M Go Cue

January 30th, 2017 at 12:24 PM ^

Don't really care whether you like it or not. The fact that you need to call me incompetent because I don't like politics mixed with this forum tells me more about you than me. I have never brought up politics here, unlike the link from the OP: "It will also serve as a small but pointed statement against the inhumane policies of the current administration, who in their zeal to stoke the fires of xenophobia have clearly forgotten their Exodus 22:21."

Joined: 07/13/2013

MGoPoints: 3935

bgoblue02

January 30th, 2017 at 12:27 PM ^

is with what Spencer wrote; why don't you take it up with him on his site?  

This is a cause this entire board and community has rallied around in the past (and hopefully will continue to do so in the future). 

The OP was very respectful and not repeating any of that in his post rather just posted the link to the cause on the EDSBS site.  

Joined: 11/12/2009

MGoPoints: 4493

M Go Cue

January 30th, 2017 at 12:47 PM ^

As I wrote above, this is in response to the way too often political comments that have been coming from one side in THIS forum since the election. The link brought it here and we have always operated without political commentary. The link is clearly political in nature.

Joined: 07/13/2013

MGoPoints: 3935

bgoblue02

January 30th, 2017 at 3:40 PM ^

its a charity we have as a collective have always supported, its just Spencer's narrative changed.  No one on this board was echoing that at all.  LIst I would totally support you in this fight if the OP said anything other than "fire the money cannon" 

Heck you probably could have posted "ugh why did Spencer have to make this political when its the same charity he picks anways, yadda yadda" and you would have been fine.  Given the outside pressures and the charity he supports this is a tightrope topic and I thought the board was handling it well... until well, you know 

Joined: 11/12/2009

MGoPoints: 4493

Aero01

January 30th, 2017 at 12:18 PM ^

Based on voting totals it looks like I'm in the minority, but I completely agree with Cue.  The charity drive is completly political (to be clear, I'm not saying good or bad).  The original post is clearly political (whether or not it was intended as such by the poster).  A couple of the first comments in this thread were "Now more than ever", which I'm going to go out on a limb and say were political.  All Cue said was he was tired of these political posts.  If you want to tell everyone what a patriot you are or how dissatisfied you are, go to any other website, TV program, magazine, or just about any conversation anywhere.  We should be able to come to Mgoblog and worry about super important things like the whims of 18 year olds who we don't know.

Joined: 09/10/2010

MGoPoints: 2135

bgoblue02

January 30th, 2017 at 12:25 PM ^

I agree with you buuuuuut; Spencer's post is political, on his site.  The cause is one that this site and this fan base always does (and hopefully will continue to) rally around and the OP posted it for that reason which I fully support.  There was nothing political about the link or anything on this site.

If you have issues with what Spencer wrote on his site take it up with that board not this one.    

Joined: 11/12/2009

MGoPoints: 4493

Aero01

January 30th, 2017 at 12:42 PM ^

I don't have issues with what he wrote on his site.  He's free to write whatever he likes.  Similarly, If Brian want's to allow political discussion on this site, that's his perogative.  But if you're telling me that posting a link to a fundraiser for a refugee charity, shortly after a controversial president passes a unprecedented ban on immigration isn't political, then you and I have very different definitions of political.

Joined: 09/10/2010

MGoPoints: 2135

Bambi

January 30th, 2017 at 12:56 PM ^

You're ignoring the fact that this is a cause that Spencer supports every year. It's not like he just decided today to have this drive because Fuck Trump. This is a cause he's supported passionately many times in the past, without any political reasoning. He brought it up now because of a political action, but that's because now more than ever this cause he is so passionate about needs support.

And once again, Spencer's fundraise has now raised over 31K in less than 4 hours. Sharing that on this blog has helped. A real life difference is being made. If you think it's worth bitching and moaning about that difference because "it's political" (which it's not) and "the rules of the blog are broken" and "I don't want to have to inconvenience myself on a sports blog", and you think those are valid reasons to not have this post here making a positive impact in the world, I don't know what to say to you. This is not a political post, it's a humanitarian one. I don't see what benefit you get from trying to twist this into blog rules are being broken, when once again they're not, and how even if they were that matters more than the impact this cause is making.

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MGoPoints: 23158

Everyone Murders

January 30th, 2017 at 1:14 PM ^

I support the cause here and am glad that the OP posted this.  But Spencer Hall's article is as political AF.  The campaign is in direct response to Trump's executive order - Hall states it explicitly.  And has a picture from the Atlanta March for Social Justice and Women at the top of it.

There is an undeniable humanitarian element to the refugee issue.  Many political issues deal with humanitarian issues.  But you'd be hard-pressed to find a more politically-divisive issue. 

It seems like a loser to argue that this is not "political".  A lot of issues matter deeply to people, which is precisely what makes it political.  Needless to say, it's up to the Mods to determine whether this link is appropriate or not.  I hope it stays up, but if it does I think it's special dispensation.

Oh, and my suggested donation amount?  $32.23.  That's right - Peppers return on the failed two point conversion is costing me an extra $2 that I'm happy to pay.

Joined: 12/14/2010

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Everyone Murders

January 30th, 2017 at 1:29 PM ^

I saw you make a similar point below, and think it is spot-on.

As I note below, regardless of what side somebody is on w/r/t the Trump executive order, why wouldn't people want to help refugees lawfully admitted into the country?  And if people are not inclined to help, why object to others helping?

You put it well here, and you put it even better below.

