Forum Administration

[Da Geezer]

I'm thinking "CFB coaches doing either a great job or a terrible job"

[lineygoblue]

IMPORTANT

Gentlemen:

I've not been able to get into this forum every day due to my work schedule. I'd like to be able to get here more often and participate in discussions, but I just can't.

As I've gotten time to look in here, I see some conversations that have taken a turn for the worse, to put it mildly. In some threads we seem to be straying away from sports related commentary and getting into more personal and serious matters.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask that this stop immediately.

This forum exists for the discussion of the University of Michigan athletics. We're not here to question anyone's manhood, their religious beliefs, their sexual persuasion or what color their eyes are. We're here to discuss sports.

The charter members of this forum decided a long time ago to forgo controversial subjects, in order that our forum would remain sports related, and that hard feelings would not prevail. At the end of the day, we all wanted to remain friends, and fellow supporters of Michigan athletics. I continue to believe that this is the best way for this forum to exist.

If enough support exists, I suggest that those of you who would like to participate in a "slam" forum, where the gloves are off on any/all topics, then you may want to ask Deborah to set up something for you, and have at it. Choose some moderators, and start a new forum. Fire away on any topic you like, and let the flames fly with both barrels.

I don't want that type of discussion here. And I believe the majority of our charter membership feels the same way. I don't want people leaving our discussions because they fear being flamed on other issues. I want Michigan fans to be able to come here to talk, vent their spleen, gripe, moan, cheer, or whatever they feel they need to do, as it relates to Michigan Wolverine athletics. Anything else needs to be sent to another forum.

So, in conclusion, if this little speech causes some to leave, then I wish you well, and I hope that one day you'll find your way back to our humble forum, and participate in civil discussions about our beloved Wolverines. If not, I wish you well anyway, and no hard feelings.

If you wish to address comments to me privately, you can send them to me on my email at

lineygoblue@gmail.com

Thank you .. and Go Blue.

[UMStan White]

I don't think a private response should be made. I think a response to all posters is necessary.So you think it is ok for some "sacred cows" to express racist and homophobic views and not be called on their views? Where do you draw the line? When the comments are made and nothing is done or when someone has the balls to call it for what it is? I don't want anyone to think that my silence is in any way an endorsement of the ignorance of some of the commentators, UM football or not., I bet you could look and see that a significant minority of comments have nothing to do with UM football in this forum and some posters haven't posted anything but provocative postings for months. What is it going to be? Post with impunity and not let anyone challenge those posts or ban those who respond? As someone who has been banned, moderated and personally attacked I don't give a shit because I take into account the juvenile nature of those that post. Clean the forum. We have lost so many posters over the years that another ethnic cleansing will leave one or two people to banter each other.

[lineygoblue]

Thanks for the comments Stan.

As I said, I haven't had time to get in here a lot lately, but when I got on this morning, I saw some conversations that looked like they were getting out of hand.

I apologize that I haven't been on very much, but the job just doesn't allow me much computer time anymore.

(By the way, I'm running a dedicated auto parts route from Lansing to Indianapolis daily) :-)

I have asked everyone in my previous post today, to clean things up themselves. We are all adults, and I am giving everyone the chance to do that. If that fails, then I will indeed start suspending or banning as necessary. Stan, you are right. Its time to take stronger action, if my pleas go unheeded.

Thanks again for the comments.

[Ghengis Jon]

I've been watching Liney, nothing's gotten out of hand. This sort of nonsense seems to be a July-early August thing and it seems to rear its head every year after a long boring off season. People simply get a better view of what/who the posters really are.

Not to excuse boorish behavior, but its among those who have never met each other. Half of us here have socialized in person for years. We have the benefit of knowing we'll see each other again. Its the anonymous nature of the internet that causes all the crap. I think that its because we've met that keeps us here, even from Freep days.

Hold your nose, we'll return to (ab)normal as the season approaches.

[lineygoblue]

Thanks Jon.

You're right about meeting each other. I think if more of these folks actually met, the atmosphere here would be much different.

I know that I look forward to the times we all get to see each other in person, more than the actual football games.

