META: Airing of Grievances - Bye Week Edition

Submitted by MGoClimb on

Just as our beloved Wolverines need to sort some things out over the bye week, so too do we on MGoBoard.  Whether it’s the narrow wins against Akron and UConn or the discussion of recruits, I think we can all admit that things have been more than a little tense around here.  In that light, I am creating an Airing of Grievances: Bye Week Edition thread.

Mods, if you feel this isn’t the right time, or if it spirals out of control, feel free to take this down.  However, I believe this is necessary.

TheGhostofChappuis and BlueDragon – I’ve been thinking about making this for a few days.  Thanks for finally convincing me to do it.

Blah blah blah self-moderating blah blah blah.  I wasn’t around back then.

Time to let it all out, folks.  Go.

MGoBoard

MH20

September 25th, 2013 at 6:20 PM ^

Basketball threads get particularly nasty.  Or maybe it seems that way because there are obviously many more games, either way I remember being appalled at some of things being said during that rough five-game stretch (and also the two Purdue games).

Joined: 10/30/2008

MGoPoints: 40592

Wendyk5

September 25th, 2013 at 1:14 PM ^

My grievance is with the "We're Here" thread. I'm sitting here, eating a Pocket in Chicago. Poor man's chipati. I open Mgoblog and find that thread. I start reading. I start getting scared. I feel old. I don't understand. Is the world ending?

Joined: 11/20/2008

MGoPoints: 67680

Ali G Bomaye

September 25th, 2013 at 1:26 PM ^

I understand the reasons why the voting system disappeared and hasn't yet reappeared. However, I think the disappearance of the voting system is one of the primary culprits for the recent spate of self-destructive threads on the board. It used to be that if someone made a comment that was generally perceived as idiotic or out-of-line, not only would it be hidden, but the general disapproval would be obvious enough that most people wouldn't feel the need to chime in and identify why the comment was bad. But now, every stupid little thing sparks an endless back-and-forth. As a caveat to this next statement, I know nothing about web design or about running a website. But since this site has numerous devoted readers, some of whom undoubtedly know Drupal, how about a call for a volunteer or two to take a look at it and get voting back? I'm not saying the guys in charge here don't know their stuff, but it seems like during the season they don't have the time to give the back end of the site the attention it needs.

Joined: 07/08/2008

MGoPoints: 17648

aratman

September 25th, 2013 at 1:28 PM ^

4-0 means nothing to some of you people. We want you to win and if it isn't by enough, BOOM doom. If it is with a QB from the shot gun or if they huddle too much or not enough or if they are exactly where they were predicted to be, one year away. Like most things in life this place would be awesome if it weren't for the people. So here are my grievances: 1. People who complain about a win. 2. People who care more about structure in a post than it's content. 3. People who complain about OT vs. not OT. If you have your head so far up your butt smelling your own poop to worry about this, You are missing the view that non poop sniffers are enjoying. 4. People who complain about repeating posts including the statement did you use the search function. 5. The general we are great, we suck swings. This is the same team and coaches who were playing the first two games.

Joined: 10/02/2010

MGoPoints: 3942

Mr. Rager

September 25th, 2013 at 1:37 PM ^

I moved to a smaller city and all the women my age are either a) fucking nut jobs any man wouldn't put his dick in more than once or b) fucking nut jobs with kids. Also, small dogs. never liked them.

Joined: 11/16/2011

MGoPoints: 967

Shop Smart Sho…

September 25th, 2013 at 1:45 PM ^

I hate that Brian seems to have reversed course on his opinion of how MGoBlog operates as compared to other blogs since his argument with Jason from TBL at the Blogs With Balls Conference. This is directly obvious with what Brandon Brown is doing by contacting recruits directly instead of going through parents or coaches. I personally believe that this method is going to blow up in their faces, based on the policies that I know to exist at multiple schools just in my little area of the world. The fact that not only are these concerns, which were raised by multiple people last night, are being ignored, but also seemingly trivialized by Brian and Brandon feels like a symptom of the very thing that Brian once railed against.

Joined: 07/10/2008

MGoPoints: 9602

Shop Smart Sho…

September 25th, 2013 at 6:43 PM ^

I don't know that Brian was railing against what Zerkle was saying.  He seemed pissed about the idea of just running whatever in an effort to get pageviews, and to hell with the ethics fo what you are running or how you got it.

 

In my opinion, that is sorta the argument some of us are making about how Brandon is working.  It feels like he has the attitude that as long as he gets the story and doesn't immediately get yelled at, then it is completely ok to do whatever he cant to get that story.

