Warpath Myth vs. Reality

[MTK]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

I don't want to speak out of turn but I am pretty sure that bans almosts always come after a consistent level of belligerence and/or inappropriate behavior and rarely happen after one incident. Whether the offender has a 1000 posts or not. One of the Mods can confirm that but from my perspectvie the mods do a good job of allowing freedom while also maintaining control.

That's pretty much the case.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Well, post counts aren't a deciding factor between getting banned/reprimanded or not. But certainly, in most cases, someone who has reached a 1,000+ post count has earned the respect and trust of mods and other members to have lasted as long.

I did not see that post that was directed at you and I apologize for that. And I'm guessing no other mod did either. Certainly had we seen it we would have addressed it to the offending party (at least privately). Unfortunately we do miss things from time to time.

As to the follow up post made to a moderator. I suspect you're talking about the one made to me. Understand that it had nothing to do with the fact that it was addressed to me personally. It was a growing issue with that particular person about his lack of respect and understanding for the site. Some people are not redeemable and he was one.

Just keep in mind that reprimands are often/usually handled privately between the mods and the offenders. So, while in this case I think you're right we missed it, don't assume that we let things slide.

Yep, I was just banned a couple months ago. I was being an ass and got what was coming to me. Can't hate on that.

The mods are definitely fair about laying down the law.

[BrudLee]

I think it's important for those in either the "we're awesome" or "we suck" camps to remember that the truth lies somewhere in the middle (in something of a 5-4 ratio at this time). Were there good things that happened against the Eagles? Absolutely. Were they outweighed by bad things? Yes, by about a 33-25 margin.

It's all math. Do "kool-aid drinkers" have more to say after a win? Sure, they have more evidence. Do "naysayers" have more to say after a loss? Sure, Sally Jenkins let them out of their caves (jokes!).

My point is that the pendulum swings here with the team, and just because your worldview isn't expressed by every poster doesn't mean the opinion isn't valid. Knowing this is how a good American like me and a pinko like Matty can work in harmony.

[Coff]

This is all very good, and I appreciate the effort of the mods to some extent, but I would offer one suggestion: I think the mods need to enforce a higher standard of conventional writing. In other words, unintelligible posts that seem to have been written by an illiterate 3 year old with hooves for hands, absolutely no understanding of grammar or punctuation, and zero effort to spell correctly, should be deleted from the discussion, no matter the content.

[BleedBurgundy]

(cough)too many commas (cough)

j/k

[BleedBurgundy]

After the spiritual evisceration that was this past Sunday, I had to take a break from posting about the Redskins on this site. I did that because I felt ultra dissappointed and I didn't want my negativity and irrationality to compound the current ridiculous dichotomy between the kings of kool aid and the haterade heroes.

The break accomplished 2 things:

One, I gained perspective. In the two days since our loss, the following have, statistically speaking, happened- 3,000 people have died from cancer, 731,520 babies were born into this world and 14,000 deer have died at the hands of LadyBrave. Splitting our series with the Eagles isn't that bad.

The second thing it accomplished was to make me appreciate how much I enjoy discussing the redskins on this site. I waste an inordinate amount of time here. And generally enjoy every second. But when people start to talk less about the team and more about how worthless each other's viewpoints are, I feel like the experience is lessened.

Here's what I don't get concerning all of the bitching and moaning: Mods run the site. If they really wanted to unfairly censor those with differing points of view, they'd just ban you and that would be the end of it. Forget namecalling, we'd all just forget there ever was an Offis or a Paulskinsfan or whoever, because they'd cease to exist on this site. Consequently so would a lot of valuable discussion that makes this site so great.

I'm not trying to kiss anyone's ass or anything but I believe that by and large this group of mods does everything it can to maintain and improve the quality of fan interaction on this site. That's not to say that the Mods aren't human. If they care enough about the team to spend whatever ungodly amount of hours it takes to maintain this forum, then obviously they are going to get a little bit annoyed with 14 "Fire Gibbs" threads immediately after a loss. Especially when we have a winning record and at least a puncher's chance to make the playoffs. Believe it or not they probably roll their eyes to the same extent when there are 15 "We are the greatest team since Michael and the archangels took on the Egyptian Firstborns" threads.

What I'm getting at is, take a second to think before you post. Ask yourself- "is what I have to say going to add to the overall quality of the discussion going on right now?" "Am I just venting?" "What am I hoping to accomplish?" "Do I honestly believe what I'm posting or am i just so dissappointed right now that I'm trying to take it out on everone else?" If the answer to any of those is yes, then it's probably best to take a porn break. Come back when you're relaxed.

I have to admit, I am slanted towards taking a positive look at the Redskins if at all possible. (not the easiest when Westbrook runs through the middle of our D for 58 yards and the go ahead score) I'd rather talk about ways we can get better as opposed to ways we suck. If that's not you, that's cool. But I just have to question the fanhood of anyone experiencing schadenfreude over their own team losing just so they can go online and say "I told you so..."

