TSO - How are we doing?

Interesting time & place to bring that up, which is also inaccurate. Thanks Rich.

I have given some bullet points before of what I like and Don't like but I think when folks make personal comments about people and their personality, etc that's part of the problem especially if you are going to do it in an open forum. Would you go into a room full of people and pretty much tell someone they are an A-hole? Most likely not. Yet some people choose to do it. We all have our bad days and ive been guilty of posting sny comments but I try to treat people here with dignity and respect like I would treat them in the real world even Baron

Personally I have "met" some cool people here and if they lived closer, I would probably want to meet them in a non "Casual Encounters" sort of way.

I have already stated what I like and don't like. Would i like less drama? If i said yes, i'd be lying and be being truthful at the same time lol. I don't enjoy the game play bickering (I've made one complaint since i got here in 2011 but there are others where it's non-stop. I do enjoy busting people's stones.

The bottom line is we have personal and professional lives outside of here and I find it interesting how when the young whipper snappers go to college full time or get a big boy job for recent graduates their activity drops off. What's what is supposed to happen.

/Rant

On the topic of the TMFL debacle, I would like to propose that we let this go once and for all

Which TMFL debacle? Seriously.

My experience as a newcomer at TSO sometime in 2012, I joined my first TSO league in mid cycle madden 2012 in TMFL. I think I played 2 seasons I believe before the new iteration of madden released. I pretty much played every game during those two seasons, did recaps after wins, stayed involved in the league, checked the forums daily and partake in discussions. I thought I was a good owner that was committed, get games in, add game recaps, and stay involved. Quickly though, I noticed so much bitching and crying about gameplay, back handed comments made by one owner against another owner on a consistent basis. Then there was a thread about evaluating your opponents and your score was sent out, I mean, is that really how we want to manage users? Unfortunately, I had a very low score, it was like a 6 or something so all I did was ask what was the issue and NOBODY could tell me. So I decided record my games and I sent one in for review to commish just to show how I played in a game I blew somebody out. There was some feedback I got, but it wasn’t anything major. It was pretty much, don’t do purple zones, it is overpowering, are kidding me? An opponent that complained that I ran man press blitz all game, I sent him a video of the game and charted out the plays and it ended being like 75/25 zone to man. So after, I wondered how much of the bitching was even true, I don’t think a high percentage is true, it is just straight bitching. Somebody did comment on my gameplay eventually and said something like “something about you is cheese, but not sure what”. Are you serious?

So anyway, end of the cycle, new madden is coming out and I figured I played two seasons, stayed involved, played my games, did my recaps, and stayed in conversation, I should be able to get in. Then there was a voting system to get in and I see the good owners get voted in, makes sense. Then I start seeing guys not even in the league being voted in because they think madden will be good this year so they want to get into the league. So existing owners that were committed the previous cycle couldn’t even get in and ended up having to find another league. That is when I joined TLY. What does that say, when long time owners that are involved can’t make it to next cycle because the good ole boys network doesn’t vote you in and owners that don’t play much madden gets voted in because they are buds? Then you start seeing these owners dropping out and go wtf? Late in the cycle, there were openings as people get burnt out and I still couldn’t even get in. So I said screw it, not going to try for tmfl the next cycle.

Then M25 voting system, at this point, I was only going to play in TLY, but still interested to see how it played out in TMFL since I am nosey. Again, the good old boys network with a private vote and then dirty laundry being aired pushed multi-cycled owners of TMFL out and eventually led them to TLY. What does that say to anybody that is new or a veteran when you see longtime owners voted out for owners not in the league at all? It says, you got to brown nose the people to vote you in.

Then nextfl was set-up the proper way. If you are interested, feel free to sign up and play. No problems, no drama, no dirty laundry, no favoritism, no judgments, just straight up interest gets you in, first come first serve. That’s how all leagues should be. At this point though, I think people are just tired of all this BS and struggling with owners to stay active.

In general though, if you can’t prioritize your life, get your shit together. I don’t have to play games, I like to plays games and I choose to do so. Remember, it is a video game, YOU ARE CHATTING ON A VIDEOGAME WEBSITE, WHO CARES IF SOMEBODY TALKS SHIT ABOUT YOU! ANYBODY CAN E-THUG IT. PLAY YOUR GAME, TALK TO PEOPLE, GET MONEY!

