Why SBR is doomed

[tacomax]

**** taco

dudes a spaz

Yes, I do have a mild form of cerebral palsy. But thanks for making it public.

[Nickelicious]

I have to concur. They've cultivated the watering down of this place to a critical mass, and to salvage it isn't compatible with their current business model. It would be fascinating to see if new management could return it to a time when those in charge didn't care solely about traffic and post counts...

...but about a measurement of just how many good threads we have compared to the worthless ones. John gave a politician's answer to a substantive inquiry, and I found it indicative of the new "philosophy" at work here. Not once did he mention a vision of quality, his only thought was for "doubling" whatever metric he finds most closely mimics the forum's impact on the bottom line. He claims we're vibrant, but so is a preschooler's fingerpainting. Shouldn't we aspire to more than vibrancy, but rather an artistic masterpiece of a forum whose spectrum of good posters reflects every hue on the palette?

This is a business, not a Dead Poets Society. I'm not a veteran of this forum, but I'm guessing the past business model (ca. 2005) probably did not address (or even entirely anticipate) the exponential growth of the forum membership base. The current business model is surely designed to promote continued revenue growth of SBR's primary and related sites, a natural objective for company shareholders (ownership entities or investors).

To sustain or improve current profitability, SBR likely relies on viral and tactical search engine marketing to grow page view volume, leading to increased sportsbook referrals and affiliate revenue. This will, of course, attract every flavor of gambler to this forum and lead to even more "watering down" of forum content.

It is not John's responsibility to ensure this forum is populated by "a spectrum of good posters" or even promote "an artistic masterpiece of a forum." That is our responsibility. His responsibility is to make the forum as entertaining as possible to the broadest spectrum of forum members, which will include the 60% of the gambling public that are short-tempered habitual losers who demand instant gratification and a free shot glass for their daily devotion. Of course, John wants to maintain a forum with the highest possible quality standards (much like the primary websites SBR owns), but he can only do so much with the hand he has been dealt.

Yes, Rogue, "salvaging" this forum is not compatible with their current business model. But I would suggest that it is not that hard to find fellow compatriots on this forum who share similar perspectives to yours. This thread is proof of that. It is also possible to create certain niches within this forum that newbies and goobers will not foul up so quickly. But you have to be careful what you wish for.

Players Talk may not be the place to launch a topical thread devoted to carefully considered and intelligent discussion. But it is the place to launch a thread that will gain the most exposure and most commentary from fellow members. So, alluding to what I said before, it is up to us to keep those types of threads floating back to the top of the first page. Even if we have to dig into the second or third page to do it.

[jellobiafra]

Scholar, you just got bumped to the 2nd most eloquent thing ever written on this board. Sorry pal.

[hanco21]

[Dark Horse]

Growth needs to be managed and I think SBR is doing an excellent job now and has a great game plan moving forward. Growth is the result of an excellent product and very creative and hard working managers and staff.

If you look at the SBR contests, lines, reviews, picks, forum, ect., they all are very high quality sites that we have a big time staff working on around the clock. There will be a dip and a target missed but I can assure you the plan has always been to have the highest quality.

SBR contests - More now, but not better. In fact, some good monthly ones were taken off (NBA and MLB). It's all free money and appreciated as such, but let's face it. BTP Grand prize of 10K is really 5K (down from 10K when it wasn't called Grand Prize). Not too long ago you talked of a Lincoln SUV as 1st prize... Now we have kiddie points...

SBR lines - the best SBR product.

SBR reviews - sportsbookreviews are almost an afterthought these days. Example. SBR hasn't said one thing about the numerous outages at Matchbook, leaving everybody guessing. How hard would it be to pick up a phone and talk to management? That was the old SBR for sure.

picks -

forum - lost cause.

[RogueScholar]

Scholar, you just got bumped to the 2nd most eloquent thing ever written on this board. Sorry pal.

That's okay, even I am properly taken aback by Nickelicious. Crafting a response to him requires much more hash oil. Stay tuned...

[jellobiafra]

[jackpot269]

That's okay, even I am properly taken aback by Nickelicious. Crafting a response to him requires much more hash oil. Stay tuned...

[20Four7]

yo locusts

Great tune....... the best rock and roll swindle of all time, Malcolm McClaren selling them to the world...... but I still like them anyways.

