Gustav

Read the above. Sharkstrong disqualifies comments like these. I actually always knew this, and it's still my opinion that things need to change, simply because, even if it's the case that comments that are the lowest of the low in terms of quality aren't counted. Even if you're @Beaviss and you would have been active commenting-wise anyway, and you comment on games to actually give your opinion and start discussion, which is something I do admire, those people are a very small minority among those who comment purely for the lottery (myself included, though I do maintain, as I've said earlier, that I'd comment on what was interesting to me regardless). Let's say you're one of five people, myself included, who I can name off the top of my head as people who make comments for the lottery AND make comments that don't qualify as spam, at the very least looking at the outcomes of the games, seeing who did well, seeing if there were any surprises or standouts, and making comments on that rather than just bitching about the lottery or making an obvious half-assed "I'm doing this for the lottery" comment. My own comments on game threads (minus the "#fixthelottery," which I throw in at the end) accomplish this. I'm saying stuff that someone actually might care about quoting me on, even though it can be a bit general at times. So, why do I, personally, think this is an issue? Making these comments does not mean you actually care, and in all likelihood you don't. I know I don't. Hell, I comment on my own team's threads only, and half the time I don't care if someone responds to or quotes what I've written. If I make a comment on a game between Moscow and Seattle, neither of which seems to be going anywhere this season, I don't care. Even if it's Malmo and Seattle, I won't care about any response I get, so long as we haven't been upset (a case which would make the game legitimately interesting, and one I would leave a comment on, regardless of the lottery situation). I might even quote whoever replied to me and say something back, but only to up my lottery chances and not because I care about what's being said. Which leads me to... It creates an extraordinarily phony atmosphere in game threads, which ironically ends up discouraging actual discussion. Going through game threads, it's impossible to find a single one that hasn't been commented on by someone who goes through and comments on everything. As stated above, these people (again, myself included. I am NOT trying to personally attack anyone and I am NOT saying that anyone is consciously working to create a negative atmosphere. I have had conversations with most people I know of who do this at one point or another and I can say that they're all good people, and some are among my favorite people in this league. But anyway, back to the topic, these people...) don't care about what they're saying, so long as it qualifies for the lottery. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out. It would take someone who's way more into the league than I am (and I'm very much into the league) to actually care about every. single. game. Going into any game thread, especially for someone who is new and wants to start getting involved on site, can be somewhat overwhelming when someone sees the same person commenting on every thread. A new member might think that their own comment doesn't belong, or that nobody will ever read it. That's certainly not something a new member should have to experience. Even if the comments themselves aren't spam, the method of commenting certainly is. I'd say this one is fairly self-explanatory, as it's pretty much a summary of everything I've already said. "Great game from [insert first star here], [winner] did a good job staying in it and pulling out the win [optional "#fixthelottery" here]" is certainly better than someone simply commenting "#fixthelottery" or "lottery entry" or anything else that we've all seen out there, but it might as well just be that, as that's what the motive is. Again, I never made this thread to give everyone who voted "yes" a platform to complain--I made this for discussion. Beaviss is 100% entitled to his own opinion, as is Dollar. And Linus. And everyone else who voted no. In fact, should anyone disagree with anything I've said, I want to know. I want to hear all perspectives, whether or not I'm in agreement. Let's keep the discussion going, and let's keep it interesting, so that things may be improved if those in charge deem it necessary.

Toronto 4-3

I think I explained how I'd personally like to see VSN improved in your last suggestion thread. At the moment, I don't care about anything VSN does--I'll read an interesting-sounding article no matter where it is, VSN or not. If it's a VSN article, it won't make me click on it any more than if it isn't. So, I'm saying no, but there's potential to make it good if things change up a bit.

MURICA But good luck everyone I suppose

Why not? I'll have no idea what's going on but I can at least try.

See, this is being 4-1 outplayed. Calgary must be doing something right, cause I trust Advantage not to do much wrong. #fixthelottery

We got outplayed, but I don't think it was 4-1 outplayed. That's just a decent game from Wahl. #fixthelottery

I'll apply here. I know what a good bit of work looks like, and I'm on quite frequently, often just to look at stuff and not even do any real work. I'd love to be able to continue doing exactly that but make it productive. I also sincerely promise not to approve my own stuff, as I know that is sort of frowned upon.

