Critisism of program, coach, player(s)

[engo7]

When, if ever, will critisism of a program, coach and/or player(s) be allowed on this forum? There have been posts critical to some or all of the above deleted from this forum for various reasons, but what are the parameters. This forum is used by many to my self/my kid/my player/my coach/my program promote with those program/coach/players benefiting from the exposure. Why is critisism of those same program/coach/players deleted? A good program/coach/player will withstand the critisism with unjustified critisism being shown for what it is. How many times must Hubie be critisized for his lack of coaching ability while a critisism of another coach is summarily deleted? By deleting such posts you cause many to question the motives of those running this board. While clearly posts such as those posted by lsucks deserve and should be deleted, other deletes are not so easily justified.

[PutMeInCoach2]

The 10 commandments of this message board:
1. Pick a posting name and stick to it. Impersonation may get you banned quickly.
2. Stay on topic
3. Personal conversations should be done via E-Mail, not bulletin boards
4. No "calls to action" by users
5. Put content in your posts, unless you are posting a score.
6. NO personal attacks. Keep it above the line. Libelous or slanderous posts prohibited.
7. DO NOT bash players for ANY REASON
8. Don't believe everything you read on the message board
9. Implement the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would want to be treated.
10. Enjoy the discussion of Louisiana High School Soccer with people all over the state.

There are not many moderators if you compare them to the numbers of readers on this board, and many moderators, cannot read every single post that is posted by every single poster. Therefore, it is nearly impossible to cover every inch of this board, but we do our best.

It is also a point of view issue, and how it relates to certain topic. I do not consider stating that "Hubie may not deserve coach of the year becuase he has to much talent to lose" in a coach of the year discussion thread being critism. However, if the same thing would be stated after Jesuit gets upset, I consider critism. The same statement, but the conditions it is being said on differ.

On the same note, I have left some critism of both referee's and coaches on the board because I know they want to see it and get a kick out of it. I have done this only because I know them personally, but another moderator may come right behind me and delete it.

Like every poster, you have the right to Private Message any moderator and ask for something to be deleted because its offense and such.

Therefore any post that is considered "critism" will be deleted. That is what keeps this board from becoming the next NOLA.com soccer board, and keeps the good information being easily accessed.

[goat]

I must have missed the bashing of hubie! or are you talking about comparing good coaches to good managers? Just curious.

[blacksmith]

wow the person basing stm soccer the other day went 10 for 10 breaking the above rules! Guess that is why the post lasted about 2 hours. Thank you to all of the moderators for keeping this site a discussion site and not something else.

[breadpuddin]

I wish someone would delete the ugly bashing of Coach Oertling on the topic "Best HS Coach in LA history". No coach that works hard year in and year out deserves that type of criticism "The guy" posted about him.

[ShreveDad]

In the last month or so I have deleted posts that were very critical of these schools coaching staffs: Jesuit, Captain Shreve, St. Pauls, St. Thomas More, St. Louis, and a few others I cannot remember. Most, if not all were just members giving us their jaded opinion of why a certain coach stinks. I'm sure those posters most likely have an axe to grind with that coach and felt the need to try and humiliate them in a public forum. That isn't allowed here and I will quickly delete stuff like that when I see it.

I don't read everything on the board but the administrators have moderators from around the state that should cover everything. Other readers will usually let us know about questionable material that needs to be looked at. There are a lot of ways to talk about a team or coach without attacking them in a personal way.

[beauchenecoach]

Constructive criticism is different from an outright attack.

[Deleted]

Unless it is a personal attack on someone, any normal criticism should be allowed. Anything else is censorship. Coaches, refs, players, etc. all hear much worse things on and off the pitch than what I've seen posted on this forum.

[Scott Crawford]

hall, if you want to start your own site where people are free to say absolutely anything they want, feel free. This board has thrived and grown on the rules we have. One of the goals of the site is to raise the bar -- to make sportsmanship the ultimate goal of high school and club soccer. Because people lower the bar in a moment of unsportsman-like rage or an obsession of jealousy does not mean we will.

[engo7]

Suprisingly, Hall is right. Censorship is generally defined as the removal of material that the CENSOR deems or thinks to be wrong or offensive based on the set of rules by which the CENSOR is governed. In the political context, censorship at its worst is used to exert control over the populace and prevent free expression. While obviously noone is suggesting that the moderators of this board are knowingly engaged in censorship of this manner and in fact noone wants this board to become like the nola.com forums, the suggestion is being made that DELETING NORMAL CRITICISM SHOULD NOT BE THE RULE and in fact is not currently the rule. Unfortuanatley, criticism, like praise, or even at the extreme, like pornography, is a matter of opinion. While referring to pornography, the quote "I know it when I see it" is equally applicable here. It becomes a question of what the moderator thinks is criticism. To use as an example the example used by putmeincoach2, clearly many on this thread think it is not a criticism of Hubie to say he should not be coach of the year because he has to much talent to lose. Many would disagree. In fact, it is that statement, and the many like it that started back in 2005 after he won the championship and was named coach of the year that many feel contributed to him twice being looked over in favor of the coach of the runner up team, a slight not accorded the Carencro and Caddo coaches in the intervening years when their teams won. Clearly it is critical to a coach to say we all know you are gonna win anyway, so why should we reward you for it. What about the years he does not win? Was it just bad coaching by Hubie that gave Caddo, Carrencro and Lafayette their state championships? It is extremely doubtful that those programs would agree. Further while this years seeding rules insured that Jesuit met the true number 2 team in the state, past years have seen some teams make the finals and other more talented teams not, simply by the luck of the draw in the playoffs, in other words, some teams had a far easier track through the brackets than others. Despite this, these coaches were named coach of the year over the coach that won the championship.

