Free the laughing emoji (1 Viewer)

[Mrs. Rannous]

We'll just disagree that by restricting someone from doing something that's "appeasing" them. That's heartbreaking you'd think that. But par for the course. 

It absolutely does appease the trolls.  They poked the bear and got a response.  And here we are still talking about it.  The attention they get doesn't have to be direct- it can be reflected as this is.  Bobby Lane is correct;  removing the emoji is a reward for these sort of people.  I realise it's hard to see for a lot of folks because we just don't think that way.  That's why I posted about not paying the Danegeld the last time this topic came up.  The trolls aren't chastised.  They just move on to another way of trolling. 

Also, please take care of yourself more better.  Covid has stressed all of us out.  It's easy at the moment to overlook this.  Thanks for talking about this again.  I just wish we didn't have to.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Thanks. The whole thing is so discouraging. I'm sorry to keep saying that but that's mostly how I feel in all this. 

Some people are just made to be glassbowls.  They make the most noise so it's eaasy to overlook the brave, kind, or amazing things other people do.  If it's really getting to you (or anyone) please talk to a professional to make sure nothing else is going on upstairs.

 

[Joe Bryant]

It absolutely does appease the trolls.  They poked the bear and got a response.  And here we are still talking about it.  The attention they get doesn't have to be direct- it can be reflected as this is.  Bobby Lane is correct;  removing the emoji is a reward for these sort of people.  I realise it's hard to see for a lot of folks because we just don't think that way.  That's why I posted about not paying the Danegeld the last time this topic came up.  The trolls aren't chastised.  They just move on to another way of trolling. 

Also, please take care of yourself more better.  Covid has stressed all of us out.  It's easy at the moment to overlook this.  Thanks for talking about this again.  I just wish we didn't have to.

Thanks for the kind words. We disagree on appeasing. And I think that's ok to disagree. Thanks.

 

[Captain Cranks]

I don't think there's much "fervor" about anything on this I'm aware of. But if you're perplexed on something, you can ask here or feel free to send a PM. 

I read your post above about your struggles with the business so I don't want to contribute to your stress any more than I have. You've done a commendable job of listening to us in this thread and that's all we can ask. Take care of yourself and thanks for continuing to host this forum despite how big a pita I know it can be.  

 

[James Daulton]

Thanks. The whole thing is so discouraging. I'm sorry to keep saying that but that's mostly how I feel in all this. 

At least despite all the issues you have to deal with, you're getting stinking rich!

 

[KarmaPolice]

It absolutely does appease the trolls.  They poked the bear and got a response.  And here we are still talking about it.  The attention they get doesn't have to be direct- it can be reflected as this is.  Bobby Lane is correct;  removing the emoji is a reward for these sort of people.  I realise it's hard to see for a lot of folks because we just don't think that way.  That's why I posted about not paying the Danegeld the last time this topic came up.  The trolls aren't chastised.  They just move on to another way of trolling. 

Also, please take care of yourself more better.  Covid has stressed all of us out.  It's easy at the moment to overlook this.  Thanks for talking about this again.  I just wish we didn't have to.

It's a win-win for them.   I could be missing somebody on the other side, but mostly it's on one side of the aisle.   Push the buttons and troll like this - then you either get away with it (win) or you get dinged and you can claim echo-chamber and it's because of the political leanings (win).    

tony in the covid thread is a perfect example.   he was booted because he was trolling and being a doosh, but predictably others came in with "another from our team gets silenced" shtick as though it was because of his political leanings.  

 

[The Commish]

Brace yourself folks, if the PSF is any indication the crying emoji  is next. Trolls just moved on to it. 

IKs suggestion of turning off notifications worked for me. I actually catch probably a tenth of those kinds of trolling posts anymore. 

 

[Leroy Hoard]

The last emoji standing >

 

[encaitar]

Joe,  

I've appreciated this forum for years.  I found this site back in college in 2003 when I was big into fantasy football.  I stayed around, even after I quit playing fantasy because of this online community.  I know that you feel this forum reflects you and your values, so you take it seriously when online bullying and abuse is happening.  You should.  I appreciate that about you.  

However, when the answer to misuse of board materials is to take those materials away, it makes it feel like you're punishing the many for the faults of the few.  Not only that, but it rarely has the desired effect you want it to for those who you're attempting to correct.  Look at what people are saying about trolls now moving on to the crying like.... if you continue your response, then you'll soon take that away.  They'll move on to the next thing and again it'll have to be removed.  Eventually we won't have the ability to like a post because of an extremely small subset of this forum.

