New Thread Requirement - READ

[mgteich]

I support trting to get rid of useless discussion. Obviously, a lot of useful discussion will also be missed. After all, many, many folks gave reasonable criticism, along with their emotion. We are less the 24 hours after a loss. IMHO, we should simply employ a mourning period.

So, I suppose I am on the other side of most restrictions of discussion. However, I strongly support the owner or operator of a board in their right to set whatever rules they wish.

In this case, I see little problem with a game thread and a post-game thread where people are free to vent. In fact, I think that it is useful.

Also, I see absolutely no reason to consolidate game threads so that we cannot discuss the OL, the wide receivers or other aspects of the team without plodding though a thread of hundred or even a thousand posts that keep on getting merged.

 

[TBR]

I think reviewing the game thread is a little much... People get pretty upset in the moment as they're watching the game live. It's hard to control sometimes. Some of it's just venting.

I understand becoming more strict about individual threads though.

 

[obgod3]

there tends to be a lot of useless banter between individuals in most threads, and then it gets personal and ugly, then some of us actually dread coming in here. I agree with this new strategy. Thats all I got.

 

[Ian]

I think reviewing the game thread is a little much... People get pretty upset in the moment and it's hard to control. Some of it's just venting.

I get becoming more strict about individual threads though.

Venting and getting caught up in the moment is fine, but being nasty to each other and other posters isn't. That's most of what I'm really trying to start reeling in.

 

[Timbo717]

I dont want to see to heavy of a hand in moderation. I have been a pats fans since 1980, not as long as some, but longer than the new crowd. Its ok to be upset, its ok to be disappointed. Its ok to talk about these things without calling for absurd measures. When you get owned in all facets of the game its going to make for a long day.

I dont see whats wrong with a thread calling Chandler Jones mediocre..? That is certainly a topic with many varying opinions. People are passionate about this team and nobody was expecting a total no show last night. Things will get better as the week goes on, the wound as they say is fresh.

I could be wrong but I think in general the message is that it's fine to start a thread saying "I think Chandler Jones is mediocre and here's why" and then list out a number of reasons why. However, if you're going to just start a thread without posing a question or putting any effort into how you phrase the content, it'll get shut down.

If someone starts a thread with a title of *Insert player here* is mediocre and then the body of the original post is one word, then I have no problem with Ian laying the moderation smack-down. I usually don't create threads and don't post a ton, but there are plenty of examples of people putting actual effort into a thread's original post to frame a discussion. KontradictioN created one with good detail, and there have been a couple others that may not have a long initial post but do a good job of framing the discussion. There have also been a couple of dreadful efforts at thread topics that should justifiably be shut down.

 

[zydecochris]

Ian is absolutely right. The past 10-12 years have been absolutely unheard of in the era of
capped sports. I am 35, started watching the NFL in 1988, but only started following the Patriots
when Parcells/Bledsoe came to town. I've seen a few lean years, but nothing like the real old-timers on this board. But, unlike most Patriots fans these days - I remember Law & Lawyer's rookie years, Otis' game-clinching pick-6, the comeback vs Miami in the later 90s, etc, etc. In fact, most people I know jumped on the bandwagon in 2001, and will be nowhere to be found on Fall Sundays in the not-so-distance future. Myself? I will be right where I'm always at - in my favorite couch seat, drinking Heady Topper and eating lots of fatty foods. During the Ravens/Patriots AFC Championship debacle - I sat next to a couple 18 year olds who tried to school me on how the Patriots were going to win easily, and would undoubtedly resign Wes Welker in the offseason. I politely said "I wasn't so sure...." a broken clock. Sigh.

