I agree it should be pinned or possibly more visible but act like we are running around like crazy and cheating or pushing the limits, coaches might have admitted they didn’t know their were rules but again it doesn’t mean they were breaking them....it clearly hasn’t been a problem until you guys got caught...

Wow man. Just wow. (I didn't quote it. But this message was obviously for fluff)

Explain to me how it's normal for you, to throw games, or conspire between you and one other coach privately for personal HD gain.

Also explain to me why having rules pinned would make you read it and say, "oh I won't do that now cuz the paper said so".

I'd honestly like to add more to this but we'll do it in sections so you can answer each one directly if you'd like.

Fluff, I'm glad you got your team back. Bummer we couldn't play head to head but I'm sure we'll have more chances in the future, you're a good coach.

I'm also glad your brother in law was banned. He's a butthole.

No one disagrees these should be pinned. Don't worry, we will get it done.

But this obsession with the FPGs today is weird. It's almost like you're trying to set us all up or something. Like "see! Everyone agrees you couldn't find the rules and that means my brother in law shouldn't be held accountable. See!! "

Just the way you're coming across to everyone fyi.

Posted by Benis on 8/29/2020 8:17:00 PM (view original):
Fluff, I'm glad you got your team back. Bummer we couldn't play head to head but I'm sure we'll have more chances in the future, you're a good coach.

I'm also glad your brother in law was banned. He's a butthole.

No one disagrees these should be pinned. Don't worry, we will get it done.

But this obsession with the FPGs today is weird. It's almost like you're trying to set us all up or something. Like "see! Everyone agrees you couldn't find the rules and that means my brother in law shouldn't be held accountable. See!! "

Just the way you're coming across to everyone fyi.

Fair enough man, I'll shut up. Congrats again on your championship. I would have changed a few things but overall my team was set up how I would have wanted them. You have a fair championship in my eyes, and yes, we tend to run in to each other quite often in the tourny.

Posted by nuff_flasty on 8/29/2020 7:11:00 AM (view original):
Issue #1: The Fair Play Guidelines (FPGs) are buried on the website, and not easily accessible to the users.

If you don't know where they are located, go try and find them without using a link or search engine. See how long it takes you.

I propose we pin a thread with a working link on the top of the HD Forums. It should be the first thing you see when you load the page. Additionally I believe a link should be added to the "help" drop down menu, or even better, add a tab next to the help menu specifically for the FPGs.

Issue #2: How is a new user supposed to know the FPGs even exist?

I just created a new account, there was no mention of these FPGs, they are at no point brought to the attention of the user. I think an update needs to be made where all existing users and every new user from that point on, are required to acknowledge the FPGs.

Issue #3: The guidelines themselves.

I see a major contradiction within the rules as they currently stand regarding multiple teams.

Even if a user is in compliance with the 1,000 mile and conference restrictions, they are going to run into trouble.

Here is an example: Let's say we have coach Jenkins, and he coaches at San Fran St. Coach Jenkins is operated by a guy named Tom. Tom decides to make another coach, (following the FPGs of course!) Tom creates coach Leroy and takes a job at West Florida. So far so good right? We'll see.....

Scouting opens and Tom logs into his San Fran team, he completes his scouting. Next, he logs into his West Florida team to do the same. However, the instant he logs into West Florida he is in violation of the FPGs! The FPGs clearly state:

"Collusion includes any act that supports bad, deceitful or illegal behavior agreed upon by two or more users or attempted by a single user. Here are a few examples:
Sharing Future Stars Scouting (FSS) information between multiple teams"

Sorry Tom, if you decide to scout for one of your teams, you are no longer legally allowed to log into your other account, this would be a clear violation of the FPGs.

Issue #4: Enforcing the rules.

I think we all can understand the challenges of enforcing the FPGs. WIS even admits:

"WhatIfSports games acknowledge the fact that it is technically not feasible to ensure that each username is controlled by a unique person."

This is an issue that I currently do not have a great solution for but it is necessary to mention.

Conclusion:

At this point, it is unrealistic to expect every coach to know about the FPGs. At this point it is extremely easy to violate the FPGs on a daily basis and get away with it. At this point there should be no assumption that the majority of coaches are in compliance with the FPGs.

I'm calling for some change, who is with me?

nuff_said

Right at the bottom of every page is a hyperlink to “Terms of Use”.

Click on that, and the first thing you see is a hyperlink to the “Fair Play Guidelines”.

It really isn’t hard to find, unless you’re trying to make excuses that it’s hidden.

I’m not sure why anybody needs multiple teams in a single world. There’s what, ten worlds? If you need more than ten teams, that’s pretty sad.

I have no view on the specific events, but everything in the fair play guidelines is obvious to anyone who intends to pursue this game with good sportsmanship

you dont throw a game - we all know that without reading guidelines. When we coach, say, an elementary school level youth hoops team in real life we know that you dont throw a game - but the league rules - at least ones where I have ever coached - do not specify that you dont throw a game

the only stuff that isnt obvious are the marginal things that are allowed - like having two teams in a world in the same division outside 1000 miles

you dont need fair play guidelines to play fair.

FFS Man. Throwing a game is wrong. It doesn't matter the game. It doesn't matter the level. It can be spades. It can be go fish. It can be connect four. Losing on purpose is wrong. You don't need fair play guidelines to tell you this. I mean hell, shoeless joe was just part of a team that threw a game and he was blackballed for life.