What I wasn't fine with was the reaction posts that attacked people /Julie wasn't okay.

Julie left. That's fine.  She has that right.

Offseason, I have very little interaction with the blog because it serves little purpose for me personally. It does for others and that's fine. But I don't find any positive value in wading through hundreds of posts about things that mean next to nothing to me.

My hope is that when baseball resumes, the diaires focused upon baseball don't get hijacked by some who feel that because they can, they will. There are too many great fans with substantive information that I'd love to read. If the diaries start to become so bloated with irrelevant self posturers, I know I'll be less inclined to stay active.

In the past few months this site has changed.  Not for the good or the bad necessarily, but in tone and context regarding baseball.  If people don't care for this they can choose to go elsewhere.

To Julie, I don't agree with everything you wrote, but don't run and hide over the few who cannot see past trying to run a forum that all will enjoy.  Come back because Cubs fans like yourself make this a better place.

Chill out people.  We have a really good thing here.

While I don't typically enjoy reading a bunch of nonsense in threads....I don't see the need to stop them.  I have learned that when a thread starts to get "hijacked", all you have to do is ignore those comments since they are usually replies to off-based comments.  

One thing that I will say I was frustrated with (and why I have refrained from posting as of late), is that I saw a lot of hypocracy and cliques.  It seems that certain people feel that it is okay to hijack a thread as long as it is in their choice of topics however, if they are not interested then they complain about it.

Al, you know that I absolutely love this site and it was so great when I was deployed.  To have a place to go and talk about our beloved Cubs while being stationed in one of the worst places in the world was wonderful.  Even though I have not posted much as of late, I still visit the site more than 10 times a day to read your diaries and posts of everyone involved.

I thank you for the time and effort that you put into this site, as well as your input (which I value as very well-informed information).  Keep up the good work!

i have complained many times in the past that i wanted to read cubs talk, just like a bunch of people are saying today.  the problem is that the guys saying that today never post a frickin comment.  funny that the ones being complained about are the same ones who talk about the cubs the most.  i get sick of "anchorman" quotes too and i made fun of some offenders in the past, but i took the bad with the good.  if you talked baseball at least half the time, i could skip the rest.  

at the end of the day, this is al's site.  he makes that clear with all the "my site" comments, and i think he should get credit for all the work he puts into this.  however, while i have no problem if this turns into a comment-free site because 75% of the most frequent posters leave, I bet al cares.

That said, I'd like to thank Al for his apology.  Al, we've already discussed this, so I don't need to explain anything else to you...

To everyone else:  Whether you post once an hour or once a month, I think it's clear that you are welcome here.  Over the last week, there has been some chaos and misunderstandings.  If you weren't part of that, or privy to the backstory/private conversations, it's may be difficult to understand what's going on or some of the hostility that has been displayed as of late.

This situationin is old hat.  Everyone has a right to their own opinion and a right to make decisions based on that opinion.  Whether or not they choose to leave is exactly that: their choice.  It does, in any way, shape or form, mean that they are not welcome back to lurk or post.  

One upside of this whole issue is that I've seen a lot of people post baseball and non-baseball related comments that I've never seen post before.
Glad to see you here and voicing your opinion!

However, things seem a little tense in this thread...  Let's step back, take a deep breath, and stop placing blame/insulting people who either are or are not commenting.  It doesn't do anything but fuel the tension.

Play nice, boys and girls!

I'll try to stick around for a bit, but I'm not sure how long I can hijack my friend's laptop....  She's not a baseball fan, and doesn't understand why I want to check this site on our layover.  *Sigh.  She just doesn't get it :)

Other posters have already mentioned, in this diary, that they feel smothered or perhaps even threatened by the level of conversation not pertaining to the Cubs, much less baseball.  Look, it's the offseason.  Relax.  We Cubs fans (at least most of us) are known for our patience and our endearing sense of togetherness as well as our love for this game we call baseball.  