Joined: 12/14/2010

MGoPoints: 65552

Aero01

January 30th, 2017 at 1:18 PM ^

I'm not ignoring any of those things.  You seem to think that I have a problem with the charity drive.  I don't.  I'm glad he's able to raise money for a cause that he's passionate about.  But just because it's a humanitarian issue, doesn't mean it's not a political one too.  So to summarize:

The charity in question - not political (I assume)

Having a charity drive in general - not political

Having a charity drive in direct response to new political policy - political

Joined: 09/10/2010

MGoPoints: 2135

M Go Cue

January 30th, 2017 at 12:52 PM ^

And I don't need to defend myself to you or anyone else. Some people here who dislike our current president seem to feel like they have a pass to make political statements. You've seen it just like I have and it's always from one side. I'm Just tired of it.

Joined: 07/13/2013

MGoPoints: 3935

Bambi

January 30th, 2017 at 12:49 PM ^

First off, the drive is not "completely political." A completely political drive would be one funding a certain candidate or party. This is a humanitarian drive, with polticial undertones. As I said to Cue, if you are unable to separate the politics of a good humanitarian cause from the cause itself, that's your issue. Especially one that the site has supported and promoted in the past.

Nothing about the post on this site was political. The OP was not political. Spencer's posts was political. If you have issues with that, take it up with Spencer Hall. Nothing about this posts was political on MGoBlog until Cue made it so. Saying "Now more than ever" is not political. It's a statment of fact. Regardless of political affiliation, saying refugee orginzations need support now more than ever is a fact. Using those words as justification for Cue's incoherent rants and politicizing of this post is a massive stretch.

Also, that's not all Cue said. He also brought up Obama's 2011 Iraqi refugee plan. Saying he's tired of political posts was not even close to all he said, especially since this post wasn't political.

I never once said I'm a patriot or anything of the like. Making this a self congratulating post was never the intention nor has it become that. The point of this post was to raise money for a good cause. Sure that discussion can be had elsewhere. And it would have, until Cue made it happen here. Otherwise none of this would have happened.

Spencer's drive is making a world of difference. As someone posted below, already over $10K has been raised to help refugees. If it weren't for the fact that this drive was linked here, I would have never seen, and neither would many others. Posting this drive here made a real difference and allowed people to support and donate to a humanitarian cause.

You're saying you want to be ale to come to this site and not have to deal with real posts. So then don't. Don't read this post. No one made you read this post or comment here. Your argument is that it's an inconvenience to have to read about real world issues on a sports blog, ignoring the fact that this post has had positive effects in real life. Giving people an outlet to support refugees and donate money to a real thing makes me not care about the inconvenience of you having to read a not even political post, especially when you could just ignore it.

Joined: 10/12/2013

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M Go Cue

January 30th, 2017 at 1:03 PM ^

So we are now going to have politics here? Just don't read it if you don't like it? Neither of us know the motivation of the OP but for the 5th time, the LINK was full of political opinion and you know it. Also, please let me know where I said I don't want to "deal with real posts". I've given to many of the real causes here and I have no problem whatsoever with this one. I've been perfectly clear about my gripe with this thread and other political comments here lately.

Joined: 07/13/2013

MGoPoints: 3935

Bambi

January 30th, 2017 at 1:18 PM ^

My guess would be if the politics are "Here's a political person/event/fact and an opinion on it" then no politics. If it's "a group of people need help because of a political action so let's donate money", I think most reasonable people would be okay with that.

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Everyone Murders

January 30th, 2017 at 1:25 PM ^

This sums up the issue very well.  The charity that EDSBS is supporting helps refugees that are already in the U.S. adjust and acclimate to life in the U.S.  Whether you support Trump's executive order or you think it is awful, why would you not want to see lawfully-admitted people in need get help?

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MGoPoints: 65552

M Go Cue

January 30th, 2017 at 1:53 PM ^

While I think that could be a very slippery slope, I would be cool with that (for whatever that's worth). I will reserve the right to bitch about non helpful political comments. Thanks for moderating EM, even though that was probably not your intention.

Joined: 07/13/2013

MGoPoints: 3935

Everyone Murders

January 30th, 2017 at 2:09 PM ^

You don't take on a user name like "Everyone Murders" without taking on the mantle of being a peacemaker!  It sort of forces you to be a calming influence (except when you're not).

I think that people were conflating the political nature of the EDSBS article with the relatively apolitical humanitarian nature of the charity.  The charity itself seems very admirable and worthy of support.  $32.23, y'all!

Refugee admission and immigration are red-hot issues right now.  So it's not too surprising that some board members got crosswise over it here.   

Joined: 12/14/2010

MGoPoints: 65552

Medic

January 30th, 2017 at 2:39 PM ^

M Go Cue...I'm not sure I would have chosen this hill to die on, but I agree with a general sentiment. The overtly political nature of some comments and threads is starting to kill my enjoyment here. MGoBlog has practically been sacred to me *because* of the fact that for so long it has managed to steer clear of politics which I *reeealllly* appreciate. 

I don't need MGoBlog for politics. I can get that nonsense from thousands of other places including, family, friends, co-workers, TV, blogs, news sites, social media and every other fucking place I can't seem to escape from. Politics on a sports blog is just 100% pure columbian cancer.

All that being said, I've always supported Spencer's charity. I'll probably still support it but if the rhetoric keeps heating up, my enthusiasm and dollars can go to other charities who do the same work. 

Joined: 10/24/2008

MGoPoints: 2163

Mabel Pines

January 30th, 2017 at 4:54 PM ^

That's fine if the rule has changed- it's their site.  But other "non" political threads include "It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine"  and the Friday posbang the day of the inauguration.  Again, it's someone else's site- so whatever they want to do is fine, but it's also fine to admit that yes, certain political threads are now allowed here. 

Joined: 10/02/2010

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