Feel Free To Comment on TS O'Connell's Blog
Online Commentary System Is Deeply Flawed ... 
Posted by T.S. - From The Infield Dirt.
http://infielddirt.sportscollectorsdigest.com/2009/05/19/Online+Commentary+System+Is+Deeply+Flawed.aspx
OK, guys, I give up. You win. We have halted any ability for comments from the readers on my blog, largely because the service has been hijacked by a handful of individuals who feel their grievance against our magazine and by extension me is so manifestly paramount that the conventional guidelines of civil discourse may be abandoned.
First, I apologize to our readers for having to endure this wretched situation. Readers who wanted to involve themselves with the comments component would find themselves reading through an interminable rash of sophomoric, malicious gibberish. That’s the hijacking part I mentioned.
At one point, a hobby pioneer was recovering from a stroke and I blogged about him as a way of notifying many of his friends about his situation. Then I had to sit by in horror as these anonymous individuals planted a rash of comments about their grievance du jour. If their goal was to humiliate and embarrass me, they succeeded. All I could think about was his family and friends eagerly going to the comments section in hopes of finding supportive words from friends, and instead they found themselves in the middle of a hateful onslaught that had nothing whatsoever to do with them. I apologize specifically and explicitly to them.
And so I am pulling the plug on this element of the blog in part because I don’t want to subject our readers to this nonsense. I’d be kidding you if I denied that the torrent of bile – easily more than 150 postings in the last month – has been a pronounced aggravation for me personally. As I noted at the beginning, you guys win. You’ve worn me down.
By way of explanation, the aggrieved individuals feel there is a company advertising in the pages of Sports Collectors Digest that should not be permitted to be there. They reject my continued assertion that I have no role in deciding who advertises in SCD, and have employed their own conviction of my alleged malfeasance as justification for online conduct that swings back and forth between infantile and pathetic.
But the other reason we are stopping the entire undertaking (not halting the blog, just the comments section) is that the whole phenomenon of online chat is underpinned by at least one enormous structural flaw that everyone has timidly permitted even though most decent people know in their hearts is wrong: anonymity.
Over the last 40 days or so, these individuals have made an unending stream of vicious attacks on my character and integrity, called me any number of hateful names and have done all of this without the requirement that they provide their own names as part of the process. One of the things they have accused me of is cowardice. Repeatedly. Libeling someone anonymously is far more cowardly than any misdeed I am alleged to have committed.
This is wrong and is a hideous component of our online meanderings that never should have been permitted to take root. The same individuals have posted dozens of times in a fashion that suggests to the uninitiated cyber traveler (that would include yours truly) that the messages were coming from me. That’s even worse than the rest of this preposterous crap. For the record, since this marks the end of it, I have never responded to any of the comments in any fashion. Not once. To sit by and read idiotic postings that appear to the unschooled to have come from me is, like all the rest of it, more than I can take.
To the individuals who have undertaken this, you have your victory. It would seem to me to be a hollow one, but you have it.
Whatever the merits of your grievance, the frenzied tactics that you have employed have created a situation where the readers are being shortchanged in deplorable fashion. And we won’t be providing a venue for any of it anymore.
– T.S. O’Connell
Posted by T.S. - From The Infield Dirt.
http://infielddirt.sportscollectorsdigest.com/2009/05/19/Online+Commentary+System+Is+Deeply+Flawed.aspx
OK, guys, I give up. You win. We have halted any ability for comments from the readers on my blog, largely because the service has been hijacked by a handful of individuals who feel their grievance against our magazine and by extension me is so manifestly paramount that the conventional guidelines of civil discourse may be abandoned.
First, I apologize to our readers for having to endure this wretched situation. Readers who wanted to involve themselves with the comments component would find themselves reading through an interminable rash of sophomoric, malicious gibberish. That’s the hijacking part I mentioned.
At one point, a hobby pioneer was recovering from a stroke and I blogged about him as a way of notifying many of his friends about his situation. Then I had to sit by in horror as these anonymous individuals planted a rash of comments about their grievance du jour. If their goal was to humiliate and embarrass me, they succeeded. All I could think about was his family and friends eagerly going to the comments section in hopes of finding supportive words from friends, and instead they found themselves in the middle of a hateful onslaught that had nothing whatsoever to do with them. I apologize specifically and explicitly to them.
