and, yes, i think the diaries should have some staying power.

but i don't think that everyone here should have to start a blog to say something. this blog does generate discussion in a way that no other website does. cards talk may have the traffic, but it certainly is not the same crowd. not many other sites have the traffic. it's very hard to get a successful blog started. it requires lots of time and energy. for a good while, even the best efforts will go relatively unappreciated.

even with erik's press here, i imagine that it has taken him quite a while to generate the traffic he now gets. (i don't know how much he gets, but more people comment now than ever before. this is a very rough indicator of traffic, but i think the generalization from comments to traffic is valid.) despite his blog being excellent from day one, his exposure was drastically lower than it is now. the feedback he received was lower than it is now. these things are important.

some people claim that the reason we talk is merely to influence others. does that not fit the purpose of the majority, if not all, of the comments here?

returning to the fundamentals: this is lb's blog. he can do whatever he wants with it, and we owe him a lot for giving us a degree of expression. however, i think he recognizes that reader input makes the site more dynamic. (i apologize, lb, if i'm putting words in your mouth.) i imagine that many people read the diaries and comments throughout the site almost as well as the main posts. these posts can make watching baseball games more interesting, they can simply share knowledge, or they can incite discussions. i think the comments and diaries overall make lb's blog better, and i think virtually everyone agrees.

yes, many comments are dumb, annoying, or whatever. yes, some diaries are dumb, annoying, or whatever. but some of us obviously desire to use them in those ways. should lb let us? is that what he wants? is that what we want?

apparently, many peoples' distaste stems from the diaries alone and less so the comments, but i maintain that the diaries are a symptom.

so, here's how i see it:
issue: people want lots of a certain type of exposure to their ideas for whatever reason

complaint 1: people keep making pointless, redundant, or boring diaries, thus diluting the content of this site and making it less enjoyable for many.
complaint 2: people are not respecting others, making this site anywhere from incredibly offensive to slightly amusing. (i believe most of us agree that we should do everything we can to respect others. for this reason, avoiding offending others is probably the most important consideration we have, overriding mere amusement or annoyance.)
complaint 3: our actions are directly affecting lb, causing him to enjoy blogging less, which reduces his ability to fully participate and share his ideas.

how much do these problems matter? the manifesto should give us some idea: "and that's what i hope we're gonna do here -- take our baseball seriously and in proportion. by "in proportion" i mean discuss it debate it relive it dissect it obsess over it wallow in it rise above it . . . . but come what may enjoy it."

the emphasis seems to be on enjoying our time here. lb, in democratic fashion, gave us the ability to show what we would enjoy the most, by putting that poll up. it is very clear to me that lb is remaining true to his purpose.

obviously, our collective vote is only a suggestion to lb. i imagine that the moderators and other main veb posters have already been specifically contacted by lb. moreover, it's his vote in the end. we don't want him beginning to despise us or this blog.

nonetheless, i don't think the poll is that effective. it offers three vague choices.

changing the diary section will help solve immediate concerns-- i have few doubts. but will the effect last for long? will policing it eventually tax him and the moderators further? will it prevent someone from posting something that would have been incredibly interesting? will people even bother to follow the guidelines? is this the best way? are those three options the only ones?

but... so many of you keep saying how long it was before you made your first comment. i could say the exact same thing. does this mean anything?

does senority on veb matter? many seem to think so-- and i agree. it probably should. could this be a solution?

i think so.

It's obvious that there is a divide between some longtime members and some of the newcomers.

It's annoying to me when I read the "policing" comments in what seems like every diary.  I understand their are longtime members here who help make this site what it is today...by far the best place to follow Cardinal baseball, bar none and the level of content on this site is unmatched.  As is the quality of posters.

However, there seems to be many posters who come off being, without a better term, snobby.  I can see why this place wouldn't be inviting to some.  The "you can take that shit to Cards talk", holier than thou attitude displayed by some is uncalled for in my opinion.

The main page post is what 90% of the readers of this site come here for anyway.  A few diaries, that you deem unworthy, are not going to affect your ability to get the content you came here for.  The offseason is a bit different also.  Yesterday was such a hectic day with all the rumors...I know, myself, I liked to log on a get the latest news without having to scroll through a 300 post "catch all" diary.  It's true they don't stay relevent long, and there is no need for three on the same subject, but I don't think people passing on the latest info w/ a credible source is a bad thing.

I really think that the recommended diaries function would be great.  This would allow for the really good diaries, w/ good discussions, to remain at the top of the page.  The other diaries quickly fall off the top 10 for those not interested.

Win, win.