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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:

"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"

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

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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.

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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King James: Dethroned

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  • King James: Dethroned

    With the Lakers debacle, where does that leave King James and his legacy?

    King James had been to the playoffs every year since he turned 21 years old. He had been to the finals the last 8 years. Notice this is past tense language. It appears that his days dominating the NBA are now over. What is his future going to look like?

    The only way he returns to contention is if he can join another team that's already near contention. I think his team-building days are over for several reasons including the fact he now has a record of throwing guys under the bus instead of accepting the blame (like a true leader) that he should accept since he's the one who signed off on that Laker team.

    So...a total failure that will have a long term impact on his legacy. He will be viewed as one of the greatest players of all-time but he needed to, essentially cheat by acquiring talent without fair trade...and worse he will now be viewed not as the leader he was making himself out to be but yet another player who points the finger and throws guys under the bus when it becomes convenient.

    I see James' career on the downhill. He will be 35 years old with a lot of mileage the next time the playoffs roll around which means, which some exceptions, he's no longer going to be able to take over games. I could see him shift into some other kind of ownership/power position similar to MJ.

    Speaking of MJ. His legacy is and will continue to be the GOAT. LeBron? Not close.

  • #2
    What makes no sense is him going to LA. He could’ve gone to Toronto, Denver, or Indy and had a better chance to contend. He could’ve stayed big market and gone to Houston as well. He’s going to chase stats and bask in the spotlight as long as he’s able to do so.

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    • #3
      Originally posted by bumpercar3 View Post
      What makes no sense is him going to LA. He could’ve gone to Toronto, Denver, or Indy and had a better chance to contend. He could’ve stayed big market and gone to Houston as well. He’s going to chase stats and bask in the spotlight as long as he’s able to do so.
      His young teenage son is playing basketball in the LA area, which is why he "transferred" to the Lakers. He probably also thought he was good enough to form a contender from those misfit (sans L.S.) and young parts. He had quite a rude awakening and really his career is over. He can go chase rings at this point but it would only water things down further. His legacy was looking pretty good in Cleveland. Should have stayed.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by bumpercar3 View Post
        What makes no sense is him going to LA. He could’ve gone to Toronto, Denver, or Indy and had a better chance to contend. He could’ve stayed big market and gone to Houston as well. He’s going to chase stats and bask in the spotlight as long as he’s able to do so.
        I have no problem with him choosing to go to LaLaLand. Get him out of the East as far as I am concerned. The problem is that he was convinced by Magic that he should trust that he was building the Team for this season correctly. Surrounding him with mediocre to average Team filled with below average to slightly above average Role Players ( with only a few that could shoot from the perimeter ) seems stupid to me. I get that they want to be able to run the offense without him so that they can reduce the burden on him, but that Team just seems poorly built from the start.
        Ash from Army of Darkness: Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the gun.

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        • #5
          Let me see if I can find a F to give about LrBron . . . . . . . . . . .

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          • #6
            Well, I don't know about all this "his career is over" stuff. The bottom line is, his team was/is a trainwreck, that was obvious heading into the season. With the Ball Family sideshow and the fact Lonzo is terribly over-rated, and then you add in screwballs Javale, Lance, Beasley and a volatile personality in Rondo who conducts himself worse when things are not smooth... and LeBron has been dinged up a bit, it was sorta shocking they were even in reach of the playoffs. LeBron is at 27/8/8 while shooting 51%, so I don't think he personally is the problem. Pelinka/Magic has thrown together a pretty craptastic team around him, though. And I've never liked Luke Walton as a coach... when I look at the Lakers, I see LeBron and then a whole lot of WTF all around him. Other than Kuzma and Ingram, who are both still too young to really be those guys for LeBron yet and play little to no defense.

            I'm assuming that this off-season they'll see a coaching change, and LeBron will "bring in his guys" and they'll look considerably more legit next season. I'm not saying this because I'm a fan of LeBron, just being real that he's a pretty damn good player even if he's not in my 5.
            Last edited by Kid Minneapolis; 03-10-2019, 10:07 PM.
            There are two types of quarterbacks in the league: Those whom over time, the league figures out ... and those who figure out the league.

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            • #7
              Only a few huge haters will think this kills his legacy. I think its 'cool for someone to move where he and his family want to move. He is still playing like LeBron too.

              We bag on guys for joining already stacked teams, and then crap on them for joining a crap team? Als, let's give them a full season. I don't see it changing much, but you never know.

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              • #8
                LeBron is still playing at a high level. The fortunate thing is that Magic and the Lakers have not been very good at getting players to help him.

                LeBron has always thrown players under the bus if he thinks it will be to his advantage. He would trade anyone to get the guys he wants (at that time) on his team. If those guys don't work out he's ready to trade them as well.

                As far as LeBron going to LA because his son is playing HS basketball there, that's not much of a reason in my opinion. LeBron can take his son anywhere and put him in a good private school to play basketball.

