Regarding The Forthcoming Near Total Cessation Of Certain Threads: Your Guide

Submitted by LSAClassOf2000 on

So you are aware, the OT Season officially comes to an end at midnight on the 27th  of August, or one week before the first game as per tradition. There will be some cleanup of a preliminary nature starting before then, but it will be mainly background items and removing recent threads with, for example, numerous downvotes – basically subtle strategies to attempt to maximize the amount of football content before the actual deadline comes.

What does that mean for you? Veterans will know the answer, but for newer folks or infrequent visitors, here is your yearly reminder.

To start the ramp-down, however, at midnight on Friday, you may no longer post threads about your favorite shows, movies, books, music and so forth.  Friday can be a transitional day for OT, giving people an opportunity to get their final OT threads in.

One further point, when we say “end of OT season”, it is more a “significant narrowing of scope” – in other words, not every single OT thread will be removed outright. What you must do, if you plan on posting such a thread, is provide a pretty damn good explanation of why it should stay (or the reason may be self-evident) – and yes, frivolous ones will be removed as always. As usual, there are usually narrow exceptions made for major breaking news of regional or national importance and a few other things and that’s what we mean here. Those are just a few examples of “allowable OT”. I realize some people would prefer a hard stop, but this is a community and we’ll consider things that might be of note to the community, even during the “non-OT” months. Such threads should be an EXCEPTION, and the onus is on the blogger to justify it.

A few things of note (non-comprehensive, of course – we reserve the right to throw other stuff out there too):

1)      The Snowflake Rule will apply after games, but we will weigh threads individually and those which provide, for example, detailed analysis of a single series or play or video analysis will probably stay. Those threads which are mere hot takes that could easily fit into a snowflake thread will likely go. I understand why the Snowflake threads are not popular in many segments of the MGoPopulation, but there has to be a way to mitigate hot takes and make sure they don’t bury more worthwhile content. The whole point is to make sure the better user-generated content remains – we have some excellent football minds on the board and I really don’t want their contributions to be buried by your two paragraphs which amount to “that was awesome” or “that sucked” or what-have-you.

2)      Having seen #1, please take care in general to consider carefully what you want to say if you’re going to create a thread. Search the first three pages of threads or so for similar threads – that’s typically what I use as a measuring stick for “redundant”. Most weekends in the season, three pages covers about 2 days of threads, or after a loss, about 30 minutes of threads. As for breaking news, make sure that you check the publish dates on articles – you can almost be assured that anything over an hour old has made it to the board barring a huge oversight (and sometimes, something does get overlooked). Normal rules on sourcing apply as well, so for example, be judicious with Bleacher Report, no Chatsports, and don’t post a whole Freep article out of spite – post a quote, link it, and give people the opportunity to avoid reading it.

3)      DO NOT attack players or fellow MGoBloggers personally. Ad hominems are essentially your ticket to Bolivia or worse depending on the severity of the statement. I know people get emotional after games, but do try to run your initial reaction by your frontal cortex first for proper review. Criticizing play and strategy is fine, but basically bringing someone’s mom into it, if you will, is your way of telling the mods you no longer wish to be here. As you may have seen in the Mod Sticky as well, there will be a doubling down on efforts to promote a more welcoming environment around here too, so PLEASE check your choice of words and photos against those rules set forth in the sticky before posting.

4)      Report potential infractions or questionable posts in the Mod Sticky with a link to the comment or thread. We will review them as soon as possible and dole out point deductions and so forth accordingly. If it is raining in La Paz, we will provide appropriate gear assuming we did not spend the money on beer first. If there is a delay in getting to an issue, remember that the mods have lives too, but if it is something that really should go, say, right now, tweet me at @LorneEC3 and I’ll address it right then or make a note to do it ASAP. Yes, I can’t stand the threads with “IBD” or “Moms please delete” in 40 different forms and posts either, so let’s try to mitigate that, eh?

