I’m not a Powerlifter, but I have a real healthy respect for those who choose that sport. I’ve also quadrupled my knowledge by reading the “Strength Sports” section. In fact, I’ve been reading the threads to which you are referring and probably felt pretty much the way you have, disgusted.
However, I think the problem transcends the “Strength Sports” section. I’ve noticed extremely immature comments directed at sincere posters, who wanted help. Sometimes these “kids” will even attack the people trying to give them help. It’s not a matter of slapping them back, I’ve done that too, and recently.
However, who needs it? I’d much rather have a conversation, or even a healthy debate on something relevant to the issue at hand, be it strength training, supplements or most other topics on the Forum.
TC, you have a great site here and are fully deserving of the success that it has given you. However, this is either going to be a place where you can have a mature exchange of ideas, or it’s going to be a place where two bit punks get a free ride to troll. These guys (most likely) don’t make you any money, as they probably have none. The bad part is they just might chase away good clientele!
I don’t like censorship either, but as T-Nation grows (like any “Nation”) it needs to be Policed!
I agree by and large with what mica617 wrote. The situation is not, yet, so dire as to require a censor. And introducing strict moderation runs a real risk of converting “Testosterone Nation” into “Estrogen Gabfest.”
Xen’s idea is a clever one. If its technically feasible, it might be worth looking into.
[quote]Atomic Dog wrote:
malonetd wrote:
No need to censor. I’m assuming you are refering to the “powerlifters are fat and stupid” posts. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Yes, or the one that said, “Thousand pounds? Let me see him do it four times.”
[/quote]
What really gets me is that you rarely see a powerlifter, or any strength athlete for that matter, go into a “pretty-boy”, bodybuilding thread and blatantly put them down. You might get a few “you need to eat more” comments, but that’s about it.
I just don’t get the need to constantly put down powerlifters and their sport.
I don’t agree with the the mods censoring inflamitory posts… I know that some censorship is necessary but it should be limited to the extreme.
I do agree with the “ignore” or “block” option though.
Xen has a point.
If people on here get their panties in a wad and no longer wish to correspond with a certain individual they should have that option. Even if they’re acting like a pussy on a “dangerously hardcore” website.
[quote]Joe Weider wrote:
Atomic Dog wrote:
sam747 wrote:
TC, I always wanted to know what kind of dog that was in your avatar. It’s a pretty cool looking dog.
A very large English Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Define large?[/quote]
AKC standard for a male is about 40 pounds; Toney is 240.
Nahh, he’s 56 pounds. Head the size of a smal black bear.
I think first one must define censorship. Censorship stifles and prevents anyone from gaining knowledge of a certain subject or topic. Deleting personal attacks, such as the one on Chad Waterbury is not censorship. The whole thread served absoluteley no purpose other than to defame Chad. The attack on Coach Davies is not much above that. If one wants to argue (debate) sensibly a difference or benefit (or lack thereof) from one point of view that is one thing, mindless drival is no nore enlightening that profane graffitti. It is my belief that when ANYONE is personally attacked without merit, it should not make it to the board.
I say that when it becomes apparent that the person is being an ass clown, T-Nation admin should post the following picture along with the statement:
Congratulations (screen name) you have just been nominated as ASSHOLE OF THE WEEK. Your post(s) have brought down the collective IQ of T-Nation to the point that we are now dangerously close to riding the short bus to school.
Future posts from this person would all have ‘Former ASSHOLE OF THE WEEK’ appended to them, like a tag line. Sort of like Bill Engvall’s “Here’s your sign” bit. That way everyone could immediately know what they are dealing with. If the person demonstrates the ability to work and play well with others, the tag line could be removed after a period of time.
ASSHOLE OF THE WEEK could be voted on in the T-Nation war room if people would like more control over the situation.
Winner’s could be sent a coupon for free Soy protein from GNC.
[quote]Xen Nova wrote:
TC, maybe you can talk to Tim or someone about this, but it would be cool to have some sort of an ‘ignore’ option. so that if someone posts something and they’re being a dick, then the readers can choose to ignore this person themself.
Thus YOU aren’t doing any censoring.[/quote]
The personalized ignore option would be cool, if the techs could get the computer to drop or not display any posts by a person on the ignore list. I don’t know how easy this would be to code unless you could tie it to user login.
