The fine line between disillusion and disenchanted

[SECoach]

Keep on keeping on Tony! Any/every kids success SHOULD be celebrated regardless of age. From where I sit there is absolutely nothing wrong with giving props to a 10 yr old. Live in the now not the future. For many kids their moment in the sun may only come when they are 10. Every article I have personally read on YHH about a specific player also included their academics, other sport achievements and positive impact on their community. Bottom line.... don't like it, don't read it!

Have to read it to know if I like it. They solicit comments on their articles and I make mine known. I've been clear in trying to point out my opinion of the downside of calling kids that age "The next big thing". That's what it is, my opinion. You get yours, Tony gets his, I get mine. Pretty simple. When one gives their opinion, they shouldn't be surprised when someone else follows with their own.

Great point about living in the moment and celebrating those moments. Unfortunately an article titled "The next big thing" doesn't seem to be living in the moment, but predicting the future. I believe it feeds an unhealthy competition among parents and results in kids not being kids, which effects their growth, development, and future in a negative way. In short, it helps creates the dissolutions that the article refers to.

I believe writing articles about youth hockey players and the game is a good thing. I don't believe sensationalizing their achievements at these ages is appropriate. I haven't commented on the article specified in this thread, but think it was well written and appropriate. I can't disagree with other posters who question the inconsistent messages from YHH though.

[royals dad]

In order to be paid something for it, we write stories that people will want to read and attract advertisers who pay for space on our site. I think we do it in a fun and positive way. In three short years, we have written hundreds of stories and provided timely news, scores, rankings and SOME editorial when we see it necessary.

I have been somewhat uncomfortable with some of your site content about younger kids since you have first started posting links here. Frankly if I didn't follow this forum I never would have known about yours.

So what are the limits, is anything that people want to read fair game? You have used this forum as a primary traffic driver to your website, so I think it is more than fair for people here to comment on the content you link for this forum. I also think it is fair and reasonable to question your content with respect to posting kids names in game stories, top player lists, and articles you post. As for the if you don't like it don't read it comments, I agree with you but only to a certain point, there are limits to what is right and what is wrong. If someone is doing something you think is morally or ethically wrong then I think you should call them on it. In a world where anyone can throw up a website and fill it with whatever content they want it is my personal belief we should be cautions of what we allow them to put out there about kids. And yes I did say allow, because just as easily as you can post an article the thousands of readers of this forum can shoot emails to your advertisers and say "I will not buy your products if you support that website". The ease of the internet can be a double edged sword.

These top players will go through association tryouts, AAA tryouts, Advanced 15/16/17 evaluations (Minnesota has the most rigorous tryouts in the USA), after they hit 16 they will be playing in front of scouts and college coaches constantly. Do we really need to put all that pressure on kids earlier, to have reporters in the stands at tournaments for 9 and 10 year olds? I had the luck of getting to see Gretzky play many times, I did not really hear of him until he was almost playing in the NHL (although much of Canada did). Read what he says about the pressure of growing up in the spot light of being a phenom, of being hated, of having to move to get away from it. It worked out for him but for the hundreds of "next great ones" since they got all of the crap he did with little or no pot of gold at the end. What really is the limit? At least this forum used to have a bit of self (and Karl) policing that kept things in check.

[Ugottobekiddingme]

I'd hate to bloviate on this topic, so I won't.

YHH writes about youth hockey. Our intent is to promote the game (teams, leagues, scores, etc). We write stories that people want to read. And we do it because we enjoy it.

And yes, it is our intent to be paid something for it, much it is the intent for people to play sports for a living, teach school, etc and be paid something to do it.

In order to be paid something for it, we write stories that people will want to read and attract advertisers who pay for space on our site. I think we do it in a fun and positive way. In three short years, we have written hundreds of stories and provided timely news, scores, rankings and SOME editorial when we see it necessary.

This story was an adaptation of a conversation I had with a guy who has played and coached all over the world and gave me his perspective on youth hockey/sports. I shared it. The story has been one of the most read in the history of the site (a distant second to Fargo Pin Gallery).

