Here's how the last few weeks appear to me:
The latest conflict seemed to start after JoeP took on the mantle of UBT spokesperson. Lots of people started asking questions about UBT, some innocent, some not. In particular, TxTourPlayer seemed hell-bent on pointing out any possible flaw in UBT, and working hard to try to make the concept fail. Understandably, that ruffled feathers on the UBT side.
Barney Stone jumped into the fray, and the messages got ever nastier on both sides. Barney questioned Joe's sexuality, Joe resorted to name-calling. TxTourPlayer had apparently chosen to stop posting, but Joe suspects that he is secretly coordinating the posts of Barney Stone by private messages to TxTourPlayer.
Apparently, JoeP uses PMs to confront Barney with that accusation, and as far as I can tell JoeP makes a statement that he can "follow the sequence of private messages between other users". Apparently he specifically told Barney that he could not READ those messages, but by the time this got told to resident pot-stirrer TxTourPlayer, that part of the message got lost.
Tx emails me and asks whether it is true that Joe as a moderator can read PMs. I tell him no, that can't be done. Tx says that Joe told Barney that he could read them. I remove Joe's moderator privileges until I can determine the truth of the matter. I'm pretty fed up with everybody involved at this point.
In one of my emails to Tx, I mention that I had pulled Joe's moderator status because he seemed to always be in the middle of any trouble. In the same email, I ask Tx to keep this information to himself.
Next up, I'm out of town at a college football game in New Orleans when my phone rings. It seems that Tx has now posted a public message saying that JoeP had his moderator status pulled because he was trying to read other user's PMs. Yet another twisted version of what I said, and additional evidence that anything said to Tx will be repeated to anyone and everyone, and usually twisted in meaning. This despite my SPECIFIC REQUEST to him to keep that message to himself.
Why the secrecy on my part? Simple. I didn't want to have to deal with Joe and explain why I no longer felt it appropriate for him to be a moderator. It's true that he never once violated my trust in him with moderator privileges. Still, I stand by my decision that it is not in this board's best interest to have him as a moderator. Not because of anything he did, but instead because I disagree strongly with his method of responding to people who disagree with him. If he is a moderator here, apparently some people think that equates to my condoning has actions.
Back to the sequence of events... I'm away from a computer when Tx drops his latest bomb, so I call Swog and ask him to delete the thread, which he does.
Right about here is where I've had enough, and I take a one week sabbatical from the site. I lose track of what went on after that. Apparently there were phone calls taped and played on the radio show. (I heard part of the Carnival call, but none of the other call that has been discussed.)
Now I understand there are threats of legal action, with Joe thinking of suing Tx and Tx or Carnival or somebody threatening to sue Joe. Just great. You both look silly, and everybody who lines up on either side to egg on this fight is right up there on the silly list too.
Is this all about UBT vs TBT? I don't know at this point, but here's my opinion on the two:
UBT: Great opportunities, and I'll continue to attend pretty much every event I can. One area of improvement... It would be nice to have sincere questions either answered sincerely or a response of "I don't know" is quite OK. Insincere questions by pot-stirrers? Well, those just shouldn't be asked, and shame on any of you who do so.
To the UBT hating crowd: I just don't get it. It's quite easy to see the value UBT is bringing to our world of tournaments. Even if you have personality conflicts with some of the people involved for whatever reason, try to look at the big picture. This is very good stuff.
TBT: This also can be a great thing for the tournament community. There's no point in bashing this good idea. If Tx can make this happen, it will mean a dramatic increase in the number of open events available. That's good for all of us. If for whatever reason you disagree, my recommendation is make your points in a civil way, or just keep your mouth shut. You don't have to participate if you don't want to.
Now some advice to each of the 9 top posting members, in order of number of posts:
TxTourPlayer: Quit with the threats of legal action already. I assume that Joe's threats of the same will subside shortly thereafter. I remember when you guys got along OK, and life was good. Give up the feud. Realize that UBT's success doesn't threaten you, and hopefully UBT will realize that TBT doesn't threaten it. One more thing... Learn to keep your mouth shut when it's in your best interest.
