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Whether your are a long standing forum member or whether you have just registered today, it's a good idea to read and review the rules below so that you have a very good idea of what to expect when you come to Pacers Digest.

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Below are the rules of Pacers Digest. After you have read them, you will have a very good sense of where we are coming from, what we expect, what we don't want to see, and how we react to things.

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:

"Anyone who __________ is a liar / a fool / an idiot / a blind homer / has their head buried in the sand / a blind hater / doesn't know basketball / doesn't watch the games"

"People with intelligence will agree with me when I say that __________"

"Only stupid people think / believe / do ___________"

"I can't wait to hear something from PosterX when he/she sees that **insert a given incident or current event that will have probably upset or disappointed PosterX here**"

"He/she is just delusional"

"This thread is stupid / worthless / embarrassing"

"I'm going to take a moment to point and / laugh at PosterX / GroupOfPeopleY who thought / believed *insert though/belief here*"

"Remember when PosterX said OldCommentY that no longer looks good? "

In general, if a comment goes from purely on topic to something 'ad hominem' (personal jabs, personal shots, attacks, flames, however you want to call it, towards a person, or a group of people, or a given city/state/country of people), those are most likely going to be found intolerable.

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.

That all having been said, our goal is to do so in a generally kind and respectful way, and that doesn't mean the moment we see something we don't like that somebody is going to be suspended or banned, either. It just means that at the very least we will probably say something about it, quite possibly snipping out the distracting parts of the post in question while leaving alone the parts that are actually just discussing the topics, and in the event of a repeating or excessive problem, then we will start issuing infractions to try to further discourage further repeat problems, and if it just never seems to improve, then finally suspensions or bans will come into play. We would prefer it never went that far, and most of the time for most of our posters, it won't ever have to.

A slip up every once and a while is pretty normal, but, again, when it becomes repetitive or excessive, something will be done. Something occasional is probably going to be let go (within reason), but when it starts to become habitual or otherwise a pattern, odds are very good that we will step in.

There's always a small minority that like to push people's buttons and/or test their own boundaries with regards to the administrators, and in the case of someone acting like that, please be aware that this is not a court of law, but a private website run by people who are simply trying to do the right thing as they see it. If we feel that you are a special case that needs to be dealt with in an exceptional way because your behavior isn't explicitly mirroring one of our above examples of what we generally discourage, we can and we will take atypical action to prevent this from continuing if you are not cooperative with us.

Also please be aware that you will not be given a pass simply by claiming that you were 'only joking,' because quite honestly, when someone really is just joking, for one thing most people tend to pick up on the joke, including the person or group that is the target of the joke, and for another thing, in the event where an honest joke gets taken seriously and it upsets or angers someone, the person who is truly 'only joking' will quite commonly go out of his / her way to apologize and will try to mend fences. People who are dishonest about their statements being 'jokes' do not do so, and in turn that becomes a clear sign of what is really going on. It's nothing new.

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.

Lastly, there are also some posters, who are generally great contributors and do not otherwise cause any problems, who sometimes feel it's their place to provoke or to otherwise 'mess with' that small minority of people described in the last paragraph, and while we possibly might understand why you might feel you WANT to do something like that, the truth is we can't actually tolerate that kind of behavior from you any more than we can tolerate the behavior from them. So if we feel that you are trying to provoke those other posters into doing or saying something that will get themselves into trouble, then we will start to view you as a problem as well, because of the same reason as before: The overall health of the forum comes first, and trying to stir the pot with someone like that doesn't help, it just makes it worse. Some will simply disagree with this philosophy, but if so, then so be it because ultimately we have to do what we think is best so long as it's up to us.

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.

Rule #2

If the actions of an administrator inspire you to make a comment, criticism, or express a concern about it, there is a wrong place and a couple of right places to do so.

The wrong place is to do so in the original thread in which the administrator took action. For example, if a post gets an infraction, or a post gets deleted, or a comment within a larger post gets clipped out, in a thread discussing Paul George, the wrong thing to do is to distract from the discussion of Paul George by adding your off topic thoughts on what the administrator did.

The right places to do so are:

A) Start a thread about the specific incident you want to talk about on the Feedback board. This way you are able to express yourself in an area that doesn't throw another thread off topic, and this way others can add their two cents as well if they wish, and additionally if there's something that needs to be said by the administrators, that is where they will respond to it.

B) Send a private message to the administrators, and they can respond to you that way.

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:

A) Any post they make will be completely invisible as you scroll through a thread.

B) The new addition to this feature: If someone QUOTES a user you are ignoring, you do not have to read who it was, or what that poster said, unless you go out of your way to click on a link to find out who it is and what they said.