[20Four7]

for those who were worried about
Roguey, it seems he found SBR again and is posting like a mad man..... just pass some hash oil over here dude.

[konck]

I see it this way.....Im here now....Im having fun.....There's a lot to do....good stuff for me so im not gonna dig for something thats not there like a reason for this place being gone in 3 months.
GL to everyone Today NFL take Sammy's plays combine them with what the Prick pick check to see if Onthetwat is going all in and fade all the common games between those 3

[Nickelicious]

Great tune....... the best rock and roll swindle of all time, Malcolm McClaren selling them to the world...... but I still like them anyways.

At least Bow Wow Wow made more money...

[tacomax]

At least Bow Wow Wow made more money...

I'd go wild in her country.

[SBR Lou]

Example. SBR hasn't said one thing about the numerous outages at Matchbook, leaving everybody guessing.

http://www.sportsbookreview.com/sbr/matchbook/

10/3/2009 11:01 AM
matchbook website downtime during weekends prompts downgrade from A to A-. SBR will monitor matchbook's progress dealing with ongoing issue of weekend Denial of Service attacks.


9/26/2009 12:55 PM
matchbook (SBR rating A) states that site access is restored. Any player that cannot access matchbook can contact them via live chat with their IP address.


9/24/2009 09:59 AM
matchbook the latest victim of denial of service attacksmatchbook (SBR rating A) is currently experiencing distributed denial of service attacks. matchbook is the latest victim in a string of attacks that began last weekend forcing several high profile sportsbooks to put up mirror sites until the attacks subsided. Players can access matchbook at http://www2.matchbook.com until the main site is restored. matchbook has informed SBR that if the backup site were to go down, all current offers would be cancelled.

[20Four7]

At least Bow Wow Wow made more money...

The boiz in the band are too pretty to be rockers..... of course the pistols made no money Malcolm did..... that was the deal......

[tacomax]

The best part of their career was when they were invited on to a early evening talk show when kids would be watching.

[20Four7]

The best part of their career was when they were invited on to a early evening talk show when kids would be watching.

That interview pretty much ended his career.......

[zubzub]

[pavyracer]

This is a business, not a Dead Poets Society. I'm not a veteran of this forum, but I'm guessing the past business model (ca. 2005) probably did not address (or even entirely anticipate) the exponential growth of the forum membership base. The current business model is surely designed to promote continued revenue growth of SBR's primary and related sites, a natural objective for company shareholders (ownership entities or investors).

To sustain or improve current profitability, SBR likely relies on viral and tactical search engine marketing to grow page view volume, leading to increased sportsbook referrals and affiliate revenue. This will, of course, attract every flavor of gambler to this forum and lead to even more "watering down" of forum content.

It is not John's responsibility to ensure this forum is populated by "a spectrum of good posters" or even promote "an artistic masterpiece of a forum." That is our responsibility. His responsibility is to make the forum as entertaining as possible to the broadest spectrum of forum members, which will include the 60% of the gambling public that are short-tempered habitual losers who demand instant gratification and a free shot glass for their daily devotion. Of course, John wants to maintain a forum with the highest possible quality standards (much like the primary websites SBR owns), but he can only do so much with the hand he has been dealt.

Yes, Rogue, "salvaging" this forum is not compatible with their current business model. But I would suggest that it is not that hard to find fellow compatriots on this forum who share similar perspectives to yours. This thread is proof of that. It is also possible to create certain niches within this forum that newbies and goobers will not foul up so quickly. But you have to be careful what you wish for.

Players Talk may not be the place to launch a topical thread devoted to carefully considered and intelligent discussion. But it is the place to launch a thread that will gain the most exposure and most commentary from fellow members. So, alluding to what I said before, it is up to us to keep those types of threads floating back to the top of the first page. Even if we have to dig into the second or third page to do it.

Excellent post.

[Robyn]

That's okay, even I am properly taken aback by Nickelicious. Crafting a response to him requires much more hash oil. Stay tuned...

Peter, what is hash oil? Me dumb.

[BadNina]

Why does everything on this forum make more sense after 5 cups of coffee?

[RogueScholar]

Peter, what is hash oil? Me dumb.

