I actually thought about editing it to say "size of fanbase" but enough time had passed that I was worried I'd get an "Edited" message. I hate those...uglify otherwise-pristine posts.
So, how exactly do "moderators" coming here and deliberately baiting, trolling and insulting other posters improve this site? If you'll kindly re-read my post, you'll see that I never once complained about (or even mentioned) any problems with posters from other forums coming here and disagreeing or participating in the discussions. They are welcome, and even encouraged, to do so. Come on in. No problem with that at all. My entire post was specific to the rule breaking behavior of multiple "moderators" whose job it is to help enforce the very rules they were breaking. And, that that EXACT same behavior led to the near total destruction of the Blazers forum on BBF (and is why most of us moved to SportsTwo). I can't imagine the owners and admins here would be dumb enough to allow that to happen - especially since they saw what this behavior by trolling Laker "moderators" did to the Blazer forum on BBF. It's not just stupid behavior, it's bad business. BNM
agreed, the forum is "ours." That's not to say that I don't appreciate the efforts of Denny Crane, but we can easily move somewhere else. Well just look at all the wonderful reasons I've been given to explore other forums. Besides, I want to chat with Blazer fans. We have a wide enough community here that there's plenty of discussion without things getting boring. You're also under the impression that I give a fuck about the website as a whole. I don't. This Blazer community is the only reason I'm here, S2, while nice, offers nothing a million other websites can't offer. also - what I tried to post in the last thread I got that it was a joke, but it's a touchy area, and there's definitely an element of tribalism involved. I still think that it's disrespectful for you to exercise mod powers when we have plenty of good, community selected moderators already. Again, I don't give a fuck about the other forums here, I want to talk with Blazer fans. The only time I ever venture is to laugh (while lurking) at another team's forum in crisis mode. Any Blazer fans out of line in another team's forums should be dealt with by that forum's moderators. Precisely why I don't go to other teams' forums....
Well he does have a point. There are several times where he and DaRizzle have been chastised (and I use that term loosely) and called trolls for merely posting here. While JE and DaRizzle have certainly been involved in some scuffles I think when they start to get angry it is a defensive thing - while that doesn't help it is understandable. When you're misunderstood, your intentions called into question, and you're insulted it's hard to remain calm and you get snarky or downright mean back. As a whole our forum is probably a little too defensive about outsiders coming in and discussing things Blazers related - often accusing them of being Blazer haters, homers of their teams, trolls, and various other things. While certainly not everyone does this (and maybe it seems more because as we all know a vocal negative minority often leads to speculation and assumption that an entire fanbase is like that) it certainly sends a message out that isn't entirely positive. It is something that both sides have to work on - Blazer fans realizing that other fans coming in and trying to offer an objective view of things isn't bad and just leads to more discussion, and other fans coming in and being told off by some realizing that not all Blazer fans are like that (or ridiculous Blazer homers either) and ignoring those people and finding the people to engage in real conversation in.
The majority of the time when I'm being abrasive/difficult, I feel like someone else is out of line and I'm just retaliating in kind. There have been times when I've initiated small-scale nuclear war (like the Spurs thread), yes, and I've admitted it when it happens. I also admit that I have a pretty low tolerance for posts/thoughts (in debates) that seem broken and half-assed. That said, it can be pretty difficult to post in here when people (and they know who they are) shout 'TROOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLL!!!' at the slightest hint that you might not be thinking pro-Blazers. I can't recall three fair-lengthed debate threads here that haven't contained some petty flame wars. I might have initiated a couple of them, and again I acknowledge those, but the majority of them were irrational homer fans jumping down my throat for having the audacity to post anti-Blazers in Blazer territory.
Can't agree with you on the "ours." The community belongs to whoever identifies with it, but the forum is for anyone who wants to talk about the Blazers. And yes, as proven several times before, the group can move. But the last two times it was due to lack of effective communication with (perceived) heavy-handed admin. In this case, there were a couple of people (moderators, unfortunately, but not representative of site admin) being disruptive here, so I don't think it's a similar situation.
I agree. The Lakers are the French of the NBA. They talk a big game and act arrogant, but punch them in the mouth and they reveal their cheese-eating-surrender-monkey core.
