Suggestions to improve our site

Well I suppose we could add a few window boxes.


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Seriously...those are all good suggestions TPM.

(slowly opening can)

I guess I would like more Karma Points!

Yup...
...ya shore did!

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:

What I feel is the biggest problem and I have been guilty myself.

It's important to understand that many new people are joining this site and beginning to post with some questions that do have merit for discussion. It's important for all of us, new posters and old timers to try to follow the topic closely as we can to try to answer the question as best as we can.

Good point TPM. Hijacking a thread can be irritating but many times it does evolve into new topics. I am also guilty but shock therapy and support groups are helping me work through it. I got an eye opener in the mail last week. I opened up the mail-box and a National magazine called "The Water Skier" was there. A closer look and I noticed one of my daughters on the cover. Danielle is the one in the middle. She thought it was funny because as she said "Seldom does failure get you on a cover". Apparently the pic was taken seconds after the other six in their "toe-turn" line crashed at the State Tournament.



Maybe I should go to those sessions more often and start paying attention

What I like most about this board are the friendships I've made and those are a result of being able to go "out of the box" and feel comfortable with it. Posting is like sitting around a table and "shootin the shet" with those having similar likes and dislikes. There comes a time in those discussions that the answers become redundant and the topic changes or takes a different coarse. It happens, and you can't stop it because that's what happens when friends start talking. Soon "newbies" join in, they feel unfomfortable at first, and before you know it there just as guilty. We all have room in our lives for folks to enter our "comfort zone".

I do not think there is much to improve---having been on the site since the beginning and "gone to war' in verbal battles with many here , I cherish the memories of Been There and I going at it regularly, I think there is lot to be learned from the verbal sparring.

True, a "TROLL" gets in now and then but that cannot be prevented as this is still the internet

Good, point rz..it is kinda like a conversation among folks with similar interest. Just like any conversation the topic evolves.

So your daughter is in the middle there? Glad you are not my neighbor, my son would be extremely distracted!!

quote:

Soon "newbies" join in, they feel unfomfortable at first, and before you know it there just as guilty. We all have room in our lives for folks to enter our "comfort zone".

Guilty as Charged....

The one change that I would like to see is in how each person is described when posting. For example on this page we have:

4 HSBBWeb Old Timer's
1 Brown & Fuzzy Hero
and now me
1 Member

What I would like to see is

1 Pro Parent
2 College Parents
1 HS Parent
and of course...
1 Brown & Fuzzy Hero

If you read the site enough you get to know the personalities. However, for those that are starting out, it might be helpful to give them a "clue" as to where the writer is coming from.

You could come up with say 10 +/- classifications, say;

HS Player
HS Parent
College Player
College Parent
HS Coach
Pro Baseball (this could cover all those that make their living or a portion their living in the game)
Observers (for all those that like to watch "aka voyuers" but don't know what they are)

Just a thought?

quote:

Originally posted by TripleDad:
So your daughter is in the middle there? Glad you are not my neighbor, my son would be extremely distracted!!

She also has an identical twin, a 6'5" 235 lb brother, and a dad who is an NRA member who knows a lot of places to hide a body. I live by 10 rules for dating my daughters.....

Rule One:
If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up.

Rule Two:
You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them.

Rule Three:
I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose his compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact,
come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.

Rule Four:
I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, seex without utilising a "barrier method" of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate, when it comes to seex, I am the barrier, and I will kill you.

Rule Five:
It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is "early."

Rule Six:
I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.

Rule Seven:
As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process that can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?

Rule Eight:
The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there are no parents, policemen, or nuns within eyesight. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka - zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies which features chain saws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better.

Rule Nine:
Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a pot-bellied, balding, middle-aged, dim-witted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.

Rule Ten:
Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy near Hanoi. When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit your car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car - there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.

quote:

Originally posted by ILVBB:
The one change that I would like to see is in how each person is described when posting. For example on this page we have:

4 HSBBWeb Old Timer's
1 Brown & Fuzzy Hero
and now me
1 Member

What I would like to see is

1 Pro Parent
2 College Parents
1 HS Parent
and of course...
1 Brown & Fuzzy Hero

Actually this thread already has multiple pro parents, college parents, HS parents, an East coast ring leader, and a multi talented Brown & Fuzzy Hero. Which brings up a point. People should keep their profiles updated and accurate. The site evolves around trust, honesty and advise. It's so much easier to open up to people in a written format if you feel like you know them a little.

rz, that's funny.

Having an older daughter, I understand, Mr. TPM had the same rules.
She's 30 and not married yet.

Dang,
I'm glad I had boys or I might be as twisted as rz!

I do have a suggestion for the boys that may wish to date the young lass...serpintine, it makes you harder to hit.

RZ,

In todays world you need to be more protective, I can't understand your lax rules

RZ,

Your list is hilarious, but I am so glad I had boys!