Posts that lower the bar in a moment of unsportsman like rage or an obsession of jealousy should be removed. Those who have read nola.com know what those posts look like. Posts that question/critisize a program/player/coach, particularly those posts that are disagreeing with or questioning another post should not. Otherwise this board will quickly end up just a love fest between mutual admirers with the program/coaches and players not taking part being left left out, often purposefully or unjustly so. There are many posts on this board that question/critisize the talent/ability of Hubie and others a part of the Jesuit program that are never deleted. Those are just the most glaring and obvious examples of criticism that is allowed to remain, but should offer us all pause when it is suggested that "any post that is considered criticism will be deleted." It is often with the best intentions that unjust rules are put in place and enforced. This does not make it right.

[Scott Crawford]

I'll make a deal with anyone who wants to post criticism of a player or coach:

Sign your criticism with your full name, email address, and telephone number at the bottom of the post.

[engo7]

Timaeus-you run a great board. Unfortunately, you may have missed the point. There is already alot of criticism on this board. It is the selective censorship many have a problem with not the fact that you are trying to avoid it altogether. Posts like the one about the Shreveport coach are unfortunate. By deleting it however you invite a look at your procedures and the fairness of them. Obviously you have the power to delete posts you dont like (or worse move them to a little read thread), again, that does not fix the problem. Censorship is a dangerous game, tread carefully lest you lose the credibility that you so far rightly deserve. Just so you know this thread was purposedly started after highschool so as to reach only the moderators and diehards. Not trying to embaress, promote anyone or any agenda, just thought the problem important particularly after comments made this weekend to the effect that the board was losing credibility because it just deleted anything "they" dont like. Dont know or care who they are, but really like this board and dont want to see it go away or be discredited.

[Deleted]

engo7 put it better than I did.

I never read the threads in question, but banning criticism in all forms is wrong. If people can't be honest (within reason) then why have the forum at all?

Sorry, timaeus, but you sounded awfully defensive regarding my thread.

[Scott Crawford]

To share scores, district honors, playoff brackets, and rankings.

We do not get paid to do this. We do occasionally get lawsuits threatened at us. If you want to criticize, put your name and number on your post. Someone here will confirm that it is you. Any possible lawsuits will then be directed at you and not those who operate the website.

[Scott Crawford]

Show where the selective criticism exists. If you will send a link, I will look into it.

[Deleted]

Well, I will say if you are going to criticize (harshly) you shouldn't hide behind a username...

[coachray40]

Timeaus is right about what should take place. This is a public forum, but while those who post have a right to say what they feel, those who take the brunt of that criticism shouldnt be subject to slanderous/libelous statements. The same Constitution that grants us our free speech rights also allows us the right to face our accusers. Timeaus is right--you want to criticize someone then sack up and put your given name and contact info at the bottom of your post. Otherwise keep your little snivelling whines to yourself.


Ray Linton
225 603-6931
[e-mail]

[furriner]

IMHO, this is a wonderful place to share thoughts and ideas. kind of like a good bar. The only difference is that if a drunken idiot says something ridiculous in the bar, he will be shot down very quickly, or informed that this a family bar and that the comments are, perhaps, inappropriate. If you do not like the "house rules" of the bar, go drink somewhere else.

[Deleted]

good points.

[Bish]

I think Timaeus is the worst person in the world. He doesn't even like soccer. He is a little girl.

Jesuit is the worst team in the history of soccer and their coach should be fired.

Lafayette players are arrogant and full of themselves.

ULL is and always will be jelous of LSU and will always be the red headed stepchild. Nobody likes ULL but lafayette people (not at all saying that all lafayette people love ULL), and their love to hate LSU (because they are jelous of all the love they get from around the state) only further illustrates their stupidity/jelousy.

I used to love Bobby Jindal, until he made that awful speech and ruined Louisiana's reputation. Sorry Bobby, you are not as smart as I thought you were. So long 2012.

Lake Charles refs are awful.

The Belle of Baton Rouge is such a trashy casino.

Caddo Magnet's State Championship was a fluke. It will be at least another 30 years before all the pieces fall in place for another Shreveport team to get lucky and win a state championship.

My name is Shaquille O'Neal. 3569 Kazaam St, Phoenix, AZ [phone]