Mgoblog: A Study in Contradictions
So, in the flurry of excuses and commendations for Brady Hoke handling yet another arrest "internally", I began to notice quite a different tone coming from the denizens of Mgoblog. I had previously been under the impression that all UM fans were moralistic crusaders, fighting only for justice and the American way, blind to any sort of bias or partiality.
Obviously, I was a bit surprised to find many asking for second chances for a felon, saying things like "kids will be kids" and other such tender, compassionate, and merciful things. I was very impressed by how forgiving this society was, and I was about to make a check out to Pahokee in the same spirit of human empathy, when I noticed something inconsistent. I hope someone can explain to me the 180 degree shift from "swift retribution and justice" to "complete and total forgiveness". Compare, if you will, the responses in these two respective threads.
http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/no-further-discipline-frank-clark
vs
http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/ot-dean-discipline-strikes-again
Interesting, isn't it? Discuss.
September 14th, 2012 at 12:35 PM ^
My favorite one is from NateVolk, who says (in regards to the Dion Sims misdemeanor):
"That crystalizes the difference. There is just no way any guy, no matter how valuable, who was involved in that sort of thing would ever be brought back to the Michigan squad. I sincerely believe that the fans wouldn't condone it to start with. Way different places, way different standards, and way different level of scrutiny."
Hilarious, right?
September 14th, 2012 at 12:38 PM ^
Or this gem, from MGoSoftball, on Dantonio "handling the situation internally":
"What does that mean exactly?
Internally? "I sent them a very stern text message to tell them that what they did was not nice. They ought to appologize via twitter for their actions. I will make sure that if they do this again, it wont be a text message....it will be a 4 paragraph email."
Mark Dantonio on discipline
September 14th, 2012 at 12:42 PM ^
There are so many good ones, I can't resist.
"this is pathetic. so if you accept free cars or tattoes you have to sit out about half your football season, but if you STEAL laptops from people who work hard to earn them then you only sit out for only double the number of games as if you accepted free tattoes?
I understand that accepting cars or money from boosters is against NCAA rules, but come on, stealing laptops from children is on a whole different level, IT IS ILLEGAL IN FEDERAL LAW. This player should be thrown in jail and banned from playing college ball ever again."
Woops! Awkward!
September 14th, 2012 at 12:49 PM ^
Now, let's be fair, and see what the thread on the UM felon has to say. I'm sure it will be consistent with what we've seen so far, right?
"I'm sure both were harshly punished behind the scenes, and I trust Hoke has managed these incidents to his satisfaction and that of UM."
Wait, I thought you didn't even know what "handling it internally" meant?
"So we can't ruin his life for one mistake then?"
You had very few compunctions about ruining the life of another young man when he played for a different team. Admirable.
"Hoke needs to walk into the rooms of 20+ parents a year and convince them that he's going to turn their son into a better football player and a better person. If he starts cutting kids lose due to first-time-offenses that the school itself doesn't deem serious enough to warrant expulsion (check the student code of conduct on stealing), neither should Hoke. Hoke is confirming his commitment in helping to develop the kids under his control, and not wash his hands of them the first time they do something wrong."
Oh good heavens, I think I shed a tear on how noble Hoke's goals are in playing Clark.
"I'm amazed at how many people are seeming to forget (1) that this is basically just a kid, which makes him prone to bad decisions, (2) that he's a human being not an object that we ought to use to "set an example" or "make a statement" and (3) the purpose of punishment in the first place. It isn't to make up for the bad thing the punishee has done. It's to help the kid learn from his mistake and be a better citizen in the future. And that's going to vary from kid to kid, and from situation to situation."
The sanctimonious morality train somehow keeps chugging.