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The Rules of Pacers Digest

Hello everyone,

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.

A quick note to new members: Your posts will not immediately show up when you make them. An administrator has to approve at least your first post before the forum software will later upgrade your account to the status of a fully-registered member. This usually happens within a couple of hours or so after your post(s) is/are approved, so you may need to be a little patient at first.

Why do we do this? So that it's more difficult for spammers (be they human or robot) to post, and so users who are banned cannot immediately re-register and start dousing people with verbal flames.

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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Star article on Daniel Adongo

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  • Star article on Daniel Adongo

    Rugby star Daniel Adongo has put on 32 pounds and is ready to make his Colts debut this weekend on special teams. The Star has an article about him. Here's a very small excerpt:
    "Whether he's using a spin move, a chop spin, rip dip, bull rush, he's working," said linebacker Robert Mathis, marveling at Adongo's use of the pass-rushing techniques.

    The Colts promoted Adongo from their practice squad to the 53-man active roster this week because of his rapid development, willingness to do everything asked and his undeniable, extraordinary athletic ability.
    Read the whole article at:
    http://www.indystar.com/story/sports...-spin/3872905/

  • #2
    Re: Star article on Daniel Adongo

    Bruno has a blog about Adongo too. I'm looking forward to seeing him play. I wonder if they'll keep him outside or try to transition him to middle LB in the future. It seems odd to me that our OLBs are bigger than our ILBs.

    Daniel Adongo wasn’t starting entirely from scratch.

    There are some things, after all, that translate directly from rugby to football.

    “Hitting people,” he said, flashing a smile. “That’s very similar. The aggression, the technique, put all those things together in a big collision, they are similar in that aspect.”

    Beyond that, though, the notion of taking a rugby player out of Africa and transplanting him into the NFL with no developmental stops in between seemed at best fanciful when the Colts signed Adongo this past July.

    But a dream Adongo didn’t even know he had until he worked out for the Colts a few months ago is about to come true. The 24-year-old, born in Kenya, groomed in South Africa, was promoted to the active roster Tuesday and may very well play on special teams Sunday when the Colts face the Bengals in Cincinnati.

    “I’m excited for the opportunity but with that said, I’m not going to let that excitement get to me,” Adongo said. “It’s being subdued by my duty and obligation to do my job, my task, whatever is asked of me from the team and my coaches, to do to the best of my abilities.”

    Since joining the Colts, Adongo has poured himself into the transition, reading, watching, eating and sleeping his new sport. He worked out vigorously, adding more than 30 pounds so that at 6-5, 270 pounds, he certainly looks the part.

    As a member of the practice squad scout team, he modeled opposing defenses in practice and showed his speed in special teams workouts. But what he hasn’t really been able to do is the one thing he knows he can do best: hit people.

    “He hasn’t been on the field under the lights when it counts but he’s played on a big field before,” said Chuck Pagano. “He’s run around and tackled people before with no pads. So I suspect instinctively he’ll know how to do that and it might be even more physical and violent because he does have pads. So don’t be shocked to see him knock some people around if he gets an opportunity.”

    Adongo benefited from the familial culture of the Colts’ locker room. Rather than viewing this freakish young athlete with no experience as a threat, the veterans embraced Adongo, put their arms around him figuratively and literally and helped as much as possible with this literal and figurative crash course.

    “ ‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ I like to say,” Adongo said. “I wouldn’t say it surprised me. That’s what great people, great men do. They embrace other people and want to teach them and impart the skills that they have to other people. It’s about sharing what you have, the knowledge that you have, and helping other people grow.”

    The first football game Daniel Adongo ever plays will be in the NFL. (Colts photo)

    The first football game Daniel Adongo ever plays will be in the NFL. (Colts photo)
    Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Adongo attended high school in Nairobi, Kenya, where he emerged as a bright young rugby prospect. After playing collegiately for the Pretoria Tuks in 2012, he moved into the professional ranks with the Southern Kings of Super 15 Rugby, the sport’s highest level.

    The Colts have eyes and ears all over the globe and when word spread of this big, strong, fast and physical athlete, their curiosity was piqued. Adongo had never visited the United States and had only seen bits and pieces of a few NFL games before traveling to Indianapolis for his workout.

