The Future of this Message Board

[Ken Massa]

Unlike message boards on Yahoo and elsewhere, which are supported by commercial advertisers - this forum is 100% sponsored by the paying members of HTR. Subscribers voluntarily purchased this message system. The monthly fees for to the Internet server (homebased2.com) and small gratuities for Rick come out of my commission from HDW from monthly download fees - again 100% member paid. We all benefit from that mutual contribution - the intelligent and useful handicapping information provided here is excellent - often profitable.

Most of us know the identity of those posting messages and many of us have met one another at the yearly HTR seminar and become good friends. But that doesn't prevent anyone else from joining in. Opinions and information about all facets of thoroughbred racing and handicapping are welcomed anonymously and uncensored. Non-members of HTR have often sent me email complimenting our board.

But we have to draw the line on allowing personal attacks, false innuendos and schoolyard bullying. Otherwise this board will deteriorate into anarchy and name-calling and a big food fight. At that point I have told Rick it would be shut down and re-open only to HTR members whose identities are known.

Without any malice we had to initiate some censorship on here last weekend for the first time ever. No one feels good about it and we realize it might invite greater backlash. But criticism is part of the price of taking responsibility.

For those who pay the bills (HTR subscribers) it is your opinion that matters as to the direction and character of this message board in the future. Let us know how you feel.

[Sam Thorp]

Ken: I don't think that we should block out non HTR users. That smacks of running and hiding. We've long had a policy of being open, friendly, and helpful. There's no reason to stop that on account of one person, nor would there be if there was more than one person doing it.

Preventing and controlling potential abuse is very easy to do, if we should have to do it. It can be done in a way that is seamless and not even visible to members here. In other words, you can all go right on enjoying the advantages this board has to offer without even being aware that anything is being done. With the help of the excellent BBS system we have here, Rick and I can handle it.

But that's even assuming that there will be any backlash. Until there is, there is little reason to take any action at all.

As I've said many times here and on other boards, the best way to deal with bullies and flamers is to simply go on leading and living a good life. That's something the cyber punks aren't capable of doing; otherwise, they wouldn't be causing the problems that they do. My suggestion is to just go forward with business as usual, allowing guests to come here and participate, and continuing to be friendly, helpful, and courteous, as we always have been.

There's no reason to lock the board down or even make it more difficult to get in, unless we are given reason to, which I think is unlikely. That's my two cents.

[Eric]

Many years ago I was the co-sysop of a large, fee based, BBS (Bulletin Board System). We had similar problems until we restricted WRITING (i.e. posting) privileges to members only. Visitors were welcome to READ everything but only paid-up subscribers could actually post anything to the message boards. Might be a simple solution if possible to implement here.

Eric

[MikeDee]

My opinion.....For what is worth to all who may read this.
Don't bring discussions, comments, explanations, situations or any thing else that is going on on another board to this board.....leave them there. Don't bring them here. If there is something going on there that you feel someone here just has to know about, then send that person a email.

Ken I agree with your position 100% and I hope that you can keep the board the way it is now and has been without any aditional security.

[tomcat]

Ken, I will support your decision to keep this BB to users and adults only. The HTR family is more important than the other dingalings that hit and run.

Personaly, I would be more willing to share if I knew only our friends were using this service.

Keep editing them out!

[Donnie]

Ken (and all),

I agree with Sam, with one further point. Moderated boards are moderated for a reason, to keep peace and not let the riff-raff run amok. I follow this board probably as close as anyone here and I have probably seen everything that has been posted in past 48 hours. At no time did the one individual post anything that had to do with horseracing...at least nothing constructive that could be construed as anything but an attack on someone else. His final salvo was name-calling the entire readership of this board and definitely showed the true intent of his actions. I think the deleting of the said messages was the proper thing to do as they had nothing to do with the intent of this forum. It is because the other boards do not moderate their posts that they have sluink down to the levels they currently are. One such board has not had a horse-related post in over 48 hours, yet no one on the board has said squat about the postings that are going on.

One other thing I noted there...the board receives about 30 visitors a day (good grief if those aren't each counted as individuals).

My vote...keep the board just the way it is. Keep the moderators in place....I KNOW that we are not deleting horse-related posts intentionally (pizzaman's obviously was an accident). The group here is strong and the children are weak. If they post something of horse related value I am sure it will remain posted. I personally enjoy having Lurkers drop in with a message once in a while. Thier opinions are as important as anyone else's, whether they care to share them or not.

