Posts by Frank Martin2

I was watching some pre-game interviews last night and it got me thinking about the psychological weight of competing in front of a home crowd. We always talk about how much energy it gives the local athletes, but I've always felt like it's a double-edged sword.

When you're the one everyone is rooting for, there's this massive, unspoken pressure to not just win, but to dominate. I remember watching a local runner back in college; he was absolutely flying in the first half, but you could see the tension in his shoulders as the crowd got louder. He looked like he was fighting the atmosphere as much as the other runners. Sometimes, having the "home turf" feels more like a target on your back than a boost.

On the flip side, you have those outsiders who come in with a chip on their shoulder, looking to play the spoiler. They thrive on being the underdog and using that hostile energy to fuel their own grit. Do you think the mental edge of playing at home actually helps performance, or does the fear of letting the locals down usually end up causing more harm than good?

Matthew Johnson30 said:I was actually going to ask if you had just disappeared from this sub-forum entirely.😁

Just for the record, though. 😁

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WowJ...el=DjaniMarshn

Samuel Turner2 said:Thanks for unlocking this! 👍

I’m personally just glad that "go to hell" comment was removed.
I get that whoever wrote it thought they were being funny, but as any Highlander would tell you—too much of a good thing is never actually good.

It was just plain vulgar and out of line (at least for us—the well-mannered, high-society types of this forum).

😒

Edit:
By the way—why was my QR identity card deleted? 😉
(Presumably because of some privacy laws...

Casey Bennett said:It’s a double facepalm followed by a headdesk.
That feeling when someone just repeats the same thing over and over again... keep it up.
I’d love to see where all those kickbacks they keep shoving in our pockets actually go.
And how am I supposed to have a constructive conversation with a (non-regime #lol) parrot?
Don't bother responding; I think we all know the answer. You're parrots.

Even though you try to dismiss me with that last sentence, I’ll be civil enough to reply—I don't hold grudges.

I wasn't talking about money going to you or any other moderators, but rather the revenue the site earns as a corporation from specific services.

Naturally, management doesn't publish those details (that would be madness—at least in my company)—but occasionally, some leak slips out.

Take this link to CNN

Or even better, this one from The Wall Street Journal. Surely you trust the WSJ? 😒

Look at that miracle—they even mention the website in the text.

So, I'm referring to the company, not you and the 90% of other "small fry" moderators.
I accept your claim that you moderators work for free. Most of you likely do, but it's naive to assume the administrators aren't being compensated for their work (and I'd bet one of them is a full-time employee). They wouldn't be crazy to work for nothing. Similarly, I believe even a few moderators close to the owner probably receive a fee.
Whether you don't know that, or the paid ones simply won't tell you, is another matter entirely. (Would you tell a fellow moderator if you were in their shoes? Probably not—compensation amounts are private business.

Morgan Peterson said:Every one of those locked threads started off strong, only to devolve into exactly what you see above. It just turns into two sides entrenched in their trenches, trading insults and spreading nonsense and misinformation. Most mods simply don't have the bandwidth to police that kind of chaos.
Ultimately, it comes down to you guys contributing to the forum. What do you think the discussion topics should actually look like? Give me your suggestions.

I agree. The ratio of topics to posts is massive here, mainly because this subject is just so critical right now.
I honestly don't envy you moderators. Keeping up with everything is physically draining, not to mention the constant struggle to stay objective. We really ought to increase the number of moderators on this forum.

When it comes to these two factions bickering—honestly, sometimes we’re just fueling the fire ourselves. Take this latest thread: Smith vs Jones. What else are you going to expect? Just two sides constantly throwing jabs at one another.
Let's be honest—all this bickering only serves the forum owners. More arguments mean more eyes on the page, which means more clicks. Higher traffic translates directly into higher rates for those ad banners. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if certain topics are cooked up just to spark these flame wars on purpose. 😉)

Regarding what you called "various nonsense and misinformation"—it’s hard to draw a line these days. You've seen it yourself: things that were presented as absolute truth one week turned out to be complete nonsense a few months later. Conversely, some of the "nonsense" ended up being right all along.

Moderators should avoid playing judge over what counts as truth versus nonsense. It’s a waste of time. When moderating, they need to set aside their own biases—after all, we’re all subjective. Instead, they should stick strictly to:

Prevent all insults directed at other users or those with differing views—whether they target an individual or a group. Do so while remaining strictly impartial. You must set aside your own personal opinions regarding the content being posted.
Non-topic posts need to be deleted. If there’s enough time and inclination, they should be moved to the appropriate thread instead. It would also be wise to give the author a heads-up and suggest a more suitable place for their content.
Preventing this is just unnecessary. Rough. Trolling. I know, I know... it’s often hard to tell where a sharp provocation intended to spark debate ends and actual trolling begins—which is exactly why I called it "subtle trolling." Regardless, I am still bringing this to the attention of the moderators. They have to. Set aside any personal bias and maintain a neutral stance on the matter.

