I'll throw in my 2 cents here on the experience I had the last few weeks. Simply documenting someone's record on the forum drew the insults of some and a "talking to" by the moderators (who handled it well, don't get me wrong).
You've got a forum full of a bunch of guys that talk a huge game but can't ever back it up. You've got guys posting "Super Locks of the Year" 10 times a year, with a record far below .500. As was alluded to about Fezzik's quiz on the frontpage -- I bet 95% of the people here missed 1 of the 2.
Personally, I don't find any value in any of the selections posted here... If nothing else, I use them to gauge where "Joe Public" is betting. As much as the forum would like to believe they aren't "Joe Public", they are.
The value I find in TheRx stems from the good discussion about handicapping methods, percentages and value. As a seasoned handicapper, you realize this is what separates the long-term winners from the long-term losers. I also enjoy the talks about the industry in the forums.
You've got a forum full of a bunch of guys that talk a huge game but can't ever back it up. You've got guys posting "Super Locks of the Year" 10 times a year, with a record far below .500. As was alluded to about Fezzik's quiz on the frontpage -- I bet 95% of the people here missed 1 of the 2.
Personally, I don't find any value in any of the selections posted here... If nothing else, I use them to gauge where "Joe Public" is betting. As much as the forum would like to believe they aren't "Joe Public", they are.
The value I find in TheRx stems from the good discussion about handicapping methods, percentages and value. As a seasoned handicapper, you realize this is what separates the long-term winners from the long-term losers. I also enjoy the talks about the industry in the forums.
Shrink, don't let some of the recent stuff get you down.
This is a great site, and I've learned much here over the years. I'm only a recreational player, but I've done well using the suggested picks on the sports forums more than a few times.
But here is a suggested format change for the sports forums that, if you have a good programmer with a couple of hundred spare hours to spend, would improve the picks part of the sports forums immensely.
Tie the posting forum into your live lines system, and allow selections to be entered via a front end that looks a bit like a sports schedule.
Bears +3-____ Ov 45 ___ COMMENTS:____________
Rams -3-____ Un 45 ___
The lines come real time from your system, so a person who enters a play early in the week may be graded on one line, and someone who posted later in the week on a different line.
A person who does not like rating plays would put an "X" for the play, or a person who likes playing different amounts would first define their maximum range (1-3), (3-7) (7-9) (1-9) and then enter a digit from 1 to 9 within their defined range instead of an X.
Grading of plays would be done automatically by your system. Plays could be entered up to one hour before kick-off.After that time the games would be deleted from the front end.
It would actually take posters much less time to enter their plays, and they still have a place to make comments. There would also be a place to make general comments not tied into particular games.
No more arguments about records.
The computer would automatically include the poster's ATS records as the season progresses.
There would be several options on how to view the posts and data.
The "By Poster" option would list all the posters on a menu that could be sortable by name or W-l record. Just click on the poster you want to see and see all his selections and comments.
Another way would be via a menu in "schedule order". Click on a game, and see all picks and comments related to that game by all posters.
Another view would be "all selections summarized" in schedule order. As the season progresses, these picks could be displayed via a chart with one column displaying the picks of the posters in the top third ATS, middle third ATS, bottom third ATS, and newbies without enough picks yet, plus a last column with all the picks summarized. You could even define one column that summarizes the picks of the posters you choose from a menu.
One of the huge advantages of this approach is that it would take posters much less time to post their plays, and all arguments about what the line was and what your actual record is would instantly cease.
Also no need for the extra work being done by the folks running the semi-formal contests. This format keeps track of the W-L records automatically.
No one would enter plays until the real opening lines start to appear.
Anyway, just an idea to improve the sports forums.
I would looooove a format like that.
This is a great site, and I've learned much here over the years. I'm only a recreational player, but I've done well using the suggested picks on the sports forums more than a few times.
But here is a suggested format change for the sports forums that, if you have a good programmer with a couple of hundred spare hours to spend, would improve the picks part of the sports forums immensely.
Tie the posting forum into your live lines system, and allow selections to be entered via a front end that looks a bit like a sports schedule.
Bears +3-____ Ov 45 ___ COMMENTS:____________
Rams -3-____ Un 45 ___
The lines come real time from your system, so a person who enters a play early in the week may be graded on one line, and someone who posted later in the week on a different line.
A person who does not like rating plays would put an "X" for the play, or a person who likes playing different amounts would first define their maximum range (1-3), (3-7) (7-9) (1-9) and then enter a digit from 1 to 9 within their defined range instead of an X.