I know that's probably not a big deal in the big scheme of this forum.  I can always write a post to say I'm sorry for someone's loss or I can quote a post and leave a laughing emoji if I find the post amusing, but it will absolutely cut down on my interaction in the forum.  There's a lot of posts that I like that I'll leave a like on, but would never comment on.  There's a lot of posts I find funny that I used to leave a laughing like on, but now just ignore.  Will that person stop making amusing posts because they're not receiving the feedback they hoped for?  Probably not, but I know personally when I left a funny post in here and came back to find 10 laughing likes under it on my next visit it made me smile.  

It just worries me that I'm seeing this trend continue.  A few people are misusing imbedded pics?  Take them away.  People are using the laughing like to make fun of people?  Take it away..... etc.  Every little restriction or loss of features take a small amount of joy of this forum away with it IMO.  While single handedly they might not be much, it builds.  I'd hate for this place to become unrecognizable from the place I always found it to be because of an attempt to control the actions of a few idiots.  

 

[GoBirds]

I wonder how long the crying emoji will last with a few members using that constantly in a mocking way.

And I agree, way too much leeway is given to some folks who contribute nothing but sniping and mocking around here.

In fact @GoBirds used the crying emoji in a mocking way 5 times on one page in one thread.  But of course it's the liberal echo chamber that's the issue here...

Wow man, I honestly feel your behavior in making up these narratives is sad and inaccurate. If you want to try to talk Joe and the mods into buying it I guess good luck to you. The number of chances you’ve seem to have gotten here makes it a bit confusing how desperately you blow up the report button trying to suspend others but whatever floats your boat…..enjoy your Saturday night and hopefully you can respect the mods time more. 

 

[GoBirds]

Some posters in the FFA have said they are going to use the crying emoji to let someone know they are laughing - not in ridicule, just because they are laughing and want to let the post know.  But, there's absolutely posters who continue to go against your wishes and troll using the crying emoji - in particular the poster who has been called out twice now. 

By the gang of top posters from the lopsided political forum so it must me true? Cancel culture and bullying clearly goes on here but it’s not the smily/cry emoji that you are trying to convince @Joe Bryant of. If anything is discouraging and deserves a sad emoji it’s the last few pages….over an emoji….but really over trying to cancel those that don’t fall in line with the PSF bully club. 
 

Its not secret the PSF has been a disaster but you all spilling it into the FFA with this is new lows man, wow. 

 

[HellToupee]

For those of you who didn’t get the memo

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

I get why responding with   only is annoying.  It causes more posts to scroll through.  But are people really thin-skinned enough that a laughing like on a post causes this much distress?

I used the use the laughing emoji and was accused of trolling with it.  90% of the time I used I legitimately thought the post was funny so who's going to be the arbiter of laughing or trolling?   Most of you guys are just trying to get people banned because you're triggered over a damn emoji.  Grow up and find something more important to complain about

 

[shuke]

As always, your board, your rules.  I’ve always come to FBGs to be entertained and laugh sprinkled with learning.  It’s a minor thing - mostly forgotten but I still think it’s a mistake.  The reason this place has been and at times is great is a community.  Again, it’s minor but the community aspect took a hit when you made that decision - both because we lost an interaction with each other but more so you essentially told the board regulars that appeasing the trolls is more important to you than how the rest of us feel.

 

[shuke]

KIDDING!

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

KIDDING!

Am I supposed to use the heart emoji or the sad emoji for this?

Asking for a friend.

 

[James Daulton]

Wow man, I honestly feel your behavior in making up these narratives is sad and inaccurate. If you want to try to talk Joe and the mods into buying it I guess good luck to you. The number of chances you’ve seem to have gotten here makes it a bit confusing how desperately you blow up the report button trying to suspend others but whatever floats your boat…..enjoy your Saturday night and hopefully you can respect the mods time more. 

Woah what a surprising response.  Personal attack and taking no accountability.  Let's try to dialogue like men a bit.  Do you or do you not use the crying emoji in a mocking way routinely? 

 

[GoBirds]

Woah what a surprising response.  Personal attack and taking no accountability.  Let's try to dialogue like men a bit.  Do you or do you not use the crying emoji in a mocking way routinely? 

Personal attacks? Speaking of accountability how many times have you been suspended, honest answer? 

 

[James Daulton]

Personal attacks? Speaking of accountability how many times have you been suspended, honest answer? 

Now men typically answer questions asked of them before asking their own.  I will happily answer your question when you answer mine.  I'll ask again, do you routinely use the crying emoji to mock posts?

 

[KarmaPolice]

Good grief.   Ignore function - use it more, please! 

 

[GoBirds]

Now men typically answer questions asked of them before asking their own.  I will happily answer your question when you answer mine.  I'll ask again, do you routinely use the crying emoji to mock posts?