Check your PM.....

Don't hate me because I am an Aggie

My bad saw. I knew i was leaving someone out!

After reading all of this I can say that as NCAA fell off the past two seasons, so have I. Along with working 70+ hour weeks, my activity dwindled quite a bit. That said, the people I have made 'online relationships' with here like I Peench Bucs Bulldog JFace907 and even Baron MartyWebb have always been awesome and welcoming to an old fart like me. Even knowing that my time was limited during certain parts of the gaming cycle. They put up with me and I appreciate it tremendously. Hopefully as things get less and less busy as the school year winds down, we can get some games in together. My time in leagues with those guys and my time in the Baseline during the previous 2 releases was the most fun I had ever had with a sports game.

I still check the site, check on how certain leagues are doing, and I enjoy reading and commenting on the various Cheap Seats threads. Having been around this site since late '09 i have indeed seen great growth and development, as well as a few hiccups here and there. What organization does not have drama and issues regarding the clientele? Anyway, for the past 4 years I have loved getting into leagues with everyone here, and it has increased my knowledge and ability as a gamer. Hopefully this place keeps chugging along and we can all keep doing what it is that brought us to the site in the first place.


FIXED!!! Hi, Marty!

HAHA! SUCK IT MARTY!

Coooooold blooded!

lol poor Marty

Drifter, I want to say this: Everything I have said and will say is because I want the site to be better. I'm not trying to "drop the mic" so to speak and peace the hell out. Some of the guys here have compared this site to a "godsend". I used to feel that way. I want it to be that again. I want this site to grow back in to the top notch community that it was when I first joined.

To address some of your points:

1). This topic is a start, but I have seen very few positive responses to feedback. It's as if the primary focus is being put on the big secret leading up to a big reveal at the end. This isn't a magic show. Be open with what the staff views the future to be. The same goes for point 6.

2). You have more mods and pseudo-staff here, but they all seemingly have little responsibility. If you don't have the time to do things yourself, delegate. That's one of the perks of being on top. Yes, heavy is the head that wears the crown, but there are perks too. Put some of these guys in charge of coordinating content. Give more responsibility and set standards for league managers / commissioners. Put more impetus on others, and make it a collaborative effort to bring things back to the way that they were when this place was booming.

3). It's true that the Baseline wasn't "pushed off", but the fact that they (we) aren't here anymore must speak to deficiencies of the site that if repaired could invariably lead to more members and potentially leagues leaving their old site and hosting here..

4). I speak of the clubs debacle from a guy who only knows what I saw, and from my few instances of playing last year while knowing next to nothing about soccer. What I saw was bitter infighting that spurred a clear divide between "winning" and "having fun". To others who would be in the same position, that would be very putting off and potentially push them away.

Also, drifter, you are absolutely correct that Fuzzy's banning had to happen. I saw the post before it was edited. There is no place for that shit here. However, I think that Shake 'n Bake leaving was a tragedy and could have been handled better. You lost two members in Fuzzy and Legend .... was it necessary to risk losing more?

Again, I want to emphasize that I want this site to improve first and foremost. If I can help with something, even if it's setting a positive example on content in a new league or something, I'm for it. One of the above posters said this above, however, and I couldn't agree more. Nobody can change things on their own. It's going to take a full group effort to turn things around. I want to be a part of that effort.

The rest of this message is directed solely at Shaun Mason

Shaun, I meant everything I said above. I do feel that specifically the Chatbox has become your clubhouse, and I do feel that a member who kisses your feet can be seen in the eyes of staff in a much better light. I think that you pay more attention to the 5 or 6 people who spend all day in the Chatbox begging for clubs or simply just trying to acquiesce to anything you ask than the needs of the community at large.

With that said, you are a polarizing figure, for better for worse, and in part that could make you one of the most valuable assets to the site as a whole. Your work on the site actually does something to inspire confidence in the masses, compared to this topic where it took drifter begging to get a little feedback, and me being brutally honest to breathe life back into it and even potentially garnering more feedback (some of which is probably more "constructive" than mine). My intent was never to "drive you off the site" as Keller has stated in his status. If you do leave, I'm sorry that I was the final straw, but I do hope it works out the best for you. If you stay, then read what I said above and know that I want this site to be better.

