Thread: Do you think TBS.com is deadsville?

We want your feedback. Seriously. A couple somewhat random comments posted in threads and in the chatbox recently about tbs.com have some of us concerned, not to the point that we are going to tear the shit down and start over...but enough that we want to hit the eBrakes and get everyone's thoughts. Normal functioning couples need communication to continue on...if there is no highway of communication with a back and forth drenched in positive direction - then divorce happens, and we don't want to see anyone leaving because of communication breakdowns. At the end of the day, we'd like to say "we give it our best shot in maintaining all of our members satisfaction".

First off we'd like to say, we've noticed it to an extent. (more on that later)

Secondly, this site is member driven. Posts can be anything you can think of (except for porn). We don't overly mod threads because essentially that is you guys asking us to pick a winner and a loser during a heated debate - even when majority rules. It's what every message board has - which is someone that you don't know telling you not to do that. So we let discussions run rampant and we let the members dictate the pace. That is our core and what we believe sets this site apart from other sites.

Thirdly, you can't have your cake and eat it too. You can't go off on members or new members opinions - totally give them both barrels of your heated sports knowledge, expect them to take it and then be disgusted because there is no one posting. This is for you to decide, not us. Remember that the internet is two dimensional and sarcasm is absolutely lost if you don't know someone. Some of you are dicks, so we can't help that, but to those non-dicks who don't realize their post may come across difficult to gauge - give your post a once over before hitting the "submit" button. This is not directed any specific poster - because we've noticed it from everyone, we're just pointing it out that we all may need to do some soul searching.



With those three things said, I personally think that every member here has an above average knowledge of Buffalo sports - which quite fucking honestly - is being absolutely wasted on the current Buffalo Sports products.

Now, I'm not packing up the Billsvan and headed south mind you...but it's tough, like criminally tough to discuss the Buffalo Sabres right now. They haven't made significant roster moves since our 05-06 run, our owner peaced town because of some half assed "taxes suck" statement - and we haven't seen him since. We have a GM and coaching tandem that has been here for a decade - seriously, how much more can we discuss Regier's draft steals and his contract woes? Which leads us to Lindy: We both revere and fear him - however, we've also beaten his coaching style to death.

But they are winning...holy crap, how can they be winning?

Which leaves us to our current Sabres squad...

This season is so hanging by a thread in some of our eyes. We have a winning record and pretty much are on pace to make the playoffs. Yet, we are all smart enough to know that there are some inherent issues with this team. On paper, they can make a serious run - however what they show us game in and game out is a tendency to not show up when we need it most - and I think we are all a little tired of that. This team doesn't have an underdog feel to it - rather we have a height of expectation. They've shown us they can win...but they just can't do it all the time - and it seems we've racked our brains discussing the "why". The playoffs are getting closer and closer...

Now, it just feels like we are in the Sabres Fan passenger seat...loving the speedy ride but also knowing the inevitable cliff is just right around the corner.

The Bills of course, thankfully went through some serious change lately - are rebuilding again and we fully expect that discussion to heat up right at draft time.


To let you know, we are planning on renewing tbs.com this year in April - and I don't see why we'd ever stop renewing and giving you guys all a place to hang out. That was the whole reason we started this place - so we could just meet up for a couple minutes a day, cheer on our teams, get into some thoughtful discussion and most importantly - be together.

So please, post up in the feedback section if you have some positive change that you'd like to see here. Thanks!

AF... what are you really looking for? non gamers responses to the shoutbox being all about vids?

Quite honestly, we had a video game that just came out recently and that excitement trumped the current signing of Klopfenstein. I know, I know - how could it?

But seriously, this site was also founded on video games - because that is what a majority of us have been into and spurned us to meet up in real life because of, whether it be the soulcrushers or our FPS battlebuddies.

For some that aren't into the vids, I can't promise that we can keep vid (short for video game) discussion out of the chat. The chat is for all sorts of discussion so it will always be geared toward what members feel like talking about at the time. Whether it's punching people out in Cleveland, getting wasted on St. Patty's day parades, drinking bloody mary's and remembering the good times, vids, sports, television, music, movies - it's whatever you want to talk about...and what any one else wants to contribute to your discussion. If you want to talk about something, that no one else is feeling - we can't make them talk to you. I know, weird, right?

Half the shit I come up with or rambling in that chatbox that I do gets ignored...but I just push on. That's the beauty and curse of the chatbox.