Joined: 07/10/2008

MGoPoints: 9602

Owl

September 25th, 2013 at 1:55 PM ^

I feel like all I do on this blog is complain about/at other people. That probably isn't a good use of my time. I should try to stop doing that.

Joined: 04/14/2012

MGoPoints: 1059

bronxblue

September 25th, 2013 at 2:09 PM ^

I remember years ago, during the early part of the RR era, this place would asplode with threads with topics like "RR is stupid. He doesn't get UM." and then there would be a 50+ comment stream with nothing of substance. That has been mitigated significantly, so kudos to the mods for that. As for grievances, I'll be honest that the site is highlighting just how annoying this fanbase can be when it comes to panicking. I'll admit that I can be as bad as anyone, but my gawd liveblogs and the game threads become these manic bitchfests where people try to trump each other's despair and/or joy as the game progresses. Also, every f'king play becomes this moment you have to over-analyze. I mean, there was a simple zone read (or some other run) in the 2nd quarter of the UConn game that amounted to 3 yards. Half the people thought it was horrible, the other half thought it showed progress. It's a 3-yard run; don't overreact either way. I guess my grievance is life.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171381

jblaze

September 25th, 2013 at 2:57 PM ^

when you watch games. I had to watch the ND game ~45 minutes after it started (had to put the kid to bed). I DVR'd the game and ended up catching up at halftime. Since I was behind the whole 1st half, I didn't go onto the liveblog or any threads. It was pure heaven.

Unfortunately, I couldn't stay strong for UConn night game :(

Joined: 08/29/2008

MGoPoints: 19263

smwilliams

September 25th, 2013 at 3:07 PM ^

Between the recruit thread, the multiple bans, the we're here thread, and this one, I feel like I'm standing in an office building watching a city burn to the ground right in front of me. I'm a nobody, a drone, a regular internet schmuck without a schtick.

But, I'm entertained.

Joined: 08/20/2010

MGoPoints: 9917

tdcarl

September 25th, 2013 at 3:07 PM ^

 

Why is the milk jug yellow? Since when are there Chocolate Frosted Flakes? Why can't I unwatch this? These are the grievances I have. Well, plus everyone here needing to take a step back and have a relax every now and then.

Joined: 04/11/2009

MGoPoints: 3175

Danwillhor

September 25th, 2013 at 11:24 PM ^

Then one day I wondered why and the sugar content seemed oddly high. Not sure how it compares with the non-organic milk I've tossed aside in preference of the deliciousness that is Horizon Organic (not an organic food snob) but I think it's something like 19g per serving. Maybe 9, even? Either way, I was surprised but refuse to give up on that sweet milk. Also, I was gone for a day or two and holy shit. Yeah, lol. Holy shit. I reply a few times a week but it's always by phone and the DROID app so it's long and unreadable most of the time. I hate myself for that on top of a million other things so people not agreeing with me on the internet bothers me very little. If i find myself bothered by something I either stay quiet and chalk it up to "life" or disagree yet respect their opinion by saying so. Even horrible snark/blatant dick comments, I try to leave to those two options. I only use sarcasm when the thread is so obviously lighthearted that it's not questioned. See, this is long. replied to the thread in a reply to a reply. I'm a clown. Moving on. Ha

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

Blarvey

September 25th, 2013 at 3:43 PM ^

I know MGB is a sports blog which inherently have a certain tendency toward hivemind, lofty expectations, and awful meltdowns. That said, I would expect more out of adults following Michigan sports than comments like "we suck" and "player x is shit, pull them" without any insight. I see the same thing in recruiting and player projection threads where people have no clue what they are talking about but seem qualified to make an opinion about who they think is better. Nobody cares, unless you know about recruiting and have studied somebody's film or been to their games or whatever. 

Also, while it may not be unique to MGB, the meltdowns may not be as bad if many of the users had more reasonable expectations. Remember how Devin was a Heisman contender (despite only starting five games last year) and Derrick Green was probably going to go pro after three years? There is a reason cfb fans make fun of our "September Heismans" and it has to do with how effective (and annoying) the hype machine can be. I think some a little more humility from the fan base could not only help its own sanity, but also the reputation for undeserved arrogance.

Joined: 11/21/2011

MGoPoints: 3472

JohnnyV123

September 25th, 2013 at 3:54 PM ^

I have a grievance against the moderation system. It encouraged hive mindedness and douchebag posters who constantly attempt to be snarky and clever rather than actually contributing to a discussion.

Joined: 04/08/2011

MGoPoints: 1007