Shaun, I made some very strong comments in my above post... and I do stand by them. But, with that said, I do not hold any personal resentment towards you. I'm not going to be the guy who is actively undermining your every move for some personal vendetta. I'm certainly not going to post any pictures that would draw negative attention. You and I have had talks in the past about our lives off of TSO. You're a good man - I respect that. There are a lot of positives that can be said about you, and as I said before in a PM to you, you're kids are lucky to have a guy like you as a dad.

This isn't a mea culpa because I simply don't feel that I was wrong for saying what I did. But, I do feel that it was unfair to paint you as some sort of Vlad the impaler - esque monster. For that Shaun, I am sorry. If you choose to not accept this, that's your right and if you want to hold a grudge over it I understand. But I am done speaking about this issue in public. To you, or anyone who wants to discuss TSO with me, please do so in PM or on Skype (see my signature).

Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.

@TSO (for the last time. I promise)

I understand your intention, Cheez. You have been around long enough for me to know that your interests align in the best of the site. No argument there, at all.

1) This is a fair point, but a lot of the discussions are "can we do this?" or "is it possible to make this happen?" Really those discussions are between management as we ultimately have to execute it. I have said previously that I plan on addressing the community much like I did last year to which we will lay everything back out and get more feedback. Other members have contributed greatly to that conversation on the side for A) privacy reasons or B) because they were too detailed. This is a public space and any of our "competitor" sites could and possibly are reading this. I would like to use this opportunity to make us better, not to give other people ideas.

2) I do. Much like activity in the forum, it's been hard to find good help. A lot of these guys do what they can. I've had several public callings for help and the line isn't wrapping around the block for people to sign up to donate their time. I've received some more interest from people as I guess the gravity of this situation sits in. Which is appreciated. Quite frankly the current staff is handicapped by the same things that we are. Ultimately, it all falls back on me and I am not denying that. The important thing to note is that we are back on board and I feel it's not completely constructive to hash out the decline as opposed to learning from everything and moving forward.

3) As I said before, I was never approached from anyone in the baseline with ideas about how to make the site better for you guys. The FIFA guys, OOTP guys and Fiddy14 (NHL) toss me ideas all the time. Some of them we have not been able to do, but they are apart of the discussion as we plan to move to this new platform. Anyways, I am and have always been all ears if someone or a group from the Baseline wants to talk to me about what we can do. Would love to have that league back on here.

4) Don't disagree. I've said that before. The end result may have been the same, but I agree.


Again, thanks for the discussion.

1) How are we doing so far? How would you rate your experience here?
Just fine. The website is fantastic and my experience has kept me around. Gaming experience varies based on my skill and patience, but I've found a home with The Dugout. I love the fact that I can peruse around the boards and find a bunch of gaming sports nerds like myself anywhere I click around here.

2) What would you change about the site?
Need to find some of the young blood in the community to step up. We're not getting any younger and the next generation needs to have continue the sim message that the group was trying to grow and develop here. I don't really know, because I only play FIFA anymore, but with the new guys coming on board and as some of the original guys getting busier with real life, someone or some group needs to take reigns on new leagues and develop them into the TSO standards that we have out there.

3) What do you like most about TSO?
Comradarie. I find it amazing how the same 100+ or so original guys are still floating around in one league or another and still active all around.

4) What new features or amenities would you like to see us add in the future?
I know tapatalk is the standard, but an individual app would be pretty cool. I mean, really, I'm not going to ask for a whole shit ton. The tech guys that keep this thing afloat have done an amazing job, and I know it's on their spare time, so who the fuck am I to ask for anything more than what we have.

What would an individual app offer that Tapatalk doesn't?

#kellerblog

Hahahahah

What does Tapatalk do that you can't do from a web browser on the phone ? I downloaded it once and 5min deleted it , seemed pointless to me.

Nothing

Push notifications for those addicted to the site that need to know the moment they are tagged.

Tapatalk does that.