Thats the only reason I visit! But years ago there was great content here that you couldn't get elsewhere.
Comparing me to Teso? That's just mean. The natural product of the sport moving into the mainstream of the largest media market in the world. 5 years ago a show like Men in Blazers (which is atrocious) would have been unthinkable in the US, so you don't need BS anymore, especially with more and more Americans engaged in the sport and the sport being easier to watch at home than at bars, which means there's less of a spirit of community. (I can't really drink these days, so don't go to the Chelsea pub at all for matches.) The online football community in the US (which, ultimately, is what this site caters to) was always a bit unique because it was a self selected group that had trouble finding like minded fans to discuss the sport with. Now that blogs/news/reporting is widely available and the sport is growing fans, this sort of forum is simply less essential. On top of that, it tends to attract new fans who are......well.......let's be honest, insufferably annoying. It's hard for older fans to stomach the "I've been an Arsenal/Chelsea/United/Liverpool fan for 4 years!!1!" crowd that is inevitably attracted to these forums.
I still use BS because i can state my views with relatively anonymity and safe in the knowledge that few people will ever read them. I'm amazed how many people have turned themselves into low grade pundits through crappy blogs and circle jerk podcasts. There are a lot of people out there who desperately want someone to tell them what their opinion is so they won't have to think for themselves.
There was a time, when even as a lurker, I had to have the full membership for this site. I let that expire years ago, don't even think about it now...
There is too much data and serious blogging on websites containing essays on anomalies on the football field....boring hell. There are some opinionated and arrogant people on bigsoccer too. It's all just sharing someone else's data and opinion and re shaping it to your like. We all know too much and it's taken away part of my love for the game. People here, myself included, are guilty of over analysing like anyone here has a respected view on football that is better than others. Ps I just used a clause in a sentence
to be fair, I hadn't seen it 'til now. I didn't know the 'why do message boards suck now?' issue had been taken up on the 'does Wenger suck now?' thread, the subject of which I'd been too busy following on the NLD matchthread.
There's no such thing as dialogue on twitter. People just say stuff and other people (over)react. Its just a mess. far too many voices, very little content.
i liked teso! didn't always agree with him but it was fun having him around. although i would have put you with pook more so. you guys are damn awesome.
i still read/post because there are just flat out more intelligent and reasoned thoughts and entertainment than the crappy blogs and circle jerk podcasts - and i would add facebook group(s) - have. i don't care that i don't agree with everything said, it's still more interesting and, generally, thought out than you get with the mass in the comment section (ugh). and frequently there are plenty of entertainment even if prince has been slacking on his gif posting.
Facebook is convenient, but the discussions are fairly worthless. Twitter does very little for me, too unstructured, but again, it's easy for people. I wonder how many people don't post anymore simply because they forgot their login, and can't be bothered to find it.
Twitter is great if you build lists of quality people and block the goons Then you only see good stuff.
I agree with this approach and have a Twitter account specifically for Arsenal information setup this way. And you do get good information, but its not a dialogue. Its more of a news-ish feed than a forum or conversation.