For the past several months readers of OspreyBlogs have been allowed to post replies anonymously, which unfortunately has led to incidents of abusive language and innappropriate commentary. Our bloggers moderate the replies to their posts and a certain degree of self-policing takes place, but further safeguards are necessary.
As of Friday July 14, participants will be asked to register to post comments on OspreyBlogs. A valid e-mail address is the only personal information that will be required.
We are confident this small measure will help reduce offensive and inappropriate behaviour and improve the experience for everyone.
Your comments are welcome.
Tim Lukasewich
Director, Online Strategy & Content Development
Osprey Media
Well, for those people that caused these new rules – and you know who you are – I hope that you are satisfied now …everyone gets regulated because of the actions of a few !!
Yes crispy you are correct. If that Panda wouldn’t have started all that crap none of this would have happened. Oh well
I see nothing wrong with using an alias in a forn such as this. In a small community you run too much of a risk of upsetting or offending some people and it may not be what you want to do. Sometimes we are just trying to get people to look at something from a different perspective…..a gentle nudge to open there minds. Also, people can be pretty vindictive and who needs more enemies.
I think this blog will bite the dust if names are used. The problem is it was a few “knuckleheads” coming in here, attacking people and other posters… just for the fun of it.
These people should be banned not given warnings etc…
I guess we’ll see how “busy” the blog gets after next week……………..
FYI,
Real names do NOT have to be used. You only have to give your REAL e-mail address, which will NOT be published. It is for our use only.
Randy Russon..
What Randy says is true. We need real email addresses to be able to block access to abusers, but nobody will be required to use a real name (even though I believe people shouldn’t hide behind aliases if they hope to have their opinions respected).
Redneck, Simon and Nolan back together on the other Island.
The lafs missed that boat
motley u really shud go to work man ahaahah……simon cedits nolan with saving his hockey career and his life!!!….good WAWA boy
i’m at work haha
hey both the boys will be up for heritage according to JR
see ya there
rr could you forward my address to #7 please?
thank you
Thank-you Tim. A step in the right direction. Do agree with you that one should use their own name. Randy, your comments do encourage people to use alaises. Can you re-think that ? Soo Fan, just what I thought you would say.
In essence, nothing changes here for those of us who behave ourselves. I already provide a valid e-mail address so status quo here. As far as using an alias goes, some interesting points have been raised. Soo Fan is correct in his (or her) view that using your real name could create problems, especially in a small town. I for one could risk a negative backlash against my place of employment for instance and by extension my job. To any of you who may see that as over-reacting, I say just try living on the Manitoulin for a while and you will see it.
I also agree with kenadian in that the number of posts would drop dramatically if real names were used for various reasons, including what I mentioned above; most people would not be as outspoken under their true identity; some would be just too shy to comment at all. I don’t intend to speak for Randy here, but my hunch is that this is the reason he appears to support the aliases….if no one’s posting, that gives the impression that no one is reading which leads to Randy potentially losing this gig. None of us want that.
I have to respectfully disagree with Mr. Lukasewich however. I think every opinion submitted here should be accepted at face value no matter who posted it. These opinions should be judged based on substance, not the source. In many cases revealing a poster’s identity would lead to the opposite, in which they would in fact be taken less seriously. As such, most of us here stand to neither gain nor lose anything from this, in effect making our identity completely irrelevant. It’s not like we’re running for public office here. To most of us, this forum is about fun and fun only….I find it both sad and unfortuneate that a few “bad apples” have laid the groundwork to make some of you feel that fun needs to be regulated and/or taken from us. At any rate, that is the view from the dumpster; make of it what you like.
P.S. I agree motley, the buds have missed the boat so badly they can’t even see its wake. $5 million for Kubina?!!!?? We truly are gluttons for punishment, aren’t we? Simon has family roots here on the Island by the way….I suspect you already know that though.
