A Michigan Fan's Plea

Submitted by UMAmaizinBlue on

Hello Fellow MGoBloggers,

 

Some of you may be familiar with me, but if not, I'm usually that guy who posts things that attempt to make people smile, laugh, or snicker. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it falls flat, but I try my best to instill some form of humor into posts for those who may be pulling their hair out and/or stepping close to the ledge.

 

Now, I am currently in South Carolina staying the night before the final push to Jacksonville to watch our Wolverines beat the MSU Whatever-They-Ares, and I was extremely discouraged to see the amount of hostility and anger and emo and CC posts (my GOD, the CC posts!) that I missed in about a day's worth of driving. I now see what the board crumples into without my wit to keep it sane (I'm kidding of course...about my ability, not about the insanity; THAT'S out of control!). What's even more concerning is that the next time I should be able to post is after the game on New Year's Day.

 

So, as a result of my nature and my inability to post, I have a simple plea for the board in the next 36+ hours: Civility. We all have one thing in common: we love the Michigan Wolverines, with heart, soul, passion, vigor, and sometimes sweat and blood (you know who you are). It is because of this common ground that I know we can all come together on New Year's Day and make our resolution to put aside the CC talk, whether you are a RR or JH supporter, and to quit with the talk about mgopoints (1st rule about mgopoints....), and just root our hearts out for our boys in Maize and Blue.

 

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year. Stay safe so you have a chance to watch the game, and let's put aside our petty differences and remember our one BIG common denominator for what will surely be an amazing game to watch. Go Blue!

 

(Also, I don't want the blog to asplode when I'm gone, because I need something to come back to, dammit!)

MGoBoard
Football
Sanity
plea
dear god

jmblue

December 30th, 2010 at 11:37 PM ^

I agree that people shouldn't be at each other's throats, but I don't understand this obsession with telling people what to post.  If you don't like the topic of a thread, don't read it.  It's not that complicated.  And if you think the board is too littered with posts on one topic, hey, you're more than free to post something else.  We should be encouraging board participation, not constantly shooting it down.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102861

swamyblue

December 31st, 2010 at 12:50 AM ^

Nate, as a sign of my solidarity with the OP I am sorry I commented negatively on your comment (Incrementally...).  My reaction-filter failed.  (It has failed me on numerous occasions as of late!)

Go Blue, beat the Bulldogs!

P.S. I'm taking a much needed hiatus from the blog before I become disengaged from my lovely fiance.  That's not how I want to start the New Year.  I've been told my attitude is crap and it won't be tolerated for 2011.  Thanks folks for all the latest laughs, cries, and tears.  Out!

Joined: 11/01/2010

MGoPoints: 2168

Michael

December 31st, 2010 at 12:55 AM ^

I think the real issue is that because we all share a common love for Michigan, it is disappointing to see those with whom we share that bond to show an utter disregard for rational discussion of important issues.

I've been an active reader of and occasional commenter to mgoboard over the years and it's my opinion that those of us who gripe about the quality of posts and/or threads have witnessed a substanital degredation in tone. The notion that a post must contain a substantive contribution to the overall discussion of an important topic has completely disappeared. Instead, we have one-liners posing as arguments and which lack any real contribution to the generation of knowledge as it relates to Michigan football.

Brian, Tim, and a cadre of diarists have succeeded in generating informed, academic discussion of football. It is no accident that these are the items that get "front-paged;" they are there to stimulate a reasoned discussion. That is the aim of this blog.

DISCLAIMER: I am totally supportive of the OMGLOL nature of the blog, but we've reached the point where even serious discussions cannot take place because people do not post with the goal of accomplishing anything but their own satisfactory venting of irrational rage.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 1623

steve sharik

December 31st, 2010 at 8:35 AM ^

...there are some (myself included) that feel it's what Rodriguez and Harbaugh represent re: the culture of Michigan Football.  I, for one, believe that Rodriguez has not been given a fair chance to succeed at Michigan, mostly b/c of people inside Michigan Football and, of course, the Freep and its lackeys Rosie and Snyder.  I readily admit that Rich has made mistakes, most notably his handling of the defense and defensive recruiting, but I don't buy the "he rubbed the wrong people the wrong way" garbage.

That's the culture of Michigan Football, and it's a shame that Bo was given the freedom to rub people the wrong way and do things his way but Rodriguez was not.  It's hard not to conclude this has something to do with prejudice against people with a country accent, but  even if it isn't, I have a real problem with the "That's Not The Way We Do Things Around Here" crowd.  My only glimmer of hope is that Dave Brandon hates that, too.

