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[Benny]

First off, thanks to everyone for continuing to visit and post here and giving us the highest traffic year in the history of the site. As you all know, the admins have been scarce around here in recent months because of a lot of different things going on in our lives. Because of that, I think the site has unfortunately started to drift away from a fun and free place to be while at the same time promoting intellectual discussion for SEC sports as well as anything else that our users want to talk about.

Since I've been back, I've noticed a number of things which need to be addressed. Many of our veteran members have also let me know via PM that they share similar concerns.

Before I continue, I want to say that absolutely no trolling in this thread will be tolerated. You are welcome to voice your concerns. Don't bring up past incidents around the site to try and prove a point, but just tell us generally where you think the site is headed and how it can be improved. Absolutely no calling out anyone and not even posting any funny GIFs, no matter how relevant they may be.

First off I want to point out that a few years ago, there was hardly any cursing allowed on the open boards. Since then, we've obviously been pretty relaxed about cursing but recently users have started to use this to abuse other members. @Gaturunvrsty put it best when he said there's a difference between saying "your team is shitty" and "you're a shithead." Only one of these remarks is allowed here. We need to make sure we don't delve into name calling when a thread isn't going our way. It's not necessary and it won't be condoned.

Second, I want to reiterate that team forums are supposed to be used by that team's fans to have civil discussion among themselves and rival fans if they choose to visit. Rival fans aren't allowed to flame and troll in team forums UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. I'm tired of having to move threads to the trash talk forum when that wasn't the intent of the poster. From now on, we're gonna use the ban from thread feature liberally when addressing issues like this. We're also gonna start deleting posts which are obviously geared towards derailing threads with trash talk.

Lastly, I want to talk about what a moderator's role is here. Just because someone is a moderator doesn't mean they can't trash talk and do everything else that regular members can do. Moderators shouldn't have to abstain from defending their teams just because of the fact that they are moderators. They are allowed to participate in conversation just like everyone else here. What moderators can't do is abuse their power to prove a point.. which I don't think anyone here has done. If there happens to be an incident between a moderator and another user, feel free to get an unbiased moderator involved to sort things out. We will ban moderators from team threads if need be, but there is no need to cry foul simply because moderators are conversing. If we allow users to curse, I think moderators should be able to do the same (within the rules).

That's about all I can think of. Like I said, feel free to say whatever you feel you need to say so we can make any changes to the rules if necessary.

Thanks and hope everyone is having a great 2013.

[Show Stopper]

While some of the things you say are true, I think the site overall overcomes those faults.  Sometimes you take the good with the bad and in this case there is very, very little of the latter (other than some of the obvious things you have pointed out).

Still I joined this forum a number of years ago and while I haven't been as active as I'd like to my real life priorities I still enjoy coming to this site each and every day to read its content.  Things never got old and are never stale.

The entire SECTalk staff should be very proud for what they have been able to create, cultivate, and develop and I'm glad to be apart of it.

[E-Man]

I think all of these sound reasonable to me, @Benny. Derailing of topics outside of the Tash Talk forum is annoying wilst I'm lurking around because it usually means the thread will devolve into a middle school level of pettiness. That's about the only issue I've got at the moment.

[TrueGCFan]

Overall I love the site. It is by far the most open and user friendly site I've been to.

One suggestion I would give is if we are planning on having a home page we need to make sure all of the information is up to date, fresh, and updated often.  It know it takes man power, but since it is the face of the site I think it is important.  I'll be willing to help out however I can.

Keep up the great work @Benny and guys.

[CockyinCola]

I've only been here a year and a half now, but honestly I haven't seen much of a dip in content here since I've joined. There is a bit more trolling from various fanbases, but there is still quality posters here. I guess the trolling could be toned down a bit, especially in team specific boards as you said Benny. But besides that, it's just a part of message boards and I've learned to take certain posters with a grain of salt and to not take things so seriously.

[bulldawg28]

I think this site is premier. I personally don't pay for any site so it's always good to be the first to read about it before it hits mainstream. Even with general trashtalk I think most fans here mutually respect one another. My ONLY concern is whenever a thread is created about politics or religion. People tend to cross the line in name calling and attacks and justify it in the name of free speech and personal opinion.

Edited by bulldawg28, 25 January 2013 - 01:32 PM.