I don’t think censorship is the answer. Particularly so, since, I was one to complain on this a few weeks ago.
Here is a thought. Move threads of this nature to the “Off Topic” forum. That way the poster feels his voice is heard and the people that only read in one or two forums (like me) won’t ever see the post.
I don’t get it. I was curious to see what all the fuss was about, so I read through a bunch of the strength posts.
Are we talking about the “world’s strongest” posts? It looks to me like they turned themselves around in the end. A few others had some put-down stuff too, but not any worse than you’d get from the regulars at your local gym.
TC, T-Nation moderators,
I feel you and Tim, as founders and editors of T-Nation, and the people you have chosen to represent you on this board as moderators have the right to censore or delete posts you feel are not in keeping with what your vision of T-Nation is. It is your site. Frankly, I trust your vision of what this site is and what it represents. That’s why I check in here daily. In fact, I trust you to know what I want to see, read, and learn when I come here, and to save me the time of wading through senseless babble. I know what I want when I log on here, I know what to expect, and if in your opinion there are stupid or useless threads, save me the trouble of checking them out by keeping them off in the first place. There is no such thing as “free” speech, or “free” anything else for that matter. Everything has a price and a consequence. I appreciate you saving me time by deleting what you feel is not worth posting on this site. If people don’t like that, let them log on elsewhere.
Do not censor, please. The disease of the ignorant to resort to insults, put downs, or any other form of reactive response to posts considered against their own views is, I am afraid, one that is prevalent in our society today. The middle path of acceptance and open mindedness is one hard to follow and largely ignored by the all-too-conspicuous talking heads in the media and by the largely polarized public. I find it preferable to know where the extremists are (they make themselves well known in their own vociferous way) so I can learn from their closed ways (or just plain steer clear from them, whichever makes the most sense at the time.)
The bottom line is that free speech must be safeguarded. I think of this website as an island of progressive thinking on many topics and I believe it would lose much by censoring inputs from its visitors.
[quote]malonetd wrote:
What really gets me is that you rarely see a powerlifter, or any strength athlete for that matter, go into a “pretty-boy”, bodybuilding thread and blatantly put them down. You might get a few “you need to eat more” comments, but that’s about it.
I just don’t get the need to constantly put down powerlifters and their sport.[/quote]
It’s called jealousy, plain and simple. The have to ridicule and make fun, because they sure as hell can’t move the same fuckin’ weight.
Ok, I’m one of the most pounded people on this site and I say let the pounding continue. It made me grow up and realize a lot of things that were wrong with my protocols. We all need wake up calls sometime. Also the general pattern is that most of the pounding is insinuated by both ignorant and unintelligent people so it’s often quite fun to laugh at many of the posts; for example Light Power. And those that are intelligent and not as hidebound often turn the disgraceful forums into something useful (for example the softer side thread eventually became a very helpful thread in terms of advancing myself in the weight room whereas it started as a very bashing thread towards me).
Also, on the issue of ego; it’s often quite fun to see these ignorant people post such incoherent nonsense because it makes all of us feel better that we know what they do not. While it’s rather upsetting that people such as this inhabit this site; in general most knowledgeable members here are didactic and willing to help them. If they choose to heed not this advice, then so be it.
Jason
Why would anyone think that some troll who is attacking someone from behind a keyboard, is acting in any way “manly”? I think it’s just the opposite, it’s cowardly!
Would the person who called the Powerlifter fat say that to his face? No way! The reason that that wouldn’t happen is because he would be afraid of a physical confrontation, or in other words: a beating! And there in lies the reason why message boards such as this one need to be policed. There are no serious repercussions (like a beating) to attacking someone on a message board.
T-Nation needs to enforce their stated web site rules: “No attacks or personal vendettas. We need to gurantee that no one will get hammered for what they post.” When those words were written down you guys had a good idea of what was to come, and you were right!
I have no problem with someone calling another member out on a point that he or she made. However, the multitude of personal attacks, and attacks on someone else’s training methodologies (such as the ones against the Powerlifters) should end. They serve no legitimate purpose, other than to annoy others. Worst of all they are perpetrated from behind the safety of a computer screen. That’s not T-Man behavior, it’s COWARDLY!
