I recommend that cheergyms shut down the "anonymous" board. Still have a general forum board, but make it like all the other boards, you have to post your name or it gets deleted. Let's see how brave the negative, hurtful posters are when they have to put down their name and own up to what they are saying and how hurtful and unsportsmanlike they are.
Isn't there a way that you have to "log on". I know Cheer Athletics message board is like that. You have to register and then you can only post using your registered name.
It doesn't stop people from being mean, but at least you know who is saying it.
Recommendation, since you're pushing for only posting using registered names, what is yours? Seems like now would have been a good time for you to use YOUR real name, to make your point.
I enjoy reading both the positive and what some would consider the negative on this message board. I don't read the other boards on cheergyms.com (the wish us good luck and the pats on the back) -- I'm more interested in general topics that give great advice, and topics that address issues that need to be brought up if we ever want to make any positive changes in this sport. You get more posts if you don't have to register, plain and simple. Most folks (emphasis on most) know what to weed out, what to ignore. And frankly, if it's just the positive you want, there are other places you can go on this site.
If we have to register, we might as well just go to whatisprox.com because I don't believe they remove posts they don't like. I don't think they have a moderator who states they'll delete posts just because they feel like it, although I could be wrong.
I always thought it was classy for cheergyms.com to open up their forum to whoever, without making everyone register. I think overall there have been more positive posts than negative, wouldn't you say? If you chase everyone away to whatisprox.com, cheergyms won't get the exposure they get now -- I've learned a lot about the organization, coaches, leadership from the anonymous board. And I have to say I have been impressed for the most part.
If I have to go elsewhere, I will. But I kinda like it here, even if sometimes people AREN"T exactly holding hands singing Kumbaya.
I think there is a difference of expressing your opinion and just being rude. There have been several people on this board who can be cruel and express rumors that are usually not true. This board is a great way of communication in terms of cheerleading news, but keep it informational and fun, versus abundantly rude.
There is no legitament way to prove who someone is on a message board. sure, you could register, and you could sign your name, but You could post as your friend, register as your friend, and be you. If I wanted to be incredibly rude and uncalled for, I could post some really bad things here on the message board and sign my name as Kyle and get Kyle in trouble, when in fact it was I, Bryan. And If you've ever posted with your real name (for maybe once in your life), yet continue to use anonymous names, Danny and Morton know who you are. Your IP address on your home computer shows up when you post a message. An IP address doesnt change, and usually the numbers (of the IP address) are very similiar between people who live around you. Granted, your next door neighbor could be an all star cheerleader also has a lot to say by keping their anonymity, but the chances could be slim.
Besides, people want to know who you are. I ALWAYS sign my name, and its not like people have attacked me for posting my opinions!
hoping you'll all sign your REAL names, Bryan Motions Large Coed
personally i think its a stupid "recommedation" if you dont like what is being said and are offended then dont look at the anonymous boards. if you didnt want to hear what people have to say then dont get on a message board... not everyone has a positive opinion but its an opinion... and thats mine. -Will
Well that maybe the case, but if the boards become to offensive, it woudln't be a surprise if they did shut them down. Jody already shut the CA message boards down.
I would hate to see this message board brought down like Cheer Athletics message board. I read both Cheeergyms and CAs message boards and they used to be great. But CA became very negative, cruel, vendictive, and very unsportsmanship towards teams. Now this one is following suite.
So I can very easily see this one being shut down too. People, if you want some place to post and read subjects on cheer, keep it civil. Or stay off so the rest of us can enjoy.
Unfortunatly some are cruel, but the heated discussions do keep our attention. Danny and Morton are great at keeping up with the really "bad" ones and taking them off. I for one, enjoy the heated discussions. I learn so much from everyone else and their opinions. I enjoy reading what others think ESPECIALLY the ones I DON'T agree with. Either I still don't agree AND/OR I learn something from them and change my mind!!! If we all agreed all the time, discussionswould be so boring!!!
No, I don't agree that the board should be shut down, even if it does get ugly. We all have so much to learn from each other. I think it's a WONDERFUL thing!!!! Keep arguing! This is what makes things better in the long run.
I have to agree with shutting down the anonymous section of this message board. The "heated discussions" have turned into HATEFUL AND SLANDEROUS remarks. In no way do I see that as something to learn from. There is nothing I want to learn from these mean people.
Yes, I like debates and discussions, but not the cruelty that has transpired on this site. This is not what Cheergyms.com is all about.
I have talked with MANY parents that won't read the message board anymore and won't let their kids read it either. I don't want my child to learn such negative and unsportsmanship behaviour.
Do you not let your child watch TV or read a book? The stuff that is said on this board should not be taken to seriously.. Everyone has there own opinion and there voice should be heard... I can see if there was a post that said Jane Doe on Team X sucks and should never cheer again.. then remove it.. No one should make fun of kids for at least trying.. but if it says that Team X sucks and this is why I think it does.. then let it stay on. maybe its true.. maybe its not.. but it is interesting to read.
Maybe there would be less anonymous replies if there was not retailiation against the cheerleader for the comments that the parent makes. Some of the comments, although negative, may be true. I think that most of the anger exhibited on this site is actually due to the frustration and helplessness of the consumer (the parents) not being able to change what is not tolerated in other types of businesses. It is a growing business and if people's feelings were not so hurt over a little critizism then the whole thing would be much more pleasant for everyone involed. In addition, I think that even though it may be said that "It is all about the kids", money drives any business. If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen! PS-There is no good to come from slandering anyone, especially the children.
Well, I understand not wanting to read mean things. No one wants to even hear mean things. But our children learn from our leadership and guidance and when these things are heard, said or read... it's our job to take that and make it a lesson in itself. Not reading it doesn't make it go away. But reading it, discussing it and then learning from it makes it a positive thing. That's what I meant by "learning from it."
I don't stop my daughter from reading the posts, posting or going on the internet. I don't want her to be looking at bad sites (you all know which ones I mean) but should she come upon one, I don't ban her from the computer just because it's out there. I talk to her about it.
Take the MySpace thing for instance. I could ban her from it because it is dangerous. I don't like it all too well myself. But instead of doing that, she has to let me have her password and I check it OFTEN. She is only allowed to add people that she knows IN PERSON already Then I went ahead and made one for myself and make sure that she and her friends know I am there, watching them. I don't say anything to them unless I find something troublesome. She is on the computer when I am home and I see her log on. It's nothing that is hidden here. She is allowed to go on there and she knows I pay attenttion to it. Maybe this can be the case for the posting on here. You would be surprised how many of her friends talk to me and ask me questions. It's become a wonderful tool in communication.
Instead of getting rid of the board, we have to be the parents and keep an eye on it. Yes, we have to parent the parents sometimes, but Danny and Morton are doing a fine job of that. And when something is wrong, they either smack you on the hand or send you to your room without dinner. Lesson learned.
So pretending it's not here by not reading it isn't the solution. Bad things don't go away by just closing your eyes and pretending it's non existant. But standing up for yourself, posting what you think, trying to make a difference in each other.... well, that's what this is about and what we all should remember to try to do. Your children WILL learn to be mean unless you teach them otherwise. Shutting down the board won't stop that.