And so I am pulling the plug on this element of the blog in part because I don’t want to subject our readers to this nonsense. I’d be kidding you if I denied that the torrent of bile – easily more than 150 postings in the last month – has been a pronounced aggravation for me personally. As I noted at the beginning, you guys win. You’ve worn me down.
By way of explanation, the aggrieved individuals feel there is a company advertising in the pages of Sports Collectors Digest that should not be permitted to be there. They reject my continued assertion that I have no role in deciding who advertises in SCD, and have employed their own conviction of my alleged malfeasance as justification for online conduct that swings back and forth between infantile and pathetic.
But the other reason we are stopping the entire undertaking (not halting the blog, just the comments section) is that the whole phenomenon of online chat is underpinned by at least one enormous structural flaw that everyone has timidly permitted even though most decent people know in their hearts is wrong: anonymity.
Over the last 40 days or so, these individuals have made an unending stream of vicious attacks on my character and integrity, called me any number of hateful names and have done all of this without the requirement that they provide their own names as part of the process. One of the things they have accused me of is cowardice. Repeatedly. Libeling someone anonymously is far more cowardly than any misdeed I am alleged to have committed.
This is wrong and is a hideous component of our online meanderings that never should have been permitted to take root. The same individuals have posted dozens of times in a fashion that suggests to the uninitiated cyber traveler (that would include yours truly) that the messages were coming from me. That’s even worse than the rest of this preposterous crap. For the record, since this marks the end of it, I have never responded to any of the comments in any fashion. Not once. To sit by and read idiotic postings that appear to the unschooled to have come from me is, like all the rest of it, more than I can take.
To the individuals who have undertaken this, you have your victory. It would seem to me to be a hollow one, but you have it.
Whatever the merits of your grievance, the frenzied tactics that you have employed have created a situation where the readers are being shortchanged in deplorable fashion. And we won’t be providing a venue for any of it anymore.
– T.S. O’Connell
posted by Mike the ring guy. at
7:31 AM
22 Comments:
TS - Way to go, disallowing comments for a second and final time at your blog site.
The general consensus at the other blogs around the internet is that your actions make you look small-minded and like a control-freak.
I wish to address some of the comments made in your long blog:
1) You wrote "the service has been hijacked by a handful of individuals who feel their grievance against our magazine and by extension me is so manifestly paramount that the conventional guidelines of civil discourse may be abandoned."
Your blog was not hijacked. We begged and pleaded for you to comment about matters that were important to us in the collecting hobby and you refused to address these issues. Yes, there were times when things got a little heated, it's true that we are passionate about our beloved hobby but the blogs had really calmed down quite a bit. It is obvious to me that you are just looking for excuses and justification for pulling the comments and your just reaching for excuses.
2) Next you wrote "First, I apologize to our readers for having to endure this wretched situation."
TS - Shouldn't you apologize that you accept CC advertising revenue and that their auctions tremendously harm our hobby. Isn't this the most egregious problem you should be discussing, not that some comments were a little heated?
3) You wrote "They reject my continued assertion that I have no role in deciding who advertises in SCD, and have employed their own conviction of my alleged malfeasance as justification for online conduct that swings back and forth between infantile and pathetic."
If you do not decide who advertises in SCD than who exactly does? Do you have no say in the matter? What if you did have final say, What would you do? Why do you ignore the dozens of requests for a discussion on this matter? You know, when the bank robber robs the bank, the guy who drives the get-away car can't proclaim to the police "I had no role in the actual bank robbery" and expect not to get jail time too. TS - prove me wrong, show up here and talk to us!
Please check out the blog at http://www.voiceofthecollector.com/
I have copied and pasted this excellent blog from that site.
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Friday, May 22, 2009
T.S.O'Connell The Hobby Has Passed You By.
T.S. O'Connell, journalist for Sports Collectors Digest has turned off the comments on his blog.
His reasoning is noted here in his most recent post which is titled, "Online Commentary System Is Deeply Flawed ... ". Please go read this and come back to finish reading this post and comment.
An old school reporter who has produced some great work over the years has repeatedly failed to embrace the new mediums available to The Industry and instead has used his blog as just another editorial venue when in fact, blogs are all about ENGAGEMENT. In his own words, "I have never responded to any of the comments in any fashion. Not once." (The bold is his not mine). Exactly T.S., instead of face the music of criticsim regarding advertiser conflicts of interest, answering legitimate questions regarding your beloved Bill Mastro, you have hid behind a wall that has been long removed thanks to the Internet.