Hash oil is when you use a non-polar solvent, typically an alkane or alcohol, to extract all the THC from marijuana so that it can be smoked freely without having to actually combust the vegetative matter in the buds. Where high-grade marijuana typically has THC concentrations <25%, high grade hash oil can be as potent as 70% THC. It's like the difference between Vicodin and Oxycontin, same basic compound, just different concentrations. It gives me a stellar "head high" without the munchies, giggle fits or implantation on the sofa for hours.

[20Four7]

Hash oil is when you use a non-polar solvent, typically an alkane or alcohol, to extract all the THC from marijuana so that it can be smoked freely without having to actually combust the vegetative matter in the buds. Where high-grade marijuana typically has THC concentrations <25%, high grade hash oil can be as potent as 70% THC. It's like the difference between Vicodin and Oxycontin, same basic compound, just different concentrations. It gives me a stellar "head high" without the munchies, giggle fits or implantation on the sofa for hours.

Wow no wonder I like it so much........ I prefer the blonde variety but all of it is good.

[RogueScholar]

Wow no wonder I like it so much........ I prefer the blonde variety but all of it is good.

The color depends more on the solvent than the raw product used in manufacturing. Some solvents, like 2-propanol, capture chlorophyll along with the THC. Butane, on the other hand, does not. Both will make excellent hash oil, but the supercritical butane will give you that golden honey color and with a boiling point below room it's much easier to purge the solvent. Most of the higher price of it is due to the risk, which is not insubstantial. I've lost an eyebrow, all my leg hair twice, and blown out a couple windows in the process of learning to make it properly. Remember that the next time someone quotes you $30/gram for it.

[Robyn]

Hash oil is when you use a non-polar solvent, typically an alkane or alcohol, to extract all the THC from marijuana so that it can be smoked freely without having to actually combust the vegetative matter in the buds. Where high-grade marijuana typically has THC concentrations <25%, high grade hash oil can be as potent as 70% THC. It's like the difference between Vicodin and Oxycontin, same basic compound, just different concentrations. It gives me a stellar "head high" without the munchies, giggle fits or implantation on the sofa for hours.

I had no idea such a thing exists. Is this the medicinal stuff that people can buy in California? If so, I can see why it hasn't been legalized across the board. I am sure the pharmaceutical companies are fighting that every step of the way.

[jellobiafra]

Medicinal is just buds. I don't think they sell hash or hash oil at those places, but I could be wrong. I think Scholar home brews the oil - the lucky bastard.

[teaserpleaser]

BHO or "hash oil" is illegal here in LA... no big deal though people still making it just cant vend it to the clubs anymore.

[teaserpleaser]

Medicinal is just buds. I don't think they sell hash or hash oil at those places, but I could be wrong. I think Scholar home brews the oil - the lucky bastard.

oh they still sell hash its just dry sift or bubble/gumby hash

[RogueScholar]

Medicinal is just buds. I don't think they sell hash or hash oil at those places, but I could be wrong. I think Scholar home brews the oil - the lucky bastard.

They do indeed sell hash and hash oil, as well as all the edibles that have become so famous like brownies and space cakes. What I sell to the local co-op is a 2 parts bubble hash to 1 part hash oil playdough that'll rock your world. And yeah, all of the derivatives I make myself, the chemistry involved os one of my favorite parts of working in this industry.

Robyn- This is indeed one of the many parts of California's amazing medical marijuana program. Hopefully the current state budget crisis moves us closer to complete legalization, but you're right about the opposition. The pharmaceutical lobby is fighting us tooth and nail, always pushing their "pot pill" Marinol, which is a pathetic facsimile to the real article.

[mathdotcom]

What the hell happened to this thread.

It is about SBR being doomed.

Walker sealed his fate by not paying the $1400 he owes me and we are taking steps as we speak

[yisman]

funniest part was the kid and the king fighting with mathy in the thread. a few months later, both of those guys are gone. Boy, they sure didn't last long.

[yisman]

blah

one of four posts from this clown.

Feigns flocking all over this bitch

The ghosts are all over this thread.

[mrmarket]

Bump for relevance.

[mathdotcom]

[shari91]

I can't believe how much I just learned about hash oil. I'll never try it obviously but it makes me feel cool nonetheless.