Blazersedge Conversational Rules

by Dave on May 27, 2007 12:57 AM PDT in News

Since the site continues to grow by leaps and bounds it's necessary to review and update the site rules upon occasion. This will become a permane nt link in the sidebar so you can refer to it at any time.

There aren't many, but they're important and iron-clad, so please read carefully.

If you quote an outside source you must give credit to that source with a link and only quote a small portion. Two or three sentences is generally the maximum allowed. See the HTML Hints thread if you're not sure how to quote or post links.
Ad hominem arguments/attacks are not allowed here.
This is a non-profanity site. I swear at home and so do you, but the standards for public conversation are higher than they are in your den and I do not apologize for that. Note that this also includes disguised swearing. The all-symbols substitute ($#%#) is allowable because it does not lead anyone to think any word they don't want to. (And it brings up warm, fuzzy associations with childhood comics like Hi and Lois and Hagar the Horrible.) But even ONE letter with symbols is not allowed!
Like every other conversation site on the planet we do not allow obviously offensive comments based on race, orientation, religion, and the like.
Do not violate my pet peeves, which all have to do with bad/abusive/unfair conversational styles. In other words, don't be "THAT guy". Typical characteristics of THAT guy:

He posts something and then responds to every...single...comment with an overly-defensive comment of his own, not letting people have real conversation about his points.

He talks about the person posting instead of the post and its points/ideas.

He begins posts with phrases like, "If you had actually watched the game..." or "If you knew anything about basketball..."

He makes comparisons between basketball matters and things FAR beyond their scope, things in such poor taste that the mere mention of them obliterates any valid basketball-related conversation. ("The refs were the Nazis and we were the Jews tonight!")

6. All off-topic discussion must be limited to occasional posts specifically designed for such. Blazer-related conversation is not allowed in off-topic posts. A thread is either on-topic or off-topic, not a mix of both.

7. Discussions of religion and politics are not encouraged and are subject to deletion should they be deemed out of context or likely to create conversation so off-topic and controversial as to detract from the site's mission (which they almost always will).

8. Public discussion of site moderation is not allowed, as it quickly devolves into a fruitless distraction. If you have questions or concerns about moderation you can e-mail Dave at blazersub@yahoo.com.

A note on Fanposts and Fanshots

Fanposts and Fanshots are your voice. Remember the following:

All the rules listed above apply in the Fanposts and Fanshots.
A Fanpost is generally 75 words or more, eliciting deeper thought and conversation. A Fanshot is generally 75 words or less and is a one-shot link, photo, or brief idea. Please organize your posts accordingly.
Do not duplicate other Fanposts and Fanshots or repeat topics or links that are already fully covered on the main page.
Do not post more than two Fanposts or Fanshots in a single day. Leave room for others.

If you have any questions or comments feel free to e-mail me any time.

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

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Comments

HAHAH

The only exception to this rule is that Damir and only Damir is allowed to swear once in an open thread each time we win the overall first pick in the lottery. So be it.

AWESOME.

ROTUNDITYDOTNET

by damir on May 27, 2007 2:25 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Awwwwwww Dangit!!!!

:::foot stomp, perhaps a good ol' fashion 2 year old temper tantrum:::
I wanted to cuss once every 20 years on this site too. No Fair!!!!>:(

I want my front court aLaMOde!!

by shenanigans on May 27, 2007 7:04 AM PDT reply actions

Howabout "panty-sniffin' trekkie"?

Can I say that?

Blazers have a five-on-three...and they pull it back and wait for help.

by QualityPie on May 27, 2007 8:28 AM PDT reply actions

Profanity

You know, I completely respect your decision to make this a family-friendly, profanity-free site, both on stylistic grounds and as a way to broaden your audience. However, as a blogger of the "cuss like a sailor" variety, I have to say I find your comment that profanity is inherently un-creative (or less creative than non-profane options) pretty condescending. I've got a large bucket of $100 words I can deploy when I choose to, I just happen to prefer the creative act of doing obscenity mash-ups. Diff'rent strokes, dude.

by Toast on May 27, 2007 8:29 AM PDT reply actions

Actually, Toast...

I have to agree with both of you. As you know, I frequent both of your blogs and love them both for different reasons. As you also know, my writing style is slightly different at Twoglasses.com than it is at Blazersedge.

