MGoCaddyShack

Submitted by Bosch on
This blog is becoming the Bushwood Country Club. Occasionally, we have an Al Czervik show up to post. Al's post doesn't fit the Judge's vision of what is appropriate so he clamors for a neg-bang. The assistant greens keepers then come running with their C4, oblivious as to what they are really banging, yet all too happy to pile on. Call me Ty Webb. I'm not very impressed with the Judge's attitude. Not everyone is a seasoned member, and some may never be one, but that doesn't mean that they should be disrespected and shunned from the club. I don't expect my interjections to change Carl's ways. The Judge has a lot of pull here and he's given Carl all this C4. What fun would it be not to use it? However, I am hopeful that I can persuade the caddiess to see that the Country Club's scholarship isn't worth selling out their friends for. Judge, there is no doubt that you are not pleased that I have crossed you on this issue. I'm sure that you will be sending Carl my way. Just remember that when the dust settles I will still have had your hot niece.
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HelloHeisman91

January 20th, 2010 at 12:59 AM ^

Bo agrees with Bosch. This should be a place of inclusion and encouragement. "We are going to believe in each other, we are not going to criticize each other, we are not going to talk about each other, we are going to encourage each other. And when we play as a team and the ole season is over you and I know it's gonna be Michigan again, Michigan." bo"/>

Joined: 08/05/2009

MGoPoints: 46190

TheLastHarbaugh

January 20th, 2010 at 1:09 AM ^

I understand how the board can definitely have a country club feel to it at times, what with all of the "inside jokes" dating back to the days of halo scan and many more recent, but as long as you don't em0 or tom hagan yourself into oblivion you'll be fine. People are often more than willing to explain the origins of some seemingly obscure mgoblogism or joke and as with all things respect is earned through time. The more you post, the more people will get to know you. The more insightful and thought provoking the post, the more people will come to respect your opinion. It also doesn't hurt to crack a few jokes now and again either If you stick around long enough and avoid having any sort of catastrophic meltdown you will get your membership card in the mail.

Joined: 08/06/2008

MGoPoints: 10710

Bosch

January 20th, 2010 at 1:22 AM ^

See the entries 7 below this one (QB's Next year) and 11 below this one (Woodson Named Defensive MVP). This is not about me. I am not looking to be part of some old boys club although I can see how you interpreted it that way. It's about people being unacceptably intolerant. EDIT: Meant to be a reply to Prophet.

Joined: 04/03/2009

MGoPoints: 8190

TheLastHarbaugh

January 20th, 2010 at 1:35 AM ^

I wasn't really replying to you so much as making a general statement to any newcomers. Seeing as you have well over 1000 mgopoints you clearly know how things run around here. I wouldn't really classify this place as an old boys club, maybe when the WLA were more prevalent before their mass exodus it had that tinge but they never meant any harm. I think some of the borderline intolerance stems from people's desire to keep mgoblog a safe haven for intelligent discussion, and as more and more people filter in from abominations such as the scout/rivals/mlive boards the level of quality material has been diluted to a certain degree. When taking this into account and coupling it with all of the turmoil surrounding the football program you have a recipe for some of the more established posters not wanting to have to filter through any more garbage. All of the threads about "rushing the court" and "why are we only recruiting 3 stars ZOMG ENDOFTHEWORLD" have only exacerbated things.

Joined: 08/06/2008

MGoPoints: 10710

Bosch

January 20th, 2010 at 2:32 AM ^

define intelligent discussion to include the occasional education of new members. Down voting someone into oblivion because they asked an innocent question that may have been asked before or sharing a link that was shared before is not productive. The Old Boys Club reference was not meant to be disrespectful. I've enjoyed "getting to know" some of the senior members. It was more a reference to the attitude that I witnessed towards relatively new posters. Those two entries are examples. Basically, the message was sent that there is very little tolerance to new posters. "If you can't be original don't bother contributing." The OPs were just trying to participate and they got hammered. I posted at MLive for a long time. I know that there needs to be some sort of institutionalized control here to avoid that type of environment. And I'm not against MGoPoints. However, I am against people down voting others because they are too lazy to explain to a new poster where he went wrong or, worse yet, because they can be anonymous and they get a kick out of it.

