Content Analysis of this Las Vegas Forum

[redietz]

First of all, a quick shout out to my friends in law enforcement, who have taught me which questions to ask.

This is a Las Vegas forum. As such, there are certain expectations regarding the posters, content, and the interactions among posters.

I'm going to present a few observations. These observations, once made, seem obvious. The observations are based on an analysis of the previous 50 posts of personas on this forum. The observations are regarding the characteristics of the posters' content.

Each characteristic I will mention is unusual for a Las Vegas forum, but not extremely rare. For any single poster to exhibit all of the following characteristics is, however, very, very unusual and almost never seen.

Here we go:

1) Almost no details posted regarding Las Vegas. No places, sights, anecdotes. And especially no recent details. This would seem to be very unusual for a Las Vegas forum poster, unless they were a newbie, in which case the following is even stranger:

2) Almost no questions posted regarding Las Vegas, outside of an occasional query directed to Alan. This is also highly unusual.

3) Very little positive to say about any other poster's experiences, expertise, or knowledge, outside of an occasional kudos directed (again) to Alan.

4) Studiously avoiding questions or discussions regarding math or probability. This is a Las Vegas forum; one would expect at least an occasional broaching of math subjects.

5) Almost no discussion of games of choice, such as blackjack, sports betting, bingo, or whatever. A poster studiously avoiding this subject is also highly unusual.

Think about this list of characteristics. For a poster to exhibit all of the above characteristics would be highly, highly unusual. You'd find almost nobody fitting this bill at LVA or LVAdvice or WoV. A poster exhibiting all of these would be of very little value to a forum and could be a more or less toxic presence.

Now here's the interesting thing: this Las Vegas forum, which has just a handful of high-volume posters, has a group of posters who all display all of these unusual characteristics. How is that possible?

[coach belly]

there are certain expectations regarding the posters, content, and the interactions among posters

Whose expectations, and how did you determine the expectations?

[slingshot]

Red, if the truth were known, math and probability have surface value. They only serve as a guideline to make sensible decisions. The rest is pure luck.

[arcimede$]

Red, if the truth were known, math and probability have surface value. They only serve as a guideline to make sensible decisions. The rest is pure luck.

Righto, your TV, computer, cell phone, etc. only use math for its "surface value". When they work it is "pure luck".

Face-palm.

[Alan Mendelson]

There are no restrictions on starting threads or discussions here.

[slingshot]

Righto, your TV, computer, cell phone, etc. only use math for its "surface value". When they work it is "pure luck".

Face-palm.

Two different worlds.

[arcimede$]

Two different worlds.

No, they both use the very same mathematics. If it works all the time in basic electronics, why do you think it doesn't apply to gambling?

[slingshot]

No, they both use the very same mathematics. If it works all the time in basic electronics, why do you think it doesn't apply to gambling?

There is nothing random in basic electronics- unless the part fails or a parts value weakens and changes.

[arcimede$]

There is nothing random in basic electronics- unless the part fails or a parts value weakens and changes.

Wrong again. The only reason electron flow occurs as it does is due to probability. The probability of current moves in the path of least resistance because that path has a higher probability. No magic involved as it appears you believe.

[slingshot]

Wrong again. The only reason electron flow occurs as it does is due to probability. The probability of current moves in the path of least resistance because that path has a higher probability. No magic involved as it appears you believe.

So if all casinos have a negative EV, an ap player should LOSE ALL THE TIME, since that's the path of least resistance.

[Rob.Singer]

This is such a WEIRD thread. Reminds me of when I used to call staff meetings and there was a new engineer. He'd say something wanting desperately to get known, then everyone looked at each other with a puzzled look on their faces waiting awkwardly for me to help us through it. All I could say though, to a lot of uneasy laughter, was "What did he just say?"

[Alan Mendelson]

I also think this is a weird thread. I'm trying to put into context the comment about law enforcement in the opening sentence as well as the critique of the forum's topics. I don't get it?

As I said, there are no restrictions on starting threads or discussions so if someone has something to say please let us know what you are thinking.

[redietz]

Alan, you don't think it's strange that a subset of posters has the characteristics mentioned: Minimal Las Vegas details, minimal Las Vegas questions, no positive interactions with people outside the subset in question except when addressing you, no math discussions, and minimal discussion of games of choice? That's quite a collection of attributes for people posting on a Las Vegas forum.

[coach belly]

I also think this is a weird thread. I don't get it.

I haven't seen any redietz posts on WOV. As far as I know, they still accept new members on that forum.

It seems that he is advocating, or prefers, restricted content...like this:

Alan: This person HAS to leave here tonight forever

Sportsbetting ONLY thread

[Alan Mendelson]

Alan, you don't think it's strange that a subset of posters has the characteristics mentioned: Minimal Las Vegas details, minimal Las Vegas questions, no positive interactions with people outside the subset in question except when addressing you, no math discussions, and minimal discussion of games of choice? That's quite a collection of attributes for people posting on a Las Vegas forum.

In a word: no.

Why do you feel the need to bring this up?

[redietz]

You ever run into a subset of posters on a Las Vegas forum with those shared characteristics?

I have not. I went over to LVAdvice and did some sampling. Couldn't find anybody.

[Alan Mendelson]

You ever run into a subset of posters on a Las Vegas forum with those shared characteristics?

I have not.

Is there some reason why this forum has to have any particular structure or defined mix of content? I just don't understand the need for this or your reference to law enforcement and their questioning techniques?

How about a trip report instead?

I haven't been to a casino in a while. If my brother gets to Vegas at the end of this month I might drive up to see him.

[coach belly]

You ever run into a subset of posters on a Las Vegas forum with those shared characteristics?

I have not. I went over to LVAdvice and did some sampling. Couldn't find anybody.

Is that forum content-restricted...censored...certain behavior not permitted?

[redietz]

As far as structure goes, a Las Vegas forum forum doesn't require any structure other than the topic of Las Vegas. I think it is highly, highly unusual for a Las Vegas forum to have a subset of posters who do not offer details about Las Vegas and do not ask questions about Las Vegas.

[redietz]

Is that forum content-restricted...censored...certain behavior not permitted?

You'll have to ask Rob -- he's the expert on forum banning. Or maybe Jerry Logan.