[ForwardRebels]

bulldawg28, on 25 January 2013 - 01:27 PM, said:

I think this site is premier. I personally don't pay for any site so it's always good to be the first to read about it before it hits mainstream. Even with general trashtalk I think most fans here mutually respect one another. My ONLY concern is whenever a thread is created about politics or religion. People tend to cross the line in name calling and attacks and justify it in the name of free speech and personal opinion.

Agreed 100% on that. Attack the idea/politician/ideology, not the user posting about the idea/politician/ideology.

[JDawg]

Might I add that setting up obvious troll/bait threads is just as annoying as derailing threads with trashtalk.  

The MSU/OM forums are laden with habitual offenders, and I'm occasionally one of them.  However, given the intenseness and bitterness of our rivalry, it's only natural that we bicker, as long as it stays in designated areas.  Spilling over into every thread b/c you've been baited shouldn't be allowed.

That said, the Lane Kiffin emoticon for curse word substitute I think serves a good purpose.  First, it's funny.  2nd, it keeps the real word off the site.  3rd, it serves as a tool to keep things relatively light during an argument.

Anyway.... most of the things that you alluded to happen in the politics and religion threads.  Everyone is always going to be super passionate about that, and the best thing ya'll have done is to create the subforum.  

I think I speak for many of the "mid-timers"... folks that aren't really vets, but have been here a few years, in saying that I don't think the site has gone "down-hill" at all.  It may be slightly goofy and troll-filled at times, but just about the whole internet is that.  I think as long as topics are moderated correctly, things will be fine.  There IS a time and place for EVERYTHING.  That's what makes SECTalk an awesome spot.  If the trolling/bashing/flaming threads/posts could be contained in their proper place a little better, it'd be perfect.

But still..... I have no feelings that the quality of site has gone downhill.  I'd MUCH rather put up with stupid crap every now and have the increased traffic and activity than have a stale, slow board like many team-only boards turn into.  Like a previous poster said... you take the good with the bad.  The good on this site far outweighs the bad.

@Benny, I'll PM you some other suggestions.  Thanks for making this site the way it is.  I think I have a semi-man-crush on you.  This place keeps me sane? at work, sometimes.

[bulldawg28]

ForwardRebels, on 25 January 2013 - 01:36 PM, said:

Agreed 100% on that. Attack the idea/politician/ideology, not the user posting about the idea/politician/ideology.

I don't think their should be attacks at all. It's everyone's belief or opinion so attacking it creates a fight. Difference of opinion yes, attacks no.

[CrimsoNation713]

Thanks for giving us the opportunity and thanks to GU and Vader for positive input also. I think the site needs this. Its a great site but like you said Benny, theres some things that really get old (trolling and name calling just to name a couple) when you're discussing or disagreeing on a subject. Overall, I love the site (thats obvious...been here for nearly 8 years) and you guys do a great job at keeping it at an even keel even though you guys have full time jobs.

Thanks !!!

[ForwardRebels]

bulldawg28, on 25 January 2013 - 01:40 PM, said:

I don't think their should be attacks at all. It's everyone's belief or opinion so attacking it creates a fight. Difference of opinion yes, attacks no.

I didn't actually mean attack, in that sense of the word, rather I meant debate or discuss the idea/politician/ideology.

[A10Rebel]

I have a potty mouth...and that's probably not going to change. I think I keep it under control.

Edited by A10Rebel, 25 January 2013 - 01:49 PM.

[JDawg]

A10Rebel, on 25 January 2013 - 01:48 PM, said:

I have a potty mouth...and that's probably not going to change. I think I keep it under control.

As do I.

[Benny]

Thanks for all the input and keep it coming. I don't think we're necessarily going down hill. In fact I think we've pretty much settled into our niche. We used to have these kinds of interventions every other month just a few years ago so it really shows you how far we've come.

And agreed about the politics/religion. That's partially why we created a new sub forum for it. It should be treated like the trash talk forum and everything that happens inside should remain inside. We shouldn't let those disagreements spill over into other parts of the board and that probably is the biggest problem. It does keep things interesting, yes, but it also drives people away when they see these types of attacks being cloned out in the open.

One other thought I have is to kind of restructure the social groups so that each team's group is listed under the team's main forum, like the news forums are. That way new users can find them easier and they will overall be easier to get to.

What do you think?

[bbqit]

The word showing kiffin is great. Now lets add to that a bit. First I think we should leave out any current coach in the sec. Too disrespectful. With that said can we use nutt for dumbass? Tuberville for shit? just a thought.