The Ins and Outs of Dobber Hockey - Understanding the Forum - Page 2 - Fantasy Sports Forums

massengil · #11 08-22-2011, 01:04 AM

Useful thread - I had no idea how rep worked...guess I have a bunch of people that I owe thanks!

Ross The Boss Palmer · #12 08-22-2011, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b0ndon

Edit: this thread will help you get a better grasp of the rep system. Just realized everything that I said in this post is on there...might have even been that thread that I read that explained it to me lol.

AH I knew my thread would be slightly redundant. Thanks for sharing this, and reading through the thread I am getting a better understanding to the history of the site and forums, which is pretty darn nifty!

Ross The Boss Palmer · #13 08-22-2011, 01:50 AM

Great info provided thus far! I feel as though we are just scratching at the surface of the topic, but I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that you guys explained it so thoroughly and well. If there is more to this subject than anyone please feel free to ask and/or contribute so I absorb as much knowledge as I can hehehe

Dakkster · #14 08-22-2011, 05:47 AM

Excellent thread!

One point I'd like to make is that you shouldn't be afraid to have your own opinion. A common problem on this site is that a bit of info or maybe just a notion can become gospel simply because several people repeat it often enough. Dangerous sheep mentality IMO. Don't be afraid to go against the grain and it's even better if you can provide solid reasoning for why you disagree. Maybe these people just don't have the information that you have and you can help them become better informed. I know I always appreciate it if I'm corrected when I have the wrong information.

Shoeless · #15 08-22-2011, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sentium

Excellent thread!

One point I'd like to make is that you shouldn't be afraid to have your own opinion. A common problem on this site is that a bit of info or maybe just a notion can become gospel simply because several people repeat it often enough. Dangerous sheep mentality IMO. Don't be afraid to go against the grain and it's even better if you can provide solid reasoning for why you disagree. Maybe these people just don't have the information that you have and you can help them become better informed. I know I always appreciate it if I'm corrected when I have the wrong information.

I cannot support Sentium's comment enough - call it sheep mentality or bandwagoning - but it is one of the most stifling of activities prevalent on these boards. It is so refreshing to see a statement start out, "Well, I don't see it that way because . . . ." - or - "Here is something that I read that to my mind doesn't support this analysis to this point." It might even be as simple as asking a question like, "But what about this?"

Right or wrong, injecting a different slant on things is really helpful to insights and expanded discussions. If we all say and believe the same things, you can be assured we are missing something.

ross10019 · #16 08-22-2011, 08:38 AM

Right-o Shoeless and Sentium, some of the very best threads I've ever read are those where there is significant difference of opinion regarding the topic of the thread (e.g., trade or keeper decision analysis).

By the same token, it's annoying when there is a thread that has such a difference of opinion and you don't get many people posting. I would encourage everyone to seek out those threads and to give their two cents, often it will involve a very important keeper decision (often a newbie poster, or close to it, seeking advice) and the more input, the better. There was one example recently where I responded to a thread regarding a trade analysis, which involved Sharp and Carter, and I fundamentally disagreed with the majority of the posters' analysis of whether the guy should do the trade, yet not many members responded to my plea to get further input. It was during the summer so that, I'm sure, was part of the reason, not as many of the members posting during the dog days...

Bomm Bastic · #17 08-22-2011, 08:41 AM

I would also add that, speaking for myself, I have been trying to add more context to my answers. No, every answer is not some Bayesian data analysis, but I do try and avoid the "Oh Player-X, w/out a doubt!" type answers. I just don't feel those type of answers benefit anyone - with few exception.

If my answer is indeed a gut feeling, I say as much. Otherwise, I try to support my answer by outlining key bits of info, e.g. "I believe Player-X to be the better choice for a contending team in need of help now." or "Original Cheeze-Its are superior to lame-ass Cheese-Nips."

The duration of my answer is directly proportional to my buzz....errrr...amount of time I have which to answer.

ross10019 · #18 08-22-2011, 08:49 AM

One other topic that might be worth addressing is "homerism".

Now it goes without saying that all of us have a soft spot for either our home/favorite NHL team and its players, as well as for the NHL players on our fantasy squads, but it's critical that, when providing analysis (trades, keeper decisions, roster moves, performance forecasts, etc.) that you completely set aside that homerist tendency as much as possible. I am not saying that you shouldn't post about players you like, or players from your favorite NHL team - often, you will have very valuable information to share regarding these players - BUT, and here is the KEY issue, you should try to avoid at all costs OVERVALUING these players based on your favoritism, that to me is the crux of the matter.

In that regard, I'd like to point out a very important distinction though, which has been quite relevant in my case.