One other big difference of this board as compared to others...I have never seen anyone challenge another's handicapping ability on here as if it makes them a better person. We all post with a little modesty, not with our egos. No one has ever had to defend their choices, and I don't think anyone ever will. This is home. This just feels right. On some of the other boards it seems they are constantly defending themselves to the readership. What a sad way to learn an ever changing game.

'nuff said! <steps down off the soapbox>

[hurrikane]

Boy....go away for a few days and the place goes to pot. :D

A whole 48 hrs and not one post about horse racing. The one thing about this board that I like is that most all posts have to do with horse racing. That's why I come here.

I don't know if changing the board is the answer or ignoring the children. What I am sure of is this is the only board I read every day(well, most every day)..the only board I read every post on...the only board where the people are focusing on handicapping...and a little laughter along the way. That is something I would hate to see changed. So whatever it takes to keep it that way .....I'm for it.

[Glen]

Well think we have a good record here. After 2 years someone finally went wee wee our swimming pool. Honestly, that is nothing to be ashamed of. Since only one kid p*ssed in the pool, I see no need to drain the water and rebuild the pool. Just treat the infected water to rid it of unwanted elements and particles. As long as we can keep the urine out of the water, all will be fine.

[tbrown]

I visited this board a lot before I finally posted to ask questions about HTR.
I am glad I did. Everyone here has been very helpful and I appreciate it.
I am glad I came here becasue HTR is the program I have been looking for.
I would hate to see other potential users blocked out. This is really good stuff!!
I was also very concerned to see the same beginings of bad things to come starting here, which is why I posted "deja vu" comments. Keep deleting when you have to. Spirited discussions are one thing, but the crap that went on at PA's and is going on at Yahoo is not
good and it brings the board down. Let's keep this a handicapping board.

[fred4now]

I'm with Hurrikane, been busy trying to buy new house and when I come back don't know what is going on. Good thing we're not the moderators, huh? I read this board alot before joining HTR and was absolutely amazed at the total lack of name calling or insults. The helpfuness of the other members is unbelievable. After meeting most of you in Vegas I realize what a good group this.

Censor Away!:p

[MtKen]

Ditto--we all have to deal with enough jackasses elsewhere; keep them out of the pool!

[Carl]

I think we at this point need a "moderator" to keep things "moderate".

I see this board as primarily a means for HTR users to share information. Fortunately (or fortuanately) it has also evolved into one of the better sources for general information about racing as well.

I think "outside opinion", i.e. non-subscribers, should be welcome to post as guests, but as guests they have a responsibility to post on topic and without malice. In short, Mr. Moderator, delete/ban guests whenever you feel like they are off topic or malicious. Like who needs it?

Please send them over to Yahoo Horseplayers United, we have an open public board, we guarantee their need to post trash will be tolerated there (our two unoffical mottos are IMO "Trash and Cash" and "We care").

Our own family (HTR subscribers) should I think be treated with more tolarance. And so far we have not had a problem with "family" that I know of, so it is a non-issue.

I think it is good to keep the board open to non-users since non-users can ask questions and state racing opinions for the betterment of all.

[Swope]

You have to register to reply to this board, if I remember correctly. If someone abuses the board(in your estimation) take away their registration.

swope

[Cliff]

My vote is:

When someone pees in the pool, use strong chlorine and bromine to clean the pool. Have the lifeguard take away the swimming priviledges of that person.

Final outcome is that they can watch everybody else swimming and enjoying the pool while they sit in the sun and sweat and get sunburned.

Next time they'll learn to pee before getting in the pool.

Cliff
(Very complex analogy, huh?)

[Sam Thorp]

Jelsoft, the makers of the BBS system that is used here, are old pros at BBS software and are well aware that troublemakers exist in cyberland. There are many levels of protection that can be implemented before the board has to be shut off to users only. And most of these levels are invisible to the regular users. They don't even know that protection is in place. For you people, business here will go on as usual. For the moderators, it might require a maximum of five more minutes a day of work until the people with agendas get the clue that they're hitting their heads on a brick wall.

It's been almost a day since the offending posts were deleted. No security settings have been enabled, and we haven't had any more trouble. It's not likely that we will, either. If we do, Rick and I can take steps to deal with it. If not, then there's no reason to worry about doing anything. Let's get back to horse racing.

[JimG]

I would hate not to be able to post to this board any longer because I do not currently use HTR. There are many knowledgeable handicappers on this board and I enjoy exchanging ideas from time to time. I hope you do not make this board HTR only. I usually visit here at least twice a day if I do not post. With respect to the "off-topic" posts, if we ignore they will play elsewhere.


Jim

PS: With me as one of the representatives of the PA board, you guys have nothing to worry about if last week's handicapping is any indication!