Grading of plays would be done automatically by your system. Plays could be entered up to one hour before kick-off.After that time the games would be deleted from the front end.
It would actually take posters much less time to enter their plays, and they still have a place to make comments. There would also be a place to make general comments not tied into particular games.
No more arguments about records.
The computer would automatically include the poster's ATS records as the season progresses.
There would be several options on how to view the posts and data.
The "By Poster" option would list all the posters on a menu that could be sortable by name or W-l record. Just click on the poster you want to see and see all his selections and comments.
Another way would be via a menu in "schedule order". Click on a game, and see all picks and comments related to that game by all posters.
Another view would be "all selections summarized" in schedule order. As the season progresses, these picks could be displayed via a chart with one column displaying the picks of the posters in the top third ATS, middle third ATS, bottom third ATS, and newbies without enough picks yet, plus a last column with all the picks summarized. You could even define one column that summarizes the picks of the posters you choose from a menu.
One of the huge advantages of this approach is that it would take posters much less time to post their plays, and all arguments about what the line was and what your actual record is would instantly cease.
Also no need for the extra work being done by the folks running the semi-formal contests. This format keeps track of the W-L records automatically.
No one would enter plays until the real opening lines start to appear.
Anyway, just an idea to improve the sports forums.
I would looooove a format like that.
to answer shrink's question...3 reasons
1. Stiff books being hyped and shilled as advertisers with absolutely no protection by the RX. I believe two of your competitors are at least offering a skeleton protection program.
2. Many of the better posters were driven off during the McIrish housecleaning. I know most have been invited back, but once a poster feels unwelcome, he is likely to stick elsewhere. You burned a lot of bridges and lost a lot of good material over that period.
3. Too many BS posts. I don't give a **** what is everyone's favorite color or favorite Brittney Spears song or how many times a week do you walk your dog. Keep it gambling related. The more crap I have to sift through, the less I am going to stop by, and the less I am going to post.
Ultimate result of the 3 factors above? Loss of "quality posters" and an influx of people who don't know the first thing about gambling/offshore and are posting here for recreation only. I wonder how many people who replied to threads today also actually made a wager today? My guesss is that it is going to be a smaller ratio then you would like.
1. Stiff books being hyped and shilled as advertisers with absolutely no protection by the RX. I believe two of your competitors are at least offering a skeleton protection program.
2. Many of the better posters were driven off during the McIrish housecleaning. I know most have been invited back, but once a poster feels unwelcome, he is likely to stick elsewhere. You burned a lot of bridges and lost a lot of good material over that period.
3. Too many BS posts. I don't give a **** what is everyone's favorite color or favorite Brittney Spears song or how many times a week do you walk your dog. Keep it gambling related. The more crap I have to sift through, the less I am going to stop by, and the less I am going to post.
Ultimate result of the 3 factors above? Loss of "quality posters" and an influx of people who don't know the first thing about gambling/offshore and are posting here for recreation only. I wonder how many people who replied to threads today also actually made a wager today? My guesss is that it is going to be a smaller ratio then you would like.
Drunk, I agree with 2 and 3. As far as hyping and schilling stiff books goes, do you really belive that the books at the top of this page are stiff books. Perhaps you are talking about the past which natrually brings up the BetPanAm situation. Volumes have been posted about their demise, and there is not much I can add. The skeleton protection programs while a step in the right direction, are just what you say they are, skeletons that do nothing for the gamblers with even modest balances. Thanks for the input.
wil.
wil.
Ive been to half a dozen sites, this site has the most superstars. Ppeter is a superstar. Horseshoe is a superstar. Anyone who puts an analysis on why they like a game I will read it. Co-Captain rights lengthly and I get a kick out of him as well. Then you have vetreans like Green D or Sick G that know the ins and outs of handicapping.
The Mods and writers are not the most talented bunch but they mean well, and I enjoy reading their nonsense.
The Mods and writers are not the most talented bunch but they mean well, and I enjoy reading their nonsense.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>1. Stiff books being hyped and shilled as advertisers with absolutely no protection by the RX. I believe two of your competitors are at least offering a skeleton protection program.
2. Many of the better posters were driven off during the McIrish housecleaning. I know most have been invited back, but once a poster feels unwelcome, he is likely to stick elsewhere. You burned a lot of bridges and lost a lot of good material over that period.