Beating AND OUTSHOOTING Ottawa. Guess it was just a phase after all, mom. #fixthelottery

Well, we have a goal from every line here. I like that part. Hulk still somehow keeping up the points. #fixthelottery

You know, I thought our lines sucked...but whatever happened to Berocka is making me not want to change them. #fixthelottery

Lynch and Odinsson again first and second star. So much for Odinsson not doing much this season. I will concede that Jaguar had a good game as well. He's looking like the right choice for Moscow moving forward. #fixthelottery

Toronto's run has been interrupted! Great games from Lynch and Odinsson. Good to see Malmo is worthy again. #fixthelottery

Really, anything at all, so long as an interesting article can be written about it. Right now, the subject material isn't really the problem with VSN--it's the combination of "this is (in most cases) just another old media spot" and "we see the same thing week after week" that brings it down, in my opinion.

Two things: 1. VSN should definitely be given more publicity if it is to be seen as a legitimate part of the league. Otherwise, it's just a bunch of people with fancy titles and the authority to say "HEY LOOK AT MY MEDIA SPOT" in VHL Discord without getting weird looks. Sadly, that's really all it is at the moment--if I write a media spot and then go and post it in VHL Discord (which I've done once or twice for my longer ones), then I'm practically a VSN writer already, just without the job pay. That shouldn't have to be the case. 2. But if we do give more publicity to VSN, then what's the guarantee that it won't just be a bunch of people writing media spots and annoying people to look at them? I agree with @Sonnet here in that it's getting too formulaic. I like the rewind series. I like reading power rankings and all that. But nothing that VSN does right now is enough to make me come back week after week to see what the latest is. I already know what's going to be released, and if I care to check (which is sometimes but not always), then I'll do it. But sometimes, knowing what I'll get is enough to make me stop caring. What I'd suggest is a possible re-evaluation of what VSN does. Instead of the same quantity of articles (in most cases, your friendly neighborhood media spots) being put out every week, I'd suggest longer, extensively planned, extensively fact-checked articles packed with interesting information and statistics, perhaps brainstormed and handpicked to be the best ideas by the VSN crew as a whole. Quantity should not be an issue here--these articles can be released around once every two weeks, to allow quality to substantially increase. If quantity is still an issue, perhaps VSN could simply hire a few more writers to make up for the once-every-two-weekliness. That's just my two cents though. I'm sure there are many other ideas to improve things.

For the week ending 6/2: 1. Our play seems to have taken a turn for the worse lately, as we've been losing quite frequently in the past week. Is this a concern or simply a phase? 2. If you were GM of the Hounds for a day, what would you do and why? 3. What's the weirdest thing you've seen a teammate do in the locker room? 4. Yesterday, a list or two was posted in the VHL's Discord server, ranking the Hounds' relevance as simply average. Any reasons why we should stand out, or is this fair? 5. What's the most interesting VHLM city to visit on road trips and why? 6. What are your opinions on the lottery system? (sorry, I had to) @Rayzor_7 @HulkHogan @cody73 @No_Dangles @GlowyGoat @DoktorFunk @mmarcoux98 @SweetMike666 @maximlab @Cran @Viknegar @NavyCanuck @raghas @HanManHimself @berocka @hartfordhitmen

Claiming for the week ending 6/2. Many thanks to Dollar for pinning this.

Exactly the opposite of the other one. Interesting. I have to say that I'm slightly disappointed with Garcia so far. It's likely because I decided to go very unbalanced right away by putting everything I had into defense, and I wouldn't do that again if I had the chance. When the rest catches up, though, look out. #fixthelottery

Nice shutout and great defensive numbers from Vanderhuge! It's still my opinion that Calgary is underrated, but we've done quite well against them this season. #fixthelottery

I'm surprised he didn't immediately quit when everyone was like "OH HEY YOU'RE OUR 2000TH MEMBER!" That's the most cliche internet scam in existence. That being said, welcome to the league @Scott S.! Looks like you've already found a team, but feel free to contact me or any other GM with any questions you might have. Nice reference with the name, by the way. For those who haven't seen it: Should have been a goalie (actually, please don't make a goalie. The market is saturated. But should have been a goalie nonetheless).

Review: Not bad for a pedo. I especially liked how you managed to spell over 90% of the words right. The screenshot from NHL 19, rather than an actual player's picture, should be a hot new trend in the league in good time. Overall, I'd say this one is right up there with legends such as BIG BOI, giving me no other choice but to rate this one 17 out of 18, or the maximum possible score in your book. Keep your work up and hard, but limit the vertical nature and the not-very-soft quality to work.

@Strooper99 right-click on the image and click on "copy image address." If you copy the page URL it won't do anything.

@bluesfan55?

@Radcow deserved better. That helmet was sick. Surprised I was 12th though. I still suck.