12 replies to this topic

[yawetag]

So often on the board (more often than it should), questions are asked that sometimes receive incorrect answers, often before the correct answer is given. Other times, multiple answers are given, with back-and-forth, before a consensus is agreed upon.

It's my fear that many newer umpires, fans of the game, or any other person who found the thread through a Google search, would see the first (incorrect) answer, take it as fact, and close the thread. It's also not uncommon for a seasoned umpire to read the thread, but only remember the incorrect answer, which makes him unsure later what the correct answer was.

Is there a way we can "flag" the correct answer, which would then be included as the second post of the thread, after the OP? In effect:
OP
Correct answer
Thread continues as normal

If possible, the correct answer would also stay in-thread, maybe with a different colored background. For a post to be "promoted," there should be a set number of "votes," and an admin (Warren or otherwise) would have to approve the promotion -- nothing automatic. It shouldn't be used for any "opinion" threads, only for "what's the correct call?" threads. Multiple posts should have the ability to be promoted, in case one user gives the OBR answer while others give NCAA or Fed answers.

I know Warren has talked about new forum software, so it would be better to wait for it. I'm sure we can find a modification for the software that will work with my thought, maybe with a bit of tweaking.

[Ros@]

I agree Yawatag.
:rockYou have my vote on this.

[BrianC14]

yawetag said:

So often on the board (more often than it should), questions are asked that sometimes receive incorrect answers, often before the correct answer is given. Other times, multiple answers are given, with back-and-forth, before a consensus is agreed upon.

It's my fear that many newer umpires, fans of the game, or any other person who found the thread through a Google search, would see the first (incorrect) answer, take it as fact, and close the thread. It's also not uncommon for a seasoned umpire to read the thread, but only remember the incorrect answer, which makes him unsure later what the correct answer was.

Is there a way we can "flag" the correct answer, which would then be included as the second post of the thread, after the OP? In effect:
OP
Correct answer
Thread continues as normal

If possible, the correct answer would also stay in-thread, maybe with a different colored background. For a post to be "promoted," there should be a set number of "votes," and an admin (Warren or otherwise) would have to approve the promotion -- nothing automatic. It shouldn't be used for any "opinion" threads, only for "what's the correct call?" threads. Multiple posts should have the ability to be promoted, in case one user gives the OBR answer while others give NCAA or Fed answers.

I know Warren has talked about new forum software, so it would be better to wait for it. I'm sure we can find a modification for the software that will work with my thought, maybe with a bit of tweaking.

You make some very good points here, but I think that this sort of thing isn't limited just to new umpires.
There have been plenty of examples made here of (allegedly) "veteran" umpires who simply refuse to see that mechanics, or rules and the like have changed over the years, but those same "veterans" have refused to change the way they work. It's the "I've always done it this way" routine. Quite often, these "veterans" are the guys that went to "a" clinic - doesn't matter to them that it might have been 10 years ago - they think that they know what they're doing... after all, "no one has complained". (Maybe the potential complainers have simply given up, considering it a lost cause). You know the type I'm talking about - we've all worked with that guy. Trouble is, he's the type of guy that will rarely give himself a self-assessment, let alone take constructive criticism from... anyone.

Hopefully a flag system can help both the new and the old umpires.

Like Jim Evans so often says:

Quote

You know 'Charlie', don't you? Charlie's that guy who will always remind you that he's got 20 years' experience. Or is it 1 year of experience 20 times?

[Umpire in Chief]

I love the idea and will see what I can do. I'll have to think about how to make it work and also assure what we flag as correct is indeed correct.

The issue I see, which I think we can overcome, is that everybody thinks they are right. I don't think this is done out of vanity, but just the combination of their beliefs, experience and training. But we all know I'm the one who's right all the time, unless my wife is around.

Add to that there is more than one instance where the interpretations from very credible sources differ.

This is something I think will be great, I just need to figure out how to make it work and still be credible.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[mstaylor]

Warren,
I would be happy to do the grading because you know I'm never wrong.

[yawetag]

Umpire in Chief said:

The issue I see, which I think we can overcome, is that everybody thinks they are right.

It's one thing to differ on a mechanic, which we would have to be VERY careful on "approving," than to differ on a rule that's written in black-and-white. The point of the idea isn't to have a "correct" answer in every thread that has a question -- only the ones that have a consensus "correct" answer. This may take 200 posts to get to, or it may be the 2nd post on the thread, but it has to be accepted as THE correct answer.

If there's differing opinion, whether it's by ruleset or authoritative opinion, then both get the nod -- as long as people agree that it's correct.

I don't want this to be a pissing match or a popularity contest -- I want it to help umpires.

[BrianC14]

yawetag said:

It's one thing to differ on a mechanic, which we would have to be VERY careful on "approving," than to differ on a rule that's written in black-and-white. The point of the idea isn't to have a "correct" answer in every thread that has a question -- only the ones that have a consensus "correct" answer. This may take 200 posts to get to, or it may be the 2nd post on the thread, but it has to be accepted as THE correct answer.

If there's differing opinion, whether it's by ruleset or authoritative opinion, then both get the nod -- as long as people agree that it's correct.

I don't want this to be a pissing match or a popularity contest -- I want it to help umpires.

Good point - - another issue that would have to be overcome is where some folks just love to add twists to an original posts - - often to the point where the 'twists' bear no resemblance to the original question posed.

[Thunderheads]

I think it's a great idea.

How many times (signaling balls and strikes for example) ..where a simple post goes on for days and pages and pages for no reason ......a "correct answer" post could help this....I like it:yippie:

[Ros@]

Umpire in Chief said:

But we all know I'm the one who's right all the time, unless my wife is around.

HOW I LOVE IT, when a man is honest!

[BrianC14]

Ros@ said:

HOW I LOVE IT, when a man is honest!

Don't tell me you've never heard of this:

[mstaylor]

I had never heard that, that was great. I just have to make sure my wife doesn't hear it.

[Thunderheads]

[Ros@]

BrianC14 said:

Don't tell me you've never heard of this:

I won't tell... but you sure made my day....
I can't stop laughing...

WHAT A SONG!