Joined: 04/03/2009

MGoPoints: 8190

TheLastHarbaugh

January 20th, 2010 at 2:52 AM ^

I would agree that maybe the methods are a little harsh, but as evidence by the Slightly OT-Recruiting Help thread, if a new comer admits that he or she is new and in need of help people tend to be very courteous, and respond in a very positive manner. However, when a new poster comes in an makes a ridiculous assertion such as "hey I watch football and Oregon runs a zone read, why don't we do that?" then they are somewhat rightfully put in their place. I think the vast majority of people who have been at this blog for some time have posted a "breaking news story" only to see that moments earlier someone already posted the same thread, but I think it's a fair reaction for posters to criticize someone when they post a "Charles Woodson Defensive MVP" thread a week after the initial announcement. There is definitely a reason that a poster must earn a few mgopoints before they are able to create a thread, and IMO it has been proven over the last several weeks that the threshold of points should be much higher (like say two or three hundred). I think that em0 and his vast array of profiles has ruined it for all the new guys, at least for the for the time being. As someone who has frequented several other sports forums in the past I think it's a fair assertion to make that the mgoblog forums are equivalent to the major leagues. If you're a rookie to this whole thing or under the age of 17, you're probably going to take your lumps early and often. Some people catch on, and some people flame out.

Joined: 08/06/2008

MGoPoints: 10710

umhero

January 20th, 2010 at 8:28 AM ^

I was telling my brother about this board the other day and he thought the idea of MGOPOINTS was ridiculous because it would discourage people with dissenting opinions from participating. I explained that the points actually reward civility and penalize flaming. We often have dissenting opinions, but if they are well-crafted most people don't neg them. The posters who are negged to death are those that are the most outrageous. I think the points work as a tool to keep the board focused and reasonably civil.

Joined: 07/26/2009

MGoPoints: 2894

Geaux_Blue

January 20th, 2010 at 12:13 PM ^

i come on here to post dumb, anecdotal stuff. several times i have adamantly disagreed with something being said or done on here, said so and gotten -50+. it's merely shrug worthy. there are various posters who have been negged into oblivion for having differing thoughts that continue to post with an ever present negative point balance. all the point system does is make sure the RCMB doesn't try to blast through in their pursuit of internet domination. that's it.

Joined: 01/25/2009

MGoPoints: 24096

CRex

January 20th, 2010 at 8:47 AM ^

I joined back in Sept after a friend linked me to the site, so I never was around for the inside jokes, etc. Yet I've never eaten a negbang (*nervously checks MGoPoints, tempts fate*). I'd disagreed with some points or made counter arguments and most of the time I get +1s because in general I tend to constructively disagree (as in have evidence / stats and a polite tone). I really didn't start actively posting until late Oct / early Nov and I'm already middle class or thereabouts on the MGoPoint's income scale. So I don't think there is any kind of dominate culture or secret shadowy cabal of negbangers, just those who post useful content and funny jokes and those that try to start shit and pay the price.

Joined: 09/28/2009

MGoPoints: 9010

Bosch

January 20th, 2010 at 10:52 AM ^

Again, I support the point system. It helps to weed out the trolls and other belligerent posters. However, new posters are rarely given the benefit of the doubt. If you have less than 100 points, you better make sure that your posts aren't misunderstood. Example, when I was still a relatively new contributer here, someone posted the time of Gardner's state final game. The time was wrong so I corrected him. The OP then edited his post but didn't define that it was an edit. I was quickly negbanged. I tried to diffuse the situation through explanation and I was defined to be a "whiner" by someone with 3000 points. That post was then immediately negbanged. Through damage control, I ended up getting out of it relatively unscathed, but it could have gone sour quickly. Other posters aren't so lucky. Go back to QB thread. Someone stated, "I predict this will be the last thread you start" and has since been rewarded with 17 points. The OP probably deserved a couple of negatives, but was it really necessary for 40 people to pile on? Personally, I'd like to see some accountability added to the current system, if that can be done (Sorry, Civil Engineer not Computer). People should be able to see who voted on their posts. There is certainly the likelihood that some people will retaliate but I think it would cut down on some of the pointless mass down voting. It would also likely cut down on posters down voting someone every time they see them regardless of content. I hear what everyone is saying. The system encourages people to be reputable before contributing. I get that. I had no problem with adapting. However, not everyone well. We all can't be as well read and as informed as everyone else.

Joined: 04/03/2009

MGoPoints: 8190

BlueintheLou

January 20th, 2010 at 11:18 AM ^

I tend to agree with all of your points, and I must admit I have been part of the flaming before. Sometimes it is deserved, others not so much. The most recent example likely did not necessitate it. The thing that strikes me as the problem is new people thinking they can just walk in and say whatever. Name one time in life where you don't have to get your feet wet and learn the ropes before contributing? And if you don't pay your dues, you don't get punished in some way. Look at Tate Forcier. He didn't have the luxury of learning the ropes for a year or two, forced to contribute, and he got beaten up. It's just the way the world works. In summation, no one here is against new members, we were all new at some point. Howeva, when you are new, patrol the board a bit. See how things work. See what questions are asked. Contribute to some threads and see what happens with that before you jump in starting a thread about, "ZOMG QB Situation now that DG is enrolled". That's all I ask.

