what level of grammar and spelling is minimum? How should we enforce it?

I disagree with his continuous habits of bringing up Aaron Curry, but if Aaron Curry makes a bad play, I see no fault in him pointing it out. I for one, am a bit tired of hearing about Brian Russell’s poor play, and even though he’s no longer a Seahawk he still gets reference quite often, but I respect your (plural) right to criticize him.

Another problem I have is that blurring between Field Gulls and Lookout Landing. Similar blogs in that they both offer top of the line evaluation, but I don’t think the rules necessarily the same. Sometimes I think people take one rule that has been decided in Lookout Landing and immediately try to enforce it in Field Gulls. I’m not saying that the rules in Lookout Landing are wrong, I just think that two sites are separate and that some people here don’t frequent Lookout Landing.

It’s hard to avoid degeneration of a Blog without a consistent moderator.

I think something new commenters to blogs often do not understand is that by participating in a blog, you are making the blog. Many read blogs for the discussion, and that means I must as the editor of Field Gulls, attempt to control the discussion just as a newspaper editor controls the content.

I do not think it is acceptable to say that a game is over in the first quarter, but to say that a team just isn’t very good and list out reasons why, even though it’s only the third week, to me at least, isn’t necessarily a negative attitude, it could just be a realistic attitude. I could be wrong though, since I don’t see negativity to be that much worse than a positive outlook, just two different ways to see a situation one highlighting benefits and the other highlighting detriments, both of which have their values.
It seems in game threads that the ‘get out of this thread’ then mentality is too prevalent. If someone states the score of another game and says that he wishes it were on tv, I don’t think the appropriate response would be to say to stop watching the game then, especially since a lot of people like to watch tv games at once. That’s just my opinion though.

As for grammar of commenters, I don’t much care. I think some people notice what earns them respect and others never will.

As for hijacking threads, taking them off topic, that’s a tough one to enforce and sometimes comment threads evolve and move into related topics. I leave reading that when the discussion is moving.

As for rudeness, two or three strikes and kick their butts out of here would be a good rule. This blog has a reputation for its high standards. I come here because I do like to read “so-and-so is an idiot and needs to be fired” below every post.

As for the standards of blog posts not written by John Morgan, I hope the new moderators maintain high standards. John will be a tough act to follow. Not only is his writing entertaining, it is well crafted. Also, the high standards of football knowledge should not be compromised on field gulls!

Looking forward to seeing this evolve.

Writing a book, at the absolute minimum, will be a fun and exciting experience. I hope it happens and look forward to seeing the finished product some day.

This comes from a prior post, but I thought it appropriate to put out in this thread, given the content relevance, and rewording it to be more generally relevant.

My desire to see fellow posters use proper grammar and spelling goes beyond me caring, or being "anal" or however it is phrased.

When you use poor grammar, punctuation and spelling, it reduces the power of your words and makes your thought look less significant than it might be. You don’t have to have everything completely correct to draw the reader in, but paying attention to spelling and grammar shows a level of attentiveness to your thought and voice, and it makes a stronger impact for your words.

When I try to remind someone of grammar or spelling, I don’t do it because I’m on a high horse, I do it because I want each and every individual to have their voice be heard. I’ve taught English at the high school level, and through that experience I know not everyone has the level of attentiveness to grammar that I do, but I also know that everyone wants their voice to be heard.

A good way to make yourself be heard is to have a thoughtful well presented voice. It shows you are attentive about not only your voice, but the attention of your audience. You essentially invite them in. And it IS a matter of attentiveness. Kind of like that quote about “Are you listening, or just waiting for your turn to talk.”

Another reason to raise the bar in regard to grammar and spelling is because a re-reading for errors may also allow you to reduce the reflexive and aggressive nature of your words. If you are angry and you type, you may not regret it, but you might put something out there that will negatively affect others impression of you, hence again, reducing the power of your voice. I even edited this compared to when I first wrote it, to make sure it didn’t come out too harshly— even if my intent wasn’t for it to be harsh.

Bottom line, most of the time when someone suggests better grammar or spelling, or other community related norms like using the subject header, they really are not trying to be a ass, or rile anyone up, or anything else. They’re simply holding you to the same (completely reasonable) standards they hold themselves and everyone else up to. I hope other members of our community take that to heart.

Sometimes someone is checked for saying something stupid, and before long it becomes a dog pile. Can we self police a bit for not killing someone for saying something wrong?

I’ve been in the penalty box two timesA. Once for a week and once for 7 months. Both were deserved and I was lucky to avoid a 3rd before those other two when I (immaturely) tricked everyone into thinking Lofa Tatupu was out for the season when he had an injury in preseason. This comment is slightly ironic. So realistically I shouldn’t really be pouring my thoughts here.

I like Field Gulls a lot. It’s a vibrant community and there is a lot more intelligent conversation and humorous opinion than many other NFL SB Nation blogs.

I’d like to see more done on bitching for the sake of bitching or arguing for the sake of arguing. There is absolutely no substance or thought being put into complaining about a win like last week saying we’re headed for 1992 again. To me that’s just bitching when there are other more substantial criticisms to be had.

Game threads don’t bother me too much. I was one of several from the Bills thread last year who were calling the game over after it was 14-0 and I’ve learned from that.

However the whole “FIRE KNAPP” or “FIRE RUSKELL” crap that’s mentioned when a bad play happens irritates me more than “game over”.

I don’t have too many more complaints at the moment. The other suggestions I would have would go directly to the tech people at SB Nation.

Bitching and civility. Posted “rules of etiquette” for FG should let newcomers know that FG is a civil forum for fans who enjoy losing their minds over Seahawks football.

which is a different set of rules from normal thread etiquette. People at Lookout Landing often refer to Game Thread Emotion (or at least they used to), but I find this concept confusing since it invokes that negative comments are all right as long as they are confined to game threads, yet that is clearly not the case here, though some form of Game Thread Emotion rule still exists.

I think we are set at grammar and spelling, topicality, and basic etiquette. Are there some other suggestions?

should I just do a weekly post so it doesn’t spill out to every post? Just a weekly: discuss fantasy football and eating habits of your cat post.

Nice.

The comments are usually good, the posters usually open minded and with something to say or add to the discussion, even in the game threads. I’m usually in the less rules are the best rules camp, but that only works to a degree. I’m for any rules that keep this place becoming anything even close to something like the TNT. The only thing I worry about, with so many mods, is that power being abused, but I have a feeling it’ll be in good hands. I can’t recall anyone here being banned unjustly. Just be fair and reasonable.

/my one and a half cents

I think fantasy discussion will be allowed, because it falls under the “annoying but not categorically wrong” criteria. How about we try to limit the discussion to: non-Seahawks threads and the fantasy specific thread.

I am going to take it off the front page soon, but before that, can we get some kind of consensus on rules? I don’t mind killing a day’s worth of other work to get this done right, if it’s done.

we should determine exactly what constitutes thread jacking.