TODAY AT BT:

Finished the design mockups of our new 'injury-finder', the training log logger, online coaching.  Sent them all to the redesigner to quote.

I think I am finally done with all of the BT pages.  It's nearly 100% in Mikes hands now.

The thread regarding the forums...that's exactly what I and the mods want to see discussed.  It's very good information.  So far, there is no 'ah-ha' idea.  There are several good ideas to help encourage the more experienced, technical discussions.  I had a decent idea that could change a lot of things just based on 'forum presentation' when you click on 'forums'.

Yes, BT has evolved.  Everyone overwhelmingly has stated that they like the BT vibe vs the ST vibe.  That will not change with regards to moderation.  I will fervently fight for mutual respect and civil discourse on this board as those are my principles.  You can have just as good a conversation with the exact same information if it stays about the issue. Sure, people are people and there will always be grey areas...but here is how I essentially look at a post:

Look at your post in a vacuum.  Pretend you are a guest, remember back when you are brand-new.  Look at your post from a 'guests' point of view.  I think everyone tends to forget that just as many 'guests' are on the board viewing posts as are logged in users.  As a logged-in user, we know everybody, how they post, what gets them excited.  Certain comments we can come to 'accept' or 'ignore'. BUT my job is to keep new users 'getting active'.  I have to look at posts, if there is a question, in a vacuum, to a guest that just landed on the board.  "Is that post reasonable for a guest to read?"  "How offensive is it to a guest if they don't know the users and the history of the users?".

Yes, I look at things from a 'guest' perspective, as if our moderation becomes 'lax' and we let too much sarcasm, veiled swear words in posts, then we are losing potential new members.

I come from a population point of view.  To stay the same you need to have People In = People Out.  To grow you need People In > People Out.  If I get lax on our moderation standards, that you have mostly all stated that you love, then over time People In = People Out...then People In < People Out.  BT will turn into being just a forum for the select few.

Remember, we have to moderate for guests too as THEY ARE THE FUTURE OF THE SITE.  Guests becoming active via civil discussion is mission critical for all BT members who say they like the BT style vs the ST style.

I think so often we forget that our posts are being watched by 100's of other 'lurkers', many that have just landed on the site today.  Turning those lurkers into active members ensures that a discussion at all can continue year after year.

I will not compromise on our moderation policies and the decisions we have made in the past as.  The above is exactly why and how I want treated as a human. I know that I will never be able to please 100% of users.  But if I can please 80% of you, then I am doing a decent job.

That said, how do we retain the experienced users?  Is it just a continuum and a problem that is never solvable?  It's just forum evolution?  There is no 'ah-ha' idea yet.  But there are several good ideas, that together, if done right, can retain a little more discussion by the more experienced BT'ers.  I do understand some of the frustration that has been communicated to me.  Whatever solution we try to implement, I think it will surely help...but this is a problem we will never SOLVE. 

Life happens.  There will always be forum attrition even from highly helpful members.  Pregnancies, new kids, job changes, burn-out.  We are human.

That fact that this discussion has gone on for 7 pages indicates that you really care and I will not waste any opportunity to make some positive change.  Now that most of my work at the moment for the redesign is done, I will ruminate on it for the next few months.  Hopefully the discussion continues.

TONIGHT AT BT:

Worked on the new 'Beginners' page...also tweaked the new 'Control Panel'.

I would have to say, the women's balance beam has got to be the toughest of both men's and women's.  It doesn't seem physically tough compared to some of the guy routines, but requires utmost balance and finesse...zero room for error or your...well...off the beam.  It seems like the assembled women's team are rock solid overall...the men's had a few more errors and inconsistencies it seemed.

The age spread in the women's swimming is phenomenal with Torres still competitive.  Very inspirational.

Are you too busy?

This is a good article, something I have written about tangentially before here.  From what I have seen at school, etc., it seems by-and-large that people are so busy as they have to work for their larger-than-life lifestyles which usually makes them over-leveraged and not too far away from folding should one spouse gets laid off.  I see the financial decisions that friends and acquaintances make and it's appalling given their dire financial situation.  I was once a credit card spender but thankfully, my thrifty wife turned me around.  You can have SO MUCH MORE by working less and being financially sound.  Sure, you may not have the several hundred thousand dollar house and two cars...but do you really need them? 

If one would just live leaner, and bank the savings...the burden that is lifted and the hours that are left to be around your kids are priceless.  The American Dream is still not that expensive...if you are smart about it.

Yes, you saw it...a bike ride!  The first of many this summer.

This is the first year I have actually watched the Olympic Trials.  It's awesome.  Every 4 years I tell myself, "I'm going to watch all the Olympics I can" but I never do.  This year I will.  Just finished watching the men's gymnastics...totally awesome.  Last week I have been catching bits of track and field and swimming.

The Tour de France is on now too...kinda dismayed on the timing as I want NBC Sports to focus on the Olympic Trials.  Obviously I'm not a bike guy.  ;)

My kids last year have taken gymnastics and started being part of the swim team.  One of them really like the track field too.  So we are just going to have the TV on to the Olympics full time when it starts and hopefully it will inspire them.

When I watch the swimmers, I DO want to go and jump in the pool and start doing laps.  The men's gymnastics, not so much - if anything, I respect that sport more.  From a guy that has done all 4 sports (S,B,R, gymanstics), I have to say gymnastics is the toughest of them all.  It builds an incredibly strong body but the gains are small and the work is intense...though ironically safer than conventional bodybuilding.

I love the Olympics.