Real good point. We probably should have anticipated their viewpoint better. But so many boards are anonymous, didn't really cross my mind. But they certainly had a problem with it.OK - Now on to anonymity, It would be a terrible idea for people's real information to appear on The Boneyard or any other message board for the same reason we have to be very careful on other social media sites. Identity theft and/or personal security. I can see where a sports writer or other public figure would be upset that some clown on a message board can call them names. But unfortunately that goes with the territory of being a public figure. Is it fair?- NO - but that is and always has been a cost of having your name on a byline or on a Lineup card or on a theatre marquee.
) But I've tried not to concern myself too much with what some idiot, probably living in their mother's basement, on a message board says about me. I would assume if I made a good living at, and knew I was pretty good at, being a sports writer, sports TV guy, etc. I wouldn't put much value in some message board idiot's opinion. Particularly one who can't make a valid argument and just resorts to name calling. However, that does not necessarily seem the case with them??? Not sure why? That's one question I wouldn't mind asking if we ever get the chance again. Why does that seem to bother you so much???nope... UConn football coach is currently onI think it is being repeated at 9 AM Wednesday morning.
Totally agree Meyers. They were so sensitive about what is being said here. As I told them, there are morons everywhere and you can't take them seriously. Some of the name calling definitely was over the line and I'm proud that it was not on the womens board.Real good point. We probably should have anticipated their viewpoint better. But so many boards are anonymous, didn't really cross my mind. But they certainly had a problem with it.
The thing that really stood out for me, we talked with them a little before and with Joe after, was their real concern/distaste/problem with what people say about them. I can certainly understand some of the things crossed the lines, (inferring pedophiles, death threats, etc.) and they should be upset about them. But they also seemed very upset about being called idiots, or hacks, or over-the-hill, etc. particularly by anonymous posters.
I've been call many names over the years. Heck even my Boneyard "nickname" is basically smart@ss. (kinda carry that one with pride) But I've tried not to concern myself too much with what some idiot, probably living in their mother's basement, on a message board says about me. I would assume if I made a good living at, and knew I was pretty good at, being a sports writer, sports TV guy, etc. I wouldn't put much value in some message board idiot's opinion. Particularly one who can't make a valid argument and just resorts to name calling. However, that does not necessarily seem the case with them??? Not sure why? That's one question I wouldn't mind asking if we ever get the chance again. Why does that seem to bother you so much???
We did mention to them, that you just have to ignore the idiots, even told them there were functions where they could put the people on ignore.
For me the old saying holds true..... Wolves do not concern themselves with the opinions of sheep. I like that one.
Real good point. We probably should have anticipated their viewpoint better. But so many boards are anonymous, didn't really cross my mind. But they certainly had a problem with it.
The thing that really stood out for me, we talked with them a little before and with Joe after, was their real concern/distaste/problem with what people say about them. I can certainly understand some of the things crossed the lines, (inferring pedophiles, death threats, etc.) and they should be upset about them. But they also seemed very upset about being called idiots, or hacks, or over-the-hill, etc. particularly by anonymous posters.
I've been call many names over the years. Heck even my Boneyard "nickname" is basically smart@ss. (kinda carry that one with pride) But I've tried not to concern myself too much with what some idiot, probably living in their mother's basement, on a message board says about me. I would assume if I made a good living at, and knew I was pretty good at, being a sports writer, sports TV guy, etc. I wouldn't put much value in some message board idiot's opinion. Particularly one who can't make a valid argument and just resorts to name calling. However, that does not necessarily seem the case with them??? Not sure why? That's one question I wouldn't mind asking if we ever get the chance again. Why does that seem to bother you so much???
We did mention to them, that you just have to ignore the idiots, even told them there were functions where they could put the people on ignore.
For me the old saying holds true..... Wolves do not concern themselves with the opinions of sheep. I like that one.
