[patfan1]

Damn ... I've been on these boards over 10 years now.

Anyway, I saw a great post on another message board I frequent for another sport ... and I'm going to copy and paste the owner's post from that board to here, because I think it applies here as well to all sides. I've paraphrased to bring the names to fit this group...

After this many years, I still don't understand how many posters can't cope with the dynamic of the board.

There are three factions of fans, not just Revs fans, but for every team.

There are the cheerleading, rose-colored-glasses type. I'm the most envious of these types, the ones that are always optimistic, always thinking positively. They don't always want to hear criticism, any kind of criticism, though.

Then, there are the extremist cranks. These are the sky-is-falling-types.

Then, there are probably the majority of us in the middle. We come to this board for more in-depth discussion of the team, and to read critical analysis of the game. But also to remain reasonable and to have a perspective.

So, first, all the relentlessly positive fans need to come to terms with the fact that many people, despite a win, want to critically analyze the game. That will include some, well, criticism. Every game has issues and can be criticized.

On the other side of the coin, the extreme cranks who say the sky is falling and that [insert name] should be fired are fringe extremists. I don't know why anyone takes those comments seriously.

The fact that everyone, ten years into this message board, doesn't understand this dynamic, is perplexing to me.

It's like a marriage, and the couple refuses to come to terms with acknowledging aspects of their spouse and recognizing how to get over it. It's probably why we're at over a 50% divorce rate in the U.S. -- and probably on this board. So, let's come to terms with the three factions and understand that that's the way each faction is and you're not going to change them, but that we just have to tolerate and get past it (that's my best imitation of a marriage counselor I can do).

[Nick Katz]

That's not half bad.

[rkupp]

I disagree.

[wolfp10]

Originally Posted by patfan1

Anyway, I saw a great post on another message board I frequent for another sport ...

Pats fans aren't reacting well to Sunday's loss?

[patfan1]

Originally Posted by wolfp10

Pats fans aren't reacting well to Sunday's loss?

I think there'd be a lynching if someone started saying Belichick should be fired.

[jokeefe80]

Originally Posted by rkupp

I disagree.

lol, this was a great post!

[jokeefe80]

Originally Posted by patfan1

I think there'd be a lynching if someone started saying Belichick should be fired.

has Belichick ever won the US Open Cup? hmmmmmmmmm??????

[Chowda]

The board would obviously be better if everyone posted a short sentence expressing their feelings every so often and everyone else quietly support them. Since the learning curve is the same for everybody, no matter their age, background, or experience here, this should be easily instituted. And since "this board" is unique to all other internet dialogue, I too hope everyone will read that and have the exact same epiphany. Thank you cut and pastie. You have changed the world.

And yes, that's exactly why the divorce rate is 50%. (Unless you consider less than 0.4% of people get divorced every year. You kind of need a time interval to get a rate.)

[Revs in 2010]

Originally Posted by patfan1

Damn ... I've been on these boards over 10 years now.

Anyway, I saw a great post on another message board I frequent for another sport ... and I'm going to copy and paste the owner's post from that board to here, because I think it applies here as well to all sides. I've paraphrased to bring the names to fit this group...

Quote:
After this many years, I still don't understand how many posters can't cope with the dynamic of the board.

There are three factions of fans, not just Revs fans, but for every team.

There are the cheerleading, rose-colored-glasses type. I'm the most envious of these types, the ones that are always optimistic, always thinking positively. They don't always want to hear criticism, any kind of criticism, though.

Then, there are the extremist cranks. These are the sky-is-falling-types.

Then, there are probably the majority of us in the middle. We come to this board for more in-depth discussion of the team, and to read critical analysis of the game. But also to remain reasonable and to have a perspective.

So, first, all the relentlessly positive fans need to come to terms with the fact that many people, despite a win, want to critically analyze the game. That will include some, well, criticism. Every game has issues and can be criticized.

On the other side of the coin, the extreme cranks who say the sky is falling and that [insert name] should be fired are fringe extremists. I don't know why anyone takes those comments seriously.

The fact that everyone, ten years into this message board, doesn't understand this dynamic, is perplexing to me.

It's like a marriage, and the couple refuses to come to terms with acknowledging aspects of their spouse and recognizing how to get over it. It's probably why we're at over a 50% divorce rate in the U.S. -- and probably on this board. So, let's come to terms with the three factions and understand that that's the way each faction is and you're not going to change them, but that we just have to tolerate and get past it (that's my best imitation of a marriage counselor I can do).

Monty, this is great stuff! I would add one other category to why folks come to this board (which is what makes it way different from other mainstream US sports boards), which is the best consolidated news (and speculation) source on the team. When I first started lurking on these boards in the late '90's, there wasn't any other resource close (other than POCM) to the value of these boards for up-to-date news. I'll now wonder off and contemplate my navel, while deciding which of the three types I am

Finally, if 50% of marriages end in divorce, I guess the other 50% end in death.

[patfan1]

Originally Posted by Revs in 2010

Finally, if 50% of marriages end in divorce, I guess the other 50% end in death.

Same thing.