Michael Cavanaugh's note the other day got me thinking again about
something that has crossed my mind every now and then over the last
few years.  It's the relationship between HOCKEY-L and coaches who
read it.  I'm not singling Michael out here, by any means, but his
note is symptomatic of what I consider to be a problem in this area.
 
I know I am one of only a few people who have been around to see
HOCKEY-L grow from its inception almost 5 years ago as a place for a
few fans to discuss college hockey and learn more about it, to where
we are at now with literally thousands of people reading and
contributing information and ideas.  During that time, as the college
hockey intelligentsia has gradually become aware of HOCKEY-L, many
have taken to following the list and learned a lot from it as we have.
Some have accounts and read the list directly, and some have postings
printed out and given to them for their perusal - but many read it.
I think that's a good thing, and I have enjoyed hearing from coaches
and administrators who think HOCKEY-L plays a valuable role in helping
to advance the sport.
 
At the same time, there seems to be a trend whereby a good number of
coaches, in particular, spend time lurking on HOCKEY-L (reading but
not posting), and then only speak up to (as Michael put it) chastise
people who they feel to have crossed the line.  Michael said his intent
was not to chastise, yet, that was how it came across to me - and it
is not the first time I have seen this happen, nor the fifth.
 
By the way, I'm not commenting on the validity of Michael's criticism.
I think he had some good points to raise and I believe in setting the
record straight, when one believes it to be necessary.
 
However, I have also heard from people who believe that a number of
coaches play a sort of "Big Brother" role on HOCKEY-L.  That is, they
read along with everyone else but only contribute something when it's
time to, for lack of a better term, chastise someone who says something
that they believe shouldn't have been said.
 
It needs to be said that I appreciate the role that coaches have played
on HOCKEY-L.  There are some who post occasionally and provide us with
information or ideas that haven't been posted before.  There's no need
to say who those people are because I think we all know who they are.
As well, I don't think it's necessary to list the coaches who have posted
only to criticize.
 
Also, I do recognize the reasons some people have for remaining silent
and just reading along, if only to gather information that isn't as
available elsewhere; that's one of the reasons HOCKEY-L was founded and
why it exists.  I know that some people are in positions that make it
necessary for them to refrain from posting, and I respect that.  I would
still want them to keep reading and hopefully get something out of what
they read.
 
But on the other hand, when a coach comes out of the shadows to criticize
another poster and then fades away, I feel disappointed that this is all
we get to hear him say.  The coaches who have, for whatever reasons,
chosen to take a more active role have had a unique insight to provide
that can't be gotten anywhere else.  More such insights can only improve
the quality of the list and help us all to learn more.
 
So when I hear a coach say (as Michael did) that he enjoys reading
HOCKEY-L and all it has to offer, my response is that if possible,
try to give something back.  I've taken enough ribbing here about the
number and length of posts I make (like this one).  The reason why
I do that is simple: I love the game, and I sincerely appreciate the
efforts other people make to tell me things I wouldn't otherwise know.
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and I try to do my
part in taking time to post things I know about.  I always get out more
than I give.
 
My intent in writing this isn't to make coaches feel unwelcome or to
criticize those who jump in and out of the shadows to chastise posters.
As I said, I believe in setting the record straight and I have no
problem with them doing that if they believe an injustice has been done.
But I would also ask them, when you take the time to make such a post
and make yourselves known, please consider also taking the time to post
about your team and your area of expertise, something I know everyone will
appreciate.  Many of us here are just as passionate about the game and
interested in its success as those who play and coach it, even though not
all of us can play or coach.  I don't know of another forum like HOCKEY-L
that is as devoted to a college sport or as successful, and one of the
things that makes it successful is the involvement of some of the people
directly involved with the game.
 
So I hope that even though this is the offseason, maybe this will still
be seen by some of the people to whom it is addressed and it will be taken
in the positive spirit in which it is intended.  Thanks for reading.
---                                                                 ---
Mike Machnik                                          [log in to unmask]
Cabletron Systems, Inc.                                  *HMM* 11/13/93