To utilize this feature, from any page on Pacers Digest, scroll to the top of the page, look to the top right where it says 'Settings' and click that. From the settings page, look to the left side of the page where it says 'My Settings', and look down from there until you see 'Edit Ignore List' and click that. From here, it will say 'Add a Member to Your List...' Beneath that, click in the text box to the right of 'User Name', type in or copy & paste the username of the poster you are ignoring, and once their name is in the box, look over to the far right and click the 'Okay' button. All done!

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.

An example:

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

Rule #6

We cannot tolerate illegal videos on Pacers Digest. This means do not share any links to them, do not mention any websites that host them or link to them, do not describe how to find them in any way, and do not ask about them. Posts doing anything of the sort will be removed, the offenders will be contacted privately, and if the problem becomes habitual, you will be suspended, and if it still persists, you will probably be banned.

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).

We do make exceptions if we feel the content is both innocuous and unlikely to cause social problems on the forum (such as wishing someone a Merry Christmas or a Happy Easter), and we also also make exceptions if such topics come up with regards to a sports figure (such as the Lance Stephenson situation bringing up discussions of domestic abuse and the law, or when Jason Collins came out as gay and how that lead to some discussion about gay rights).

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.

Rule #9

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

We like small signatures, not big signatures. The bigger the signature, the more likely it is an annoying or distracting signature.

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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Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten?

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  • #46
    Re: Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten?

    In all of this the only two schools who weren't already within a Big Ten state that I would have been ok (but not thrilled) with adding were Mizzou and Kansas. They are the only two schools I can really look at and say, "Yes, they would fit in the Big Ten." Nebraska, I don't know, they really seem to fit better with Texas and Oklahoma. Maryland, ACC all the way. Rutgers, might as well be located in Hawaii as far as I am concerned.

    Anyways it is really a shame all this is happening, but I understand in this world greed is more important than tradition.

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    • #47
      Re: Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten?

      It's just going to be 4 super conferences of 16 eventually, and you better be in one of them or you're screwed for anything football. Basketball is just an after-thought to most every major university, and I agree, Duke (and UNC in an attached deal) need to find a spot and go before they're left behind. North Carolina is going to make the decision out of the two because they at least try to field football teams, where Duke doesn't really.

      It'll be Pac 12, SEC, Big 10, and Big 12 for football where the ACC and Big East are going to fall apart or the mainly basketball only schools go there.
      "It's just unfortunate that we've been penalized so much this year and nothing has happened to the Pistons, the Palace or the city of Detroit," he said. "It's almost like it's always our fault. The league knows it. They should be ashamed of themselves to let the security be as lax as it is around here."

      ----------------- Reggie Miller

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      • #48
        Re: Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten?

        I agree it's going to wind up being 4 16 team conferences, that's pretty obvious really. I understand why people don't want it, but you better get with it or be cool with the Big 10 becoming a second tier conference. Bigger conference = more money = better sports. Well better resources at least. Better option than taking revenue from the academic side.

        And when that happens I'm going to start dreaming that they tell the NCAA to go screw itself and start their own governing body.
        Last edited by Heisenberg; 11-21-2012, 05:27 AM.

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        • #49
          Re: Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten?

          I think the ACC and Big 12 will end up doing some form of merging after their current members do the dance with the "major" players (Big Ten, SEC, Pac-12). I could still see the Pac-12 adding Texas, Oklahoma, and another two Big 12 teams, while the SEC poaches Florida State and another ACC team. The Big Ten, now that I think about it, will probably end up with Georgia Tech (perfect fit on paper with this madness: access to a big market we currently aren't in [ATL], member of AAU, gives us a recruiting pipeline to the South, which is key for football recruiting especially) and a team like Virginia.

          UNC, if they so insist upon being a package deal with Duke, is going to get left out of this dance. If they are willing to throw away their rivalry with Duke, then they would be a no-brainer addition for the Big Ten along with GA Tech.

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          • #50
            Re: Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten?

            Originally posted by Heisenberg View Post
            I agree it's going to wind up being 4 16 team conferences, that's pretty obvious really. I understand why people don't want it, but you better get with it or be cool with the Big 10 becoming a second tier conference. Bigger conference = more money = better sports. Well better resources at least. Better option than taking revenue from the academic side.

            And when that happens I'm going to start dreaming that they tell the NCAA to go screw itself and start their own governing body.
            First of all, I completely agree with your last sentence. Let's hope that happens.

            However, I don't think there will be 4 16 team conferences. The Big Ten and SEC are the rulers of this next stage of realignment. And remember, this is about money and geography. Which is why there is NO CHANCE Florida State, Miami (Florida), Georgia Tech, or Clemson will be joining the SEC. They have those markets. And don't forget, the on-field product doesn't matter as much as the geography and the markets you can bring to the conferences. The Big Ten got Maryland and Rutgers for their markets, not for their on-field products.