Morgan Peterson said:The threads are closed for now, but we haven't made a final call on what happens next.
Please exercise patience and stick to constructive suggestions.

Here is my constructive suggestion:
Reopen those locked threads.
We need more moderators on this board.
If you’re acting as a moderator while simultaneously participating in a debate, here’s the deal: feel free to defend your own views, but when it comes to the actual technical side of moderation, leave your personal biases at the door. I know it’s easier said than done—ego can be a real pain in the neck—but try to keep it in check. Moderate based on logic, not emotion.

i
4. (this actually goes toward the forum's management structure rather than you moderators) - stop playing that song on loop—you know the one, "It's not all about the money..."

By the way, I see the "media and coronavirus" thread has been locked.

I suspect there was an order from the top—something along the lines of "stifle everything"—starting with whatever causes the most friction. That means threads questioning our primary influence peddlers, the mainstream media, and any discussions regarding what "our" outlets choose to ignore, such as global anti-lockdown protests.

Essentially, they're trying to choke off freedom of information, thought, and speech—rights that are supposedly guaranteed under the US Constitution.

As a reminder:

Article 1, Sections 1, 2, and 3
Freedom of opinion and expression is guaranteed.
Freedom of expression specifically includes freedom of the press and other media, freedom of speech, public appearance, and the right to establish all types of public communication institutions.
Censorship is prohibited. Journalists have the right to freedom of reporting and access to information.

Sophia Hughes90 said:Look, I'm curious too—will there actually be an explanation provided?

Behaviorists argue there are a few ways animals—and humans, for that matter—react: the primary ones being "fight" or "flight," and the secondary one being "playing dead."

This last tactic is used quite effectively in politics. For example, you have masses of people protesting in the streets (I'm looking at current events happening across America and the world), demanding change, only to eventually disperse and head home.
Meanwhile, "the government" stays silent. They simply act as if nothing out of the ordinary is happening, pretending they aren't even noticing the commotion. They just lie low, "play dead," and continue doing exactly what they were doing before.

But this isn't a harmless game. Politicians play on the idea that the public will eventually tire itself out; they bet on the fact that people will get bored if their efforts don't yield immediate results. It's a dangerous gamble, though, because things can quickly spiral into a chaotic mess that sweeps the politicians away along with everyone else.

It seems like that same tactic is being attempted here on Reddit.
Any thread whose narrative doesn't align with the site's agenda, or fails to meet the standards of some higher authority that issues the "lock" command, gets shut down overnight. Sure, any of you users could take the question to a different platform, but—as the "Reddit administration"—we’ll just play dead.

Take the thread below as another example—the one regarding the moderator Mr. Brown, who is clearly someone's clone (and we all know clones aren't allowed under Reddit rules, let alone a clone posting on the same COVID PDF under a different name).

When someone brings it up, after a few pages of failed attempts at verbal gymnastics and mental maneuvering to justify why someone should be exempt from the rules (which he, by the way, created himself), the thread is simply locked. We "play dead," and everything is forgotten.
Ultimately, it feels like they're telling us that what's permitted for Jupiter isn't permitted for the rest of us, so deal with it.

Honestly, I think this way of "solving problems" is shortsighted. It drives people away (to put it in economic terms: it loses clicks). Reddit relies on economic viability; the owner makes money from it, and every time they act like this, they're just putting another pebble in their own shoe. And pebble by pebble, you end up with a palace (or in entrepreneur language: dollar by dollar equals a full wallet).
Of course, Reddit won't go bankrupt just because they drive a thousand people away, but any smart entrepreneur knows that "every little bit counts" (to paraphrase a common slogan you hear on American TV).
Besides, forum-style platforms are dying out anyway due to new communication methods and emerging internet technologies.
Personally, I find that a shame, but hey—new era, new challenges. I'd be sad when this forum eventually becomes obsolete and gets shut down. It's inevitable, unfortunately, but it makes me wonder why the Reddit administration is using these kinds of tactics to speed up the process.

Casey Bennett said:Death. Is that really all you have to offer? 😁

I just stumbled upon this thread tonight and went through these seven pages, most of which are filled with your posts, Casey.
I can't wrap my head around why you feel personally compelled to defend Brown. Are you his clone? Did someone hand you a directive? Or are you just playing favorites?

It’s clear you’ve hijacked this discussion. Honestly, you should probably issue yourself a ban.

What’s worse is that whenever you lack a legitimate, intelligent argument, you resort to mockery, condescension, and insults toward other users. That is exactly the behavior you should be policing. It makes you an embarrassment as a moderator, and by extension, an embarrassment to whoever put you in this position.
If the owner of this forum were paying attention, they would have stripped you of your privileges long ago. You aren't serving the community; your conduct is actively damaging the reputation of both this forum and the owner.

I'll sleep like a saint tonight. :-)
Goodnight.