I simply replied "You cannot be serious..." because our site is a blatant glorification of future Gretzky's (disillusion)...but it is also smart for us to cover those scenarios that involve disenchantment, too.

Can you make a case of hypocrisy? Sure. But before you throw stones, check your glass house, brother. Especially if you live in a glass house with an unlisted/anonymous address.

I challenge any reader of this board to an in-person meeting about our content and I always respect the wishes of parents of removing a story about their child (which has never happened).

Bloviatingly,

Tony

I guess this response was expected. "I'd hate to bloviate on this topic",...... but you just did. It's super that sponsors will float advertising money to YHH and hopefully they understand this is an opinion and not fact based web, although entertaining like Rolling Stone and People magazine, at least 9-12 year olds are left off their front page (except Boston bombers), usually have to dig for that garbage. It's none of my business but if you are going to use your true journalist abilities, YHH started reporting about this situation and never finished the article or follow-up on the D2 money scam. Much creditability would follow if you complete the details of that mess. YHH has a beneficial purpose within MN hockey, as a possible reader, show me why I should read it and I will except your opinion on disillusional parents offered by a third party.

[InThePipes]

I'd hate to bloviate on this topic, so I won't.

YHH writes about youth hockey. Our intent is to promote the game (teams, leagues, scores, etc). We write stories that people want to read. And we do it because we enjoy it.

And yes, it is our intent to be paid something for it, much it is the intent for people to play sports for a living, teach school, etc and be paid something to do it.

In order to be paid something for it, we write stories that people will want to read and attract advertisers who pay for space on our site. I think we do it in a fun and positive way. In three short years, we have written hundreds of stories and provided timely news, scores, rankings and SOME editorial when we see it necessary.

This story was an adaptation of a conversation I had with a guy who has played and coached all over the world and gave me his perspective on youth hockey/sports. I shared it. The story has been one of the most read in the history of the site (a distant second to Fargo Pin Gallery).

I simply replied "You cannot be serious..." because our site is a blatant glorification of future Gretzky's (disillusion)...but it is also smart for us to cover those scenarios that involve disenchantment, too.

Can you make a case of hypocrisy? Sure. But before you throw stones, check your glass house, brother. Especially if you live in a glass house with an unlisted/anonymous address.

I challenge any reader of this board to an in-person meeting about our content and I always respect the wishes of parents of removing a story about their child (which has never happened).

Bloviatingly,

Tony

I guess this response was expected. "I'd hate to bloviate on this topic",...... but you just did. It's super that sponsors will float advertising money to YHH and hopefully they understand this is an opinion and not fact based web, although entertaining like Rolling Stone and People magazine, at least 9-12 year olds are left off their front page (except Boston bombers), usually have to dig for that garbage. It's none of my business but if you are going to use your true journalist abilities, YHH started reporting about this situation and never finished the article or follow-up on the D2 money scam. Much creditability would follow if you complete the details of that mess. YHH has a beneficial purpose within MN hockey, as a possible reader, show me why I should read it and I will except your opinion on disillusional parents offered by a third party.

[wingnuts]

Is your goal to get Tony to change his mind? Not only are you taking time to read the YHH website, but you're also taking time to articulate a negative response and act as the moral police about his site. Do everyone a favor and just move to a different site because your banter will not change his interest in youth hockey.

[blueliner2day]

You forgot the "life's lesson" here and for the life of me I can't find it. I won't be able to "get over it and move on" if I don't get a "life's lesson" lecture.

[Ugottobekiddingme]

I'd hate to bloviate on this topic, so I won't.

YHH writes about youth hockey. Our intent is to promote the game (teams, leagues, scores, etc). We write stories that people want to read. And we do it because we enjoy it.

And yes, it is our intent to be paid something for it, much it is the intent for people to play sports for a living, teach school, etc and be paid something to do it.

In order to be paid something for it, we write stories that people will want to read and attract advertisers who pay for space on our site. I think we do it in a fun and positive way. In three short years, we have written hundreds of stories and provided timely news, scores, rankings and SOME editorial when we see it necessary.