3. Too many BS posts. I don't give a **** what is everyone's favorite color or favorite Brittney Spears song or how many times a week do you walk your dog. Keep it gambling related. The more crap I have to sift through, the less I am going to stop by, and the less I am going to post.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Number #2 was ugly. Pat banned or rallied the mods and suknut homers against anyone who might dare to have a differing opinion.
The Rx didn't stand up for us who took his abuse. There were a lot of us old timers who had him pegged after a week on the job. The quality of posts did not just suddenly drop it took a lot of board room meetings to figure out how to strangle it off.
2. Many of the better posters were driven off during the McIrish housecleaning. I know most have been invited back, but once a poster feels unwelcome, he is likely to stick elsewhere. You burned a lot of bridges and lost a lot of good material over that period.
3. Too many BS posts. I don't give a **** what is everyone's favorite color or favorite Brittney Spears song or how many times a week do you walk your dog. Keep it gambling related. The more crap I have to sift through, the less I am going to stop by, and the less I am going to post.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Number #2 was ugly. Pat banned or rallied the mods and suknut homers against anyone who might dare to have a differing opinion.
The Rx didn't stand up for us who took his abuse. There were a lot of us old timers who had him pegged after a week on the job. The quality of posts did not just suddenly drop it took a lot of board room meetings to figure out how to strangle it off.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by agreeen:
I'll tell you why the quality of posting has diminished...its because this site no longer has any credibility!!!...
I
In the last several months your site has been bought by an alleged internet casino scam artist, your enormously self-promoted sportsbook (BetPanam) has gone belly-up and former hugely praised moderator (McIrish)turned out to be a pathetic deadbeat!
Frankly, how do u expect anyone to take this web site with any seriousness or merit?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Have to agree with the statements above. I really don't think it is even possible for a site to lose any more credibility then the RX did this year. Sure I still check here daily for entertainment purposes and to follow the "news" even when I have no money offshore. However, the trust factor has taken a serious beating. Don't think many people trust much that comes out of Shrink and the mods mouths regarding their adverstised books anymore.
In addition to the reasons quoted above add to it the fact that the moderators run and hide when any iffy actions by an advertised book is posted. Just look at the front page now, You look in any useless topic just there for entertainment like " did the 3-point shot ruin basketball" you see mods jump right in makign the forum appear busy. Then go look at the Gibraltor topic about a player getting ripped off a much more serious issue, notice there is 30+ replies and none from Shrink or a moderator. It's like that all the time.
Another small reason the quality goes down is when a top poster becomes a moderator they are pretty much useless = 1 less quality poster. They become "yes men." Wilhelm would have probably posted an opinion in the Gibraltor thread, no? Not now. I just hope Halifax doesn't become a moderator or the site will lose another quality poster.
I'll tell you why the quality of posting has diminished...its because this site no longer has any credibility!!!...
I
In the last several months your site has been bought by an alleged internet casino scam artist, your enormously self-promoted sportsbook (BetPanam) has gone belly-up and former hugely praised moderator (McIrish)turned out to be a pathetic deadbeat!
Frankly, how do u expect anyone to take this web site with any seriousness or merit?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Have to agree with the statements above. I really don't think it is even possible for a site to lose any more credibility then the RX did this year. Sure I still check here daily for entertainment purposes and to follow the "news" even when I have no money offshore. However, the trust factor has taken a serious beating. Don't think many people trust much that comes out of Shrink and the mods mouths regarding their adverstised books anymore.
In addition to the reasons quoted above add to it the fact that the moderators run and hide when any iffy actions by an advertised book is posted. Just look at the front page now, You look in any useless topic just there for entertainment like " did the 3-point shot ruin basketball" you see mods jump right in makign the forum appear busy. Then go look at the Gibraltor topic about a player getting ripped off a much more serious issue, notice there is 30+ replies and none from Shrink or a moderator. It's like that all the time.
Another small reason the quality goes down is when a top poster becomes a moderator they are pretty much useless = 1 less quality poster. They become "yes men." Wilhelm would have probably posted an opinion in the Gibraltor thread, no? Not now. I just hope Halifax doesn't become a moderator or the site will lose another quality poster.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by wilheim:
Drunk, I agree with 2 and 3. As far as hyping and schilling stiff books goes, do you really belive that the books at the top of this page are stiff books. Perhaps you are talking about the past which natrually brings up the BetPanAm situation. Volumes have been posted about their demise, and there is not much I can add. The skeleton protection programs while a step in the right direction, are just what you say they are, skeletons that do nothing for the gamblers with even modest balances. Thanks for the input.
wil.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Blue Marlin?
