Message Board Proposals

Leave it as is.

Registration might work to get rid of people who delight in posting constantly under different names.

I suggest you guys edit the long rambling posts that fail to "bring anything to the table", such as the one's Flagpole Willy frequently puts up. jk buddy.

Hey, lay off Flagpole. Don't always agree with each other, but he is the kind of guy I'd love to go on a long run with on the trails, then go back to the front porch and sip on some beer. (Of course we might brew up a little venison chili to top it off with!)

Thanks Bubba. Running and beer is a good thing. I hope I didn't ramble on too long there.

Wejo,

Registration is key. It limits multiple "personalities" and would force a member to accept the rules that you lay down for the site. As for those rules, a Code of Conduct outlawing personal attacks and offensive links (porn) would be appreciated.

(Example: John Smith choked again at Bislett! - O.K., BobfromOmaha is a #!@$%&* doping $#@!&* child molester! - Not acceptable (unless you have concrete, willing to give it to prosecutor's proof))

My suggestions:

1) Make everyone register, this way people should be reluctant to post something stupid if their email address will show.

2) Delete non-running related posts without delay and debate or create a separate forum for that stuff.

My votes:

1. No separate boards

2. No posting limits

3. Require registration - with e-mail verification

I think the system works remarkably well as it is. Of course, there are posters that I would prefer to see a little less of (e.g., people who disagree with me), topics that I don't find very interesting (e.g., favorite running routes in cities that I've never been in and probably never will be in), and jokes that I find less amusing after the first dozen deliveries (e.g., Ritz or Webb?), but I can deal with those petty annoyances. If registration is required, I would be reluctant to impose a "holding period" before someone can post. If, for example, Teddy Mitchell is criticized on the message boards -- not that that would ever happen -- he shouldn't have to wait a couple of days before he can respond.

One more thought. Although I would be very reluctant to limit the number of posts from any individual, I can see some utility in limiting the number of threads that are initiated by any individual in a given day. On one or two occasions, the message board has been effectively "hijacked" by someone who started numerous threads, thereby pushing other threads off the screen prematurely.

I think that limiting the number of posts would stifle the activity on this board.

Also, someone above mentioned displaying user e-mails. I don't think a user's e-mail should be displayed unless the user agrees to that. Require a valid e-mail for registration, but let the user decide whether or not to display that e-mail when posting.

-Clay

I favor:

Registration

More board moderation, if possible

Breaking down board into forums/topics

No posting limit

***

In any case, thanks for a great board and great job, Wejo (and I hope you beat your PRs in 2003).

Martin wrote:

However, in terms of fine-tuning (and remembering our thermodynamics) I offer the following suggestions:

1. Some form of registration, limiting posters to only one identity. (If they want to remain anonymous, that's fine, but I could do with less of this "ah come to help" nonsense from spotty 19 year-old oiks playing around on their daddy's computer during Christmas break.)

Martin

First of all, you obviously don't read all my posts. Second of all, if you read all my posts you probably still wouldn't understand my agenda. Third of all, if you did understand them you probably wouldn't agree with them. That's because my level of intelligence is far superior than yours and at a level where your life experience would limit you from proper comprehension.

Yea, I know telling people to quit probably isn't something people want to read. But my point is that the current strategies employed in the current training system in this country are basically useless in reaching the world-class levels that everyone dreams about. There has to be major changes made FIRST, at all levels, primarily the junior level because that level provides the critical physical and psychological foundations of base training needed to succeed at the world class levels in senior level years. If you don't already have the junior level system consistently cranking out athletes competitive at the junior world level then it's irrelevant about the kinds of problems the senior level athletes may have that they think restricts their access to those current unreachable levels. For example, why would sponsors want to provide funding for a system where senior runners are already starting in the hole from their junior level training experience? For example, money at the senior level isn't going to fix the problems already associated with the junior level. There's plenty of money budgeted at the junior level through the school system virtually year-round. But the funded junior level training system is useless and more destructive as it does not incorporate strategies that are necessary for appropriate junior level development consistent with our competitive world counterparts.

So where does the initiation process begin to bring about world class competitiveness and popular interest back into the American sport? You've got to begin by diminishing high school monopolization or year-round coaching control of athletes that have both the interest and the talent to succeed at the world junior level. You've got to have special clubs or training centers accessable to junior elites where they can get together on a frequent basis to train together under QUALIFIED professional coaches. Since successful high school athletes are most likely to attribute all their success to their high school coach, abandoning the system that they thought helped them succeed isn't a likely scenario, even though it is that same system that will eventually lead to their demise at the next level.