This story was an adaptation of a conversation I had with a guy who has played and coached all over the world and gave me his perspective on youth hockey/sports. I shared it. The story has been one of the most read in the history of the site (a distant second to Fargo Pin Gallery).

I simply replied "You cannot be serious..." because our site is a blatant glorification of future Gretzky's (disillusion)...but it is also smart for us to cover those scenarios that involve disenchantment, too.

Can you make a case of hypocrisy? Sure. But before you throw stones, check your glass house, brother. Especially if you live in a glass house with an unlisted/anonymous address.

I challenge any reader of this board to an in-person meeting about our content and I always respect the wishes of parents of removing a story about their child (which has never happened).

Bloviatingly,

Tony

I guess this response was expected. "I'd hate to bloviate on this topic",...... but you just did. It's super that sponsors will float advertising money to YHH and hopefully they understand this is an opinion and not fact based web, although entertaining like Rolling Stone and People magazine, at least 9-12 year olds are left off their front page (except Boston bombers), usually have to dig for that garbage. It's none of my business but if you are going to use your true journalist abilities, YHH started reporting about this situation and never finished the article or follow-up on the D2 money scam. Much creditability would follow if you complete the details of that mess. YHH has a beneficial purpose within MN hockey, as a possible reader, show me why I should read it and I will except your opinion on disillusional parents offered by a third party.

This would be disenchanted, but are two rollie eyes better or worse than three?

[Ugottobekiddingme]

Is your goal to get Tony to change his mind? Not only are you taking time to read the YHH website, but you're also taking time to articulate a negative response and act as the moral police about his site. Do everyone a favor and just move to a different site because your banter will not change his interest in youth hockey.

This would be disillusioned because the moral police doesn't exist...only in your hockey mind.

[wingnuts]

Is your goal to get Tony to change his mind? Not only are you taking time to read the YHH website, but you're also taking time to articulate a negative response and act as the moral police about his site. Do everyone a favor and just move to a different site because your banter will not change his interest in youth hockey.

This would be disillusioned because the moral police doesn't exist...only in your hockey mind.

I wish the moral police didn't exist because then you would move on. Look I get that you don't like what his site is doing, but there are plenty of other youth hockey websites out there, so do everyone a favor and move on!

[Ugottobekiddingme]

Is your goal to get Tony to change his mind? Not only are you taking time to read the YHH website, but you're also taking time to articulate a negative response and act as the moral police about his site. Do everyone a favor and just move to a different site because your banter will not change his interest in youth hockey.

This would be disillusioned because the moral police doesn't exist...only in your hockey mind.

I wish the moral police didn't exist because then you would move on. Look I get that you don't like what his site is doing, but there are plenty of other youth hockey websites out there, so do everyone a favor and move on!

Maybe the moral police should exist for your Wings in Detroit spending $444M on a new hockey stadium while the city is in $18 billion in debt or maybe the minimum security cell in Duluth is allowing free Wi-Fi for you to tell me to move on. I think I'll stick around before your moral compass points others in the wrong direction....Disllusional.

[wingnuts]

This would be disillusioned because the moral police doesn't exist...only in your hockey mind.

I wish the moral police didn't exist because then you would move on. Look I get that you don't like what his site is doing, but there are plenty of other youth hockey websites out there, so do everyone a favor and move on!

Maybe the moral police should exist for your Wings in Detroit spending $444M on a new hockey stadium while the city is in $18 billion in debt or maybe the minimum security cell in Duluth is allowing free Wi-Fi for you to tell me to move on. I think I'll stick around before your moral compass points others in the wrong direction....Disllusional.

You cannot be serious

[InThePipes]

This would be disillusioned because the moral police doesn't exist...only in your hockey mind.

I wish the moral police didn't exist because then you would move on. Look I get that you don't like what his site is doing, but there are plenty of other youth hockey websites out there, so do everyone a favor and move on!

Maybe the moral police should exist for your Wings in Detroit spending $444M on a new hockey stadium while the city is in $18 billion in debt or maybe the minimum security cell in Duluth is allowing free Wi-Fi for you to tell me to move on. I think I'll stick around before your moral compass points others in the wrong direction....Disllusional.