I agree with all of the above, that the best thing about this site is the community and friendships that form here.

And I also like the suggestion about using helpful info like "College Parent", "HS Coach", "Pro Player" etc. in place of Old Timer, Member, etc. I don't think the system will allow us to do this automatically so I will probably have to enter it for members, but what do you all think? (The suggestion about just keeping your profile updated and accurate is good, too.)

Of course, some members would have "combo" descriptions like "HS Coach and College Parent", etc. It might get kind of complicated to combine "Brown and Fuzzy Hero & College Parent" ... we'll accidentally end up with a "Brown College Hero with Fuzzy Parents" ... but that's okay.

Julie

OK, what cracks me up about this thread is how it started out being a friendly admonition to stay on topic, and then within three posts, it's completely off topic.

The only solution I have found is to read every post, regardless of the alleged topic - if not, you might miss some really great stuff! (rz, that was pricelss - I think my own father may have contributed to that list!)

To me, it's like a conversation among friends... when it's over, you'll look back and wonder how you ended up talking about what you did, but in case you had a good time.

i'm with rz.this site is special,no other sport that i'm aware of has anything like it. that's to bad, it is helpful and entertaining. i'm not sure you can improve this site, but that's what they said about napkins. whatever you do it will be great i'm sure.

Can we get more of these cute smiley googlie icon thingies???

Despite CVSting's best efforts, I STILL can't add pictures, and I guess if I could, I wouldn't, in light of GotWood's extraodinary collection of every conceivable photograph of everything on the planet.

An expert witness, with an accent like Scottie on Star Trek, was known to simply charm juries, and was as good as a witness gets. An exasperated attorney snapped at him, "Isn't it true you're nothing more than a professional expert witness?!!" The Economist leaned forward, winked at the lawyer, and relied "Ah Laddie, this is no place for amateurs". The jury cracked up.

As we have such photography experts on here, I'll keep my photos to myself.

I know I'm going to come off as a ***** here, but I think this site is becoming too silly... I know were friends here an can have friendly conversations and topics may change during discussions and that is still informative,
But the threads now seem to turn silly just for the for the sake of being silly

quote:

Originally posted by mythreesons:
OK, what cracks me up about this thread is how it started out being a friendly admonition to stay on topic, and then within three posts, it's completely off topic.

The only solution I have found is to read every post, regardless of the alleged topic - if not, you might miss some really great stuff! (rz, that was pricelss - I think my own father may have contributed to that list!)

To me, it's like a conversation among friends... when it's over, you'll look back and wonder how you ended up talking about what you did, but in case you had a good time.

Good points and that is what usually happens on message boards. However, with lots of new websters signing up and asking questions, it is important, IMO, to make them feel welcome by trying to keep on topic for at least a post or two.

I like the idea suggested and would much rather be a "parent of pro player" than an "old timer".

Guilty as charged njbb. You didn't come off as *****...more like a #####!

Let's compromise...I'll hang out more frequently in the Unusually Unusual Forum and when the bus stops there you just don't pull the cable. If I show up elsewhere just yell to the driver "Next stop please!"

quote:

Originally posted by hokieone:
Despite CVSting's best efforts, I STILL can't add pictures, and I guess if I could, I wouldn't, in light of GotWood's extraodinary collection of every conceivable photograph of everything on the planet.

And speaking of the Scottish here's this to help you out hokieone...


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This along with these are all the tools you'll need for posting all of your pictures that we're anxiously awaiting!


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havent been called a #### in awhile

Update the
showcase table
http://www.hsbaseballweb.com/showcase/showcase_table.htm

a number of showcases no longer exist or have different locations and contact information


Hs Showcase Links
http://www.angelfire.com/vt/prospectwatch/index35.html

quote:

Originally posted by njbb:
havent been called a #### in awhile

I've been called that a number of times!

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Mn Mom...

Why do I always end up presenting the flip side....

I would take a long, hard look at anything that potentially creates more separation rather than community. My initial reaction is that I would oppose listing posters by "College Parent", "HS Coach", "Pro Player" etc.

I'll apologize in advance… but get me that soapbox honey....

I would contend that there are three things that make this site unique, and as long as they remain the core of this site (declared or not) this site will stand alone.

First, we are all team players. WE are all equal. I know I am naive, but bottom line...I believe that beyond our ego's, our desperate need to be a "somebody", and our unquenchable desire to see our sons recognized...that we as a group we are dedicated to a common good. And we share an honest belief that what we do here as a group, is valuable and needed, and that we as a group can really make a difference in the life of somebody else. (Like I said I'm naive). Few sites hold that honorable sense of purpose and community above all else. We remain dedicated to the team, and we all win.

Second….Size, background, scholarship size, politics, dad a professional player, be ****ed…You hit .400 here, you play. I have found, and would like to think that, information is king here. Good posts, well written, well thought out, with good information, are almost always valued and appreciated no matter who the poster is...And most often the truth of information does indeed win out, although it can be drawn out process. But again, there are few sites where information, not political affiliation, or longevity rules the roost.