Redneck, you make some excellent points. Discussion is good but I would love to see people sign their real names. The thing I hate about alias names is the the same guy that chirps or stabs you in the back on here is the same guy that pats you on the back at the rink and says your a great guy. It’s happened and will continue to happen. Also guys signed on here with two or three different alias names. Giving ones real address is a start. It is just my hope that people could be more up front and honest by attaaching their names to their post.
I respect your point of view too Zoltan. I’m sure the same has happened to me in terms of the pat/stab in the back. I also respect your background. You are a prime example of someone whose name adds credibility to an opinion. The bottom line for most of us nobodies around here is we’re just here to talk hockey, and if we all kept to that we wouldn’t need to have this discussion in the first place. For now let’s consider this a start and hope it remedies the problem.
Finally, perhaps we can have good debate on topics, instead of enduring with a few whose sole purpose was to harass and intimadate others; this change is long overdue.
Redneck: I agree with you, let’s hope this remedies the problem.
I have for the most part always enjoyed reading Rednecks posts and cutting edge humor. His comments mirror my thoughts on the use of an alias, only he said it better. And to just show a tip of the ice-berg, ZK who disagreed with my earlier comment was quick to throw a shot my way. Now if I was a neighbour or co-worker or business person I don’t need him or his followers pissed at me, and if he doesn’t like getting stabbed and patted on the back by the same person then get out of the kitchen….. because it happens to everyone in all walks of life. This form is about FUN and hopefully interesting debate. Take it for what it is.
I think Redneck’s points are well made and in a thoughtful fashion. It is posters such as Redneck who help give this blog a credible, high profile. To be sure, I want this blog to remain as a voice for NOJHL fans and teams, as does Mr. Lukasewich through Osprey Media. Hopefully my “babysitting” will be kept to a minimum and remember, your e-mail address remains confidential to Ospreyblogs.com
Regards.
RR
well put y’all.
RR has my addy, knows where i work, and who i am, etc..,, and any tie ins i may have within hockey in the bay.
that being said, in my line of work, something as minor as a difference in oppinion on views of fighting etc, could infact, cause a client or two not to deal with me, if they feel so heartfeltly against an issue, as i do for.
and quite a few have figured out who i am anyhow, but for certain heated (not vulgar or insulting) issues the alias allows me to post a little more freely, and yes i’ve said some surprising things on here. and some purposly tongue and cheek to get some riled, but thats as far as i will/would take it.
how fun would it be for everyone’s opinion to be similar?
mr kovacs; if i (my self) have ever said anything about anyone, it would only be another poster getting personal into players and coaches, so i agree you may have encountered that back stabbing, something i would never do here, i’ll say to someone face to face the same as here.
as well , real names aren’t that necesarry for 1; what if someone has a problem with what another says, and looks up their # in the phone book etc (there are those people out in the world),2; I don’t care who most are , regardless of comments because many of us are from different locations so i don’t care if some one is Joe Blow, Will Smith, or Jan Hrdina , i’ll never meet them anyway.
take care all
Well so much for that, I like that my boss doesn’t know it’s me.
Will we see the Soo Indians return to the dominance that they once had in the NOHL where they won the league championship so many times? Can Capy build a team to rival those teams? Can the rivalry with the TBirds be kindled to the point that it is the talk of the league? I’m ready for some hockey.
Geez, its +28 degrees outside, who can think of hockey in this weather, grab another case of wobbly pop and relax, winter will be here soon enough ..
its official
Melnyk just bought the Ice Dogs, looking to sell them asap, and move the Majors to Mississauga. Mr. Mantha now its time to put your $ where your mouth is.
Good Luck
Antropov (piallon) for MvP, not!
why not just give me the million?!
Jan Hrdina, lol! Now there’s a disappearing act who wishes he had an alias to hide behind in anonymity. And yes, it will be very interesting to see what role (if any) Mantha and North Bay play in the sale of the Ice Dogs.
Hey crispy,how’s old Reg doing up in Chapleau? Any word on the resurrection of the Huskies yet?