I am disgusted that you, representing a publication that, at times, still provides credible hobby editorial and journalism has failed to engage your audience, instead choosing to piously silence your critics by removing their VOICE.
Go collect your precious '54 Topps and stop pretending to "be involved" in The Hobby that has clearly and sadly passed you by.
Special thanks to Mike at
http://www.sports-rings.com/blog.htm
To me, it doesn't matter if he has control over advertising space or not. He's still a journalist, and his word could possibly save a few readers from getting screwed over. Come on T.S., or whoever still writes there, say something! Right and wrong are more important than any company or bosses feelings.
Mike, I see it's still impossible for you to decamp. You cannot apprehend the notion that I have no control or proclivity of who advertises in Sports Collectors Digest. I would like to thank you for your part in the decision of canceling the comments to my blog. Your victory is one that should leave you feeling euphoric. I'm sure my readership have a different empathy however. I have invited you to contact me in private to discuss any grievances you might have and you have rejected that offer. I am terminating that invitation effective immediately. I am writer and a pretty darn good one. From now on,please leave the online blogging to me. Thank you T.S.
TS -
Nice to hear from you. Thank you for visiting and for taking part in this forum.
I wish to respond to some of your comments.
You wrote:
a) "You cannot apprehend the notion that I have no control or proclivity of who advertises in Sports Collectors Digest."
Well than TS, how about your opinion if Coach's Corner should be allowed to advertise? Where do you stand on this issue? what happened when you voiced your opinion to ownership?
b) "I would like to thank you for your part in the decision of canceling the comments to my blog.".
TS, please don't thank me for my part. You made this poor decision all on your own. As others have said, you have failed and let down your small audience. Instead of allowing them to engage in discussion you have decided to silence them.
TS, on this blog, I make the rules and there will be no deletions and silencing those in the hobby that wish to discuss this matter.
c) "I have invited you to contact me in private to discuss any grievances you might have and you have rejected that offer. I am terminating that invitation effective immediately."
TS - Yes, you invited me to call you and I asked "what would calling you achieve?". You never responded to my question. Furthermore, various writers and I have asked and pleaded with you to respond to the Coach's Corner situation on many occasions and not once have you responded on your blog. In your own words, you wrote "I have never responded to any of the comments in any fashion. Not once."
d) "From now on, please leave the online blogging to me.".
TS - Not a chance man, not a chance! I'm just getting started! Sorry TS, you are not in control here, go back to your blog and write to your heart's content. I will do the same!
I am not going to continue to go back and forth with these demented dissension. I have stated for the final time that I have never commented or will ever comment on an advertiser in any magazine whatsoever. Any item that is sold or consigned to any auction house is simply no concern to me. If you have a dilemma with any item, you should take it up with those responsible. That would not be me. I would be obliged if you and Mr. Tresh stop assassinating my character and leave my name out of any future endeavors. T.S.
TS
Thank you very much for your final comment. It's nice that you continue to insult my intelligence and the intelligence of your other readers.
I will not delete your comments and you are welcome to come back and discuss these matters any time. Personally, I get the feeling that you will be back. Oh, one last thing, please stop telling me what to discuss or not to discuss here. Must I keep reminding you, this is not your blog! My goal here is not to censor any comments. You are welcome to sue me or try to get an injunction to stop this blog. I do wish to point out I have access to legal council and am prepared to fight you and this cause in the legal system if that is the route you decide to go.
Mike - How about doing a recorded call with T.S. and post the interview/sound on the blog? He probably go for it too.
Good luck with the start-up blog. Let me know if you're interested in a link exchange.
Perhaps if you didn't engage in an instigation attack on me to my fellow readers of my blog, that I am to blame for some misgivings of the hobby, the comments would still be welcomed. You and an unanimous assemblage are only to blame. I tried to caution people about messages containing bid prices for auctions. That type of promotion was not allowed and the warnings were ignored. Good luck on your "blog" becoming a success. I also wish you luck on having a readership as ample as mine. I won't be visiting or taking part of this "forum" ever again. I'm sure not too many others will either. T.S.
This post has been removed by the author.
Mr. O'Connell, I do not believe that anyone here is assassinating your character. All we are asking is your opinion on some of the "rare" autograph items on the Coach's Corner auction site. We all want to know why these "significant rare" items are never plastered on the front cover of SCD. Those "rare" items are significant hobby news to the collector and subscribers to your magazine. No one is debating your writing skills, Sir, we are only asking that you write about those "rare" items that only seem to surface at the Coach's Corner auction site. If you can't reply to these questions then maybe you can direct us to someone over at SCD to answer the aforementioned questions. Thank you, Sir.
