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Rule #1

Pacers Digest is intended to be a place to discuss basketball without having to deal with the kinds of behaviors or attitudes that distract people from sticking with the discussion of the topics at hand. These unwanted distractions can come in many forms, and admittedly it can sometimes be tricky to pin down each and every kind that can rear its ugly head, but we feel that the following examples and explanations cover at least a good portion of that ground and should at least give people a pretty good idea of the kinds of things we actively discourage:

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We also dissuade passive aggressive behavior. This can be various things, but common examples include statements that are basically meant to imply someone is either stupid or otherwise incapable of holding a rational conversation. This can include (but is not limited to) laughing at someone's conclusions rather than offering an honest rebuttal, asking people what game they were watching, or another common problem is Poster X will say "that player isn't that bad" and then Poster Y will say something akin to "LOL you think that player is good". We're not going to tolerate those kinds of comments out of respect for the community at large and for the sake of trying to just have an honest conversation.

Now, does the above cover absolutely every single kind of distraction that is unwanted? Probably not, but you should by now have a good idea of the general types of things we will be discouraging. The above examples are meant to give you a good feel for / idea of what we're looking for. If something new or different than the above happens to come along and results in the same problem (that being, any other attitude or behavior that ultimately distracts from actually just discussing the topic at hand, or that is otherwise disrespectful to other posters), we can and we will take action to curb this as well, so please don't take this to mean that if you managed to technically avoid saying something exactly like one of the above examples that you are then somehow off the hook.

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In any case, quite frankly, the overall quality and health of the entire forum's community is more important than any one troublesome user will ever be, regardless of exactly how a problem is exhibiting itself, and if it comes down to us having to make a choice between you versus the greater health and happiness of the entire community, the community of this forum will win every time.

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If you see a problem that we haven't addressed, the best and most appropriate course for a forum member to take here is to look over to the left of the post in question. See underneath that poster's name, avatar, and other info, down where there's a little triangle with an exclamation point (!) in it? Click that. That allows you to report the post to the admins so we can definitely notice it and give it a look to see what we feel we should do about it. Beyond that, obviously it's human nature sometimes to want to speak up to the poster in question who has bothered you, but we would ask that you try to refrain from doing so because quite often what happens is two or more posters all start going back and forth about the original offending post, and suddenly the entire thread is off topic or otherwise derailed. So while the urge to police it yourself is understandable, it's best to just report it to us and let us handle it. Thank you!

All of the above is going to be subject to a case by case basis, but generally and broadly speaking, this should give everyone a pretty good idea of how things will typically / most often be handled.

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If this is done the wrong way, those comments will be deleted, and if it's a repeating problem then it may also receive an infraction as well.

Rule #3

If a poster is bothering you, and an administrator has not or will not deal with that poster to the extent that you would prefer, you have a powerful tool at your disposal, one that has recently been upgraded and is now better than ever: The ability to ignore a user.

When you ignore a user, you will unfortunately still see some hints of their existence (nothing we can do about that), however, it does the following key things:

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Rule #4

Regarding infractions, currently they carry a value of one point each, and that point will expire in 31 days. If at any point a poster is carrying three points at the same time, that poster will be suspended until the oldest of the three points expires.

Rule #5

When you share or paste content or articles from another website, you must include the URL/link back to where you found it, who wrote it, and what website it's from. Said content will be removed if this doesn't happen.

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If I copy and paste an article from the Indianapolis Star website, I would post something like this:

http://www.linktothearticlegoeshere.com/article
Title of the Article
Author's Name
Indianapolis Star

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The legal means of watching or listening to NBA games are NBA League Pass Broadband (for US, or for International; both cost money) and NBA Audio League Pass (which is free). Look for them on NBA.com.

Rule #7

Provocative statements in a signature, or as an avatar, or as the 'tagline' beneath a poster's username (where it says 'Member' or 'Administrator' by default, if it is not altered) are an unwanted distraction that will more than likely be removed on sight. There can be shades of gray to this, but in general this could be something political or religious that is likely going to provoke or upset people, or otherwise something that is mean-spirited at the expense of a poster, a group of people, or a population.

It may or may not go without saying, but this goes for threads and posts as well, particularly when it's not made on the off-topic board (Market Square).

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However, once the discussion seems to be more/mostly about the political issues instead of the sports figure or his specific situation, the thread is usually closed.

Rule #8

We prefer self-restraint and/or modesty when making jokes or off topic comments in a sports discussion thread. They can be fun, but sometimes they derail or distract from a topic, and we don't want to see that happen. If we feel it is a problem, we will either delete or move those posts from the thread.

