BBMB brief orientation...

[John Gianelli]

Thanks, Scott, for all you've done to support Bills fans, going back to the late 90s in Maryland. As I recall, we watched the games at Randy's California Inn in Laurel, right? Did we also meet at the Greene Turtle? I remember being swept up in the Flutiemania of the time.

 

Though I love being back in Buffalo now, I miss some of the expatriate feel of the Bills Backers gatherings in Maryland, and in Philly at McFadden's, especially the win over NE in 2011.

[Nervous Guy]

I would like to chime in on a few things as well...first and foremost, welcome to all the DPs (displaced persons)! I've been here for many many years and it's a home to me, and truly a community that I care deeply about. The definition of community is a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage. I ask the new members to keep that in mind, be respectful, take some time to find your niche...there are a wide variety of people here, serious Xs and Os folks, wise guys, news breakers, really smart people, witty bastards, young and old...oh and the occasional trolls and stojan stirrers. Take some time and observe interactions, plenty of sarcasm around here so be forewarned and hopefully amused. Visit off the wall to learn some cool stuff about UFO's on the ocean floor, women people are hot for, commentary on The Walking Dead, or admit as to why you are a horrible human being, and finally, dare if you must, go to PPP Bonus tip, don't forget to hover over links...it might just send you to a Peter Pan freak show.

 

The moderating team is objective and fair, and outright banning is not business as usual, we try not play favorites, be respectful (no name calling, etc) and let us get to know you, as we get to know you. Warning points can be given and taken away as well...depending on behavior. To be honest, this place has a lot of self moderating and that makes it a great community. Make use of the "report" button, it's pretty helpful to us, much better than sending a PM to individual mods.

 

Have fun, make yourself at home...and welcome, this really is a great community of folks!

 

NG

[Buddy Hix]

Thanks!

 

(In before the wall!)

[boyst]

 

That made me laugh. I'm not sure what that guy did to you, but I can appreciate your passion!

 

Its weird how you can get attached to a message board. I don't know if it's nostalgia for an internet era bye gone or something more meaningful. But, there really is something about a community like this. I could never thank you enough for keeping this site and all the good Bills' conversation going for so many years through so much bad football. All I know is that there's only one website I check everyday. The Bills and this message board, in particular, have gottten me through some very difficult times in my life. And if this site ever just vanished without warning... Well, I'd be lost! Thank you for all you do.

the can newton schtick is a part of that y'all speak of. We are all have our quirks and jokes and we butt heads and get passionate but its what we expect of each other once we get accustomed to it. But there isn't a single poster here that I don't enjoy meeting at the tailgate. When I'm sober and not being an idiot its a great time.

 

But we have such a tight knit community behind the scenes that it is amazing. Even many former posters are still involved with this family; from Lori and Rich to Mr ags and ajzepp. They're all on Facebook and we all still talk Bills there, too. But this is the best place to talk football or goof around, too.

 

We are a mix of all things but we are family. Football is family or some cliché.

[Negan]

Thanks for the hospitality, looking forward to being a member.

[NWPABillsfan]

Welcome newbies,sorry your site was closed down. I can not even think about that would change my day. Next Wednesday will be my 10th year on this site. I just love it, as was said before I do read alot more than post. I learn alot and get breaking news from here. Please enjoy and keep your post good and informable. This is my 90th post in 10 years, I am on this site most the day,yes even at work, Thanks Scott and all the moderators for making this site my home for Bills news. Enjoy and GO BILLS !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cd1]

Thanks Scott for being willing to take us all in.

 

Yes, there are some naughty ones, but most of us are just Bills Loving Fans.

 

Maybe the naughty ones are still waiting on the other side...

 

anyways - Thanks again!

[Hapless Bills Fan]

So, welcome everyone - I think. I'm going to be honest, I'm fairly nervous about this. We have had over 100 registrations in the last 24 hours and I'm not really sure how this will play out, but I'm willing to give it a shot with your cooperation.