Third, All teams need solid leadership to thrive and we have superior leadership. There is a core group of posters with the experience, the intelligence but MOST importantly, the HUMANITY to keep us on center. By that I mean they able to consider other points of view, educate, offer suggestions, no matter how rocky a thread gets. They believe in the value of the information, the post and the poster, not necessarily the affiliation, or experience of the poster, whether the posters son plays top 20 DI ball or not. They will stand up for Rookies when they have a valid point, argue against their "posse", or the son of a college player when need be. The interesting part is that this humanity is NOT necessarily based upon how far up the baseball ladder your son has gotten, or whether you have made enough friends/politicked enough to gain "Hall of Fame" Status. And I would submit that this leadership is not always who we think they are. There are some “clean up hitters” here who DO NOT fit this mold, and bench players who do.

And while I’m on my soapbox, and on the subject of leadership, Justbaseball is about the best example of leadership there is. We lose him we take a BIG hit, and we all are the worse for it. Best thing we could do for this site? Keep him here.

So to answer your query, Mn Mom…..IMO anything that gives posters status on the basis of something (HSBBW HOF, Pro Players) other than what they bring with their words and ideas, creates unnecessary divides, and IMO by it’s very nature flies in the face what made/makes the HSBBWW great.

Off the soapbox.

44
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I'll have what he's having.

Oh my - another fabulous post by ob44

I'll have to admit, when I first heard people discuss the posibility of nominating hsbbweb hall of famers, that the idea intriqued me and seemed rather harmless. That was until I heard ob44's eloquent arguments for the team concept rather than individual accolades.

Here is the thing that I have grown convinced of. Whether a player attends a major program or a small college in a farming community in the midwest - they are the same in my mind. It takes just as much hard work and determination to make a small college team as it does to make a top 25 program.

God gives us all differing talents and abilities when we are born that are immutable. It seems that the virtues of developing those talents to the best of someone's abilities are what we ought to celebrate and contribute towards in this great community of ours known as the hsbbweb.

As ob44 points out, drawing some type of distinction between members might detract from those noble aims and I think I agree with him. I also agree with him, we simply cannot afford to lose members like justbb for in that, we all lose.

The posts by observer44 and ClevelandDad are two of the best posts ever written.

We all need to have a little of what they have....okay, maybe a lot...common sense and decency and humility.

I don't think anyting needs to be changed on this forum. It has a wonderful mix of experience and knowledge. Some posters are always serious, some add humor to the forum. There are posters that mostly ask questions and seek advice (me),those that have a wealth of knowledge to pass on (Coach May,TigerPaw Mom, and many more)on many different aspects of baseball. My son is a sophmore in hs, and if he ever makes it to the levels that Coach May's and TigerPaw Mom's boys do, hopefully I'll be able to pass some knowledge along in the future. And if he never makes it that level, I'll still have had a great time watching him play and sharing a lot of great times together. I have learned more about baseball(i was a s****r player)in the last year on this forum, than in the rest of my life.

quote:

Originally posted by play baseball:
The posts by observer44 and ClevelandDad are two of the best posts ever written.

We all need to have a little of what they have....okay, maybe a lot...common sense and decency and humility.

Couldn't agree with you more... on all your points!

Great post O44 and CD,
As far as Title's and Moniker's.
They sort of need to be earned from what I've seen.
And very few should have that honor.

As far as what TPM wrote in her original post about greeting and helping newcomer's is vital to keep this site Active and Helpful to the Baseball Parent, Player, Coach, Recruitor, ect.

Now if we have a little fun along the way. eh
EH

"O-44"...

...BINGO!

Less use of quotes, sometimes it is helpful, but too much is distracting. If you have read the whole post, most times you don't need them.

Can I quote you on that sluggo?

quote:

have learned more about baseball(i was a s****r player)in the last year on this forum, than in the rest of my life.

Bingo! HSBBW mission accomplished!

Good posts HSBBWer's!

quote:

And while I’m on my soapbox, and on the subject of leadership, Justbaseball is about the best example of leadership there is. We lose him we take a BIG hit, and we all are the worse for it. Best thing we could do for this site? Keep him here.

Find myself agreeing with o44 all the time. He is wise! But I'm curious about the above mention of "justbaseball"... Did I miss something? Are we about to lose "justbaseball"? I sure hope not, he's another very wise person.

IMHO, the biggest area in which the board can improve is in its treatment of newcomers. A small group of posters is awfully quick to assume the worst and to attack newcomers. This board can be rather insular at times.

The board has been a great help to many. But too many newcomers have been run off needlessly.

I hope we will give newcomers the benefit of the doubt, cutting them some slack. And put up with a little "bragging" from them, for instance.

Hope that stayed on topic, TPM.