Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2018 22:03:43 GMT 10
Members and visitors may have noted, at the bottom of our home page, that the Forum this week clicked over to ten years as an online entity.
A decade. Really?
Ten years of educated and sometimes not so uneducated, often knowledgeable and occasionally silly comment on Australian baseball matters. Ten years of insight, foresight, hindsight. Of information, explanation, meditation, expiation – on occasions, some would say, bordering on defamation.
Frequently instructive. Constructive now and then. Destructive in the eyes of some. A vehicle for venting. And for some, in-venting.
Whatever might be the judgement of our diminishing number of followers, this Forum – for most of its lifetime – filled a serious vacuum in Australian baseball communications, especially in Victoria. Notwithstanding the criticism and frequent invective directed at the Forum, there can be no doubting the passion of most of its supporters. At least of those prepared to be publicly identified, or who accepted that they could be readily identified in any case.
For those who preferred to remain anonymous for their own reasons – often perfectly legitimate reasons – we respected that and we know that we did not let you down.
For those who joined in Forum discussions simply to create mischief – well, you can get stuffed. No value for the sport there.
I was co-opted onto this Forum as a moderator not long after it was set up. I accepted that role and I became actively engaged with the Forum because it provided what I perceived as a unique opportunity to assist me in the media and communications role that I had then taken up with Baseball Victoria.
While I was in that role with BV, the Forum provided me with a wealth of information, insights, story ideas and contacts that were invaluable to me – even though I knew, and I accepted, that my involvement had the potential to place me offside with some people who disagreed on certain matters raised, and certain views expressed on the Forum.
Yes, of course the Forum has published its share of ill-informed opinion, inaccuracy, controversial remarks and even downright nastiness over the years – and that does not include other material that we have blocked in aiming to keep discussion and comment at a reasonably civilised level. Social media has morphed into a beast, yet I believe that we have been able to largely retain our integrity – and our accountability - over the decade.
In my opinion this Forum has done far more good than any perceived harm.
For anyone who might seriously question that judgement, I would suggest that you take a wander through the Forum archives and reflect upon some of the millions of words that were written – along with the multitude of issues that have been addressed.
The reporting on major baseball events. On regional tournaments. On Summer League baseball. On winter competitions. Discussion of rules. Of rule changes. ABL news. Fund-raising for clubs. On promoting the sport at all levels and in such manners as people have desired. On a broad range of issues – some of which required us to take a collective stand on serious matters afflicting the sport and our society. Consider, for example, the discussion instigated several years ago about child sex offenders in baseball. About protecting our young people in the sport. Where else was that being talked about then? When it should have been, especially in view of what has transpired since.
Along the journey – aside from the heavier discussions – at most times it has been a bit of fun.
While we aimed to close down the Forum eighteen months ago - when we sensed that it had run its race - it has clearly continued to meet a need and to provide a service.
I have not spoken to him recently, though I expect that founding Forum member goblin will share my thoughts on our tenth anniversary. goblin has not been well recently, and we extend our best wishes to him for a full recovery.
For all of those who have supported the Forum over the past ten years – those who have done so in a civilised yet passionate baseball fashion and with the best interests of the sport at heart - well done! Thank you, and best wishes to you all.
A decade. Really?
Ten years of educated and sometimes not so uneducated, often knowledgeable and occasionally silly comment on Australian baseball matters. Ten years of insight, foresight, hindsight. Of information, explanation, meditation, expiation – on occasions, some would say, bordering on defamation.
Frequently instructive. Constructive now and then. Destructive in the eyes of some. A vehicle for venting. And for some, in-venting.
Whatever might be the judgement of our diminishing number of followers, this Forum – for most of its lifetime – filled a serious vacuum in Australian baseball communications, especially in Victoria. Notwithstanding the criticism and frequent invective directed at the Forum, there can be no doubting the passion of most of its supporters. At least of those prepared to be publicly identified, or who accepted that they could be readily identified in any case.
For those who preferred to remain anonymous for their own reasons – often perfectly legitimate reasons – we respected that and we know that we did not let you down.
For those who joined in Forum discussions simply to create mischief – well, you can get stuffed. No value for the sport there.
I was co-opted onto this Forum as a moderator not long after it was set up. I accepted that role and I became actively engaged with the Forum because it provided what I perceived as a unique opportunity to assist me in the media and communications role that I had then taken up with Baseball Victoria.
While I was in that role with BV, the Forum provided me with a wealth of information, insights, story ideas and contacts that were invaluable to me – even though I knew, and I accepted, that my involvement had the potential to place me offside with some people who disagreed on certain matters raised, and certain views expressed on the Forum.
Yes, of course the Forum has published its share of ill-informed opinion, inaccuracy, controversial remarks and even downright nastiness over the years – and that does not include other material that we have blocked in aiming to keep discussion and comment at a reasonably civilised level. Social media has morphed into a beast, yet I believe that we have been able to largely retain our integrity – and our accountability - over the decade.
In my opinion this Forum has done far more good than any perceived harm.
For anyone who might seriously question that judgement, I would suggest that you take a wander through the Forum archives and reflect upon some of the millions of words that were written – along with the multitude of issues that have been addressed.
The reporting on major baseball events. On regional tournaments. On Summer League baseball. On winter competitions. Discussion of rules. Of rule changes. ABL news. Fund-raising for clubs. On promoting the sport at all levels and in such manners as people have desired. On a broad range of issues – some of which required us to take a collective stand on serious matters afflicting the sport and our society. Consider, for example, the discussion instigated several years ago about child sex offenders in baseball. About protecting our young people in the sport. Where else was that being talked about then? When it should have been, especially in view of what has transpired since.
Along the journey – aside from the heavier discussions – at most times it has been a bit of fun.
While we aimed to close down the Forum eighteen months ago - when we sensed that it had run its race - it has clearly continued to meet a need and to provide a service.
I have not spoken to him recently, though I expect that founding Forum member goblin will share my thoughts on our tenth anniversary. goblin has not been well recently, and we extend our best wishes to him for a full recovery.
For all of those who have supported the Forum over the past ten years – those who have done so in a civilised yet passionate baseball fashion and with the best interests of the sport at heart - well done! Thank you, and best wishes to you all.