            The reason I think there won't be 4 16 team conferences is because there is no logical teams for the Pac-12 to add. The Pac-12 and Big Ten will send their champs to the Rose Bowl. The Big 12 and SEC will send their champs to the Sugar Bowl (in 2 years). That matters. If the Big 12 is smart and proactive, they'll reach out to Florida State and Clemson soon, bringing those programs to a football conference from a basketball conference. It makes more sense, IMO, for both schools, if they can afford to leave. Then, if they get those schools, they can offer the same deal to Notre Dame that the ACC did.

            I think Virginia Tech ends up in the SEC. And if North Carolina wants to leave Duke, the SEC will grab them as well. If not, they'll take North Carolina State.

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            • #51
              Re: Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten?

              By the way the Big Ten has a rule that many of you seem to be ignoring. For a school to join the Big Ten they either have to be in a state with a Big Ten school already or be in a state that touches a state with a Big Ten school. Georgia Tech and Texas will not be joining the Big Ten. In order for UNC to join there first must be a Virginia school that joins.

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              • #52
                Re: Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten?

                Originally posted by Eleazar View Post
                By the way the Big Ten has a rule that many of you seem to be ignoring. For a school to join the Big Ten they either have to be in a state with a Big Ten school already or be in a state that touches a state with a Big Ten school. Georgia Tech and Texas will not be joining the Big Ten. In order for UNC to join there first must be a Virginia school that joins.
                Do you really think that would stop them? I am guessing that is more of a guideline than a rule.

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                • #53
                  Re: Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten?

                  Originally posted by cdash View Post
                  Do you really think that would stop them? I am guessing that is more of a guideline than a rule.
                  It's a talking point and nothing more. And it'll stop being one as soon as the "rule" is broken, just like Nebraska and the AAU. I know Nebraska was a member, and the only reason they still aren't is basically a technicality (med school's a "separate campus" or something), but the fact remains.

                  I don't really know what it's based on, rumors and innuendo I'm sure so grain of salt and all, but there's more than a handful of ACC fans that genuinely think the conference is going to collapse. They seem to think if the Big Ten wants UNC and UVA/GT they're good as gone.

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                  • #54
                    Re: Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten?

                    Originally posted by Heisenberg View Post
                    It's a talking point and nothing more. And it'll stop being one as soon as the "rule" is broken, just like Nebraska and the AAU. I know Nebraska was a member, and the only reason they still aren't is basically a technicality (med school's a "separate campus" or something), but the fact remains.

                    I don't really know what it's based on, rumors and innuendo I'm sure so grain of salt and all, but there's more than a handful of ACC fans that genuinely think the conference is going to collapse. They seem to think if the Big Ten wants UNC and UVA/GT they're good as gone.
                    I was surprised that the Big Ten didn't go after Missouri when they were ripe for the picking....

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                    • #55
                      Re: Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten?

                      Originally posted by OlBlu View Post
                      I was surprised that the Big Ten didn't go after Missouri when they were ripe for the picking....
                      Mizzou brings nothing to the table other than being another body. It wouldn't be much different than the Big Ten going after Purdue except with lesser academics.

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                      • #56
                        Re: Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten?

                        Originally posted by Heisenberg View Post
                        It's a talking point and nothing more. And it'll stop being one as soon as the "rule" is broken, just like Nebraska and the AAU. I know Nebraska was a member, and the only reason they still aren't is basically a technicality (med school's a "separate campus" or something), but the fact remains.

                        I don't really know what it's based on, rumors and innuendo I'm sure so grain of salt and all, but there's more than a handful of ACC fans that genuinely think the conference is going to collapse. They seem to think if the Big Ten wants UNC and UVA/GT they're good as gone.
                        If North Carolina leaves Duke, they will have their choice between the Big Ten and the SEC. My gut says they go with the SEC in order to remain with the south instead of the Midwest.

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                        • #57
                          Re: Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten?

                          Originally posted by shags View Post
                          If North Carolina leaves Duke, they will have their choice between the Big Ten and the SEC. My gut says they go with the SEC in order to remain with the south instead of the Midwest.
                          It's not Duke that UNC would be reluctant to leave behind--it's NC State.

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                          • #58
                            Re: Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten?

                            Originally posted by cdash View Post
                            It's not Duke that UNC would be reluctant to leave behind--it's NC State.
                            Why N.C. State over Duke? That makes no sense to me on the surface.

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                            • #59
                              Re: Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten?

                              Originally posted by shags View Post
                              Why N.C. State over Duke? That makes no sense to me on the surface.
                              The other massive public state school

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                              • #60
                                Re: Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten?

                                I don't think UNC will be that worried about NC State.


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