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Generally speaking, we try to be a "PG-13" rated board, and we don't want to see sexual content or similarly suggestive content. Vulgarity is a more muddled issue, though again we prefer things to lean more towards "PG-13" than "R". If we feel things have gone too far, we will step in.

Rule #10

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Rule #11

Do not advertise anything without talking about it with the administrators first. This includes advertising with your signature, with your avatar, through private messaging, and/or by making a thread or post.
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Orton to Start for Chicago

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  • Orton to Start for Chicago

    Looks like it's gone full circle:

    http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10522771

    LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Another quarterback switch for the floundering Chicago Bears.

    Kyle Orton, who started 15 games as a rookie in 2005, returned to the role ahead of veteran Brian Griese on Monday.

    Orton, who hasn't played since the season finale two years ago, will start next Monday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings in the Metrodome. His last start came on the same field on Jan. 1, 2006 when Minnesota beat Chicago 34-10. The Bears had already clinched a division title.

    Orton was a shaky 6-for-14 for 59 yards with no touchdowns or turnovers before yielding to Jeff Blake in the fourth quarter of that game.

    He's not thrown a regular-season pass since and has been primarily Chicago's third-team quarterback who runs the opponents' plays in practice.

    "I think everybody knows that I've been frustrated and haven't liked my role, but it's what it was and I tried to make the best of it and now my job's just to focus on the future and try to play well and let everything work itself out," Orton said Monday.

    "I think I've changed as a player and as a person. I've matured. I've been in the system now for three years. I feel very comfortable with it. ... I think I'm a better player now than I was when I was a rookie."

    With the Bears out of the playoff picture at 5-8, with Rex Grossman expected to miss the rest of the season with a sprained knee ligament from Thursday's loss to the Redskins, coach Lovie Smith decided to go with Orton.

    "Brian has done a lot of good things, but I just think it's just time to see exactly what Kyle can do," Smith said, adding that the Bears were not using the final three games as an evaluation for 2008.

    And even though Orton will certainly be rusty and Griese has played well at times and not so well at others, Smith said that Orton would give the Bears the best chance to win in one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL against one of the league's most opportune defenses.

    Orton, a fourth-round pick out of Purdue, was 10-5 as a starter in 2005. Grossman, who was also injured most of that season, returned to start a regular-season win at Green Bay and then a loss to Carolina in the playoffs.

    Now Orton has another chance. How long it lasts is not certain. Smith wouldn't say if Orton would start the final two games of the regular season against Green Bay and New Orleans.

    Griese has completed 61.5 percent of his passes for 1,803 yards with 10 TD passes and 12 interceptions this season. Orton said Griese had been a mentor, who probably expected the switch.

    "He was in there watching film with me this morning. He's been integral, and I just hope to build off of everything that he's taught me," Orton said.

    "I think with the situation with our team -- where we're at right now -- I think he had an idea it was coming. It was something we had talked about personally. We haven't really talked a whole lot about the situation, but I think it's something that he in the back of his head knew was coming," Orton said.

    Griese replaced a struggling Grossman as the starter after the third game of the season. But after Griese hurt his left shoulder in a game at Oakland on Nov.11, Grossman relieved and threw a go-ahead TD pass and then won his starting job back for the next four games before he was hurt again against the Redskins.

    Griese replaced Grossman and threw a pair of interceptions while finishing 21-for-45 for 295 yards.

    Notes
    DTs Anthony Adams (triceps) and Antonio Garay (fractured lower leg) were put on injured reserve, leaving the Bears very thin on the defensive front. And DT Darwin Walker was walking around the locker room Monday with his left arm in a sling after hurting his elbow. The Bears promoted DT Babatunde Oshinowo from the practice squad.

    AP NEWS
    The Associated Press News Service
    The poster formerly known as Rimfire

  • #2
    Re: Orton to Start for Chicago

    Oh joy. Rex Grossman-lite. I can hardly wait.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Orton to Start for Chicago

      Orton may not have that big Elway type arm, but he does what the Bears need. He can manage the game and not turn the ball over.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Orton to Start for Chicago

        He wasn't too bad for his rookie season so why not give him a shot. It's been two years, he could of improved drastically. I hope it works out for them, because I don't want them to waste the next 5 years when they go after the washed up McNabb.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Orton to Start for Chicago