I covered this in the "BELICHICK IS TO BLAME" thread (where I was sarcastically calling for BB's head), but I don't think that most fans realize just how spoiled we are. Repeating the numbers (minus the snark), the top five teams in terms of NFL standings for the 2000's in terms of winning percentage:

1. New England Patriots 70.8%
2. Indianapolis Colts 70.1%
3. Pittsburg Steelers 65.2%
4. Philadelphia Eagles 63.8%
5. Green Bay Packers 58.0%

And the top five rated teams in terms of winning percentage in the 2010's

1. New England Patriots 75.0%
2. Green Bay Packers 67.8%
3. Baltimore Ravens 67.1%
4. San Francisco 49ers 65.1%
5. New Orleans Saints 61.6%

Pretty remarkable that there is so much squalling at a 2-2 record after so many years of sustained excellence.

http://home.jps.net/~fos/nfl/nfl.htm

 

[BelizePats]

This is long overdue Ian. So many of the threads get high jacked by arguing that devolves to personal attacks. I often just bail for days at a time when the usual suspects run amok through threads spreading misery.
As Pats fan since the early 70's I have seen my share of bad Patriots football over the years. As a Canadian who would pilgrimage down to the old Schaeffer Stadium to freeze my ass off to watch mostly bad football while dodging fists and beer bottles, the last 14 years has been extraordinary.
As was finding this site in 2001. I love this site Ian. Protect it in any way you see fit.

 

[luuked]

Ian, please go for it. It is a great idea.

Some of the threads (especially the game threads) have become a garbage fire.

I am not sure if there is a big audience for that but it would be nice to have a dedicated "discussion" thread for each live game that should be kept free from venting and reaction and should only be used to discuss things we are observing (defensive tendencies, playcalling .. ) in a nuanced, meaningful way.

I would love to have a place to actually talk about what I am seeing without having to click through 2 pages of "McD sucks", "Patricia needs to be fired" ect.

But again, I am not sure if the audience for this kind of discussion on a live game is big enough to warrant two parallel threads.

 

[BritPat]

Granted I know the dust is still settling, but moving forward I want everyone to be aware that the types of threads, posts will have a little more stringent requirements.

When a thread is started, the point is to have it filled with information and thoughts that can produce productive discussions. I get that people are upset, but I'm not willing to let this place melt down with a dozen plus threads that are nothing more than glorified b:&$ch sessions and rants. That's obviously what there a lot of here right now. You'll see quite a few close down when I get home tonight, so get it out of your system now.

Many of you are witnessing the first signs of adversity and weren't here back during 5-11 seasons, so you have no perspective when it comes to seeing this team genuinely struggle. You've seen over a decade of winning seasons, go back through history, that's not the norm. It seems we may start to see more weeks like this based on what's transpired. It sucks and it's frustrating, but there's no need to make this place unbearable. So I need those of you, without singling any of you out, who fall into that category to reign it in and think long and hard about starting a new thread that goes against what I'm asking.

It's simple, if you fall into this category moving forward, you'll receive a warning and that thread will be deleted. If it happens again, you'll lose your ability to start threads.

Also, getting upset during a game at the team in the game thread and then taking it out on other posters is also not going to be tolerated. I'm letting last night go as a freebee, but from now on I'm reviewing the entire game thread after each contest and if I see it being done, it's the same two strike policy. One gets you a warning, another could subject you to losing posting privileges.

These will come from me, not the mods, as I'm not going to have them be questioned for fairness. I'll have them contact me if there's an issue and then I'll deal with each and every one from there.

We have 12 games left at the minimum and no matter how tough things get this will be a place where we can talk football and will remain a productive place for the rest of the season. Thank you in advance for the people who will help adhere to this.

Ian, you rock.

I'm still in "wow, that sucked" mode though.

 

[Ian]

Ian, you rock.

I'm still in "wow, that sucked" mode though.

Lol, as am I

 

[Tunescribe]

Ian, the solution is easy -- just ban everyone fitting this profile:

Male: Yes
Age 12-25: Yes
Plays fantasy football: Yes
Takes ADD meds: Yes
Enjoys fast food: Yes
Trades in smartphone every six months: Yes
Lives in mom's basement: Yes
Watches replays of the Pro Bowl: Yes
Ever attend a Pats game live: No
Ever kiss a girl: No

 

[New England Pride]

Its hard not to get angry and cuss posters out when people are saying outlandish rediculous things. Multiple posters calling for Belichick to be fired and threads about JG deserving the start next week. People are ubearable in here after a loss its totally embarrassing.

 

[raduray]

Ian, I appreciate this forum and all the work that you do to provide it for us. Although I don't post a lot, I do spend quite a bit of time here and don't really see the problems that you're trying to fix. I think that if you consolidate a given topic (and how do you draw the boundary?) to a single thread, you'll wind up with long unreadable threads where specific sub-issues that may have otherwise merited their own thread will be lost. I would be weary of heavy handed moderating stifling the fun factor here.

