It Must Be Said...

It's not November, but it can't wait.

Wiz, thank you for this site. Seriously, there's something to be said for you and this place we call WoV. This was the first forum I've participated in and have since joined a few others, mostly outdoor and motorsports themed. There, the discussions are the site title and nothing but the site title. You may bring up, say, politics, if the policies on fuel prices affect racing orginizations, or if the kerfuffle in the Middle East cancels the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but anything outside of that is immediately tossed with a warning to cool it, and with permanent and immediate banning for a second offense. Threads are filled with juvenile rantings that would make Logan blush (with pride or shame, I could not tell), and that includes the mods/host. While certain content is somewhat enjoyable, it's definately an irritating and oppressive environment to be in.

Here we also have a title, Vegas and gambling. While many topics are devoted to such, you give truely mind opening and outright entertaining threads a chance to thrive. The nature of infinity, the works of Steven King, countless threads on (/gasp!) religion, politics, soul purchases, philosophy, why does soccer (not) suck, "Dear Abby"'s, learn-spanish-today!, quantum physics,...just about any random question, as long as it formulated properly, is allowed to be pondered. Even the actuarial sin of betting systems are allowed to exist. I think that is a great thing.

Even after the abuse felt, oh, 4-ish months ago, a knee jerk reaction would have been justified. A severe clamping down on liberties couldn't have been disputed. Yet you kept on keepin' on, and the forum, IMO, is better for it. Kudos also to the many members who stayed the course, and didnt allow themselves to become part of the problem =)

I must admit this was sort of spurned by your (Wiz's) Punctuality blog and comments of being bothered lately, but in truth, this "thank you' has been a long time coming. I've meant to post something similar before, but most likely just got caught up discussing the properties of invincibilium. In any event, a thanks is in order, and I (and am sure "we") wish you long days and pleasant nights.

Only because I think of myself as a closet boat-rocker, I voted the second choice.

But I couldn't agree more.

Quote: Face

[..] why does soccer (not) suck,[..]

Clearly I need to express myself forcefully on this subject.

Quote: Nareed

Quote: Face

[..] why does soccer (not) suck,[..]

Clearly I need to express myself forcefully on this subject.

LOL! Parenthesis in this case denotes both views without having to write two sentences. Your view on that particular subject has been duly noted ;)

Quote: Face

why does soccer (not) suck.

Clearly I need to express myself forcefully on this subject.

Quote: Face

LOL! Parenthesis in this case denotes both views without having to write two sentences.

I know. One view should be stamped out forever.

It won't ever be. I know this. But it's so much fun watching the humorless twitch and huff and puff.

Quote:

Your view on that particular subject has been duly noted ;)

I know. I need to do better than that.

The secret to the success of this site is in part
due to the Wiz, but more to the fact that there
are so many old farts on here. There
are very few loud mouthed kids that ruin all
the other Vegas and gambling forums. We
mostly all want to get along and not argue,
and make an effort to do so. So many other
sites have Euro kids on them trying to find
ways to beat the local casino. They often don't
speak good English and there's a lot of fighting.
You just don't see that here. (we all secretly
know its because Jerry Logan is gone, but that
wasn't in the poll)

I agree with EvenBob here. First thing I thought was, most US (and therefore Vegas) gamblers are over 21, and most Wizard followers are believers in the numbers first and foremost, and as such aren't prone to argue them, and are quick to see fallacies in challenges.

As far as dealing with our troll invasion, it took a while but I am satisfied with the results. Michael dealt with it within who he is and his own rules, and earned a lot of respect from many of us for that. Not that there wasn't plenty of respect to begin with, but respect in a relationship has no upper limit, it can grow as much as it will.

Regarding religion and politics, I think the ability to simply stop without prejudice, and allow others the same, is valuable, and I see it in spades here. I don't remember who I was arguing with last, and I'm not going to go back and check. It doesn't matter; it's just the internet, and we all know that.

I wish I had the freedom to go to the WoV get-togethers; maybe next one. The last two have been at inconvenient times to take off from work. But I truly enjoy the repartee here, whether or not I agree or disagree or simply don't understand, which also happens.

On a side note, I'm going to be hitting a casino next week; we're traveling to the midwest, and meeting up with my sister and her husband at the Horseshoe Hammond, which I hear is very nice. Cool.

Horseshoe Hammond is my favorite casino in the midwest. You'll have fun.