Some times the best discussions come out of the most off the wall comments - so troll it up out there and see what discussions get started.

Just thinking of the peeps that recently join that want to talk sports... The vids chat can seem overwhelming and bored. especially in the light of all the recent 'joinees' the site has had.

We would love for every member to stay. We aren't about pure numbers and ego driven high fives over our monthly membership numbers - if we were, we might have killed ourselves already.

We've all said in the past, and it holds true today: As long as current membership is happy - we are absolutely fine with not getting another single member. That's what we really want to stress here - that everyone that has been with us since the beginning is happy. We want to keep you happy.

Everyone keeps coming back here for a reason - and I think that's because "they" get it.

I have used Jim Rome as an example because it's the closest thing that others might get:

If you miss a week or two of a Rome show - you get absolutely lost because of all of the "inside" comments that have been made during your absence go right over your head. This can happen here as well.

We've had complaints from new members because our chatbox can be all over the place, but again, as much as we value new membership and are thankful - we value current members more.

Now, if you personally feel that new members means a fresher perspective on Buffalo sports and that's what you want more of...then take it upon yourself to shoot a new member a PM saying "hi". Introduce yourself, take a moment to clarify or let someone in on a joke...something that could take a couple seconds could go a long way in making someone feel a part of this thing we call TBS.

Admins already do this, but our members taking this step would probably encourage new members to stick around.

Then no problem... wanna play vids tonight? Ass munch is in and douchebag will play as long as his vagina doesn't hurt. we';; be on at 7 but tongued anoose can't make it till 7:30...

LOL

At times, we are like a fine boxed wine here at TBS sukie, only those that are used to sniffing the screw caps can really understand and appreciate.

so you're saying this place is getting a bit stale?

that's what happens during this time of year in sports. baseball (which doesn't really get talked about anyways) is still in spring training. The Bandits is too low profile to get much attention. The draft hasn't come yet. The Sabres are still working on getting to the playoffs, which by the way, they did absolutely dick at the trade deadline. Torres ain't staying in Buffalo after this year.

However, the fucking tourney is upon us and Buffalo landed some good games in the first round (CUSE!).

I'm not sure if it's already been done, but perhaps a TBS bracket challenge could be fun. I don't know a hell of a lot about college basketball. But there are guys here who do follow it some and maybe not for this year, but next year, some of us could put together a bracket guide.

I know I'm taking off from work Thursday to watch a full slate of ball. I'll be on TBS musing my thoughts on the games.

So what can we do to make it better?

Originally Posted by Patrick!

The new layout coupled with school kicking into high gear did it for me, it seems to be a lot slower and harder to post, and the shoutbox is slower and the idle feature blows.

FWIW, every thread on the board rapidly descends into one of 4 things and it makes the place boring:

1. BF19: Ohh look I think the opposite of what everybody thinks! Let's argue about something pointless and obvious for 2 pages and I'll use a bunch of random ass words!

2. LALA: Look, contact! That should have been let go, I KNOW CAUSE I PLAYED FOOTBALL RAWR! If you don't like it wipe the sand out of your vag and go play soccer! PS Stats are irrelevant and for pussies unless I brought them up then they're the only thing in the argument that matters!

3. pigpen v. Thumper and Mavaius

4. Andrew Peters

Those are just my random thoughts, the new layout and the repetitiveness have really taken the edge off for me.

That's pretty funny. A caricature, but funny.

I think this place is fine. It gets slow at certain times of year, and this is one of them; the dog-days of the overly long NHL season, the Sabres annual February swoon, the Bills doing nothing in Free Agency,etc etc etc. Things should pick up once the playoffs get closer. It's been so long since we've had playoff hockey here - TBS didn't even exist last time the Sabres saw the playoffs.

It just gets a little annoying (and I think this may have been what Thumper's original comment was alluding to) that some people get annoyed when an actual conversation breaks out. The Pigpen stuff for instance; I think he's an invaluable poster, because he actually has a lot of divergent opinions that spur real disagreement and conversation. Not everything he starts or contributes to turns into a mud-fight over Ruff, but people just seem to assume that when they see a thread he's started and/or has contributed heavily to.

I think disagreement and argument can be refreshing and interesting when it doesn't devolve into simple name-calling. It's a hell of a lot more interesting than a thread full of jerking-off smilies. In fact, the smilies would be my main beef with the content here. They're overused, and often serve as a substitute for actual conversation.

Originally Posted by Patrick!

