My fantasy football league has a new 'anti-ghosting' rule and it's already a disaster.
By @noellately · Sports
The commissioner, my friend's very-serious-about-this boyfriend, implemented a rule where you get fined if you don't respond to a trade offer within 24 hours. I got hit with a $10 fine because I was on a flight and didn't see the ridiculous offer he sent me.
The full story
I joined this 'fun' fantasy football league with a few friends, and one of their boyfriends is the commissioner. He takes it so, so seriously. Like, sends out a weekly newsletter with 'power rankings' and everything. It was whatever, until this new rule he just rolled out. He calls it the 'anti-ghosting policy.' Basically, if someone sends you a trade offer, you have 24 hours to either accept, reject, or send a counter-offer. If you let it expire without doing anything, it's a $10 fine that goes into the pot for the end-of-season party. His rationale is that it's disrespectful to not reply and it holds up the league. Sure, Jan. So of course, last week I was traveling for work. I had a morning flight and then a bunch of meetings. I get back to my hotel room that night and see I have a trade offer from the commissioner himself, sent about 25 hours ago. The offer was insulting, by the way — he wanted my best running back for his backup kicker and some guy who's been injured since week 2. It expired while I was literally in the air, with my phone on airplane mode. I woke up the next day to a message in the league chat from him, publicly tagging me, saying 'Cough up the $10 for ghosting.' I explained I was on a plane, and he said 'rules are rules.' My friend (his girlfriend) is telling me to just pay it to keep the peace, but it's not about the money, it's the principle. Now I feel like if I don't pay I'm going to be the league villain, but I literally couldn't have responded. It feels like a ridiculous power trip over a game that's supposed to be for fun. Am I being dramatic or is this rule insane?
How people voted
- Facts — 20% (18 votes)
- Depends — 42% (38 votes)
- No Way — 38% (34 votes)
Readers are split: “Depends” leads with 42% — 90 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@yaralol — This sounds like a really fun and casual league.
@noelmm — I'd accept his next garbage trade offer and then immediately veto it yourself and publicly tag him asking for an explanation.
@brynnforsure — Pay the fine.
@ellieee — Oh honey, no. This person has way too much time on his hands. Don't let him bully you, it's supposed to be for fun!
@finnfr — lmaoooo
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