High school athletes who engage exclusively in their school cross country, indoor track, outdoor track, and summer conditioning programs year after year have virtually zero chance of ever acquiring the training base levels necessary for development to the current world-class levels. That means either programs have to implemented that are too lucrative for elite high school runners to pass up, or both cross country and indoor track would have to be eliminated as sports at the high school level, and where outdoor track was only about 12 weeks in length. This would open up the market for outside interests to implement and develop youth level programs that are not associated with the scholastic program.

Until the demise of high school monopolization, you will never see the American system consistently crank out competitive world-class juniors. And as an unfortunate result, you will continue to see world-class senior wannabees mired in fruitless attempts at overcoming their junior level deficiencies that inhibits their dream of becoming a successful world-class competitor.

I agree with Jason--it is not broke, so please don't fix it. But if you must fix it--do not limit the number of posts--very bad idea--I like it when a poster gets all nutty and starts posting like mad--I get a good laugh out of it and sometimes I do it myself--like this morning. Also, if you must fix it--I whole heartedly agree that there needs to be a forum for people to go crazy in and be allowed to say whatever. Otherwise, you end up with a situation like dyestat has of banning tons of people--and the most interesting people at that. Also, give me my own forum so as I can discuss with people on how to attract the opposite sex. I consider myself something of an expert in that area--but most people could contribute some very worth while information as witnessed by my How to Get Chicks thread that you justifibly deleted on account of things getting too personal. Probably the number one suggestion that I could give is to--don't fix it at all. My number 2 suggestion is that you Wejo start posting a little more than you have as of late. My number three suggestion is--if it is not broke, don't fix it. My number four suggestion is if you must fix it, try to make it exactly the same as it already is. My number 5 suggestion is that you keep it like it is already. And so forth.

Ah come to help, you have good points that need to be made--but you do it in a very irratating way--so that turns people off--and I don't think that is what you intend to do. Mr. Chest intends to turn people off---he is good at it too because so many people here are afraid of him--and especially afraid of that stutter laugh of his.

catman, any hint of inferior high school development is a turn off for virtually all to those associated with junior level scholastic competition. There is no nice way to tell someone that their training program sucks and needs to be exterminated. And proving people wrong hands-on results in stabs-in-the-back as opposed to pats-on-the-back. The end result is that they try to exterminate you by any means possible which includes trying to scare away prospective newcomers through the tactical use of slanderous rumors against your sucessful and innocent name.

I am adamantly opposed to high school monopolization. It is simply a year-round team formation developing the same skill under the legal disguise of different sports by name. It has destroyed the country's ability to compete at the world-class levels and effectively destroyed nation wide popular interest in the sport. And anyone who tries to point out this fact becomes an enemy of those engaged in the system, and puts their professional character at risk to those who wish to protect their worthless system.

Wejo -

First and foremost, I think a locked thread at top that is dedicated to running/training questions and answers should be a top priority. There are several generous individuals who have attained a high level of success in running (as well as coaches, like JK) that have freely offered indispensable advice to those earnestly searching. Of course I enjoy the other bantor, but this passing down of expertise and encouragement from those who've been there is perhaps the greatest function this board has. So, I think that a locked thread at top could easily facilitate this purpose. In your initial post in which you explain the locked thread, you would mention the "severe" consequences if someone screws around on that thread, and if anyone does, ban them for a month.

From time to time, I think the board could use a little more moderating, action that is a little swifter, and consequences for the offenders that is a little harsher. However, I understand that this puts more work on you, and that such decisions are sometimes not viewed as popular (although they probably actually are... it's just the whiners that make the most noise). So, perhaps you could get a little creative and assemble a few anonymous individuals (that share your perspective on where the board should go) to be "the office of the ombudsman" so-to-speak that could quickly make decisions in regards to deletions / bannings. Or, better yet, just say that you're going to do this (have other people making the decisions) while secretly doing it all yourself.

I disagree with you as far as other people monitoring this board. The Dyestat board is completely biased with individuals who are pro-high school and anyone who mentions anything that disrespects the system is banned. I would hate to see individuals on this board with personal agendas delete truthful and informative posts just because they didn't agree with them. I don't think that this board is in a critical situation where it needs more monitors. As far as posting porno links and stuff like that, I would be for that. But not just because someone disagrees with someone else's opinions and having others monitor this board would sure lead to that.

Wejo, please require registration, and collect IP addresses. Once a few pimply-faced, chain smoking, masturbating losers like Mr Chest and "Ah come to help" are identified, you can zap them into oblivion(they're probably the same anyhow). No other suggestions. Great board.

Yeah--learn from the dyestat board on how not to do things.

JEH you are recommending a secret policing of the boards. What a horrid idea!