The difference however is that one is relevant to the conversation while the other is not. Fans do have a tendency to over inflate many things. For instance I think the Ravens and their flags are still whining about a flag thrown three years ago. This isn't a perception either, as there is clear evidence by Raven's fans on this message board to support it. This habitual whining by the team makes it difficult for insiders to discern when the team is or isn't whining. That is my only point.
As for what other fans think of spygate...most people are idiots. I find the subject is a pretty good litmus test.
I would be careful about generalizations about a fan base, especially based on what you see on a message board. If nothing else, the moderators have a really big influence on who gets to post.
As far as the flags go, I would prefer to see the NFL be more hands-off about some of the calls. Things have gotten pretty out of hand. I think it has a lot to do with money. I understand, business is business, but sometimes the game I see on TV looks more like co-ed flag football than it does the NFL of the 50's-70's. It's not so much that the calls are incorrect in light of the rules, I just don't like the way the rules have changed. That is probably a theme you will hear a lot from fans of defensively-oriented football teams that like to run the ball and play kind of an old-school brand of football.