Sorry friend, don’t think anyone needs to stand trial especially with your own track record of personal attacks. Your response isn’t accurate, shows your fear of accountability, and in my opinion is discouraging behavior. If your new role is board cop maybe bother Joe/mods to give detailed rules of when the emojis are allowed. I’ve only used them when I honestly feel that manner about a post. That fact that your are this desperate to try to get someone suspended is telling about you, especially with your track record of the same you accuse and far worse.  Hopefully you can get over this and also consider the time of staff here you are consuming as well as mucking up FFA with you drama from your politics. Joe has asked everyone to please drop this yet you are continuing which makes no sense to me. Hopefully we can all move on and if not please use the ignore feature. 

 

[James Daulton]

Sorry friend, don’t think anyone needs to stand trial especially with your own track record of personal attacks. Your response isn’t accurate, shows your fear of accountability, and in my opinion is discouraging behavior. If your new role is board cop maybe bother Joe/mods to give detailed rules of when the emojis are allowed. I’ve only used them when I honestly feel that manner about a post. That fact that your are this desperate to try to get someone suspended is telling about you, especially with your track record of the same you accuse and far worse.  Hopefully you can get over this and also consider the time of staff here you are consuming as well as mucking up FFA with you drama from your politics. Joe has asked everyone to please drop this yet you are continuing which makes no sense to me. Hopefully we can all move on and if not please use the ignore feature. 

Wow, one page of posts in the Trump China Tariff thread many you feel like crying 5 times?

 

[gianmarco]

Trolling 101 examples in this very thread.

This "Who, me???" shtick posted to get a rise/response out of people is exactly what that is and doesn't contribute anything.

 

[gianmarco]

And for those asking "does the laugh emoji really bother you that much?", the answer is "yes, it can". It has been used as a response to people posting about losing family and friends to Covid, for example. It was pretty gross behavior and shouldn't have a place here.

 

[GoBirds]

Trolling 101 examples in this very thread.

This "Who, me???" shtick posted to get a rise/response out of people is exactly what that is and doesn't contribute anything.

Cancelling 101…..everyone that has been called out for misinformation or just differing opinions in the political forum spilling in here to cancel. Amazing behavior after the owner of the board has asked for it to stop. Its a who’s who of the PSF far Left. 
 

 

[James Daulton]

Trolling 101 examples in this very thread.

This "Who, me???" shtick posted to get a rise/response out of people is exactly what that is and doesn't contribute anything.

How about the flat out lying?  Dang, at least be man enough to own up to your actions.  But no, it's all the board liberals trying to get people suspended.  Meanwhile I've been suspended a ton.  I guess the board liberals are mashing the report button on me too?

 

[James Daulton]

Cancelling 101…..everyone that has been called out for misinformation or just differing opinions in the political forum spilling in here to cancel. Amazing behavior after the owner of the board has asked for it to stop. Its a who’s who of the PSF far Left. 
 

lol, who's who of the PSF far left?

gianmarco?   I don't know I've ever read a post in the PSF by him, few by AAA, etc.

Man up and take responsibility...oh never mind.  It's the liberal echo chamber trying to cancel you...

 

[Joe Bryant]

Ok. Let’s wrap this one. Seems it’s run its course and spiraled down far enough.

@Coach Beard if you would please pm me what I asked about for clarity earlier I’d appreciate it. 

Anyone else with more feedback is welcome to send me a pm of course as well.

Thank y’all for the feedback even if some is hard to hear. I’ll try to do what I said earlier on this. Hope everyone enjoys the game today. 
 

I fully understand I think both sides of this.

Like all things, it's weighing out the balance.

I feel not allowing people to troll with the emoji and laugh at, bully, and mock people is important. And I think not allowing that is a very good thing.

On the flip side, I think the "negative" that this means people have to use the like emoji or post a  emoji in the body is also a thing. But I believe it's not as big a negative as denying the trolls is a positive.

So that's why I made the decision back when we did. It's how I make most decisions, trying to weigh things out. 

I fully admit I'm not in a good spot to make a new decision right now.

This is 100% me whining as I signed up for this, But right now I'm feeling the effects from:

The grind of the NFL season.

People making it a point to make sure others know they'll never support our business because of how they were treated on the forums.

People posting about how much they dislike our fantasy football content or trying to use the logos of our competitors as their avatars.

Posters creating posts way over the line that people don't report.

To put as much as we do into the forums and have the seeming takeaway be how poorly the forums are run or how I'm failing at "leadership 101" is a challenge. And if I'm honest, discouraging. Right this very minute, I've got a family thing I'm neglecting to try and be responsive here. I don't have the luxury of just walking away from the forums. At least not right now in their current state.

Something like @gianmarco suggested above with a trial might be possible. But I need some time to rest up from this season. I'll take a look again at this in a month or so and see if a trial thing might make sense. Given the time, money and effort we spend on this, the PMs and messages I get telling me how terribly I run the forums and how I don't care about people or their feedback, it's been a weird year.

Let me look here and we'll take a look at this again in a month or so. And to be clear, I"m not saying we'll do the trial. I'll take a look next month when I'm not as discouraged.