What Dave is referring to here, I believe, is the person who can't put a sentence together without using the F-word (for example) two or three times. You personally use language very creatively even in your use of profanity. Most people do not. Most people use one or two choice words as crutches even while they are congratulating themselves on being "edgy". Such use is, in fact, un-creative and, to quote the late Kurt Vonnegut, "Gives people a reason to quit listening to you." (paraphrased)

In short (too late), I don't think you guys are too far apart in your thinking and I don't believe Dave was being condescending in a nefarious way.

by ken @ Blazer's Edge on May 27, 2007 8:52 AM PDT up reply actions

I agree with Dave

As a person in my 20s who is very out of the ordinary in that I don't swear at home OR in public (I actually don't see the difference; I think you should be pretty much the same person in private that you are in public, for better or worse), the primary reason I visit this site is for the clean, earnest discussion of all things Blazers. There are too many other forums with plenty of room for the "creative" profanity-users, and the fact that Blazers Edge is not one of them is one of the many reasons I frequent this site more than any other.

Keep it this way, Dave!

by jamon51 on May 28, 2007 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions

I think we could have an interesting conversation

regarding "bad language" and its use here. I see a difference between profanity and obscenity - though I think "profanity" has escaped its original meaning and many people use the word "profanity" to also encompass obscenity.

Since I'm from the older generation (I'm even older than Grandpa Ken) I grew up not using either. My (working class) parents occasionally used profanity (which always made me cringe) but never an obscenity. I was at least in my 20's before I ever uttered a profanity. I was always considered to be "a lady" and men would apologize for uttering a profanity within my hearing. (Honest, this sounds like 19th century, but it's true.)

At that time obscenities were always used for shock value rather than everyday words. Only "bad boys" or the most daring ever used them. Now that they've become "everyday" they've lost that shock value, but still retain some of the "dirtiness". Because I spent the first decades of my life knowing they were "dirty words" I still recoil somewhat from their use. Because of that innate reaction I don't read the websites where they are prevalent - I figure don't need those sites and they don't need me. It's simply a generation thing. (But its also gender, as growing up, "nice girls don't swear" went along with "nice girls don't kiss on the first date.")

For Damir and the other "kids" - these words are just part of their vocabulary and come out when appropriate. I noticed his "slip" in the lottery open thread, but his apology and begging not to be banned amused me - and touched me too. I think it showed a respect for Dave and this blog.

Toast, I haven't seen your obscenity mash-ups and I don't know if I'd be offended or find them funny. But I'm sure they are creative. I guessing that Dave used the word "creative" almost as an opposite of "lazy", as we used to tell kids (I was a teacher and a mother) that using obscenities meant they were too lazy to find a better word. I'll bet he heard that as a kid!

Some Science Fiction writers are very creative when it comes to expletives. Anne McCaffrey's "shards!" from her Pern series, for example. I remember an Ira Levin futuristic novel in which one of our current "dirty words" was used for the biological act itself and one of our ordinary words (I've forgotten which) was the obscenity. I'm not too creative, using "Bother!" or "Rats!" when something goes wrong, "Bad words! Bad words!" for more serious ones, and the actual profanity for substantial problems. Obscenities are few and far between and always disguised, though obvious.

I was a Blazer fan BEFORE the lottery.

by jorga on May 27, 2007 9:53 AM PDT up reply actions

I can almost guarantee...

you'd mostly find them funny, Jorga, Toast has a very creative way of expressing himself.

by ken @ Blazer's Edge on May 27, 2007 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions

Not meaning to be condescending

Just offering an opinion. Maybe 1 in 100 swear words add something irreplaceable to the conversation. Maybe 1 in 10 of those irreplaceable occasions might be a novel use. I'm willing to give up that 1 in 1000 moment to not have to read the other 999 completely wasted, predictable usages.

That's not to say that there aren't swear-word geniuses out there who can use them like Renoir used oils. No offense to them. I just don't want to have to put up with all the crappy imitators.

--Dave

by Dave on May 27, 2007 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Classic line from Christmas Story

In the heat of battle my father wove a tapestry of obscenities that as far as we know is still hanging in space over Lake Michigan.

by EngineerScotty on May 29, 2007 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions

And.... to echo Dave's sentiment

Mother: All right. Now, are you ready to tell me where you heard that word? (The F-word, which young Ralphie uttered after losing the lugnuts while helping his dad change a tire--for the 3 of you who have never seen this classic flick)
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] Now, I had heard that word at least ten times a day from my old man. He worked in profanity the way other artists might work in oils or clay. It was his true medium; a master. But, I chickened out and said the first name that came to mind.
Ralphie: Schwartz!

by EngineerScotty on May 29, 2007 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions

Dave I have some questions(comments too)

First off I think it's cool you want 4th graders. The internet is a great tool for all ages when used properly. This site should remain as a Blazers info tool for a long time here (or wherever it exists).

