I've enjoyed Joe's increased participation in starting threads and stimulating conversation. I think that's there has been more of this in the last year or maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention.
Edit: Sorry JohnnyU this is verbose (my specialty) so scroll to the last line for the TLDR.
I think this point by moonlight played into some of what happened yesterday in the Rodgers post.
While I largely agreed with Joe's points he was bringing up in that thread, it was obvious some didn't. And to me, the fact that it was Joe making those points, challenging other's opinions (in what I feel was a respectful and productive way), exacerbated things. And, from my point of view, a few posters made it clear in their responses and tone that's how they felt. They didn't like that the creator/main moderator of the boards was disagreeing with and challenging their opinions. Again, that's my opinion and read of the situation; I'm open to being wrong but also don't really care to debate with people who feel slighted by my read of the situation as it's not going to change how I feel. Instead, I'll bring it back to myself in an older example of what I feel was basically the same thing transpiring.
I was on the "opposing" side of Joe not too long ago in the Caleb Williams thread. And while I don't think I'd change anything I said or feel differently now about the opinions I put forth; in retrospect I do think I responded differently and had different expectations of Joe than I would have had for just about any other board member. I think subconsciously I thought Joe should be held to some higher imaginary standard (ironically the point some were making about Rodgers being that he plays QB and not any other position) because he basically runs the boards. But to Moonlight's point, I also really like Joe's increased activity on the boards the past year or so from more of a "user" standpoint. You can tell he really has a love for this stuff, as well as this site and the boards; it's only natural he'd want to be an active participant. I don't know a great solution outside basically having an anonymous account he uses as "normie" and his Joe account he uses as a board runner and moderator. Even this doesn't quite seem fair, but I do think would resolve some issues where people (again, including myself in the past) have gotten a bit indignant, for lack of a better word, at being in a situation where you're in a heated disagreement with someone who obviously has a lot more power in a situation then the rest of those involved.
From a more macro view on the overall aspect of moderation; agree with many of the other posters in this thread. I don't think anyone has left these boards due to over/under moderation. And I believe the moderation here is excellent; so any insinuation that posters have left here because of moderation or lack thereof resulting in "trolls" running rampant is, IMO, unfounded. It's much more likely that there always existed some less-than-excellent posters stirring the pot, and some posters may have just become fed up over time. But that's a constant; there have always been some "buzzing flies" to a previous posters great analogy, and always will be. It's what comes with an anonymous online message board where people are largely given the freedom to share whatever opinions they want if done so in a respectful way (acknowledging we all likely have different definitions and standards for what constitutes respectful). I say this as someone who most definitely did leave and stop participating all together in what I'd figure is the biggest "competitor" to this forum as far as dynasty football message boards attached to a site that provides fantasy content. FBG doesn't come close to comparing to that place, where despite a much higher moderator presence and participation, IMO it was basically Twitter/Facebook-esque in terms of trolling/disrespect/purposeful ignorance.
Moderation is a spectrum; and we'll all fall at different preferences along that spectrum. There are times I'll wish there was more, there are times I'll wish there were less (so glad to have laugh reacts back); but I think the healthy way to view that is serenity prayer it. Do what you can to impact it with the tools you are given, and let go what's out of your control. Use the report function, start a discussion thread on the matter, message Joe privately, heck message the person that's drawing your ire privately. I've found, even with online anonymity, people will quickly change tone and show a different level of insight when approached privately rather than put on blast in the middle of a forum thread. Basic human psychology.
The fact Joe even started this thread speaks to the overall positive health of this forum as a whole. The things that arose in the Rodgers thread have always been here, and always will be. It's the tradeoff of the framework that gives us all the good stuff we have on the boards. People, including myself, need to take a little more ownership over our own actions and behaviors and stop always putting it on others, whether it's Joe, or the boards, or other specific posters. Use the tools available, and if all else fails, disconnect for a bit. Close the page and come back when you can control your emotions better; stop expecting/demanding the person you're arguing with to do that, as again, that is outside your control. The flies aren't going to stop buzzing your head, as they are flies and that's what they do. And, probably more importantly, what you see as flies, not everyone else does. Accept that your reality is not everyone else's; so Joe/FBG does not have some obligation to cater everything here to your individual ideals, regardless of how "right" you think you are in a matter.
I have to remind myself certain things daily, and one of my favorites I think applies here as well "Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one." And resolve yourself that that is enough; that no one owes you anything, even for being that "good man".