5)      Sunday (also Thursday and Monday) NFL threads will be allowed as usual. Pro sports events which are significant are fine as well (World Series, NBA or NHL coverage, etc…) – just not every bit of news like we get during the draft and free agency periods sometimes. I know people gripe about the amount of Lions coverage during the NFL season, but try to remember that a sizeable number of the active users on this site also live in Michigan. Do feel free to throw in some coverage of your own teams, if you so choose, but be selective due to OT restrictions.

6)      Threads covering other college games should typically be OK, but do try to keep the tradition of “Saturday Noon Games Thread”, for example, on the weekends (and on Thursdays and Fridays when sometimes there is a significant slate too). The tradition of MACtion is absolutely OK even though ESPN has apparently all but killed it. If something noteworthy is happening in a particular game, a separate thread should be fine but detail the reason for breaking out of the open thread coverage.

I will let JustinGoBlue add whatever he feels is appropriate in the comments, but I thought I would get this out there in a prominent location to everyone now. 

Comments

LSAClassOf2000

August 21st, 2016 at 8:42 PM ^

Someone on Twitter brought up a good opportunity for an addendum - 

Drinking Thread Policy:

Let's try to limit this to Friday and Saturday - we can talk about this, but that's my hope. I realize there is a wide body of tastes in drinks on the blog, but we really don't need a thread for Wednesday or Thursday and the like, as tempting as it may be to share. The idea here is that we would like to keep as much Michigan content as possible floating about, and these threads - when posted excessively - are just one more thing to deal with. 

pearlw

August 22nd, 2016 at 5:14 AM ^

I cant understand why these drinking threads get to stay up...it sort of shows that most of everything you said in initial post is to be ignored. These threads accomplish one thing - push actual michigan football content further down - which us exactly what you say you are against.




Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

LSAClassOf2000

August 22nd, 2016 at 6:46 AM ^

I wouldn't think so, and that's because those threads have become quasi-traditional, but last year we were kind of generous about allowing them and it didn't work out so well in retrospect, so it is going to be boxed in this year. Everything else still applies, and I realize not everyone is a fan of these threads, but the problem is that because they've been allowed in the past, they'll get posted so we may as well find a middle ground. 

Esterhaus

August 21st, 2016 at 9:01 PM ^

I've noticed for comparison that Amazon bars repeat offenders. Since I happen to push the envelope under the rulz here sometimes, can you please publish a brightline on application of the banhammer?

FAQ A: Hello, likely anvil. Please do feel free to send that postcard from ....

justingoblue

August 21st, 2016 at 9:11 PM ^

It's not a black and white system and everyone approaches things differently, but speaking for myself actual, long term users aren't just suddenly banned. The two exceptions off the top of my head would be crossing the line into using slurs or personally going after a student athlete.

For things like politics or not playing nice with other posters, anyone with a legit history is going to get at least one warnng when it's me making the call.*

*Speaking broadly, I'm sure there's an exception in there somewhere.

pz

August 21st, 2016 at 10:22 PM ^

Will the main page side bar arrow ever be fixed to easily see multiple pages of posts? I can't even click through multiple pages of posts from the Mgoboard homepage anymore - at least most of the time it just takes me to the most recent diary posts.

Seems like it would be helpful if this were addressed prior to the season.

EDIT: I just re-checked and it is flicking in between, so a definite improvement - hopefully it is fixed...

Mgodiscgolfer

August 22nd, 2016 at 7:50 AM ^

Peppers highlight film clip that was kinda jazzy I absolutely loved it. I had to have it. But, I am sure you guys get plenty of e-mails that you would rather, just not be bothered with. Fact is, I don't even know where I can reach somebody who might be able to point me in the right direction. Is there such a place?

I will put the question to the kind folks in the comment section but it would not suprise me if it gets totally and permanently ignored or ki-boshed. I will also check back here every couple of days in hopes that this reach a caring, kind and considerate Mom who will ask me for beer money in exchange or just find it in his heart to help me.