Joined: 08/08/2009

MGoPoints: 13860

doughboy

December 31st, 2010 at 8:59 AM ^

Good luck Zone Left - I tried doing the same thing after last year's lost to tOSU.  The board was asploding, everyone was being debbie-downer and I just wanted to forget about the last half of the season.  So I swore off reading this board for one week.  I lasted two days... Regardless, have fun with your daughter and Happy New Year!

Joined: 10/27/2009

MGoPoints: 2279

The Barwis Effect

December 30th, 2010 at 11:59 PM ^

First-generation [corn] ethanol, I think, was a mistake. The energy conversion ratios are at best very small." —Al Gore, speaking at a green energy conference on Nov. 22, 2010

"Ethanol is not an ideal transportation fuel. The future of transportation fuels shouldn't involve ethanol." —Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Nov. 29, 2010

It is now conceivable that the myth of ethanol as the salvation for America's energy problem is coming to an end. And maybe we always should have known it would wind up in italics, underlined, with the real facts of the damage ethanol can do to gas-powered motors laid out for all to see in a court of law. I say that because this past Monday a group calling itself the Engine Products Group, comprising small-engine manufacturers, automakers, and boat manufacturers, filed suit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to vacate the EPA's October ruling that using a 15 percent blend of ethanol in the nation's fuel supplies would not harm 2007 and newer vehicles.

Each group of plaintiffs in this case has a different reason for objecting to putting more ethanol into America's gasoline. The automakers claim they have no idea whether a higher percentage of ethanol would damage their newer cars—and won't know until their testing is completed next year. The boat manufacturers claim their engines stay in service much longer, and are therefore more likely to be damaged by this fuel. The small-engine manufacturers are positive E15 would severely shorten the life of their products. According to The Washington Post, that's already been happening. The source is Mick Matuskey, co-owner of Power and Lawn Equipment of Gaithersburg, Md., who said, "You're getting half of the life out of the product today [when using E10 ethanol], compared to 30, 40 years ago."

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/dec2010/bw20101221_927461…

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 10175

WolverineHistorian

December 31st, 2010 at 12:00 AM ^

When they started recruiting thug players (ala Bobby Bowden) to win championships, it was kind of hard to respect them. 

And then of course, 1997 happened.  Yes, we still got a championship that year but that didn't make the comments from that jackass Scott Frost any easier to take.  Not to mention all those players who publicly stated we didn't deserve to even share the national title with them, simply because they were Nebraska and they were "entitled" to own it outright because of their name (how very Notre Dame of them)...despite the illegal miracle kick to force OT against 5 loss Missouri. 

Then of course there was the 05 Alamo Bowl where the NU players paraded around pounding their chests despite the fact that Sun Belt officials GAVE them the win. 

And I saw all those banners Cornhusker fans held up in their games this year telling the Big Ten conference to watch out because they're going to come in and dominate. 

Screw Nebraska. Seriously.  Screw Nebraska even though they're joining the Big Ten. 

Joined: 08/10/2009

MGoPoints: 55466

oHOWiHATEohioSTATE

December 31st, 2010 at 12:50 AM ^

Their QB Scott Frost got on his knees and sucked cock on national television begging for a share of the title! (he didn't seem to have a problem the year before when PSU went 12-0 and didn't get a piece of the pie) Also their coach,who is now their AD announced his retirement to scam the coaches into voting him a title as a lifetime achievement award.

Joined: 11/22/2010

MGoPoints: 9847

MechEng97

December 30th, 2010 at 11:43 PM ^

Have fun at the game - wish I were doing the same.  I just don't read the posts that are just rambling..i get enough of that at work..

I'm going to be watching with a desire for us to kick @ss and hope for RRod to be back afterwards.  I don't mind the CC talk as it's a huge topic and a major hot button.  As for Tate- well it will hopefully be a lot about nothing.  Hope Denard finally plays the entire game so we don't burn DG redshirt (I'd put in Kennedy if it were only a drive..seriously)

So let's hope for a dominant win - something we haven't seen much in 3 years!  Screw the SEC...

Joined: 07/11/2008

MGoPoints: 284

doughboy

December 31st, 2010 at 9:06 AM ^

Thanks for starting the thread UMA.  I'm with you that everyone can have their own thoughts and epinions, but, it's much more pleasant to read them all without the hostility.  Happy New Year and safe travels.

Joined: 10/27/2009

MGoPoints: 2279

Talcelm

December 31st, 2010 at 12:14 AM ^

Amazing thoughts n posts!! As we can all agree on kicking that bulldog ass and smacking them upside their heads with their own stupid cowbells!! Some are rather large and interesting but screwem all the same!! GO BLUE!!

Joined: 11/27/2010

MGoPoints: 580