Without using too many more hyperboles or waxing too nostalgic, I'll get to the point.  I am guilty of "hijacking" threads, but it wasn't out of spite or because I just wanted something to say.  I enjoy talking to people that I have more things in common with than just Cubs baseball.  For me, that's just the foundation.  The point is, who cares about popularity and who cares about you having to scroll down a few more clicks to see or say what you want.  I love the fact that so many people have so many things to say.  What better place to project your identity than here or anywhere else where we all have a common ground.        

In conclusion (I've always wanted to say that), if you have no idea of situations and/or circumstances surrounding why posters left or why posters aren't posting or where posters went, then please for the sake of the integrity of this site, and for whatever dignity you have left, shut the fuck up.  Sorry about that one, Al.  

UZI

That said, Spouse and I are looking forward to a Cub team that will inspire and the witty comments on this board.  Glad to see the reports on Woody and Prior are--so far--good ... let's see if I can still cross those fingers!

Regards,
LRRF

al was the one who put "an individual poster" in the spotlight. i don't care whether it was him or julie or the frickin cartoonist that deleted the diaries in the end - it was al who started this whole thing with a bunch of diaries a couple weeks ago after julie posted that one that asked people to stop hijacking diaries.  goddammit - am i the only person with a working memory?    

hate or mock whoever you want, but get your damned facts straight before shooting your mouths off.  nothing pisses me off more than that. i've had my rows with people, including julie, in the past, but i've been very careful to be accurate when i speak.  i wish more of you felt that way, and i wish more than a few would feel it necessary to correct you.  that is what a real "community" would do, self-correct.

i had no plans to leave this site, but al's failure to correct these various inaccurate posts speaks volumes.  makes me wonder why i ever came here, and if other cubs fans on other sites that i previously made fun of were right all along.  i am deeply disappointed, because i thought more of all of us, and i hate being wrong.  

enjoy this while you can, because i am sure it will get deleted.  i just read enough inaccurate posts that i felt someone had to point out the obvious, other than how much marquis is going to suck.  from what others are saying, there might be more to it than this, but this is what i saw from the cheap seats.  

I think people involved in other personal problems outside of baseball should fix their problems.. But not here. Why not send an e-mail? If people keep posting those things publicly, it will NEVER go away.

Al, I love this site, and will continue to read.. And probaly just lurk.. But people really just need to put their ego's away. Man I can't wait for baseball..

But as long as Al is doing a mea culpa, I'll toss one out since it's on the topic of baseball and an earlier post of mine on this site.

I was dead wrong about the Top 100 Cubs of all Time. I ripped the idea when it was introduced because I thought it was just going to be along the lines of so many books written by journalists hoping to cash in.

On the contrary, all the profiles I read were terrific, and interesting, and told me something I didn't know. Great work from all involved.

BCB continues to be the best Cubs blog out there. As long as it continues to be, I'll be a daily reader and occasional poster. But I can do without all the insider trivialities among BCB's in crowd.

I can barely imagine the amount of work you put into this site, Al, and I want you to know that you have my appreciation.  Sure, we disagree at times, but that's going to happen with any good blog.  Except for one thing: I'll never forgive you for taking away Naked Butt Girl (is that profanity?) DON'T TRY TO DENY IT ... I LOVED HER!!!!

But seriously, that's part of the fun, just like arguments about baseball are part of what makes it enjoyable to so many folks.

So here's my goodwill wish to you, Al.  I hope that you only have to cycle through 5 pictures worth of starting pitchers until the day after the Cubs clinch the division, let's say, around August 15.  That means the rotation stays intact, succeeds, and you don't have to go digging through 1998 University of Kansas media guides for head shots of Les Walrond.

Now, let's play some ball!

