you can only pee in the pool for so long before you're just peeing in an in-ground urinal. And this is a pretty nice place we have here, so please think twice before you drop trou.
I wish Brian, Ace, Heiko, Seth, and everyone else here nothing but the best, and I apologize to the remaining mods for leaving you in the lurch. I would also like to thank the majority of you who allowed me to survive three years in South Bend without losing my mind, and for the many conversations, jokes, and cats. I would also like to thank the cats, but I don't speak their language.
/cool story bro
/TL;DR
November 11th, 2012 at 5:33 PM ^
Sometimes things will drive you mad and other times you will do the same to others. Either way, life goes on and at some point you'll realize that none of this means much in the grand scheme of things.
Go Blue :)
November 11th, 2012 at 5:40 PM ^
November 11th, 2012 at 5:45 PM ^
Goodbye BISB. You'll be missed.
Make sure you teach the MGoBaby about the good things in life. The Victors, the M Club Banner, Michigan Stadium, Brady Hoke, Bo Schembechler, ham sandwiches. Stuff like that.
November 11th, 2012 at 9:11 PM ^
I was drawn to this site because the level of discourse, general intelligence, and overall fairness far exceeded any other college board I've visited. And there's some excellent non-sports content posted as well.
I try to post and give a "different perspective" when possible and it seems like as long as I can back up what I say, with the exception of a few taboo topics, my opinion is generally respected. I've even had Michigan fans defend my opinion, you never see that on other boards.
I've been registered for 2 1/2 years, maybe things were better before then, but Michigan football went through a pretty tough transition (I can relate, some of the posts I've read here were identical to Nebraska's during our problems), I think that explains much of the bad behavior when it occurs.
Sure, there are bad days when too many people overreact and say crazy stuff, naturally people will vent at certain times, but you guys have a great board, the smart and thoughtful posts far outweigh the stupid ones. Most of the time you get it right.
November 11th, 2012 at 6:13 PM ^
Long time lurker, first time poster (I forgot the password for my [long since used] email, so I had to make a new one).
Sorry to hear that the daily wear and tear of being a mod has brought you down, but I just wanted to let you know that many people here really appreciated your work here.
On behalf of lurkers everywhere, we respected and appreciated the unique viewpoints you provided for this site. Hopefully you can continue to contribute to this site despite resigning from your post. If you can't find it in yourself to continue to be an active member of the MGoBlog Community, live long and prosper!
And of course, Hail to the Victors!
November 11th, 2012 at 6:44 PM ^
Signed
Plain old Mack
November 11th, 2012 at 7:25 PM ^
BiSB, you're a delight. It's a shame you won't be on as much anymore.
November 11th, 2012 at 6:20 PM ^
Make me a MOD and I will clean this place up!
November 11th, 2012 at 6:29 PM ^
November 11th, 2012 at 6:32 PM ^
I have been coming to mgoblog long enough, lurking for a couple years and joining a while back, to see posters and readers and protocol change significantly. There are many formerly active board members who have moved on, or who have made peace with just staying in the background. I understand, and have cut way back on posting myself.
It isn't easy being a moderator. Sometime, a long time ago, I posted a thankyou to ALL the mods who do such a good job. I don't think everyone here understands what a pain it must be to be a moderator. You guys have to read through every stinking post on every stinking thread. If you say anything in the least construed as negative, people get their shorts in a wad.
I've sometimes wondered about what makes mgoblog "good," and what would cause it to dengenerate. Of course, everyone has a different opinion. The points thing is a two edged sword. As Brian and mods have said, who really cares about points?
Having said that, I'm beginning to wonder if a return to "points" in the old days before the board melted down from some kind of attack would be a good thing. I don't completely like the "group think" aspect of points, but if the board community speaks, well, wouldn't that make things easier for moderators?
Maybe if the old system points came back, mods could focus on giving bonus chunks of points to thoughtful and well argued posts which espouse an unpopular position? I dunno.
I also think that more personal accountability is a good thing. When people have to stand behind what they say instead of this anonymous internet tough guy stuff, it makes people a bit more civil.
Regardless, thanks for your service to the board, your wit, your contributions. They will be missed.
November 11th, 2012 at 7:15 PM ^
I think the mods all work hard at an utterly thankless job. Sorry to see you go but I totally get it. As much as we all love MGoBlog, raising your kid(s) is fantastically more important, fun and rewarding. Like others, I agree that letting the MGoCommunity moderate this site will be effective. Power to the people and all that.
Good luck with Little BiSB.
November 11th, 2012 at 7:16 PM ^
November 12th, 2012 at 1:26 PM ^
Because cats are always funny. Being a douchenozzle seldom is.
November 11th, 2012 at 7:17 PM ^
Thanks for all your work BISB - especially in the (ever chaotic) liveblog!
November 11th, 2012 at 7:18 PM ^
lurker and infrequent poster (as evidenced by my low point total) i too have cut back on posting and reading this site.
It wears on you after awhile.
Good luck on the little one BiSB. I thought you did a helluva job and you will be missed.
November 11th, 2012 at 7:27 PM ^
I always appreciated your sense of humor, and your MOD work. You will be missed. Good luck with the baby. I hope you at least pop in to say hello to the board once in a while, and deliver one of your nice quick-witted jabs.
