META: "The End of "Stick to Sports" (MGoBlog Mentioned in Ringer article)

Submitted by jmstranger on

Interesting article about sports writers possibly getting outside their lane? Mentions our Fearless Leader as an example. Should sports be safe spaces from politics? Should we demand sports writers stay inside the realm of sports? https://theringer.com/sportswriters-media-donald-trump-politics-a8b332b…

[Ed-S: aaaand it's done. Had to banish a 6-year veteran. No more nice things]

MGoBoard

bigmc6000

January 30th, 2017 at 4:16 PM ^

Any one who has been here long enough knows where Brian and the staff stand. There are dozens of not-so-thinly veiled political points thrown into tons of things and there was the infamous front page political monologue by Ace that somehow wasn't rejected immediately. We already deal with it because the Michigan content is so good but, hopefully, there was enough backlash from the front page post that they realize there's a limit to how far you can push the politics on a non-politics blog and still keep your readership.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 01/12/2009

MGoPoints: 1957

Bigku22

January 30th, 2017 at 4:29 PM ^

There will be no substantial backlash. The content here is great and you will be keep returning and consuming it as you have since 2009. Even if you don't, many others will. 

It upsets you that their political views don't align with yours, and that creates the false narrative in your head a large portion of the readership would align with your personal stance and not return based off their political views. Which is just blatantly false. 

Joined: 05/23/2013

MGoPoints: 3019

bigmc6000

January 30th, 2017 at 4:54 PM ^

Clearly you didn't see the responses to said post. There were a very large number of people who either 1) disagreed with the opinion or, more importantly, 2) disagreed with it being on a sports blog.
I suppose you're arguing that people will put up with anything as long as they get a little out of it?
Speaking of creating a false narrative - I never said it upsets me that our political views don't align, I said I don't like seeing politics on a sports only Michigan blog. And, yes, many people agree with that (hell, just look at this thread). But I suppose you'll just say that's blatantly false too...



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 01/12/2009

MGoPoints: 1957

PoseyHipster

January 30th, 2017 at 5:25 PM ^

Brian didn't post it on the blog, because he has a rule about not posting such things on the blog.  His twitter account may share the name of the blog, but it's pretty obvious he doesn't consider it to be the same thing.  I personally think the people telling him he shouldn't express his opinions on his twitter account should keep that to themselves.  Disagreeing is another matter entirely.

If you don't want to see such tweets, don't follow him on twitter.  There's a well established procedure around here for leaving the web page up and pressing F5 every two seconds to see the new content.

Joined: 02/02/2016

MGoPoints: 997

Bigku22

January 30th, 2017 at 5:12 PM ^

My response/argument was to your comment about the potential effect on readership/viewership. It will have none. I'm not saying the post you referenced or responses were false, I'm saying the thought it will have net impact on readership is. 

Yes, some posters will take to the boards and share their opinions. The amount that will stop coming here? Less than .001%. 

You're creating a threat that does not exist as a defense mechanism. 

And my belief is the majority of people on here like yourself who say they don't ever want to see any politcs....are the people who's political views don't align with said views of blog ownership and employees. Of course you're not going to want to see political posts here from them because they don't align with your stance on politics. Which is totally fine, and I understand it. 

Joined: 05/23/2013

MGoPoints: 3019

elpigeon

January 30th, 2017 at 3:59 PM ^

There's a link in The Ringer article to a tweet by @mgoblog that requests the impeachment of President Trump in response to another tweet sharing the news of the executive order that replaced the Joint Chiefs of Staff (and maybe someone else?) with Steve Bannon on the National Security Council.

Joined: 02/20/2012

MGoPoints: 145

andre10

January 30th, 2017 at 3:53 PM ^

avoid speaking on politics.

 

To use godwins law, we'd expect/hope for everyone to speak out against Hitler, regardless on whether or not their media profession involves politics (although one of the sad realities of Nazi Germany is that most people didn't speak out precisely because it didn't affect their respective areas/was not their business).

 

Ace has commented sparingly on politics in his twitter account in the past. This is the first I can recall for Brian. Regardless of what you think, understanding why writers like Brian are reacting in such a manner might prove illuminating/constructive for many of us.

Joined: 10/03/2009

MGoPoints: 846

The Oracle

January 30th, 2017 at 3:54 PM ^

Many people are advocating that sports writers should no longer stick to sports, but I think that only applies to sports writers that are advancing opinions that are socially popular.

Joined: 12/31/2014

MGoPoints: 4730

gmoney41

January 30th, 2017 at 5:59 PM ^

The country may be split in many ways, but it's not like Facebook is censoring views from the left like it is from the right.  It's not like the majority of mainstream television and news promotes the views from the right like it does the left.   Popular culture has a ton of influence, and I would say that those in popular culture are 90% left leaning and it shows in their values and what they promote.  I see truely awful things coming from both sides of the spectrum, but if you honestly think that it's pretty even, then I don't know what to tell you.

Joined: 07/13/2009

MGoPoints: 3938

Hail-Storm

January 30th, 2017 at 5:39 PM ^

because I like the content and also the other commenters, who are, by and large, an intelligent group who have great witty jokes intertwined with amazingly intelligent debates.  I've often found it fun to bounce between sides as two masterminds debate their positions back and forth in a civilized manor. 

There are web places I don't choose to visit, stores I don't attend, and movies I don't care to watch, because I don't agree with the owner, publication, or lead actor/actress.  I don't see why people get so mad when they feel this is not an option.  I know that my refusal to go to these places is not going to affect much, but I don't like to support those businesses, or people who I think have done, or are doing something I morally disagree with.