[WingsFan]

Yea not bad, its the dog days...

Liney you do remember meeting me when I was jim morrison (way back before Packfan)? I was at Dougs with my girlfriend at the time. Met, Jerry F Bouldin, a few of the other old borg were there (forgot names) . Jeff Buchanan was very cordial, great guy in person.

[lineygoblue]

I never got to meet Jerry Bouldin. I spoke to him on the phone once, (he had a voice like Mike Barwis) but I never got to meet him. I was about 30 feet away from meeting Jamie H. We were looking for each other and found out later we just missed. I was also just a few minutes away from meeting Clashmore Mike. I believe he stopped by Doug's tailgate, but we all had already left for the game.

I don't remember meeting you Packo ...but I'm so old, I sometimes forget to wear socks ... :-)

[Jeff Buchanan]

Linesman, I know you don't like to point fingers but the only poster here that has been outrageous is OP.

Now, you have to get this guy. He's got money to burn and has since I've know him, he appears to flaunt it here but that's not who he really is at all. I know, hard to believe but he's a very gracious individual for a Canadian. He once left $80 (four 20s) on the bar top after he bought himself, me and my wife 3 $8 G&Ts. My wife picked it up and said did you mean to do that? She thought he dropped them out of the wad of cash he had in his pocket. He said, "yep .... think about this. I made 4X what Lloyd Carr did last year. It's charity." The money was put back on the bar top.

Like most here who never have met him, when I first encountered him on this forum, we had a massive flame war going on between us. I hated the douchebag .... until we arranged to get together, at his invitation, in Chicago for an away NW game. Had a great time and we've had several meetings since then not involving M football. Wish there could be more but he travels a ton .... making money.

OP loves throwing gasoline on the fire of any discussion. There are no limits .... I find it refreshing but that's because I know him and how freaking funny he can be. I wouldn't take any of his gay or racist comments to be reflective of who he is at all. Now, that's not to say I don't think he might benefit from not putting them out there but that's his call.

Your reminder to tone down the political commentary and off sports discussions though is appropriate and my feeling is that we will as the football season engages us and there is something else to talk about.

[lineygoblue]

I remember meeting OP one time at that same NW game Jeff. My sons and I were going to join you all for dinner, but we had to get back home. My son had to work the next morning.

Meeting in person is a huge difference-maker. For the longest time, for instance, I really didn't like Stan, but once I met the guy in person, I made a complete 180 and I love the guy. I remember that within a minute after actually meeting him, I gave him a hug. He was absolutely hilarious. Stan loves his Wolverines, and is very vocal about it.

I see OP the same way, but OP loves to dig at folks. (OP, I'm giving away your tactics here, but bear with me) He loves to find your weakness then dig away at it.

I guess what I'm asking of everyone is quite simple. We're all adults, and we should all be able to police ourselves. We shouldn't need to have a moderator come along and tell us to behave. When you realize that someone is getting a bit too emotional and the conversation is getting a bit uncivil, then maybe everyone needs to back away from the keyboard a bit and take a self-imposed time out. I've done that many times, because I've had to.

Lets all get along as best we can, and hopefully the foot will kick the ball very soon.

And Jeff ... "a very gracious individual for a Canadian" ... LOL .. wait til Geo and Drok see that ... :-)

[drok]

**graciously not dignifying that with a response**

[UMStan White]

One of my regrets is not getting to meet OP. He probably is all that Jeff says. Hack on the other hand....... ;-)

[Ghengis Jon]

Well, I'm glad that was cleared up.

A daygo, a pollack and a dyke walk into a bar...

[lineygoblue]

Well?

Finish it Jon ... :-)

[hack]

If the past is any indication, linesman showing up to remind people to stick to sports means he's about to start talking politics.

Either way, I don't hate OP, nor am I outraged. It's pretty clear what he's up to, and all sports forums have these types. I do hope the character he plays here finds peace with himself and who he is. I also hope we don't have another round of nanny-state behavior. I agree with the following and think we do a reasonably good job in comparison to most sports forums:

We're all adults, and we should all be able to police ourselves. We shouldn't need to have a moderator come along and tell us to behave.