I apologize about any flame I have started (with no intention and having done so too many times on sr.com) as well as my inappropriate (on this blog) comments about Miles.

I do have some questions for you dave or anybody who can answer them:

Is there any way to avoid the sometimes spaces i get? EX: My hoopshype link (located at the top) off the 'franchise structure' diary I wrote.
Do you know of any location that gives information about the cba itself? I want to find a full text of the thing and skim it for information. If there is any idea (and I'm just grasping for straws here) where there might be of some I would appreciate it.
I think SB Nation should consider a multiple diary in 1 format (like say 8 small diaries together). It would make the media tidbits more interesting grouped together for instance. Let me clarify that none of the diaries were bad (most of them have been stellar truthfully). Just think if they're small they're better grouped together. It would be harder to lose them quickly that way also.

I'm not doing this blogging thing to be popular or make money or get famous. I'm doing this because I love great conversation about the Blazers and because the community here has become very special. It feels like Blazermania is alive and flourishing here.

I dont need to kiss your butt but that's what make you a quality all-star blogger Dave. As is the readership here. It wouldn't be enjoyable (and I wouldn't bother truthfully) posting as much as I did if it wasn't.

by pookeyguru on May 27, 2007 12:39 PM PDT reply actions

Huh?

as well as my inappropriate (on this blog) comments about Miles.

No such thing as "inappropriate comments" about Darius Miles. Get with the program.

ROTUNDITYDOTNET

by damir on May 27, 2007 1:13 PM PDT reply actions

Damir

I would agree with you. However, there was an analogy to James Byrd there. That doesn't seem appropriate to keeping it clean on this blog. So for that was apologizing. Mostly it was Dave's comment apologizing for my action that bothered me. His rules are pretty clear. He has made them known consistently. He didn't make me wrote what I wrote. I dont think it was wrong about Miles, I just could have written so on my blog (which I have).

And damir, I'm with the program. Kings>Blazers :)

by pookeyguru on May 27, 2007 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Heh. THIS sounds familiar.

I'd rather host 20 people having the best Blazer conversation around
than 20,000 with no regard for each other or the site.

[coughcough]oregonliveblazerforum[coughcough]

Blazers have a five-on-three...and they pull it back and wait for help.

by QualityPie on May 27, 2007 6:54 PM PDT reply actions

I've tried posting on Oregon Live

Seriously I have. When i tried to do it though the format was so confusing I gave up. I'm glad I did. I doubt my Zach for BK idea would have done half as well as it has done here.

by pookeyguru on May 28, 2007 2:58 AM PDT up reply actions

LOL

"Well" may be an understatement, as nobody that I've seen has been remotely interested in actually prosecuting such a deal. However it has brought up some more great discussion about Zach and trades. To me this is one of the marks of a good community. A good community can take a ton of different ideas, including the near-implausible from time to time, and make great conversation out of them. A poor community takes great ideas and turns them into junk.

I think we're one of the better ones but the O-Live forum sometimes gets too harsh of a rap too. There are challenges to posting there but on the other hand it's also exciting like the old, wild West...which is part of its allure. Sometimes you're just in the mood for that kind of thing. Also there are a lot of well-meaning people there from what I can gather.

--Dave

by Dave on May 28, 2007 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions

Wild Wild West eh?

Seth Bullock: There's a blood stain on your floor.
Al Swearengen: Yeah, I'm... I'm gonna get to that.

ROTUNDITYDOTNET

by damir on May 28, 2007 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions

How about Shakespearean cussin'

http://www.trevorstone.org/curse/

by EnglandDan on May 27, 2007 8:24 PM PDT reply actions

Great link!

Thou gleeking empty-hearted foot-licker!

Gleeking is a perfect word to add to our Blazeredge vocabulary.

In Kevin Pritchard I trust. - thanks to TP43

by jorga on May 27, 2007 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Sounds like a cross between geeking

and gleefully.

Usage: "George Lucas' announcement of episode one had many a Star Wars fan Gleeking out over the news. The gleeking waned Jar-jar showed up, and never recovered from episode II."

Oh, Nancy! The Superpan is not magical, it will burn you.

by supremepuntiff on May 27, 2007 10:56 PM PDT up reply actions