Gamblers Ave?
PanAm was not the first and certainly won't be the last. It was, however, billed as the 2nd coming of christ which is why a lot of people still have a bad taste about it, and why it will be an issue here for a very long time.
As far as the books on the top of the page, I have serious concerns with BHB. If their 2 remaining players go on a winnning streak, they may be finished. Regardless, it is only a matter of time until another advertiser goes down unless you (a) screen financial stability of books which is virtually impossible, or (b) set up a protection plan.
As far as the small protection programs, it is at least a step in the right direction. There are 3-4 unique solutions to this out there, and eventually we will find the best way, but it takes people willing to give it a try and work out the problems. Rome was not built in a day...
Drunk, I agree with 2 and 3. As far as hyping and schilling stiff books goes, do you really belive that the books at the top of this page are stiff books. Perhaps you are talking about the past which natrually brings up the BetPanAm situation. Volumes have been posted about their demise, and there is not much I can add. The skeleton protection programs while a step in the right direction, are just what you say they are, skeletons that do nothing for the gamblers with even modest balances. Thanks for the input.
wil.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Blue Marlin?
Gamblers Ave?
PanAm was not the first and certainly won't be the last. It was, however, billed as the 2nd coming of christ which is why a lot of people still have a bad taste about it, and why it will be an issue here for a very long time.
As far as the books on the top of the page, I have serious concerns with BHB. If their 2 remaining players go on a winnning streak, they may be finished. Regardless, it is only a matter of time until another advertiser goes down unless you (a) screen financial stability of books which is virtually impossible, or (b) set up a protection plan.
As far as the small protection programs, it is at least a step in the right direction. There are 3-4 unique solutions to this out there, and eventually we will find the best way, but it takes people willing to give it a try and work out the problems. Rome was not built in a day...
There are about 20 posters here who I will read their posts. Most of the rest are complete frauds, shills, or hype artists and bashers.
Many of the people I discuss things with on here, I am at completely opposite viewpoints with them, but they are able to argue their point and they actually MAKE a point.
The others just want to stir up stuff and try and make themselves known, most of them disappear but like hydra they come back in the form of other posters.
If you actually read and listen to the QUALITY posters on this board, you will be much more successful in your handicapping and all gambling endeavors. More money will be in your pocket and that SHOULD BE the whole point of this.
Stay above the fray.
Many of the people I discuss things with on here, I am at completely opposite viewpoints with them, but they are able to argue their point and they actually MAKE a point.
The others just want to stir up stuff and try and make themselves known, most of them disappear but like hydra they come back in the form of other posters.
If you actually read and listen to the QUALITY posters on this board, you will be much more successful in your handicapping and all gambling endeavors. More money will be in your pocket and that SHOULD BE the whole point of this.
Stay above the fray.
the last 4 years i have learned more then i have in the 14 years of gambling on sports. I have been a member here for about a year and been a lurker a year prior to joining. I will say the 2 years of reading the content on this site has greatly improved my betting. I also was guided by a few "sharks" (as i like to call them) or "sharps" that helped my game about 4 years ago and this site has help me refine my game. Of late the quality of posts and topics in my opinion seems to be down..........."time of the year" I think so.
p.s i find that there are plenty of sharp posters here that also post there plays, but one thing "in my opinion" is that some posters try to cap and "bet" to many different sports at the same time which in my opinion will lead to diaster......find what you are best at and stick to it. I play NBA and some NFL......tryed bases.......don't like laying vig or trying to find the live dog.......CBB....i won't even go there.....CFB.....love the game, but we have NFL and the NBA in Nov.
I mainly play the NBA which i find to be the most profitable and why have the other sports cut into my profits.
We all live and learn from our mistakes...I have made plenty of mistakes in gambling.......we can only better ourselfs from learning and this SITE is one of my tools!
p.s i find that there are plenty of sharp posters here that also post there plays, but one thing "in my opinion" is that some posters try to cap and "bet" to many different sports at the same time which in my opinion will lead to diaster......find what you are best at and stick to it. I play NBA and some NFL......tryed bases.......don't like laying vig or trying to find the live dog.......CBB....i won't even go there.....CFB.....love the game, but we have NFL and the NBA in Nov.
I mainly play the NBA which i find to be the most profitable and why have the other sports cut into my profits.
We all live and learn from our mistakes...I have made plenty of mistakes in gambling.......we can only better ourselfs from learning and this SITE is one of my tools!