TS -
This is the 2nd time today that you are threatening not to come back to this blog. My what a big opinion you have of yourself, as if we need your presence to succeed. Visit if you want, or don't come, but please stop announcing that this is your final appearance. I believe you are too thin-skinned to ignore this place (this is the real reason you disabled your blogs, isn't it?)
As far as boasting about your vast readership I would relax that claim if I were you. The feedback and comments from your blogs were anemic until I and others got involved and questioned you about Coach's Corner. Furthermore, I posted 2 comments on the official SCD forum yesterday and I noticed that place was totally inactive. No one posted anything after my post and that forum section is a ghost town. Readers, please look at the SCD activity on their forum and then count the comments here. TS - who has more comments and activity? I bet you won't answer this question or any of the others that require self-examination . Why of all the problems you seem to have with our behavior and comments are you so opposed to Tom discussing auction results. Doesn't your web site have a section where you provide auction results? In my opinion you seem to bend and twist your rules and concerns to conform to your agenda.
Furthermore your veil attempt to wish me luck and then proclaim that I can't possibly succeed like you have is precious. Tell me, where is your book? What is it's place on the NY times best seller list or it's Amazon ranking? Sir, why must you always remind us that you are such a good writer. Does Dan Brown or John Grisham have to remind their fans how gifted they are?
"Any item that is sold or consigned to any auction house is simply no concern to me."
Um, you're a hobbyist and journalist...
Expired Sub: I love your point - you're a hobbyist and journalist.
TS likes to bend the rules and his actions to accomodate his own agenda.
He gets concerned about the most ridiculous matters. Remember when he wrote about what to do if you can't find his book? How about the time he wrote about being a card dealer? Or about Bob Ueckr.
He is very self centered and does not seem to want to write about what Coach's Corner is doing.
Good morning! The isolated reason I'm a here again is I forgot to ad something yesterday. I was agitated with some of the statements here and wanted to call to mind those interested that my book is current available.'Yankee Stadium' has been well reviewed so far and baseball fans will be thrilled to read it. Borders Bookstores is doing a stupendous job keeping it stocked and Barnes & Noble is executing an acceptable job as well. I am having some obstacles finding them amassed at more diminutive stores when I call to make sure it's there. I am investigating many of Mom and Pop bookstores that have been notified to me. You can also place an order at krausebooks.com/product/1295/12.
It can also be bought at amazon.com for the same rate. I encourage people who place an order at amazon, to purchase two copies of 'Yankee Stadium.' You will receive free shipping that way. One copy could be nestled in your bookshelf and the other can be given as a gift to a loved one or friend. I will be posting a new blog entry on Tuesday morning sometime for those concerned. Thank you T.S.
Mr, O'conell, I really don't care about that stuff and wanted to tell you it was a shitty move taking down comments over there. CC auction just ended recently. Every single Michael Jordan autographed they sold was fake. Not one was real! Countless people just got ripped off on that and probably 99% of the crap they auctioned off. Why cant we get your magazine to stop printing the pages for them? Please dont try deleting us over on this site too.
Dear TS,
I just checked in at amazon.com. I could not find your book anywhere on that web site. Perhaps the book is not a magga-hit afterall. Oh well, at least you can continue writing your blogs on SCD. I realize that my blog pales in readship when compared to your blogs or SCD's forum (you told me this) but wait until Tuesday. I hear one of the major sports hobby web sites is doing a story on my blog and your recent actions. I know you told me to stop this blog and leave the blogging to you, but if you don't mind, I am having too much fun to stop now and we are succeeding in getting the word out about Coach's corner. To all the people who care about our hobby and have written on this blog thank you so much!
Mike.
Mike - Congrats - Who's doing the story?
coachs corner took it in the shorts in this blog too from frozen pond auctions. http://frozenpondauction.com/blog/
That blog over at Frozen Pond is FANTASTIC!!!! I beg everyone to read it. It is quite long, but well worth it. My favorite bit was the James Dean autographed photo that had been copyrighted on the back AFTER he died!! HAHA!
Looks like TS was telling the truth. I checked out Amazon and went to the books section. I typed in Yankee Staduim and his book is on the first page. I did not buy one though. Mark
t.s. o'douchebag wont comment on the hobby news of the day! he is not the editor of SCD, it is more like pravda and tass!
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