 

Brief site history lesson:

 

My name is Scott and I started this website in September 1996. It was hosted on Geocities and its primary purpose was to advertise for my newly formed Bills Backers Club in Maryland. Being a Mac user, I knew nothing about computers, but I am also an engineer so I just rolled up my sleeves and got to work. I quickly realized that I would need to provide regular updates to the site if I wanted people to visit and help me get the word out. That then changed the focus of the site from a club recruitment tool to an outlet for Bills fans. We were in business for years before the NFL ever thought of starting to get involved with the internet.

 

In Feb. of 1998, The Rochester D&C had a message board called HyperBills and they shut it down for a month or so, as it had spiraled out of control. Many posters there emailed me asking if I could add a MB feature to TBD. I think I had it up by the afternoon... Those who came - stayed and that's when we really took off. (So, we have been at this for over 20 years and the Stadium Wall just turned 19).

 

Millions and millions of posts later and deja vu.

 

Board Culture:

 

Although today is probably different from yesteryear, I founded the community with the following goals in mind:

 

1. A place that I enjoy being around.

 

2. A place where smart adults would be willing to hang. This doesn't mean everyone needed/needs to be an egghead, just that the average level of discourse needed to be high enough not to chase valuable contributors away. I often contrasted us to the old usenet communities that were unmoderated filth that no educated person would ever associate with for any length of time.

 

3. That the way I would build this community was neither right nor wrong. Just my way. One of many equally valid ways.

 

4. That this community could not serve the needs of every fan. Some may want less moderation, some more moderation. We can only choose one path and we know that it could never make everyone happy.

 

5. Cater to adults over kids. No graphics in signatures and other busy layout schemes. In fact, the text based sigs may be going away to make the even design cleaner.

 

6. Lightly moderated because the quality of poster we attract wouldn't need to be heavily moderated. In general, if you have a hard time with us - you really have no desire to be a real member of this community. 99% of the members here have never received a warning. Then there are the 1% who have a dozen.

 

7. A place where females could feel comfortable (for the most part).

 

8. A place that you can load/read at work without being fired for something grossly inappropriate being displayed on your monitor.

 

 

Yes, players, coaches and administrators are praised and criticized as each individual poster sees fit. We ask that this is done in good taste. For example, many posters identified Ralph Wilson as being a major part of the organization's dysfunction. That's fine. Discuss it all day. However, openly wishing he would just die was not appreciated and those types of posts were quickly addressed. So, discuss what you wish but try to do it in good taste.

 

Curse words get filtered and I ask that you don't try to change spellings to get around the filter. Everyone can infer the emotion of the !@#$ word you wrote. You don't need to be explicit to make your point.

 

The issue we probably have the most trouble with is "crusading". The bottom line here is that there isn't a single poster on this board that has the power to make any change with the team. And because of that, there is no reason to try and make every single person agree with you by bludgeoning everyone with the same opinion endlessly. Make your point once. Make it twice. Make it when appropriate. Just don't make the same point in every thread, every day, day after day. It just pisses people off.

 

Please don't post racy avatars. This is a work friendly community. In general, if you have to write "NSFW" you should probably not post it.

 

Note that I hand approve all registrations and sometimes that is slow.

 

Please do your best to ease yourself into the community. Read more than you post to start. It would be appreciated.

 

Please leave any BBMB baggage at the door. This is a fresh start for anyone coming here. This would also be GREATLY appreciated.

 

That's all for now. Thanks.

 

SDS, just seems like a good place to put it out there: thank you again for all you do hosting this

[The Poojer]

Welcome to all the new members. As many have said, Scott/SDS has done a remarkable job over the years I have been part of this group. There are a lot of great members here, come on in, the waters fine! Go Bills!!!

[Bills_Chick]

Usenet. God I'm old.

[Hurricane]

Usenet. God I'm old.

 

I'm 37 and I feel old....

[Bills_Chick]

 

I'm 37 and I feel old....

Haha I'm only 34 😉

[Hurricane]

Haha I'm only 34

 

Lol.... Good to see you on here chick!

[HT02]

So, welcome everyone - I think. I'm going to be honest, I'm fairly nervous about this. We have had over 100 registrations in the last 24 hours and I'm not really sure how this will play out, but I'm willing to give it a shot with your cooperation.