Noah Diaz said:By any chance, could a new moderator ask ego why my post was deleted?

There’s no need to bother Mr. Brown with this. He has his own lawyer—Modesty.
She'll explain everything to you, even the inexplicable.

Based on the Department's latest statement, it seems the virus only moves left and right. It hasn't quite mastered moving forward, backward, or diagonally just yet.

And since the air in a room doesn't just mix, you'd think those viruses—which we fought so hard to prove spread via aerosols rather than just droplets—would be held in place by some magnetic force within a tiny two-foot radius around every student.

Regarding the directive on how an unvaccinated teacher should wear a mask.

Why isn't that rule applied in the Capitol building? The logic there is the exact opposite. Representatives have to wear masks while sitting with their mouths shut, but the moment they start speaking—which is precisely when they're "spraying" viruses more intensely (and standing up to throw them even further)—they take the masks off.
Something doesn't add up.

Regardless, it looks like they're slowly coming to their senses. But they can't pull a total 180 right now without causing an uproar; it would happen too fast, and too many people—who haven't realized it yet—would see how they've been led by the nose for the last year and a half.

I don't blame anyone, really. In the name of protection and under the mantra of "better safe than sorry," they simply made the wrong moves in a panic. They blindly followed whatever was happening in other countries. It happens.

It’s actually a good thing they're realizing the mistakes now, allowing for a tactical, gradual return to normalcy.

Fortunately for the politicians who pushed these extreme measures, there is now a tool to mask and obscure their error: the so-called "vaccine." They'll try to frame it as the ultimate savior as we emerge from this madness.
I'm just not sure it'll be quite that smooth.

I think it’s best to just trust the science and listen to the experts: dr. Demirović

Morgan Peterson said:If this is the same one ENFP is talking about, these vehicles traveling from Canada to Germany 🤣🤣

Fair enough. I thought they were talking about some bus running through New York City or somewhere else in the suburbs.

mellowskipper said:A colleague of mine—perfectly normal person—went to get a chest X-ray while dealing with COVID-19, took a taxi to get there, and all with the blessing of the CDC officials. They actually told her to just wear two masks.

And what about all that talk regarding aerosol transmission? Apparently, it passes right through three surgical masks anyway. Then there’s the whole theory about spreading it through touch, surfaces, or handling cash...

So, this poor soul ends up infecting the doctor, the cab driver, and everyone else who
got into that taxi after her.
It's a disaster. Honestly, it's no wonder our grandparents are dying and people are dropping in the streets 🙄

wanderingbadger77 said:What a ridiculous comparison.

🥱
You could have at least dropped a witty remark to make up for such a lackluster contribution.
🙂

lonepilot54 said:Honestly, I think I just witnessed the most brainless move of the entire year... some woman literally sat down on the bus right after testing positive for COVID-19. Just total madness...

Now, imagine you’re an elderly person with some health issues sitting in a hospital, 9.3 miles and you find out from your medical results that you’ve tested positive.

You don't have a car, you don't have cash—and even if you did, you can't just call an Uber home because you'll end up infecting the driver or whoever you might ask for a ride. (And honestly, plenty of seniors live alone these days; family moves away, and any friends they do have are usually in the exact same boat.)

So, what are you supposed to do? Request a specialized medical transport vehicle that actually meets CDC safety standards? 🤣

Seriously, tell me how someone in that position is even expected to get back home to quarantine.

Amy Long5 said:They have something similar in Singapore. And if someone doesn't have a phone, the government provides them with a device for free to handle everything.

And let's cut out the nonsense and the ad hominem attacks about chips or QR codes on your skin.

These are temporary measures. You download the app for a month, then you delete it. If another COVID-19 wave hits, you just reinstall it.

How incredibly generous of them. 😁
And they give it away for free? Can I call my credit card company and ask for a refund on my taxes?
Also, do I get to choose between a Samsung or an iPhone—you know, the absolute latest models?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LUm...nnel=Daniklein

Chinese

Lawrence Reed3 said:Who’s actually stopping you? You just find your group, pick a spot, and make it happen... honestly, they just scared us senseless with all that nonsense about neighbors snitching or police raiding homes during the holidays, but in the end, it turned out to be nothing but intimidation tactics. Now? None of that bothers me even 5%.
Those folks over in Oakwood deserve being dragged through the news—people are rightfully calling them out because they couldn't manage to host a party without getting busted... I guess since they're "professionals" and all, they really should know better.
And look, even the Czechs are reopening cafes as a form of protest.

I really hope we follow their lead if things don't start looking up regarding the reopening by the time those new numbers hit.

I’m convinced our administration and those "experts" on the task force are actually rooting for this. They seem completely lost and have no idea how to handle the situation.

To the public, they have to pretend they’re successfully managing the crisis ☕ rather than letting the crisis manage them. It would give them some breathing room. If things improve, they can take the credit and collect taxes. If everything falls apart, they'll just blame irresponsible citizens instead of themselves.

TT