Shrink .. McIrish ...Etal....

[HateTheRiverCard]

I wasn't planning on commenting on what has been going on at the RX the last few weeks but felt compelled to do so now. Although I haven't been a poster here for very long it does seem troubling what has transpired the last few weeks. I think one of the things I appreciated early on here was that everyone was allowed a voice..an opinion on the world of sports betting and offshore matters.

Unfortunately over the last few weeks many of the more outspoken individuals have been given their walking papers which is a shame. Although I agree that unsubstantiated rumours and innuedos can be damaging, they can also be curbed without banned the individuals. Many times in the past, threads such as those have been shuffled off to the RR for further discussion which I thought was better.

The one thing I would like you guys to consider is that we the posters of this site are smart enough to know when something is being fabricated and when something is agenda driven. Although I do rely on this site for information on books I also expect to go through due diligence before sending my money offshore. Ultimately it is my choice where to send it.

Inclosing I would hope that some of the bannings of not only this week but the last few are revisited and reconsidered. I can understand wanting to keep the site clear of controvery but at what expense will that happen. There will always be posters that don't see eye to eye, becoming adversarial is always easier behind the safety of a computer and with anonimity, but much like the bully in school if you ignore him eventually he will go away. I would hope that you take some of this into consideration.

Regards

HTRC

 

[THE SHRINK]

Thank you HTRC...

Do you think its possible that some posters who frequent other sites may be getting influnded in some way to stir shit up over here so they can go brag about how much they got awat witrh or didn't elsewhere?

I was told that one poster was actually bitching that he hadnt been banned over here yet...

This is NOT the type of person I want contributing with others who take this stough more seriously...

THE SHRINK

 

[HateTheRiverCard]

Shrink,

I understand what you're saying and have seen it on other sites but I've always been of the idea that one site shouldn't really care what goes on at another. It's obvious that the sites will never truly get along but cross posting is still good in my opinion. It shouldn't be about towing the company line but contributing in some way. Whether its FatFrank or TT or any of the other banned posters, at times they were able to contribute to the forum and sure at some point they do go to far and over the edge but I believe that should be the time where you should communicate off the board with that person not to censure them but to try and resolve whatever strife there is, it may seem pointless or like alot of work but I am sure that when this site was still in its infantile stage that such posters where not only welcomed but looked upon as ones that would help build traffic and the site.

HTRC

 

[Mjulian]

Do you see the irony there though Ken?

If the site weren't ruled with such a heavy hand, there would be no "desire to be banned" type of crap.

Banning begets banning.

 

[Phaedrus]

Haven't brought this up in a while, but somebody has to pimp my ideas for me, and since my cult project has been put on the back-burner, it's gotta be me.

Switch to a paid membership model and 99% of these problems evaporate overnight --

1) Ghosting no longer attractive -- who would pay multiple membership fees just to be a dick? Only those who couldn't afford it are that stupid.

2) Most jackass touts, agenda posters and general rabble rousers are too cheap (or simply too broke) to pay for a membership anywhere.

3) Quality posters can be kept onboard via free membership contests ("everyone who ends up plus money for the NFL season gets a FREE one-year Rx membership!") cross-promotion with advertisers ("deposit $ 100.00 or more and get three months FREE access to the Rx, the Internet's premier gambling discussion and information community!") etc.

4) You'll save a fortune on moderators (sorry guys.)

5) You could conceivably reduce the amount of advertising while increasing the price of same (because the Rx would be filled with people paying a subscription fee to access gambling-related content, the quality of hits would go up dramatically.)

And that's just off the top of my head. There would be some tradeoffs, sure -- no more flame wars, no more bullshit artists, no more flame wars, no more flame wars, and no more flame wars or bullshit artists -- but I think that we as a community could rise above the loss.


Phaedrus

 

[lander]

P,
Insightful post, but I think we'll lose alot of quality posters - particularly the low rollers.

Self-admitted small bettors like Dante, OMT, etc ... are wonderful posters, but it would be silly for them to pay a membership fee for this sight when their risks are not significant. In laymens terms, I guess it wouldn't be a wise investment on their behalves.

I don't mean to single anyone out - these guys could bet a dime of $10.00 for all I care, but my point is we could stand to lose many posters. And let's be honest, the world is run by money, as is the RX. Less posters = less advertisers = less poster = less advertisers. In my view that model translates to a negative circle that hurts us all, or at least the majority.

Just my two cents.

ps - I didn't comment on the others' vies, only because your posts are better presented and more philosophic than 99% of the others (inc. my own).

 

[Phaedrus]

lander

Thanks for the insights and the compliment.

Bear in mind I'm not talking about something outrageous -- something like $50-60 a year, max. There are many good posters who could easily afford that and would nonetheless leave on the principle of the matter, and I understand that -- I just feel that a paid membership business model would cut out so much of the bullshit that it might be worth the price just for that alone. And even in the case of "lowball" bettors, if what you're betting per year isn't worth an amount less than the cover price of a lot of magazine subscriptions, you don't really need a resource like the Rx (or more precisely [and regrettably] what the Rx used to be like.)

Free membership contests and promotions (not to mention simply "at management's discretion") would keep a lot of the real quality of the Rx around -- solid handicappers and insight on handicapping and the gambling industry. While it's true that some good ones would leave anyway -- and no doubt some who would be missed -- it's a great big world, and someone else close enough to the missed poster will no doubt come along eventually.

Hell, maybe I should just go start one on my own, build it up, then sell it to the Shrink.

Phaedrus

 

[vinividivinci]

I seriously doubt you could get even 200 people to pay 50-60 dollars per year. Not because they cannot afford it but rather because the same information would be available free elsewhere.

I appreciate the reasons you would want to do this, I just think there's going to have to be a better way to get there.


VVV


VVV

 

[PO69]

I have NO PROBLEMS at all paying a yearly fee. Where do I send my $49.95?



Any other losers who have a problem paying the yearly fee are not real worthy posters around here anyway. Those guy probably dont even bet. We need to switch to a pay model and we will get MUCH MORE insightful posts!!


One question KEN, would all of the ghosts ID's have to pay have as well?