The new layout coupled with school kicking into high gear did it for me, it seems to be a lot slower and harder to post, and the shoutbox is slower and the idle feature blows.

FWIW, every thread on the board rapidly descends into one of 4 things and it makes the place boring:

1. BF19: Ohh look I think the opposite of what everybody thinks! Let's argue about something pointless and obvious for 2 pages and I'll use a bunch of random ass words!

2. LALA: Look, contact! That should have been let go, I KNOW CAUSE I PLAYED FOOTBALL RAWR! If you don't like it wipe the sand out of your vag and go play soccer! PS Stats are irrelevant and for pussies unless I brought them up then they're the only thing in the argument that matters!

3. pigpen v. Thumper and Mavaius

4. Andrew Peters

Those are just my random thoughts, the new layout and the repetitiveness have really taken the edge off for me.

yeah, when you got a small number of posters, repetitiveness can be a problem. That's where new members really shine because they can bring a fresh take to a tired discussion. Fortunately, for every tow the line poster here, you got guys that will keep it interesting.

I tend to agree with Mauvais...the smilies can be over bearing at times. Instead of posting a well thought out reply, some of the folks here go the JLB route and post a smilie that represents their feelings.

I'm not being fair. If I could remember half of the smilies you guys use, I'd use them too! Especially in the shoutbox, where if you know what the smilie means, then it's quicker to get the gist of the person than reading a two sentence shout. So smilies can work if used correctly as sort of a metaphor.

sukie, Patrick!, Mauvais, and Famous - all long standing members and extremely valuable opinions. I sincerely appreciate the feedback so far.

I want to make it clear that those that have pointed out that tbs.com is dead did a good thing by getting this discussion going.

Patrick!
I did start a thread about site layout in the feedback forums, I'll copy your comments there and the admins responsible will give you some insight.

We aren't going to tell members not to post their opinions...and it may seem like the same 4 posters, um...because it very well may BE the same 4 posters that contribute to every thread. I suggest watering everything down by throwing your two cents in the mix when you can Patrick!


I for one don't really check out other messageboards - so I just thought this was a lull across the Buffalo message boards.

We aren't going to out and out change things - but if an opinion hits a little close to home for some of you, we just ask that you take a second and not take it personal. I am a big proponent of smilie usage so I can't say shit about shit. Am I going to use smilies less? Not sure, but I'll think about it more.

A few things...

1) Since I quit vids I've noticed that I've had considerably less to contribute. That's my fault, not yours.

2) I've said this time and again, but the blurriness of the background image on the shoutbox gives me a headache. It makes me want to get off the site, pronto. If it's a design decision instead of a flaw, it's not a good design decision. Also, when I'm viewing the site on my 1920x1200 desktop, the image you have in the background just loops on itself, in the same way that a small image on a wallpaper would loop itself on a Windows 95 desktop background. Honestly guys, I think you did a great job with the site retooling, but that image must, must, MUST go.

3) I like thumper and I don't mind pigpen, but when every single discussion just turns into a shitshow between those two, it depresses contribution. Thumper cried foul since I came on for the first time in a week or so to tell him and pigpen to stop derailing every thread. "Why don't you contribute to a conversation instead of complaining for a change?" Well, if I don't want to contribute to the piling on of pigpen hivemind, which is what every conversation in the Sabres forum denigrates to, I'm not left with a whole lot of options. If I start a thread, pigpen and Thumper will find a way to bitch in it. If I contribute to an existing thread, it's already been hijacked with their bitching. It's fucking unbearable.

I totally agree with point #2 Jackson. We need to lose that blurry thing pronto.

I think my above post may have been unnecessarily harsh on Thump in particular. Let me try to explain my thoughts on the Sabres forum with an analogy.

Let's say all of TBS goes out to a bar together. We eat, we drink, we unsuccessfully hit on the wait staff. All is merry, except two of our group have spent the last 2 hours arguing with each other. It's abundantly clear that they care about winning the argument in the eyes of the other members of the group. At first, the group may listen intently and offer their perspective on who is right and who is wrong, but after a certain amount of time, every conversation, no matter how tangential to the argument, turns back to the argument. At some point, we don't care who's right and who's wrong. It's ceased to matter. We just want you to quit arguing so we can get back to the debauchery. This, my friends, is TBS. TBS is like a glorious amoral self-indulgent hangout spot, and we like all members of our group but would really like for a couple of them to give up the argument they've been having for the past forever.