 

Brief site history lesson:

 

My name is Scott and I started this website in September 1996. It was hosted on Geocities and its primary purpose was to advertise for my newly formed Bills Backers Club in Maryland. Being a Mac user, I knew nothing about computers, but I am also an engineer so I just rolled up my sleeves and got to work. I quickly realized that I would need to provide regular updates to the site if I wanted people to visit and help me get the word out. That then changed the focus of the site from a club recruitment tool to an outlet for Bills fans. We were in business for years before the NFL ever thought of starting to get involved with the internet.

 

In Feb. of 1998, The Rochester D&C had a message board called HyperBills and they shut it down for a month or so, as it had spiraled out of control. Many posters there emailed me asking if I could add a MB feature to TBD. I think I had it up by the afternoon... Those who came - stayed and that's when we really took off. (So, we have been at this for over 20 years and the Stadium Wall just turned 19).

 

Millions and millions of posts later and deja vu.

 

Board Culture:

 

Although today is probably different from yesteryear, I founded the community with the following goals in mind:

 

1. A place that I enjoy being around.

 

2. A place where smart adults would be willing to hang. This doesn't mean everyone needed/needs to be an egghead, just that the average level of discourse needed to be high enough not to chase valuable contributors away. I often contrasted us to the old usenet communities that were unmoderated filth that no educated person would ever associate with for any length of time.

 

3. That the way I would build this community was neither right nor wrong. Just my way. One of many equally valid ways.

 

4. That this community could not serve the needs of every fan. Some may want less moderation, some more moderation. We can only choose one path and we know that it could never make everyone happy.

 

5. Cater to adults over kids. No graphics in signatures and other busy layout schemes. In fact, the text based sigs may be going away to make the even design cleaner.

 

6. Lightly moderated because the quality of poster we attract wouldn't need to be heavily moderated. In general, if you have a hard time with us - you really have no desire to be a real member of this community. 99% of the members here have never received a warning. Then there are the 1% who have a dozen.

 

7. A place where females could feel comfortable (for the most part).

 

8. A place that you can load/read at work without being fired for something grossly inappropriate being displayed on your monitor.

 

 

Yes, players, coaches and administrators are praised and criticized as each individual poster sees fit. We ask that this is done in good taste. For example, many posters identified Ralph Wilson as being a major part of the organization's dysfunction. That's fine. Discuss it all day. However, openly wishing he would just die was not appreciated and those types of posts were quickly addressed. So, discuss what you wish but try to do it in good taste.

 

Curse words get filtered and I ask that you don't try to change spellings to get around the filter. Everyone can infer the emotion of the !@#$ word you wrote. You don't need to be explicit to make your point.

 

The issue we probably have the most trouble with is "crusading". The bottom line here is that there isn't a single poster on this board that has the power to make any change with the team. And because of that, there is no reason to try and make every single person agree with you by bludgeoning everyone with the same opinion endlessly. Make your point once. Make it twice. Make it when appropriate. Just don't make the same point in every thread, every day, day after day. It just pisses people off.

 

Please don't post racy avatars. This is a work friendly community. In general, if you have to write "NSFW" you should probably not post it.

 

Note that I hand approve all registrations and sometimes that is slow.

 

Please do your best to ease yourself into the community. Read more than you post to start. It would be appreciated.

 

Please leave any BBMB baggage at the door. This is a fresh start for anyone coming here. This would also be GREATLY appreciated.

 

That's all for now. Thanks.

This is great thanks I have been hear for a number of years and post occasionally. I think your description and vision are what I have regularly experienced here during my visits and I have found it to be a great place to speak with other passionate fans. As you said you get the occasional self-righteous poster, the know it all and others but its mostly a very good group that I have enjoyed sharing opinions, learning new opinions and some pretty interesting thoughts that I hadn't considered. Great group and thanks for putting it together. Welcome new fans...

Usenet. God I'm old.

I can tell by the outdated helmet! (Said the 53 year old )

[wppete]

Nice Thanks!