I have often, in the past, posted analyses and thoughts about players that I own, especially regarding their prospects for the future. An example is Letang, whom I've written about extensively, especially during the years when he was not yet producing up to the expectations. More recently, Hiller, in that thread regarding where he stands in terms of top 10, 15, 20, etc.

There is a reason why I am posting regarding these guys, and it's not because I own them, but rather because of the fact that I FOLLOW THEM MORE CLOSELY as a result of owning them. For this reason, I often will have much more valuable information to share with all of you regarding these players versus other players I don't follow as much. Sometimes, I think this may come off to some as homerism ((i.e., there goes so-and-so again blabbing about how great that player he owns is), but it really isn't, it is more a tendency to provide information regarding players of whom you have the most knowledge, and if anything that is quite the opposite of homerism. Again, the golden rule is to avoid OVERVALUING when you do this.

In the end, the only way to answer fantasy-related questions about a player is to look at the cold, hard facts, and ignore all biases. Look at the statistics, the player's past performances, his NHL situation and the way a player is being used by the team, the strength and character of his NHL team (weak; offense-inclined; defense-first; etc.), those are the details that lead to solid, helpful analyses, which is the bread and butter of this great forum.

Bomm Bastic · #19 08-22-2011, 09:36 AM

Yeah ross has a very good point. I go out of my way, in the interest of full disclosure, to assert my obvious man-crush on Myers before attempting to answer any inquiry re d-man rankings.

bondon · #20 08-22-2011, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ross10019

One other topic that might be worth addressing is "homerism".

Now it goes without saying that all of us have a soft spot for either our home/favorite NHL team and its players, as well as for the NHL players on our fantasy squads, but it's critical that, when providing analysis (trades, keeper decisions, roster moves, performance forecasts, etc.) that you completely set aside that homerist tendency as much as possible. I am not saying that you shouldn't post about players you like, or players from your favorite NHL team - often, you will have very valuable information to share regarding these players - BUT, and here is the KEY issue, you should try to avoid at all costs OVERVALUING these players based on your favoritism, that to me is the crux of the matter.

In that regard, I'd like to point out a very important distinction though, which has been quite relevant in my case.

I have often, in the past, posted analyses and thoughts about players that I own, especially regarding their prospects for the future. An example is Letang, whom I've written about extensively, especially during the years when he was not yet producing up to the expectations. More recently, Hiller, in that thread regarding where he stands in terms of top 10, 15, 20, etc.

There is a reason why I am posting regarding these guys, and it's not because I own them, but rather because of the fact that I FOLLOW THEM MORE CLOSELY as a result of owning them. For this reason, I often will have much more valuable information to share with all of you regarding these players versus other players I don't follow as much. Sometimes, I think this may come off to some as homerism ((i.e., there goes so-and-so again blabbing about how great that player he owns is), but it really isn't, it is more a tendency to provide information regarding players of whom you have the most knowledge, and if anything that is quite the opposite of homerism. Again, the golden rule is to avoid OVERVALUING when you do this.

In the end, the only way to answer fantasy-related questions about a player is to look at the cold, hard facts, and ignore all biases. Look at the statistics, the player's past performances, his NHL situation and the way a player is being used by the team, the strength and character of his NHL team (weak; offense-inclined; defense-first; etc.), those are the details that lead to solid, helpful analyses, which is the bread and butter of this great forum.

Brilliant point Ross...not going to lie I find myself doing that on occassion as well. Its easy to favour certain players when you watch a lot of them over and over again. I don't think I can ever give a non-homer response regarding Kesler ever again. Good thing he's so sick lol.

To build on this point of bias, I'd just like to add how important it is to make sure that advice given is based on the original poster scoring categories and league dynamic and not your own. That is something that kind of bothers me a bit when I see it. Classic example is the multi-cat over the points only.

Hypothetical example: "Yeah definitely draft Hartnell over Tanguay. Tanguay is absolutely terrible for peripherals, he doesn't shoot at all. Hartnell is a multi-cat BEAST and will give you loads of PIM, Hits and his more goal heavy!"

(Example was simply to illustrate a point).

Advice like that is bad news if the OP specifically says "Points Only" in his/her sig or in their original post.

I find this comes into play a lot when it comes to leagues that attribute point values to certain categories (i.e. 0.25 points for SOG, .1 points for PIM). I've seen some odd leagues in the short time that I've been here..one of which counted hits = 1 just as a G = 1 or A = 1. In a league like that Cal Clutterbuck instantly becomes a 300+ point player, etc.

Nobody is perfect, and its not like you're shitlisted if you do that..I've probably done it a couple times... but its just something to think about. It can really mess someone up if you give someone who is new to FH advice based on your categories and not their own. I've seen it happen before where someone pulls a trigger on a trade because a couple people jump the gun and go based on name value when the trade itself is completely detrimental to the team.

Just something to keep in mind...

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