 

[Gwedd]

Go for it, Ian. It's your house. You get to make the rules.

I have often (well, actually, pretty much always) stayed clear of the gametime thread because of the meltdown effect. I don't know why it is that otherwise seemingly normal sportsfans can go from 0 to 11 on the outrage meter in such a short span of time. I suspect that copious amounts of alcohol may be in play, and I have learned over the years that drunk posting, and especially drunk blogging is not the way to go through life (H/T to Dean Wormer).

I joined the Patriots bandwagon when they drafted Plunkett. Been wearing the laundry ever since. It's like my tribe. Once you're in, you're in for life. BUT....... as commented on earlier in this thread, this isn't my life. My life is my family. This is a sort of second religion, perhaps, or maybe like a fraternity. But it doesn't define me.

As a long time Patriots fan, I know what it's like to be depressed. The old Patriots game plan used to follow the same script every weekend. Get ahead early, fall behind. Rally Late. Fall short. New England made an art out of dropped passes, shanked kicks, fumbled balls, and bad throws. Completed passes often were dispersed equally between our receivers and their corners.

We learned to appreciate every single victory, because it was such a rare occurrence. True, many seasons we'd win more than lose, but we never got to the big dance. We'd seem so tantalyzingly close, only to jilted in the end.

But I also learned that football is still a game. Win or lose, the sun will come up the next morning, we'll still love our families, have to go to work, pay our bills, and steel ourselves for the next weekend's game because we KNOW we'll win THAT one!

Having said all that, I have also stayed away from the game day threads, and the board for a day or two after a loss because, despite all the great posters we have, it seems like this place turns into the Pats' version of JI, or Gang Green. Not someplace I want to be. We're better than that.

 

[Skeeter712]

Ian, the solution is easy -- just ban everyone fitting this profile:

Male: Yes
Age 12-25: Yes
Plays fantasy football: Yes
Takes ADD meds: Yes
Enjoys fast food: Yes
Trades in smartphone every six months: Yes
Lives in mom's basement: Yes
Watches replays of the Pro Bowl: Yes
Ever attend a Pats game live: No
Ever kiss a girl: No

Apparently this is still a freebie for attacking other members?

 

[PATSNUTme]

Venting and getting caught up in the moment is fine, but being nasty to each other and other posters isn't. That's most of what I'm really trying to start reeling in.

The purpose of the game thread is to vent, make knee jerk reactions, and maybe, just maybe, insightful observations.

That is why the wording is the same at the top of the game thread every week:
Please post your comments, knee jerk reactions and insightful observations regarding tonight's 2014 week 4 game vs the Kansas City Chiefs in this thread. Please do not start other threads concerning tonight's game as they will be merged or deleted.

Please notice that it doesn't say that it's OK to get into childish food fights and continue them throughout the the thread.

If some people want to become keyboard commando's then you'll have to find another place to do it. Losing a football game does not require fans to become complete jerks.

 

[raduray]

I should probably say my goodbyes to everyone before that next game thread.

I don't know which I would miss most, your comments or your avatar.

 

[Tunescribe]

Apparently this is still a freebie for attacking other members?

If you feel "attacked," you no doubt qualify for banishment under those criteria.

 

[Halifax_Pats_Fan]

Yup, we need to focus on what feel we need going forward...the past is something to learn from and move forward, negativity is not at all constructive...

 

[Brady6]

I will be the first to admit that I am a hot head in terms of posting sometimes, but I am actually overwhelmed by the reaction to last night, the board is a bit of a **** show right now, so I am glad Ian stepped in. Just as 2007 was not as great as it seemed after week 4, 2014 is unlikely to be as bad as it seems after week 4. There are 2 types of people in this world, one who rises in the face of adversity and one who falls down in the face adversity, I have no question in my mind that Brady and Belichick at the first type, they will get this straightened out and the team will be stronger for it. In the spirit of all of us who are sobering up from last night I am taking an AA one day at a time approach to this season, at least until the team shows a more decisive direction.

In the meantime, I am doing my part as a member of this board and not putting the player whose name begins and ends with an A in any of my posts…