The moderator speaks!

Among the many roles and responsibilities that I have here at the Post-Gazette, writing on this blog is but a very small fraction of it (hence the infrequent updates). Most of my time is spent working behind-the-scenes with a much larger group of very talented folks who do our best to keep post-gazette.com humming and full of good content, and get news posted to the site as fast as it comes in.

One of my weekly chores is to moderate, edit and post Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat (and nearly all of our other sports chats, check 'em out if you haven't already). Though they are a bit time consuming, I really enjoy the chats because I'm genuinely interested in what's on the minds of fans and usually come away having learned something each week  from our extremely knowledgeable cadre of beat writers.

As you might guess, Bouchette's chat is extremely popular, and each week, I get complaints from folks wondering why their questions weren't answered. Some people ask in a polite fashion (like Brett from Baltimore did today); some are not quite as diplomatic.

I can't speak for Ed in re: the questions he ultimately chooses to answer for the chat, nor would I even begin to try. But I can tell you that on average we get more than 100+ users in the chat room each week, and anywhere from 250 to 500 questions. That's a tall order, considering that he's only one man for God's sake!, and there are only 30 minutes allotted to the chat. So, a part of what I (try) to do is send him the best questions submitted to him to answer.

That said, if you want to have a question even forwarded him for consideration to answer, here are the best tips I can give you …

1. Early bird gets the Bouchette: Each week, our chat rooms open 6 a.m. for you to submit questions. The single easiest thing you can do is submit your question sometime between 6 a.m. and the beginning of the chat at 1:30 p.m. Then the questions are there and ready for me to forward to Ed immediately. A few regulars in particular -- James_Taiwan and Will_from_Freehold_NJ come to mind -- regularly have well written and well thought questions ready to go, hence they almost always get one answered.

2. Chk ur grammr n spellin: As the person who edits, codes and posts these chats to the web site, I can tell you now that if you don't bother to spell things correctly or use at least passable grammar, the question isn't getting sent. You'd think this chat was being done each week via text message, though each week, we get beauties like this "hi ed shud the steelers play troy or let him git sum rest 4 his knee thanks" Really? You made it past elementary school with communication skills like that?

3. Sadly, you are not as clever as you think you are: There is generally a reason that you are logging in for the chat from your cube at XYZ Insurance, and not from the writer's room at 30 Rock. It's because you aren't as funny as you think you are (and neither am I, for that matter). Each week, question after question from armchair comedians come in and don't get forwarded -- a Matt Spaeth "splash play" question, that's brilliant. Because no one thought of that before. You don't have to be cute, you don't have to be clever, just put together a well thought out question and it'll get forwarded.

4. Less is more: You may notice that Ed's answers are generally short and succinct. So too should your questions be. Don't be cute, or long-winded, just get to the point. If a question is so long that it gives me a headache to read, it's not getting forwarded to Ed. And even if it does, you might get a one word answer for a 170-word question. You might notice that Mr. Bouchette does sarcasm well.

5. Thank you, Capt. Obvious: Let's say for instance that Big Ben tweaked his ankle and his status is in doubt for a game. Chances are, this will be the primary issue across the Steelers Globe that particular week, and like 50 other people are probably going to ask about it, so therefore you don't need to. Ask something thoughtful about schemes, matchups or personnel instead.

6. You are not Mike_Tomlin: Nor are you Lamar_Woodley, Casey_Hampton, etc., so do not use handles like this and then phrase your question in the first person. For example: "James_Harrison: How many times will I get held this week and it not get called?" Instead, how about simply: "Guy: How many times will James Harrison get held this week and it not get called?"

7. Don't submit the same question multiple times: This is really annoying. And will get you nowhere. This is really annoying. And will get you nowhere. This is really annoying. And will get you nowhere. This is really annoying. And will get you nowhere. This is really annoying. And will get you nowhere. This is really annoying. And will get you nowhere.  … See what I mean?

Hope this helps. Just a reminder though, Ed has no chat next week as he'll be flying back from Denver.

p.s. -- the line of the week from this week's chat:

"bdenny29: Will Ben dust off the gunslinger pistol TD celebration from the '05 Title game after his first score on Monday? It was equal parts lame and magnificent."

Well said, bdenny29. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've watched that exact highlight and thought, "Man, that Ben is really good. But ... What. A. Dork."

Coach Tomlin is right: Style points are overrated. Because this guy has none sometimes. (Thanks Steelers Depot!)