In your original post, you did say that you told the manager on your way out that you were leaving b/c you did not feel safe. Also you stated that others had complained and the manager told them the hockey players had his permission. So, you and the other skaters did go up to the manager and make your case. He had made a decision and apparently was not willing to change it when others had legitimate safety concerns.

No offense to the hockey players. After all, they were not doing anything "wrong" since they had the permission of management to use sticks and pucks on a public session.

Personally, I don't blame you for being upset about this or wanting the opinions of others. It ruined your session and you were afraid you could get hurt. I hope it has not happened again.

Kay

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Probably true. But FSWer, I have to point out here that you're often the one asking for the kind of information some of us are saying we aren't comfortable giving out. I know you like to ask a lot of questions about who we know in the sport, where we train, what skaters we've performed with, and so on, but that's exactly what some of us don't like to post because we're trying to stay anonymous, and also respect the privacy of the elite skaters we may know. I'm sure I'm not the only one here to have rinkmates who are National and World medalists.

It's funny, maybe this is because of the level of skaters I train with, but I think at my rink it would be considered kind of uncool to be really into posting on these boards. I've never really discussed it with my friends for some reason. It's just kind of weird, because several of the skaters I share a rink with are discussed here on a regular basis. I'd be posting about someone, then warming up with them an hour later. For the same reason, I never joined any fan sites or fan listings for my favorite skaters; by the time I was aware that they had one, I was training with them. Too weird for me.

Yes, I lost a coach because I mentioned them on here. I hadn't even said anything bad, I was very complimentary of them in fact because I had great respect for them. I suspect that there was something else happening but that's something that I can never prove, however, they used this as an excuse not to teach me and to never speak to me again!

With regards to what we write here I would say that you should only put on here what you would be williing to say at the rink. If you would vocalise your concerns at the rink then I can't see that there is a problem. Also, as long as you don't specifically mention people etc I can't see a problem with asking for thoughts on a 'hypothetical' scenario!

Sorry about the problems, it is probably a good opening to put your concerns to the management though!

x

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The best whisper is a click

One mailing list I used to post on got round the awkwardness of how to refer to one's coach by using nicknames: "Sir", "The Sadist", "Miss Picky", "The Diva", etc. I was amused to be introduced to "Sir" one day and found him to be half my age - little more than a boy (but lovely to dance with!).

It didn't disguise the coach's identity from those who knew them, but was a protection so that you didn't post their proper name.

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I agree that you shouldn't post information about the elite skaters you skate with, you hear their program music etc. and some of them might want that kept secret. It's too bad though that this can't be a place to vent about skating with fellow skaters. I try and keep my comments about my coach as factual and I can't imagine my coach would ever take offense by anything I've written but now I think I'll be a lot more careful since some people have taken offense even of positive comments.

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I know I keep quoting CanAMSk8er, but only because I know exactly what she means! A lot of my friends at my rink and I sometimes laugh about what's posted on this and other message boards about different skaters, sometimes it's even themselves they're laughing about. They just can't see why people who don't know them personally, or have ever even met them would want to go online and discuss them and their skating.

But lacking anonymity on the internet isn't always a bad thing. Often people are tempted to post hateful things on the internet, because they think they can hide behind their screen name. If people see that this isn't always the case, and they can be held accountable for what they post then perhaps they will think twice before posting.

Well, for some coaches, the coaching market is very competitive. It's more than just maintain their students, it's marketablility for perspective students. In my case, describing what the coach was going over during my lesson was enough. You really have to be careful when you are posting on the Lessons/Practice threads, particularly when you're posting about your lessons.

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Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Actually I would not have a problem with saying what I said on this forum to the rink themselves, and even if I had I still would have posted on the forum. But I am so sick of complaining about problems that happen at the rink that I now just don't say anything. One staff member in particular treats you like you don't know anything if you do complain.

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I just want to emphasize whoever said when in doubt don't post. I posted something here about a week ago. Felt funny about it the entire way to skating came back and couldn't figure out how to erase it. As a result I have unintentionally upset somebody who I have only respect for and I feel terrable (especially since I know longer know how to get in touch with him and can't appolise in person). From now on, I am going to think everything I post over several times and if I am even the slightest bit unsure, I will not be posting. What got me into trouble wasn't ever really regarding this person but you just never know who you might hurt with a post.

I'm sure that a lot of us can relate to what you're saying. Whatever you said though (I didn't see the post myself) obviously hit a nerve! At my rink they put the patch prices up by 40% without any discernible difference in facilities or quality of ice ..... actually, strike that, the ice is worse than it was before!! They're not interested and don't appreciate that 'we' give them money month in month out, year in year out. They are more interested in the Friday night 'disco' crowd because that one night brings in so much money. The rinks with the most problems seem (in my experience) to be the rinks that have non-skating management and staff!

Hope things get better for you.

x

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The best whisper is a click

If anyone posting here without doing personal slander should not be kicked out of anything, or lose a job or a coach.The persons that had these things done to them hit a nerve with another and usually that means some truth was being put out there and another had something to hide.
There is alot of crap that frustrates alot of people in skating and other sports, I myself have been the blunt of many people in Figure Skating because I challenged there way of doing certain things that I knew was deceiving, underhanded and I would seek out the truth to make the sport fair where I am from.Many tried to black ball me and worse, I stood my ground and new that the truth would prevail in my favor.

There are to many things swept under the rug , when the rug needs a good cleaning.

Well continue to post without slandering, we all may be going through the same thing and can offer advice.

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