If Brian were to say something that I truly found reprehensible (I did majorly disagree on his take of a cancer brochure, where I thought his response was wanting), I would stop coming to the site.  I haven't.  If anyone believes that this site plays to much to an opposing view that you find reprehensible, then I suggest you excersise your right to not come to the site. Or to just not go to those topics.  There are lots of ways to approach this.  the fact that so many can complain specifically about the owners and writers of this blog without banhammers and complete silence, shows the character of those people.  

Joined: 06/07/2010

MGoPoints: 9776

JonnyHintz

January 30th, 2017 at 3:54 PM ^

They're people. Entitled to their political views just as much as they are their sports views. If you don't care to see their political opinion, keep scrolling. That simple. We aren't employed in the sports world, yet we come here and discuss sports. Should we also stay in our lane and refrain from talking sports? I don't see the big fuss about people having opinions. You may only follow certain people for their sports journalism. Thats fine. So don't read their political posts/articles. It's no different than friends and family posting political or sporting opinions.

Joined: 01/11/2015

MGoPoints: 48366

jmstranger

January 30th, 2017 at 3:55 PM ^

Can sports writers write about sports AND politics though? Can they be separated? I ask the question because we often tell people that don't like certain board topics (jerseys, recruiting, etc.) to just. It click on that link. Do we have that same policy for our writers? If a writer for MGoBlog wants to write about politics should he just get another blog or do we feel they need to stay out of it entirely? I think it's an interesting topic that people can discuss in a civil manner - I suspect there's plenty of agreement between people of differing political ideologies on this topic.

Joined: 05/23/2010

MGoPoints: 9450

MGJS SuperKick Party

January 30th, 2017 at 3:56 PM ^

I think generally twitter is fair game. People can't be expected to hold their emotions in all the time, and somehow and someway you need a vent source.

It's also important to remember, no ones opinion is wrong.

Joined: 08/04/2010

MGoPoints: 14460

Yinka Double Dare

January 30th, 2017 at 5:03 PM ^

On the contrary, opinions absolutely can be wrong when they are contradicted by facts.

Case in point: white supremacists, for example, have opinions. They are wrong. Very, very, indisputably wrong. Similarly as dumb: the very small group of people out there who are flat-earth truthers. Their opinion is wrong, because the earth is not flat. 

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 9777

EastCoast Esq.

January 30th, 2017 at 4:00 PM ^

I am absolutely fine with sports writers voicing their opinions on politics. As others have said, if you don't want their opinions, just move along.

This applies to sports writers I disagree with. Maybe I will have a lesser opinion of the writer, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to speak their mind.

 

That said, MGoBlog's "no politics" rule should remain. This is a SPORTS message board and people come here to talk SPORTS -- specifically Michigan sports. The only thing politics does is make us angry at each other.

Joined: 07/16/2012

MGoPoints: 22968

xtramelanin

January 30th, 2017 at 4:00 PM ^

needless crying and wailing and gnashing of teeth. there's a time and a place for eveything, and this isn't the NYT/WSJ/Wapo blog spot, thankfully.   

Joined: 12/09/2014

MGoPoints: 15439

rob f

January 30th, 2017 at 4:42 PM ^

I saw Brian's tweet over the weekend on Twitter and have absolutely no problem with it there, even though he used his MGoBlog Twitter account. That's his prerogative. And regardless of Brian's political opinions, it's best for everyone that he not only doesn't post, but that he doesn't want political posts on this board.

Joined: 11/11/2010

MGoPoints: 194729

JonnyHintz

January 30th, 2017 at 4:05 PM ^

This doesn't actually fall under the "no politics," rule. It's not a political topic. The topic is about what people think about sports journalists writing about politics and whether we think they should. There's no political opinions being discussed.

Joined: 01/11/2015

MGoPoints: 48366

Surveillance Doe

January 30th, 2017 at 4:03 PM ^

I wish it was a simple answer.

Generally, my opinion is that I like having a place where all of the shit is set aside so that we can discuss Michigan sports. We all come here as a result of that one shared interest, so let's allow this to be a place where that shared interest takes center stage and won't be pushed aside for other topics that generate a great deal of passion and disagreement. That's not what we come here for.

On the other hand, there are circumstances in which I believe every stage-owner has a duty to put his or her stage to use rather than idly standing by. Whether or not our present circumstances cross that threshold is something we probably won't all agree on, and that's what makes it a difficult question. 

In the end, if you don't like the way someone is using his or her stage, you have the ability to disempower him or her by choosing not to watch or listen. 

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 14724

theytookourjobs

January 30th, 2017 at 4:25 PM ^

A lot of things are constantly happening that almost forces you to choose a side.  It saddens me deeply.  This country is more divided on more issues than I have ever seen in my life.  Everyone needs to remember that a difference of opinion isn't a reason to hate someone.  Things would be so much better if people could keep that in mind.  That being said, anybody who doesn't want Beilein gone can just fuck right off !!!!!!!

 

**edit** geez folks didn't think i needed the /s

Joined: 11/24/2008

MGoPoints: 10423

ScruffyTheJanitor

January 30th, 2017 at 4:32 PM ^

but has the strange ability to have everyone assume that I agree with them politically, I can say that neither side thinks the other is worth talking to. No to over generalize, but in my experience:

  • The left is more likely to assume the right is too dumb and to anachronistic to talk to
  • The right sees the left as plotting to overturn the world order to establish some dystopian future. 

You can get to caught up in these stereotypes, but they are surprisingly consistent in these types of opinions. Part of it is cognitive dissonance-- people don't like risk having their world view questioned-- and part of it is crisis politics. I find it frustrating. 

I don't mind it when intelligent people comment about any issue intelligently. My main problem with sports writers "speaking out" is that they usually don't do this when not talking about sports. 

Joined: 02/03/2011

MGoPoints: 12197