[Bills_Chick]

 

Lol.... Good to see you on here chick!

Likewise 😁

[Jauronimo]

SDS, if you don't mind, I'd like to add:

 

The rules on PPP are slightly looser. That board largely self-moderates...meaning that if you come in there being all sorts of a jackass, that subform's posters will just beat on you with no mercy.

 

What that ultimately means is that certain...shall we say, "aggressive" behavior is tolerated there that is NOT tolerated on the main boards. So if you wander over there, and get verbally flayed, and the mods do nothing about it...that's probably why. Conversely, and more importantly, if you choose to "aggressively" post on the main boards and the moderators censure you, "But I can do that on PPP!" is not an excuse.

We are the 1%.

[The Wiz]

There are many valuable posters here who are known. Respect them, we value them. John Wawrow gave us insight 2 days before it broke that McDermott was our head coach, for example.

 

But, one important thing to remember. There are at least 3 former Bills here. Only 2 I know of active still. And thereare nnumerous professional football folks who work with various teams across the country.

 

There are also sources who get inside info. This can make things fun. But if you're going off of an misread instagram post do not post it as rumor or a source. Its not.

 

Most importantly. If someone actually makes you mad then do not look at them. Look at yourself. You're taking this way too seriously. And surely, you don't need to be that serious all the time. You'll be picked with from time to time or mocked if you're being ridiculous.

 

By all means if you have anything with a political spin do not post it on the main board. Even something like Make America Great Again or Russia hacked our game film can trigger a full retard in some folks. Take that to PPP. But if you do, go there and engage in a real conversation and with factual information

 

And, of course, Can Newton is a lousy, terrible quarterback.

Let's not forget about our favorite training camp beat reporter astro. He attends most of the training camp sessions and does an in-depth report that you don't see even from bills/wgr beat reporters.

 

Do a search for "astroNotes" if you are interested in what to look forward to.

Edited March 3, 2017 by The Wiz

[Wayne Arnold]

So, welcome everyone - I think. I'm going to be honest, I'm fairly nervous about this. We have had over 100 registrations in the last 24 hours and I'm not really sure how this will play out, but I'm willing to give it a shot with your cooperation.

 

Thanks for the post, Scott.

 

Question - any plans on adding 'Like' functions and alerts in the future?

Edited March 3, 2017 by Wayne Arnold

[boyst]

And another "Scott, if I may..."

 

FYI, for all you BBMB boat-people, there's a customer service board here. If you have any questions about how this board works (including moderation policy), it's better to post them there than on the main board. Mostly because if one of you has a question, someone else probably does too, and it'll be easier everyone to find the answer if questions are all co-located on the customer service board rather than randomly interspersed in football posts on the main board.

there have been two times there have been bans on PPP. Once for ridiculous amounts of trolling adding nothing to the conversation and cyber stalking (literary locating someone's personal information and posting it with a dissent viewpoint of them).

 

Other than that, everyone needs to realize you take your licks in PPP because you likely deserve them

[Billsfaninwtn]

First post on here. Coming over from the BBMB.

 

It's crazy they just wiped it out like that. O well, looking forward to posting my contrarian views on here.

[Buddo]

Thanks for the heads up. I've been a member here for a while, yet lost a bunch of bookmarks when 'upgrading' my PC, and never came back until yesterday. Tbh, I'm rather surprised I remembered my password.

 

Good to see plenty of decent posters have made it over, hopefully a few more will do so eventually.

 

I'm utterly disgusted at the manner in which the MB was summarily shut down. While there might have been a lot of bitching and moaning about it, a simple days notice would have sufficed.

 

'Social Media' is a joke when it comes to trying to have a sensible discussion about, well, just about anything.

 

While it can certainly be argued that sensible discussions were becoming fewer and farther between, nonetheless, they still existed, and it's what any message board is all about.

 

It's very strange, but the notion of getting people to 'engage', just seems like a load of garbage. Killing the MB off like that, left me feeling totally disengaged.

[/dev/null]

Well there goes the neighborhood. XD I urge you all to visit PPP. We could use some fresh meat...er I mean new perspectives.