Yes, thank you Wizard for creating this great site and forum.

Thank you senior members for keeping this a great site and forum.

And thank you new members for bring up new ideas and questions.

I have a few thoughts.

First, great kudos to the webmaster and Dr. Shackleford for creating this forum. I've wasted a great deal of my life here over the past couple of years.

Second, I love the fact that betting systems are quickly debunked and ridiculed. Some members are a big part of that. That's because there are many members who know the math and can debunk the system.

Third, the membership (and I'm talking specifically about PaiGowDan, MathExtremist, DJTeddyBear, and Mosca) keeps the site very respectful. PaiGowDan has an actual gaming device on the floor. There are several dealers (Face) on the site.

Finally, some of the conversations, I feel, go a bit over the line. We spend alot of time talking about health care, politics, and advice. But this is the internets and we tend to say things to each other's face. That said, I have great respect for many people on the site, even if they're wrong ;). They're in the off-topic section though, where they belong.

Michael, not sure you saw this thread

My thanks also to the Wiz ! I learned and practiced
a lot on the WizardofVegas site, but I really like
the forums and articles here.

I salute the Wiz for creating this site.

Quote: JohnnyQ

I salute the Wiz for creating this site.

He outranks us, we HAVE to salute him.

Thanks Wizard for a really great and open forum! I've never joined a forum before and did not know what to expect, I was surprised at the breath and depth of the topics. God Bless you!

Thank you all for the very kind words. And a fine bunch of members you are too! Some very bright people here, who I'm proud to have around.

Quote: EvenBob

The secret to the success of this site is in part
due to the Wiz, but more to the fact that there
are so many old farts on here. There
are very few loud mouthed kids that ruin all
the other Vegas and gambling forums. We
mostly all want to get along and not argue,
and make an effort to do so. So many other
sites have Euro kids on them trying to find
ways to beat the local casino. They often don't
speak good English and there's a lot of fighting.
You just don't see that here. (we all secretly
know its because Jerry Logan is gone, but that
wasn't in the poll)

MKL leaving had just as big of an effect I think, assuming they were not the same person.

On the serious side, if I were to be a consultant to someone looking to start a site there is a lot I would take from here as examples to follow. Some of it:

1. The site focus seems narrow but is actually fairly wide. Remember, this is not directly a "gambling" website but a "Vegas" website. Casinos, restaurants, strip clubs, neighborhoods, Harry Reid, etc all fall under "Vegas" in one way or another. Face it, if the site were only Vegas Casinos most of us would have come and gone long ago.

2. As EB says, there are enough of us older folks here to moderate the tone. I've been on internet BBS's for 20 years or so (yikes!) off and on. Even at the beginning in college I saw what loudmouth-flame wars wrought. Back then, one person caused a whole BBS to be shut down. That won't happen here, but as Dalton said to all the bartenders and bouncers, "Good people won't come to a slaughterhouse."

3. This site seems to attract a more intellegent group. While you see typos, you see very few very poorly written posts (excepting "cheating boyfriends.") As well the group has a variety of life experiences. So you get varried, intelligent debate.

4. The site has self-policed well. Spam seems to get flagged fast (I've had to flag maybe 5 posts in 3 years) and the official moderating by Wiz does the rest. Years ago USENET self-policed fine, then just anybody could post so the internet discussion boards had to get smaller and private, like here. Some sites went too tight and do not allow enough variety in discussion. WoV seems to have the Goldilocks "just right" thing down.

5. Finally, Wizard has the temperment to fix what is not working. FSZ and GLBT group postings can get heated fast so they do not show up in the "recent" area where they can be stumbled upon by accident. When warnings didn't work the nuclear option was invented. But all the fixes were minor an evolutionary, not radical.

It has been fun so far. BTW, does the site not have a B-Day coming up? Should we do something special? Have a virtual drink? All stick pins in our Jerry Logan dolls?

If I could change one thing about this site and I admit I have no idea how to do it, it would be to somehow get more people to post.
And not just view, So many people must think their input is for some reason unnecessary. Don't take this as a poor reflection on those who do post. It's just that people hold knowledge that they think is not valuable. Quite often I will see a post like ME request for anyone who has seen his side bet, it will get hundreds of views and 2 posters. That ain't right folks,
IT JUST AIN'T RIGHT !!!!!!