I have found that over the last couple of months this site has digressed from what I started coming for...the Cubs. And I know that naturally, as conversations often go, the subject of discussion is bound to change. But what really bothered me was when I would scroll through a 300 post diary to see nothing of Cubs related content. And some of those diaries were intentionally posted on just to get to 300 or 400 posts. Personally I find that as a disrespectful thing to do to other members of the community and especially to Al.

Here's how I see things right now, based on what everyone has said above:

We basically fit into two camps here.  Those who don't mind a few hijinks and those who are completely against them.  I think there's room for a compromise, which was the aftermath of this past weeks events.

Cubswin, Kanderber, miltowncubbie, tville (and others)- you're of the opinion that it is intimidating to post because you're afraid that the "regulars" will bash you.  I'm sorry you feel that way.  I don't think it was anyone's intention for you to think that.  Also, what was said above is true.  There have been a lot of private conversations between Al and members of this site, the details of which no one is privy to but those particular persons involved.  No one is using it as an excuse for hijacking.  Move on.

Gravedigger, Oz, faith, progs, and others (myself included) have had many off-topic discussions that have taken place on the baseball-related boards.  It happens.  Here's the thing:  no one was intentionally trying to offend or intimidate anyone.  We had fun.  Sorry if you didn't like it.  And if you took the time to read the diary hijacking post, you will notice that those of us who were primarily involved in this took responsibility for our actions and apologized.  We realized that we were wrong and took steps to correct this.

But listen people, really, these childish games have got to stop between everyone.  We've now had our discussion.  We've unleashed how we feel.  But, you know what?  It was done inappropriately FROM BOTH SIDES.  There is no need for name-calling or degrading of anyone else.  By anybody.  It's pointless and ridiculous.  

If you don't agree with someone, then that's fine.  Disagree with them.  State your points in a rational manner.  Defend your own arguments.  We all have opinions.  Everyone's is different.  Deal with it.  Don't ridicule simply because you can.  If it's something that offends you personally, try mentioning it to that person.  Email them privately, if their email is posted as part of their user profile.  

And of course, all of this applies to me, too.  If you have a problem with me, what I've said, or anything you think I've done wrong, let me know in a rational and adult manner.  My email is listed under my profile.  Although please be aware that I may not be able to answer any emails right away, since I probably won't have an internet connection until next week sometime.  

Enough already!

It also seems that the people who were "regulars" pissed said people off. I know a little of the background story and both sides have a point. I'm not going go into a huge explanation but both sides have points.

I haven't posted because there was a lot of anger and mean-spititedness(is that a word?) and it's just not fun to read. I'm not sure if I'll post here again for several reasons.

Let me just say that this is a silly thing to get all bent about and we are all adults. Well, except Sparkles(who ironically is about the most mature :)) and we need to move on. Everybody has an opinion and they are entitled to it. BCB just isn't a happy place anymore. And that is the reason we are all here...to have fun and discuss the Cubs and I beieve, non-cubs stuff too. Maybe not to the extent that it was done.

I wish everybody luck and good fortune and I hope we can all hope for a good season.

As far as the language and guideline type stuff goes, I am a submariner by trade. I assure you that I have endured and dished out things that would make everyone here shudder. But this isn't a submarine and we shouldn't direct negative comments at each other. Saying what the f** is wrong with Dusty Baker is not the same as saying shut the f** up to someone in a conversation. I don't know hardly anyone in "real" life that talks like that routinely to people around them. I think we should police ourselves a little better on that.

But I still enjoy the blog and truly believe this is the year.

There are various messengers on the internet (MSN, yahoo, etc).  Maybe when two people who haven't talked in awhile or come up with something way off-base, they could attempt to use an IM service.

Just a thought here. I am not trying to piss anyone off, just trying to help solve this.

I'm looking forward to seeing what this site is like during the season (joined this off season). Hopefully I'll be entertained.

You don't have to feel bad about being overly strict on your blog/site or anything. Some people will be put off, but it is your site, and you're not getting paid, are you?

Just keep up the good intending work.