KenSmith: Man, I need to get out more.
JoeP: Quit with the name-calling. Maybe we need JoeP2 back. I understand that you're a New York guy, and it's hard to let anyone have the last word in an argument, especially when you feel their comments are wrong or inappropriate. So what! Suck it up! IGNORE them, or here's a canned reply you can use. "I respectfully disagree with your post." Nuf said. Feel free to copy and paste that response anytime you're tempted to blow up.
Reachy: Wow, #4 in lifetime posts already. Amazing. You're one prolific Brit! It appears after my sabbatical that you reined in your posts a bit. A little humor adds to the community, a ton of it weighs us down. Recent activity looks pretty Goldilocks to me though. You know.. Just right. And, my wife still loves Flat Eric. Carry on.
fgk42: Just so you know, I lost interest in the film thing after about half a dozen. If you've said anything important in the films since then, I haven't seen it. You were a good example of someone asking sincere questions about UBT and TBT. Don't let the fire consume you too. You came to BJT as someone new to the game but dedicated to learning about tournaments. That's a powerful force for good.
noman: If I understand more of your posts, maybe I'd be pissed off at you too. But it seems you get a pass today.
toolman1: Thanks for your recent efforts to encourage use of the calendar. We got a few posts there, but there's always more to do.
Barney Stone: No more stoking the flames of the fire. If you don't have something productive to post, just don't post. Let this feud between you and Joe die down. It's pointless and unproductive. Just let it go.
Hollywood: You've been so quiet lately it's scary. As usual, you're one smart guy. C'mon back now.
Well, that's quite a load of stuff. Will it make any difference in what goes on here? I hope so.
The latest conflict seemed to start after JoeP took on the mantle of UBT spokesperson. Lots of people started asking questions about UBT, some innocent, some not. In particular, TxTourPlayer seemed hell-bent on pointing out any possible flaw in UBT, and working hard to try to make the concept fail. Understandably, that ruffled feathers on the UBT side.
Barney Stone jumped into the fray, and the messages got ever nastier on both sides. Barney questioned Joe's sexuality, Joe resorted to name-calling. TxTourPlayer had apparently chosen to stop posting, but Joe suspects that he is secretly coordinating the posts of Barney Stone by private messages to TxTourPlayer.
Apparently, JoeP uses PMs to confront Barney with that accusation, and as far as I can tell JoeP makes a statement that he can "follow the sequence of private messages between other users". Apparently he specifically told Barney that he could not READ those messages, but by the time this got told to resident pot-stirrer TxTourPlayer, that part of the message got lost.
Tx emails me and asks whether it is true that Joe as a moderator can read PMs. I tell him no, that can't be done. Tx says that Joe told Barney that he could read them. I remove Joe's moderator privileges until I can determine the truth of the matter. I'm pretty fed up with everybody involved at this point.
In one of my emails to Tx, I mention that I had pulled Joe's moderator status because he seemed to always be in the middle of any trouble. In the same email, I ask Tx to keep this information to himself.
Next up, I'm out of town at a college football game in New Orleans when my phone rings. It seems that Tx has now posted a public message saying that JoeP had his moderator status pulled because he was trying to read other user's PMs. Yet another twisted version of what I said, and additional evidence that anything said to Tx will be repeated to anyone and everyone, and usually twisted in meaning. This despite my SPECIFIC REQUEST to him to keep that message to himself.
Why the secrecy on my part? Simple. I didn't want to have to deal with Joe and explain why I no longer felt it appropriate for him to be a moderator. It's true that he never once violated my trust in him with moderator privileges. Still, I stand by my decision that it is not in this board's best interest to have him as a moderator. Not because of anything he did, but instead because I disagree strongly with his method of responding to people who disagree with him. If he is a moderator here, apparently some people think that equates to my condoning has actions.
