The Internet (originally posted on July 4, 2002)

Published October 28, 2008 05:07AM, by Dick MorganViewed: 1984 times

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(originally posted on July 4, 2002)

The Internet has become the most useful innovation that has happened in the world of communication since the telephone. In the right hands and with the right usage of the Internet, tractor pulling can gain national recognition and also provide instant updates about events that are taking place around the country. It can also be a tool for dispensing information that is vital to a national sport. On many sites there is frank discussion of topics that are of an interest to the fan. While these sites provide an important function for the fan, puller, and promoter they also have the potential to cause disinformation, distrust and even harm to the sport and to the pullers.

The most recent trend in truck and tractor pulling websites is the message board. Within the past year and a half, almost all related internet sites have added a message board to their page. In the case of this page we have changed our feedback page to a message board format due to the time involved with manually updating the posts.

Each board has its own unique style. Some boards are strictly dedicated to state organizations. There is one that has more East Coast information. Another that is pro-NTPA and one that leans more to the ATPA. At this site we try to take a middle of the road approach. We try to focus on the national level of pulling but also cover state and regional events and topics. I’m sure that we fail to do a perfect job, but our goal is to try and remain as unbiased as possible.

When there is a positive side to something there is generally a negative side. While most, if not all, sites have the best interest of the sport in mind there is always the person or persons who use the message boards for their own personal vendetta against either an individual or an organization. I know that on this site there is a constant effort to keep the message board clear of profanity and disinformation. Tractor pulling is a family-friendly sport, and the discussion of the sport should also be family-appropriate. Like all things that are done with good intention there is no idiot-proof method of controlling the board at all times.

Some boards have a bias to one organization or one class or even one type of vehicle in a certain class. While each board has the right to promote their favorite class or organization, they don’t have the right to knowingly put up false information about another organization, class, promoter or builder. I have read on some boards that if you order from a certain builder you will get inferior parts or no parts at all, or that a certain event has inadequate or no insurance, or that the rain has been so great that there is no parking and the pits are flooded. This obviously is with the intended purpose of harming the promoter or organization putting on the event. While this small scale propaganda may seem harmless, and it's intent is limited, the overall effect is that it hinders the growth of the sport of pulling.

With the message board being instant and with virtually no supervision, the responsibility rests with the message sender and webmaster/mistress to control board content. In a perfect world you would see sites belonging to organizations updated with news and results in a timelier manner, and websites that are run by individuals having only messages that are respectful and helpful to other pullers, fans and promoters.

Diversity is what makes reading each board interesting. We each have a responsibility as tractor pulling fans, pullers, promoters, or webmasters to try and make the sport fair and fun for all. The message boards are but one more way the sport can be promoted: use them wisely.

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