Mgodiscgolfer

August 23rd, 2016 at 5:36 PM ^

I do have a smart phone and as soon as I read your reply I thought oh yeah my wife actually has that app on her phone....I am saved. I was soo bummed that I didn't think to ask her she just doesn't come to mind when I am trying to fix a problem on this site.

Oh and.... Julesh? I hope i spelled correctly I replied from Justin go blue. I have been coming to this site since some time in 2010 it would be about time I took the time to learn how to embed a simple video. So I will work on it right after I download that song. Thanx again to both you guys.

Mgodiscgolfer

August 23rd, 2016 at 10:14 PM ^

some other app called music hound or something like that could not identify this song but I know exactly where this video is..If you even care to help my helpless ass. Are you familiar with Draftageddon Penultimatum (I believe it was up all this past weekend) its soo easy to go to that page its very easy. I go to the home link (in the upper left) on the front page then scroll to bottom press # 3 that penultimatum page turns up on top.

Scroll down right below the Epic pic to the opening line that says in bold Previously On Draftageddon. 1.  Rounds 1 and 2 (underlined) click on this link it will open up to Draftageddon 2016:This Time You Might Actually Enjoy It in bold. Scroll down till you see Ta-Da...A film capsule that says on the top Jabrill Peppers Michigan Highlights press the play sign in the middle and prepare yourself for listening to the coolest non lyrical jazzy tune new age type remix I suspect, and watching Peppers do what he does which also is very cool while you listen....Good luck knowing or finding the artist or a name that would go with the music. I will Donate to this site another $ 20.00 in the name of the person who can BRING IT to me. Honestly no lie I really will, you can check with whoever you check with to find out if in fact a $20.00 spot came in. just get me the darn title or artist.

FreddieMercuryHayes

August 22nd, 2016 at 9:39 AM ^

To clarify, when you say 'midnight on the 27th of August', do you mean that the last OT topics have to go up on Friday evening, or Saturday evening.  Does the game week start on Sunday the 28th?

LSAClassOf2000

August 22nd, 2016 at 10:55 AM ^

I was thinking that Friday would be the last full day of OT, with the final threads - if you wish to get them in - going up no later than 11:59 PM on Friday night. 

To answer the question below that, clearly Andorian Standard Time, in which a day is equivalent to 28.15 Earth hours, meaning that midnight Saturday actually falls at 4:27 PM on the following Wednesday. 

Njia

August 22nd, 2016 at 2:29 PM ^

Because I had fully intended to be That Guy ... But you've added one for Drinking Threads; so, I'll limit my requests for everyone's favorite Chili-Cook-Off and Competition Barbeque recipes to comments therein. 

Damn it, LSA. You think of everything.

LSAClassOf2000

August 22nd, 2016 at 6:31 PM ^

This is a good point. Let's add some stuff right now:

"Where Can I Watch The Game In ____________?"

We will try to limit this to a catch-all thread, so if you're reading this and foresee the need to watch a game elsewhere, make sure that thread is not location-specific. 

"How Can I Watch The Game?"

This is in reference to the people who continually look for cable-less ways to watch games. Try not to post about this if you already see that a thread has been created for it. 

Walter Sobchak

August 22nd, 2016 at 8:38 PM ^

Well, with actual football news, we won't need all this bullshit to give our empty, soulless lives some meaning.

DealerCamel

August 23rd, 2016 at 1:52 PM ^

Don't be a dick about labelling things OT or not, or arguing with each other about whether a certain post is OT or not, or otherwise insulting the poster's intelligence for posting an OT thread.  Leave the housekeeping to the mods.

kehnonymous

August 23rd, 2016 at 6:05 PM ^

...once we DO beat OSU and MSU this year, I am good to go for unleashing all the edgy, politically charged and most decidedly non-PC hot takes I have stored up?  Especially the ones about MGoUsers and current players?