That's one way to thin the herd

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

Dumb question, what is "BBMB"? And what happened to it?

[mead107]

Buffalo Bills message board

[/dev/null]

Dumb question, what is "BBMB"? And what happened to it?

Message board on the official Bills website was shut down abruptly and without notice.

[ndirish1978]

Welcome guys and thanks SDS, all your hard work absolutely does not go unnoticed

[TBBills Fan]

Hey Bills Fans!

 

Sad to see the BBMB go out like it did..

 

However it was getting bad over there anyway I became a lurker so that I wouldnt get sucked into horrible and pointless arguments

 

Looking forward to some fun discussions on TBD

[BillsFan4]

Thanks for having us Scott! It's appreciated. This seems like a pretty great message board. I have lurked for a while, and had thought about signing up, but you know old habits die hard...

 

Glad to see some familiar faces over here, too.

 

Thanks again for having us.

[Bills4everNY]

Thank you Scott. I like what I see here on your board already. The welcome is much appreciated.

[xRUSHx]

BBMB rest in piece

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

 

 

The issue we probably have the most trouble with is "crusading". The bottom line here is that there isn't a single poster on this board that has the power to make any change with the team. And because of that, there is no reason to try and make every single person agree with you by bludgeoning everyone with the same opinion endlessly. Make your point once. Make it twice. Make it when appropriate. Just don't make the same point in every thread, every day, day after day. It just pisses people off.

 

 

 

I think this is one of the best rules here. it was a serious issue at the old site. great to see it wont be tolerated here.

[Captain_Quint]

The important people have shared the rules, and the curtious ones have welcomed you.

 

From Quint, youll only get exactly what you deserve. Rambling, often hurtful, mostly incoherent pot shots while Im high on PCP or drunk on the shrimp boat.

 

Looking forward to it! Welcome everyone!

[JM2009]

Thank you Scott. It's good to see so many survivors over here.

 

 

I think this is one of the best rules here. it was a serious issue at the old site. great to see it wont be tolerated here.

Welcome my old friend! Good to see you here.

BBMB rest in piece

Even glad to see you my friend.

[row_33]

Welcome jm2009!

[JM2009]

Welcome jm2009!

It's like a family reunion.

[Hammered a Lot]

Tbd has become a second home for myself. Over the years my wife and I have made many close friends all over the country because of this site. As I said in another post, we may not always agree on everything but in the end we are all Bills fans.

Just remember to be good to others even if they don't see things your way.

Everyone has their idea what is right for the team but, in the long run we have zero input to what goes on.

 

During the season after the TBD opening tailgate party we post a TBD parking at Hammer's Lot thread. We do this for anyone that may becoming to a game that may not know anyone in the area and would like to tailgate with some of the TBD people. Gives you a friendly place to be together with others that you get to know through TBD.

 

We also do a 518 area code lunch get together in the capital District several times a year (Clifton Park - Saratoga area.) for members of TBD that like to talk Bills Football. Any of you new people in the area are more than welcome to join in.

 

We welcome all you newbies to a very special place that Scott has given us to talk Bills football.

A hearty Welcome to the Bills fan from a other board. I wonder if the shut down had anything to do with the realignment of the Bills PR dept.. Keep your eyes open on the tailgate board for the annual TBDAHOT (Two Bills Drive Annual Home Opener Tailgate) were TBD posters come together, eyeball to eyeball, drink to drink, grill to grill, and have a great time tailgating and talk a little bit about the Bills. This is a very friendly event. Last year the tailgate even got on a segment of a national food channel like program!! Edited March 3, 2017 by Hammered a Lot

[HappyDays]

It's like a family reunion.

I've decided to give everyone on my old ignore list another shot. I will miss all the craziness over there.

[JM2009]

I've decided to give everyone on my old ignore list another shot. I will miss all the craziness over there.

me too. I wonder if they will come over here.

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

 

Welcome my old friend! Good to see you here.

 

 

good to see you as well old friend and a lot of familiar folks from the incinerated bbmb community...