Engrossing dispatch or word dump?

Hmmmmn...Away all week, really unable to read much of the site, sat down to catch up and found this. The most impressive thing: nobody reported it to the moderators. I like that. Always believed it's good for everyone to get the honest truth out there once in a while and see where the dust settles.

I'll be the first one to admit that my moderating can be inconsistent. There are several reasons for that: certain things bother me more than they bother others, while certain things that drive others crazy don't affect me at all; there are times I can't be here and times I moderate heavily; there are posters I gave greater slack to, and posters I absolutely cannot stand. (Sadly, this thread shows the worst has re-surfaced.)

I like the site and give it my best shot. Sometimes, my decisions are good. Others, I wish I had a do-over. That's life.

Chris, I've always taken real interest in your work. We're the same age, our careers grew in the same market. (Unfortunately, I didn't cover the Blue Jays much when you really took off, which is a shame, because I think we would have enjoyed getting to know each other a bit.) You have more writing skill in the tip of your cock than I have in my whole body. Your work is fantastic.

You know there is a "but" coming. And here it is: I cannot believe how you, and others, get so worked up about the words of anonymous posters. You need a thicker skin. Someone else here posted it: you are a superstar. Why do you give fuck what Boom or Alma thinks? I don't know Wright Thompson at all, but if I put that much effort into something and received as much positive feedback as he has, I wouldn't care at all about this thread.

This is the best and worst of the internet. Everyone has voice. Some are strong enough to put their own names to it, others are online tough guys. Boom can be very funny, and he (I assume) can also be a troll. I laugh at his funny stuff, I ignore the crap. Now, that lesson didn't come easy to me. I tended to react the same way you do, especially earlier in mu career. But, at a time when our own companies allow people to post the vilest garbage below our work, there's no other way to handle it.

SportsJournalists.com is a much better place when you are here, with MacGregor, with Whitlock, with anyone else who I might be missing. If you used "the button" (and I know I just violated rules) and responded only to the people who truly value your insight, you'd find there still is a lot of good on this site.

 

Just noticed one thing: not trying to say that my voice is any more valuable because I use my real name. There are very legitimate reasons -- in this business, especially -- for remaining anonymous. The only issue I have is people who use that fake anonymity to be faux tough.