                I am not a LeBron fan, so I hope his career ends soon...not via injury but by having all of this wear and tear on his body deteriorate his skills. Kind of like what happened with Monta Ellis.

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                • #9
                  LeBron James moved from one situation (in Cleveland) where he did the bulk of the team's heavy lifting to another situation (w/the Lakers) where he's once again doing the bulk of the heavy lifting. Still, I think the Lakers would have made the playoffs had LeBron remained healthy all season. When he went down, so did the Lakers' chances of making the playoffs.

                  I get what he was trying to do by calling out certain players and questioning the team's heart - he's done that before in both Cleveland and Miami - motivate by humiliation. But that doesn't always work. Sometimes, instead of motivating players to step up their game and rally behind you, you bring them down and they rebel leaving you to do the bulk of the dirty work. That seems to be what's happening to the Lakers right now.

                  The Lakers are going to have to take a long look at themselves this off season and figure some things out.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by NuffSaid View Post
                    LeBron James moved from one situation (in Cleveland) where he did the bulk of the team's heavy lifting to another situation (w/the Lakers) where he's once again doing the bulk of the heavy lifting. Still, I think the Lakers would have made the playoffs had LeBron remained healthy all season. When he went down, so did the Lakers' chances of making the playoffs.

                    I get what he was trying to do by calling out certain players and questioning the team's heart - he's done that before in both Cleveland and Miami - motivate by humiliation. But that doesn't always work. Sometimes, instead of motivating players to step up their game and rally behind you, you bring them down and they rebel leaving you to do the bulk of the dirty work. That seems to be what's happening to the Lakers right now.

                    The Lakers are going to have to take a long look at themselves this off season and figure some things out.
                    It starts with firing Walton and Magic.
                    Ash from Army of Darkness: Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the gun.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by PacerDude View Post
                      Let me see if I can find a F to give about LeBron . . . . . . . . . . .
                      Nope. Nothing yet.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        So there are some that give LeBron credit for building teams yet give him a pass for the Lakers? I have no doubt that Magic consulted with LeBron all the way on acquisitions once he got on the team and that included several. Also, LeBron could have requested more trades and you all know he controls things. He did make one good move, calling Lance. Heck, I am sure he talked with every player before they signed.

                        The reality is, LeBron owns this failure. He wanted to Zig while the Golden State Warriors Zagged. It was an experiment to determine if a group of tough minded players could come together in today's NBA and beat the 3 point machines out there. The message is clear now that nobody wins without being very good at shooting 3's.

                        So, certainly. LeBron's legacy is that he changed the NBA giving players more say in acquisitions and player movement. Whether you think that is good for the league or hurts competitive fairness is another question. But there is no doubt that LeBron, because he's been trying to play GM for years now, will have a big black mark on his legacy from this debacle. History will not let him off even if some appear to give him a pass.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          This doesn’t kill his legacy anymore than MJs stint with the Wizards killed his. He said at the begging of the season that he didn’t go to LA to try and win a championship his first year and that he wanted to help turn the franchise around. I really think he wanted to live the Hollywood lifestyle and raise his kids there.

                          I’m no Lakers fan (I actually enjoy watching them lose) but I respect LeBron and his abilities. I’ve seen what he’s capable of if you surround him with shooters. Rondo, Beasley, Lance, and Javale McGee are cast-offs with iffy jumpers, known for breaking plays and being pouters but those are the players they chose to pursue. Today there are reports that the coaching staff was begging Magic to re-sign Lopez and Randle. That would’ve been better than what they got. Still even with roster problems, they were doing okay until he got hurt on Christmas Day. Then Lonzo went down too and the wheels fell off the wagon.

                          LeBron deserves a lot of blame for some of the stupid things he’s said in the media and on the court but he hasn’t said or done anything worse than what Kobe, Shaq, or MJ have done. That doesn’t make it okay but it is more common for Superstars to say and do egotistical things. It’s not like he’s gotten into fist fights with his own teammates like Kobe, Shaq, and MJ have. He’s never been accused of raping anyone and he doesn’t have a gambling problem. His legacy is fine and he still could win another ring as the top dog in a year or 2.
                          Last edited by naptownmenace; 03-11-2019, 06:44 PM.

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                          • #14
                            My biggest takeaway in Lebron's struggles this year is that the west is much tougher than the east.

                            Lebron took a bunch of scrubs to the finals last year. Now? He's not even close to the playoffs. His play hasn't even dropped off either.
                            Lifelong pacers fan

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                            • #15
                              He signed a 4-year contract. The first year, especially being the first year he's missed significant time with an injury, doesn't do anything to his legacy. This was never going to be the year they truly competed. I think they were probably expecting to get more done at the deadline, but this summer is going to be busy for them. Let's see how they look by the deadline next year, and if they're going to miss the playoffs again, then let's talk about the legacy and the enormity of LeBron's failure to restore the glory of the Lakers.

                              It's a new day for Pacers Basketball.

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