I have no idea…why dont you ask him yourself …? I’m sure that he reads these blogs daily…
Ok, i read this blog daily but have only posted a few times. I live about 55 miles below the Mackinac Bridge, i could watch hockey 25 hours a day, i played as a youth until age 20, nothing serious, play adult league now and my son is bantam age. The nearest rink is a 40 minute drive so i for me hockey is almost as important as air, (not really but my family sometimes thinks so). I became aware of this league because i watched the lack bears for the past few years and was impressed with the play. the product is well worth the price of admission. i have a number of comments that i would like to share.
First, Mr. Kovacs i understand your frustration/anxst over blind posts but it does allow some people to be a little more open than they would otherwise. It is unfortunate that some use that as a license to degrade and ridicule others but that is, for some, human nature. This blog can certainly do without it and any effort to reduce it is welcome.
Another observation is that, while there have been some malicious posts, i am very impressed with not only the knowledge but the overall care that most of you show for the athletes in the nojhl. Regardless of some perceptions, i think it is obvious that Mssrs. Capy, Kovacs, Murray and all the other principals in the league are in it or have been in it for the same reason, to help these young men advance their skills and perhaps further their education or hockey careers. It is painfully obvious that nobody is getting rich coaching or owning a team in this league and that they do so because they enjoy the game.
Last comment, i noticed about 2 or 3 weeks ago RR posted an article about football. It recorded two comments over the course of a few days. I have seen hockey articles gather more posts within the hour that it was posted. You guys sure do love your hockey and i am glad for it. Makes the summer go by and the season that much closer. Thanks to RR for hosting and monitoring and to you all for the refreshing conversation.
Just posted on Ospreyblogs.com:
“SKYHAWKS HAVE BEEN FOR NORTH BAY”
I personally feel that if posters did use their real names it could definately lead to more verbal attacks on here. I don’t see why a couple of people are so worried about the use of real names. In the last 4 or 5 posts by a certain poster that is all he ever says. Sounds like he is just trying to find out who a certain poster may be.
Real names means end of this blog, as stated earlier.
Wolverine – if you have to use your real name, are you going to put stupid things on that everyone can read and judge..? Not likely…but if you can get away with an alias, will you still put stupid things on the board …maybe ..everyone has to take responsibility for their actions and we sure as hell dont need anymore troublemakers now, do we? Also remember that a lot of people, including players, read this site…it can work if the idiots go and play somewhere else…
Crispy critter, Panda or any other alias you want to use, we figured out who you were a long time ago. So well you rip other people for using aliases why don’t you start using your real name or just stick to taking pictures!
I was going to comment on crispy critters post, but Beaver Buster said it for me. Right on BB.
The 2 of you have just proven my point..BB and The View ..if you had to use your real names you wouldnt be so cocky..
But it was OK for you to use Panda to bash the coaching staff of your own team all last winter. And now you are championing Toots cause because you made the dumb mistake of telling people who you were. You created your own problem so don’t expect any help to rectify it. You are free to choose what sites you wish to visit. If you don’t like this one then you are free to move on.THE END
crispy critter I am going to take this part of your comment towards my post and take it you are talking about everyone in general.
Wolverine – if you have to use your real name, are you going to put stupid things on that everyone can read and judge..? Not likely…but if you can get away with an alias, will you still put stupid things on the board.
Wolverine – you just have to look at the 2 specimens above to see what I mean..they are so quick to put in their 2 cents worth when my message was addressed to you..yeh generally if people can do something without getting caught, then they MAY do it…but thats not everyone…why do we need an alias anyway? do your friends call you by your alias…do you bank with your alias..see what I mean…it isnt really necessary but some people get all worked up over nothing…I am not criticizing you..
View – I really dont recall bashing anyone on the team last year, but even if I did, then thats MY business , not yours…I have as much right to be on here as you do and that applies to your buddy BeaverBuster as well..also, I live in Espanola, not Blind River, so get your facts straight, man ….