Joined: 09/13/2008

MGoPoints: 4872

TheLastHarbaugh

January 20th, 2010 at 11:44 AM ^

This is pretty much what my response was going to be. You can't just create an account post 20 times and then say whatever you want. I mean, you can, but it's ill advised. If it's interesting, well thought out and there clearly is some substance behind it then post all you want. I know when I first "joined" (if you could call it joining back then, more like creating a handle and just posting) the mgoblog community, I would always want to talk about recruiting, offensive formations, plays, blocking schemes, routes, technique, and many other football related topics. It would sometimes frustrate me that people "didn't share my passion" but then I quickly figured out that this is more of an extension of the Michigan community rather than just a blog devoted to Michigan sports. I dropped the whole "why don't people just talk about sports?" meme and dove into the fray. One thing I think to keep in mind is to not take anything too seriously. Someone negs you, oh well. Someone +1s you, cool. Every now and again you're going to make a mistake, spell something wrong, say something stupid, or post something that has already been posted, and people are going to make fun of you about it. Sometimes you say something really interesting and people make fun of you. I know people have gotten off some really good zingers in the past on me, and instead of getting angry about it or trying to justify myself, I just laugh and make fun of myself. People here are going to pile on when someone says something dumb. I can't tell you anything other than it has always been that way. It's nothing personal. It's just this particular community's way of exhibiting camaraderie, and solidarity. It may be juvenile but it's the mgoblog way and I pretty much wouldn't have it any other way, because it's one of the things that distinguishes this place and makes it worth coming back to every day. Hey, hey, hey, that's what I say.

Joined: 08/06/2008

MGoPoints: 10710

Bosch

January 20th, 2010 at 3:12 PM ^

I am not worried about MGoPoints (or being made fun of). If I was I certainly wouldn't have jumped onto this soapbox. I just saw some people get beat up this past week and I don't think they deserved it. As often is the case here, if they objected to their down votes, even if just in an attempt at clarification, that post would have immediately been attacked. I am their voice. It certainly is easy to have an "oh well" attitude when you have plenty of points to spare. However, when you have 20 points and you get negbanged, it may be hard to recover. I know for a fact that there are people in here that neg people just because they already have negative points, regardless of the content of the entry. So what do they have to do to get to positive points? Post more. So ironically, neg banging results in even more watered down posts. Points are fine. Everyone feeling the need to pile on is not. Getting a handful of down votes gets the point across. Down voting someone because everyone else did is over the top.

Joined: 04/03/2009

MGoPoints: 8190

TheLastHarbaugh

January 20th, 2010 at 7:27 PM ^

I think it is quite pretentious of you to take the stance that you are defender of the voiceless (or the voice of the voiceless for all of you RATM fans out there). Don't worry about others, just have fun, man. It will all work out. You defending someone will probably have the opposite effect of what your intentions are. People will down vote who they dislike so there is no point in bitching about it. If anything, you're just going to draw more negative attention toward those you are supposedly defending.

Joined: 08/06/2008

MGoPoints: 10710

Tauro

January 20th, 2010 at 2:02 PM ^

I followed this blog and board for quite awhile before posting anything. Even then, I hardly feel qualified (yet) to make insightful comments on football. Being a fan of Michigan, I just want learn and take it all in. Therefore, most (if not all) of my comments are in the 'I will try to be funny' variety.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 1378

e.go.blue

January 20th, 2010 at 2:20 AM ^

"Whoa, did somebody step on a duck?" "You're a lot of woman, you know that? Yeah, wanna make 14 dollars the hard way?" I can't get enough of this movie...classic.

Joined: 03/25/2009

MGoPoints: 641

Wide Open

January 20th, 2010 at 10:59 AM ^

There's the secret to winning the Little Brown Jug: "License to kill gophers by the government of the United Nations. Man, free to kill gophers at will. To kill, you must know your enemy, and in this case my enemy is a varmint. And a varmint will never quit - ever. They're like the Viet Cong - Varmint Cong. "So you have to fall back on superior intelligence and superior firepower. And that's all she wrote."

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 1045

MichMike86

January 20th, 2010 at 11:52 AM ^

Most posters on here are assholes when given the chance. Some have even been given the power to ban people and say so whenever an oppurtunity arises. Some would say ignore it but you really can't. I guess start up a posse of MGoPosters and duke it out. I agree with everything you said, though.

Joined: 08/04/2009

MGoPoints: -1424

wlvrine

January 20th, 2010 at 6:24 PM ^

Correct me if I'm wrong Sandy, but if I kill all the golfers, they're gonna lock me up and throw away the key... Not golfers, you great fool! Gophers! The little brown, furry rodents! We can do that, we don't even have to have a reason.

Joined: 09/25/2008

MGoPoints: 1702