I agree, digger.You bring up a good point. I wanted to say something along the lines of this but the timing was not right. Surprisingly to me, Mike was probably the least agitated, Joe the most, though I certainly understand the things he found upsetting. Until Joe felt comfortable with us I felt like we needed to choose our questions carefully. Now they all feel comfortable with us, which affords us greater latitude for the future. Do you concur, meyers and dd?
nope... UConn football coach is currently on

You are way too kind.Great job by both DoggyDaddy and Diggerfoot. They represented the Boneyard extremely well -well spoken and well reasoned questions and comments.
It's a good thing DiMauro and Jacobs are print journalists - If I just tuned in and didn't know any of the participants I would have thought DoggyDaddy and Diggerfoot were the media mavens.
Maybe our mood depends on the day.I hated everything about your post.Reading the comments on the show I, too, am intrigued by this question of anonymity and vesting in other people's reactions to what you write/post.
Following the shift in message boards and commenting has been an interesting journey. Many initially heralded anonymity and comments sections because they hoped it would provide honest and free dialogue. Only to discover that some participants weren't interested in that -- or, perhaps more importantly, struggled with being okay with NOT agreeing with another point. And then others who just take it to an ugly place. It's why USAToday eliminated comments on many of Christine Brennan's articles, because when she wrote about women athletes, the responses were so unattractive they 1) were awful to read and 2) seemed to form some sort of "referendum" on the interest in/validity of covering women's sports. I know another writer who regularly swears off message boards because she takes it too personally. I guess, to many degrees, most of us work anonymously. Outside of our rather insular work place, nobody knows what we do or how well we do it. That's the spotlight athletes (and artists) are in. And, because of this country's obsession with sports, that spotlight has expanded to include sportswriters. Where once they could publish something and get a phone call or letter to their editor, now folks have almost direct access to them.
One of the wisest comments I've heard from a writer is that he considers comments PART of his articles. Which means they have to be monitored. He also, if IRRC, has "senior" or "trusted" responders that support the content/tone.
I think, to a degree, we have the here at the 'yard. It doesn't mean we don't push each others' buttons, or that we don't get defensive or impatient. Nor does it mean every post survive the "would I say it to this person's face" test. There are times when I re-read something, and then reconsider. There are times when I'm just straight up snarky. I have learned that sometimes it's worth it to post your thoughts and then leave the thread alone... sometimes.
Seems to me the internet (as it relates to message boards and comments sections) was in it's infancy and is now moving into adolescence. Some of us are moving with it - some not so much.Maybe our mood depends on the day.
a lot of blog/comment sites make you post comments thru your Facebook acct which most people use their "real name"... then people google your "real name" and find out all type of information about you. (address, DOB, pending court cases etc.)Thisjustin - nice review of the considerations. I find it interesting that a number of sites are now requiring some form of identification/confirmation of a persons identity before you can post - you can still maintain the general anonymity, but the moderators/owners of the sites have a better idea of who you are and it does seem to inhibit some of the worst behavior.
I do what I can.Other than Meyers' tired trite and standard sniping at we denizens of our mother's basements (and holing up next to a warm dryer following those infrequent Husky losses is wonderfully comforting therapy), the comments have been very informative

I would assume if I made a good living at, and knew I was pretty good at, being a sports writer, sports TV guy, etc. I wouldn't put much value in some message board idiot's opinion. Particularly one who can't make a valid argument and just resorts to name calling. However, that does not necessarily seem the case with them??? Not sure why? That's one question I wouldn't mind asking if we ever get the chance again. Why does that seem to bother you so much???
Good point, nor do you put your work out there for everyone TO comment ON. They were very nice to us. I think it might have been more the threats they didn't like (understandably) and that stuff just carried over to other obnoxious things said about them???? IDK. Does seem like they could be a little tougher skinned???I understand why. If someone came to my office and told me my work was crap and called me names, especially if they did it multiple times, I'd be irate. So, I get that part. Thething is, I don't go to peoples' houses to watch them just to see what they think of. my work. And if I threw a hissy fit over what I'd heard, he'd tell me to suck it up and act like a professional.