    Suitably impressed, they signed him quickly and began his football immersion program. How much did he need to learn? He was a half-hour late for the first full-contact practice of training camp because he didn’t know how to put on his equipment.

    “The guy couldn’t even put his pants on six months ago, didn’t know how to get into a stance, knew nothing about football and look at where he’s at now,” said Cory Redding. “He’s giving the offensive line fits. He’s strong. He’s fast. Very aggressive player and I cannot wait to see him line up wherever they put him. Whoever’s across from him is going to be in trouble. He’s a heck of a player, you’re all going to see it. And I can’t wait to see him play.”

    That curiosity is shared throughout the locker room.

    Adongo has made such a strong impression with his combination of quiet professionalism, dedication and fierce competitiveness, the players and coaches have a keen sense of anticipation about this particular debut.

    “He’s just going to be running around like his hair is on fire all the time,” said Jerrell Freeman. “And whatever role is being put in front of him, he’s just going to do it with energy and aggression and everything. It’s just the type of guy he is.”

    Adongo did not play at all in the preseason, otherwise known as study hall. So assuming Adongo does take the field at some point Sunday in Cincinnati, the first football game he ever plays in will be at the sport’s highest level.

    That makes him the ultimate rookie.

    Robert Mathis, who considered himself a late-starter when he took up football in the 10th grade, could only smile.

    “Must be nice,” he said with a laugh.

    For Adongo and the Colts, yes. For the opponents, we shall see.
    http://blogs.1070thefan.com/2013/12/...timate-rookie/

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Star article on Daniel Adongo

      He seems like a great guy. He was funny on the Pat Macfee show. I really hope he works out because he seems to have all the talent in the world, and it helps that he has Cory Redding and Robert Mathis as mentors. I hope he can make a splash on special teams.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Star article on Daniel Adongo

        Did he get any PT? I was looking out for him, but didn't notice.
        Just because you're offended, doesn't mean you're right.” ― Ricky Gervais.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Star article on Daniel Adongo

          Pretty sure he recovered one of the ST fumbles. At least the Bengals announcer said his name
          Don't ask Marvin Harrison what he did during the bye week. "Batman never told where the Bat Cave is," he explained.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Star article on Daniel Adongo

            He probably felt weird wearing all the pads and other football gear when he was out there.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Star article on Daniel Adongo

              I saw him playing on kick off coverage. Didn't see him making any plays, but I could have missed it.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Star article on Daniel Adongo

                Just the fact that he is out there on an NFL roster after just learning to put on a helmet in July shows the skill, quick learning, and potential that I think will make him a quality contributor in the NFL one day.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Star article on Daniel Adongo

                  Maybe the Colts have started a trend. The Lions just signed a rugby player to their practice squad. Gonna give him a run at WR. Ran a 4.22 40. That's quick! Hmmm, he played football at Ashland U so he's not totally new to the sport like Adongo.

                  LLEN PARK, Mich. -- In their never-ending search for players, the Detroit Lions made a curious signing Thursday morning.

                  Carlin Isles, a member of the United States rugby sevens team, signed as a wide receiver on the Lions' practice squad after trying out with the team earlier this week.

                  Isles ran the 40-yard dash in 4.22 seconds during his workout with the team this week, according to the Detroit Free Press.

                  "You're looking for athletes," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "It hasn't been unusual to see basketball players transition to the NFL, and it's not just recently; that goes way back.

                  "Even track guys like Bob Hayes and Renaldo Nehemiah -- things like that. An athlete's an athlete, and there are skills you can develop, and if you see something that you like, then you can work with him."

                  Isles played football and ran track at Ashland University, a Division II school, before moving to rugby.

                  Dubbed by RugbyMag.com as "the fastest man in American rugby," Isles became a YouTube sensation playing rugby because of his speed.

                  The practice squad spot opened up when Detroit sent tight end Dorin Dickerson to injured reserve and promoted practice squad tight end Matt Veldman to the 53-man roster.

                  Dickerson hid a concussion from the Lions after being hit in the second half of Sunday's 23-20 overtime loss to the New York Giants. He was eventually diagnosed with a concussion in overtime.

                  Comment

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