          Originally posted by jeffg-body View Post
          Orton may not have that big Elway type arm, but he does what the Bears need. He can manage the game and not turn the ball over.
          Who will win the game for them then? Certainly not their defense. The Vikings are going to shred the Bears on MNF because they have absolutely no interior DLine depth whatsoever. ADP and Taylor are going to rack up at least 250+ rushing yards on them.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Orton to Start for Chicago

            Originally posted by Moses View Post
            Who will win the game for them then? Certainly not their defense. The Vikings are going to shred the Bears on MNF because they have absolutely no interior DLine depth whatsoever. ADP and Taylor are going to rack up at least 250+ rushing yards on them.
            The bears still have a very strong defense. Their offense is so bad it hinders their defense drastically because they are out on the field so much. You see it with many teams: The Packers for example last year their defense was horrible, right? Now they are all of a sudden a good-great defense. Why? Because Last year their offense would come out and throw 3 passes no more then 4 minutes of real time and the defense is still huffing a puffing on the side line. That is exactly what the Bears are doing.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Orton to Start for Chicago

              Originally posted by BoomBaby31 View Post
              The bears still have a very strong defense. Their offense is so bad it hinders their defense drastically because they are out on the field so much. You see it with many teams: The Packers for example last year their defense was horrible, right? Now they are all of a sudden a good-great defense. Why? Because Last year their offense would come out and throw 3 passes no more then 4 minutes of real time and the defense is still huffing a puffing on the side line. That is exactly what the Bears are doing.
              Sorry, but no. Living in Chicago I take an interest in rooting for whoever the Bears are playing, and I've seen all their games this year. They have a downright pitiful defense, period. They can't defend the run anymore because the formerly strong middle of their defense is either no longer on the team or injured (Alphonso Boone, Tank Johnson, Ian Scott, Tommie Harris, Brian Urlacher). They can't defend the pass because the one good pass defender at safety has played a total of 2 games in 2 seasons (Mike Brown.) They simply are not a good defense in any sense anymore.

              Also, I don't know where you get that Green Bay had a horrible defense last year. They had an excellent defense last year, and were well known for that. They have continued to play at the same level this year that they have the last 3 years.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Orton to Start for Chicago

                Originally posted by BoomBaby31 View Post
                The bears still have a very strong defense. Their offense is so bad it hinders their defense drastically because they are out on the field so much. You see it with many teams: The Packers for example last year their defense was horrible, right? Now they are all of a sudden a good-great defense. Why? Because Last year their offense would come out and throw 3 passes no more then 4 minutes of real time and the defense is still huffing a puffing on the side line. That is exactly what the Bears are doing.
                The Bears defense was pretty good last year..but injuries and a decline in the players overall skill has obviously taken place. The Bears offense was just as inept last year as they were this year so that argument makes no sense. The Packers defense on the other hand was already a very young defense and the players just got another year under their belt. Having a CB tandem of Al Harris and Charles Woodson also helps.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Orton to Start for Chicago

                  I've said it before earlier this year. Orton will have a better overall career when it's all said and done than Grossman OR Griese. I stand by that comment.
                  Dallas Clark>Tony Gonzalez

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Orton to Start for Chicago

                    I really wish the Bears didn't cut Chris Leak. He could have seen action this year too. Damn.
                    STARBURY

                    08 and Beyond

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Orton to Start for Chicago

                      Originally posted by Robertmto View Post
                      I really wish the Bears didn't cut Chris Leak. He could have seen action this year too. Damn.
                      I watched Florida quite a bit while Leak was in college and I can tell you with full confidence he shouldn't be on any teams active roster. Maybe practice squad, but the guy is not very good. In fact, I'd say he's half as good as Grossman is.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Orton to Start for Chicago

                        I hate Chris Leak almost as much as I hate Tim Tebow. ****in ******** taking the Buckeyes NC....

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Orton to Start for Chicago

                          Originally posted by BoomBaby31 View Post
                          The bears still have a very strong defense. Their offense is so bad it hinders their defense drastically because they are out on the field so much. You see it with many teams: The Packers for example last year their defense was horrible, right? Now they are all of a sudden a good-great defense. Why? Because Last year their offense would come out and throw 3 passes no more then 4 minutes of real time and the defense is still huffing a puffing on the side line. That is exactly what the Bears are doing.
                          The Bears defense is BAD this season. It was "very strong" for maybe the first two weeks, that is it.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Orton to Start for Chicago

                            Originally posted by Isaac View Post
                            I hate Chris Leak almost as much as I hate Tim Tebow. ****in ******** taking the Buckeyes NC....
                            STARBURY

                            08 and Beyond

                            Comment

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