Back to the sequence of events... I'm away from a computer when Tx drops his latest bomb, so I call Swog and ask him to delete the thread, which he does.
Right about here is where I've had enough, and I take a one week sabbatical from the site. I lose track of what went on after that. Apparently there were phone calls taped and played on the radio show. (I heard part of the Carnival call, but none of the other call that has been discussed.)
Now I understand there are threats of legal action, with Joe thinking of suing Tx and Tx or Carnival or somebody threatening to sue Joe. Just great. You both look silly, and everybody who lines up on either side to egg on this fight is right up there on the silly list too.
Is this all about UBT vs TBT? I don't know at this point, but here's my opinion on the two:
UBT: Great opportunities, and I'll continue to attend pretty much every event I can. One area of improvement... It would be nice to have sincere questions either answered sincerely or a response of "I don't know" is quite OK. Insincere questions by pot-stirrers? Well, those just shouldn't be asked, and shame on any of you who do so.
To the UBT hating crowd: I just don't get it. It's quite easy to see the value UBT is bringing to our world of tournaments. Even if you have personality conflicts with some of the people involved for whatever reason, try to look at the big picture. This is very good stuff.
TBT: This also can be a great thing for the tournament community. There's no point in bashing this good idea. If Tx can make this happen, it will mean a dramatic increase in the number of open events available. That's good for all of us. If for whatever reason you disagree, my recommendation is make your points in a civil way, or just keep your mouth shut. You don't have to participate if you don't want to.
Now some advice to each of the 9 top posting members, in order of number of posts:
TxTourPlayer: Quit with the threats of legal action already. I assume that Joe's threats of the same will subside shortly thereafter. I remember when you guys got along OK, and life was good. Give up the feud. Realize that UBT's success doesn't threaten you, and hopefully UBT will realize that TBT doesn't threaten it. One more thing... Learn to keep your mouth shut when it's in your best interest.
KenSmith: Man, I need to get out more.
JoeP: Quit with the name-calling. Maybe we need JoeP2 back. I understand that you're a New York guy, and it's hard to let anyone have the last word in an argument, especially when you feel their comments are wrong or inappropriate. So what! Suck it up! IGNORE them, or here's a canned reply you can use. "I respectfully disagree with your post." Nuf said. Feel free to copy and paste that response anytime you're tempted to blow up.
Reachy: Wow, #4 in lifetime posts already. Amazing. You're one prolific Brit! It appears after my sabbatical that you reined in your posts a bit. A little humor adds to the community, a ton of it weighs us down. Recent activity looks pretty Goldilocks to me though. You know.. Just right. And, my wife still loves Flat Eric. Carry on.
fgk42: Just so you know, I lost interest in the film thing after about half a dozen. If you've said anything important in the films since then, I haven't seen it. You were a good example of someone asking sincere questions about UBT and TBT. Don't let the fire consume you too. You came to BJT as someone new to the game but dedicated to learning about tournaments. That's a powerful force for good.
noman: If I understand more of your posts, maybe I'd be pissed off at you too. But it seems you get a pass today.
toolman1: Thanks for your recent efforts to encourage use of the calendar. We got a few posts there, but there's always more to do.
Barney Stone: No more stoking the flames of the fire. If you don't have something productive to post, just don't post. Let this feud between you and Joe die down. It's pointless and unproductive. Just let it go.
Hollywood: You've been so quiet lately it's scary. As usual, you're one smart guy. C'mon back now.
Well, that's quite a load of stuff. Will it make any difference in what goes on here? I hope so.
, reminded me of "the good old days" with input from people I want to hear from: it was fantastic stuff! However in the recent past I have found myself responding to strategy questions posted by other newbies, hoping that I would be followed by some of the "big dogs" who would confim or critique my answers, and quite often that's not happened. Maybe my advice was good 
!! There are some poor souls going around using strategy tips from me!!!!! Don't get me wrong, I appreciate all the help, advice and support from all of you here, but we don need to get back to the level of a few months ago.