November 11th, 2012 at 7:31 PM ^
No fanbase can treat a thrilling win worse than a loss like us.
November 11th, 2012 at 7:33 PM ^
raise the points to post period...
November 11th, 2012 at 7:41 PM ^
November 11th, 2012 at 7:43 PM ^
Sorry to see you go, BiSB. It gets tough modding when so many unujustifiably assert that any moderation is "censorship of unpopular dieas" and "groupthink," but that's the internet for you. I am of the opinion that everyone should be forced to be a discussion group moderator for a year somewhere, and no one should be asked to do it longer than that.
Thanks for your contributions, and I hjope you stay as an ex-mod. You have paid your dues, and have more than earned your ex-mod-dom.
I'll even go through the verification process to post this! :)
November 11th, 2012 at 7:45 PM ^
MGoBlog is different, and for the better. Having said that, I do think the mods need to chill a bit and let people post. As long as there is no obscenties or overt trolling/flamebaiting, let people post, man.
November 11th, 2012 at 7:59 PM ^
I like BiSB. I'm sure it has not helped with all the Notre Dame fans in South Bend driving him crazy. They probably sent him over the edge....
That being said, as a Mom, I totally need to hear what kind of baby he has and what he names said baby. At least let us know that....
November 11th, 2012 at 11:33 PM ^
Kind: Wolverine/human hybrid.
Name: Baby in South Bend, right?
November 11th, 2012 at 8:03 PM ^
Sorry to see that you are putting down the moderator's internet point thingy, I seldom found fault with your decisions, and that is amazing in and of itself.
November 11th, 2012 at 8:09 PM ^
November 16th, 2012 at 9:43 AM ^
Catharsis. Long season means they don't get to vent meta for months, and locking it just means the garbage moves to a new thread.
November 11th, 2012 at 8:25 PM ^
Honestly thank you for your mostly thankless job. But also, I'm glad to see you moving on (not trying to be a dick, though I suppose I am being one). I like a moderating hand, but not a controlling, snarky, its'about-me moderator - which at times I felt that you were. I say that fully knowing that I could *not* do the job you have done. I get that. But I'm also being honest b/c I think this opinion is healthy for the board to discuss - how do we want our mods moderating?
November 11th, 2012 at 8:30 PM ^
"(not trying to be a dick, though I suppose I am being one)"
Very astute of you...
November 11th, 2012 at 8:36 PM ^
November 11th, 2012 at 9:07 PM ^
/outsnarked
November 11th, 2012 at 9:20 PM ^
I AM THE GREAT AND POWERFUL BISB. ALL SHALL BOW TO ME, OR I SHALL DEPART AS YOU ARE CLEARLY NOT WORTHY OF MY AWESOMENESS.
November 11th, 2012 at 10:58 PM ^
There is no such "right".
November 11th, 2012 at 8:38 PM ^
Please don't be like the dickhead dad after a divorce that just f-ing leaves. Come back and visit us once in a while...
November 11th, 2012 at 8:45 PM ^
I am sure I will see you around, Blue, here or elsewhere... But thanks for a stellar job in the face of confusion.
November 11th, 2012 at 8:58 PM ^
For what it's worth, I don't know why you ever even cared. As a Mod, what you say is just the way it is. Thread not up to snuff? Get rid of it. Bad post? Get rid of it. Bad poster? do what you gotta do. They complain? Why would you care?
November 11th, 2012 at 9:08 PM ^
This is the predictable result of the elimination of Neg-Banging and the establishment of the current teethless voting system. You want the clowns to go away, then bring back the A-Train to Bolivia.
November 11th, 2012 at 9:11 PM ^
BiSB,
I have been a reader for a few years, and I have posted a few times, but i always appreciated how quickly you shut down the idiots and posts that were destined for failure. Good luck with everything, and as a parent of two kids under three, definate good luck with that. Parenthood is the greatest adventure you can ask for.
November 11th, 2012 at 9:33 PM ^
I very rarely post here, but just wanted to say thanks for the effort and time. I'm not really involved in the community but I quite enjoy the game day events, which can only happen because of vigilant mods.
GL with the kid.
November 11th, 2012 at 9:35 PM ^
Was amazing, unmoderated, and hilarious. I miss chunks the hobo and his amazing dream followed by the rude awakening of Bill Martin urinating on him
November 11th, 2012 at 9:55 PM ^
now those threads were entertaining.
pure anarchy, and so much fun.
November 11th, 2012 at 10:02 PM ^
How much does an MGOBLOG mod make? Also, I am interested in becoming a mod here myself and I wondering if there is a page to apply in, assuming someone will take BiSB's place.
November 11th, 2012 at 10:06 PM ^
But when you die, on your deathbed, you receive... well, actually, still no money.
November 11th, 2012 at 10:42 PM ^
November 11th, 2012 at 10:49 PM ^
/StonerSmile
November 12th, 2012 at 10:52 AM ^
Wait, I thought you guys at least were granted sips from the Brown Jug, which much like the Holy Grail, grants eternal life.
/disillusioned
November 11th, 2012 at 10:02 PM ^
You're good people. Good sense of humor, good mod. Good gooder.
November 11th, 2012 at 10:30 PM ^