Mods are great and obviously this site would be an absolute disaster without them but I think we can all do our part (especially the ones who've been around for awhile, lurkers and posters alike) to police ourselves. I suggest taking a short break, realizing what makes this site such a great place to waste the workday on and then come back refreshed.

Just a thought...

[MTK]

Originally Posted by BleedBurgundy

After the spiritual evisceration that was this past Sunday, I had to take a break from posting about the Redskins on this site. I did that because I felt ultra dissappointed and I didn't want my negativity and irrationality to compound the current ridiculous dichotomy between the kings of kool aid and the haterade heroes.

The break accomplished 2 things:

One, I gained perspective. In the two days since our loss, the following have, statistically speaking, happened- 3,000 people have died from cancer, 731,520 babies were born into this world and 14,000 deer have died at the hands of LadyBrave. Splitting our series with the Eagles isn't that bad.

The second thing it accomplished was to make me appreciate how much I enjoy discussing the redskins on this site. I waste an inordinate amount of time here. And generally enjoy every second. But when people start to talk less about the team and more about how worthless each other's viewpoints are, I feel like the experience is lessened.

Here's what I don't get concerning all of the bitching and moaning: Mods run the site. If they really wanted to unfairly censor those with differing points of view, they'd just ban you and that would be the end of it. Forget namecalling, we'd all just forget there ever was an Offis or a Paulskinsfan or whoever, because they'd cease to exist on this site. Consequently so would a lot of valuable discussion that makes this site so great.

I'm not trying to kiss anyone's ass or anything but I believe that by and large this group of mods does everything it can to maintain and improve the quality of fan interaction on this site. That's not to say that the Mods aren't human. If they care enough about the team to spend whatever ungodly amount of hours it takes to maintain this forum, then obviously they are going to get a little bit annoyed with 14 "Fire Gibbs" threads immediately after a loss. Especially when we have a winning record and at least a puncher's chance to make the playoffs. Believe it or not they probably roll their eyes to the same extent when there are 15 "We are the greatest team since Michael and the archangels took on the Egyptian Firstborns" threads.

What I'm getting at is, take a second to think before you post. Ask yourself- "is what I have to say going to add to the overall quality of the discussion going on right now?" "Am I just venting?" "What am I hoping to accomplish?" "Do I honestly believe what I'm posting or am i just so dissappointed right now that I'm trying to take it out on everone else?" If the answer to any of those is yes, then it's probably best to take a porn break. Come back when you're relaxed.

I have to admit, I am slanted towards taking a positive look at the Redskins if at all possible. (not the easiest when Westbrook runs through the middle of our D for 58 yards and the go ahead score) I'd rather talk about ways we can get better as opposed to ways we suck. If that's not you, that's cool. But I just have to question the fanhood of anyone experiencing schadenfreude over their own team losing just so they can go online and say "I told you so..."

Mods are great and obviously this site would be an absolute disaster without them but I think we can all do our part (especially the ones who've been around for awhile, lurkers and posters alike) to police ourselves. I suggest taking a short break, realizing what makes this site such a great place to waste the workday on and then come back refreshed.

Just a thought...

excellent post

[BDBohnzie]

This place is awesome. I've said it before...I used to post at a few other forums, but settled on The Warpath because I felt the caliber of post was more intelligent, and it was pretty low frills. It's hard to scan through posts on other boards because everyone has a goddamn signature banner that's got every color of the rainbow, or you don't agree with the Mods or TPTB, and your ideas tend to get lost in the wash.

Of course there are going to be times when we all don't get along, but if you keep it civil, it'll be kosher.

While it's easy to rely on the Mods to keep a clean house, it helps when the posters keep themselves in check as well. Read over your thread before clicking the reply button, or at least read over it and edit if necessary. I know there have been times where I've written a long rant about something, then deleted it knowing that it wasn't either worth it or wouldn't solve anything. Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all...

And after a loss, if you feel like you have to unwind, go hit the Parking Lot threads. Have some fun, watch some goofy YouTube videos, and come back with a clearer mind. Either that, or bust on Earthquake's XBox skills, or Smootsmack's lack of Tecmo Super Bowl Skills or LB's Deerslaying skills.

[jdlea]

Originally Posted by JWsleep

Not to ruin your night but: Jonestown - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yeah, I almost pointed this out a few times...the Kool-Aid references are not such a good thing...in fact, it's a little disturbing. Not sure why everyone says it, and I'm by no means limiting that statement to this site, it just seems like an odd statement to me. One of, if not the worst mass suicide in the history of the world doesn't seem like a joking matter to me.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by JWsleep

Not to ruin your night but: Jonestown - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is what I relate it to most:

The idiomatic expression, “drinking the Kool-Aid”, was originally a reference to the Merry Pranksters, a group of people associated with novelist Ken Kesey who, in the early 1960s, travelled around the United States and held events called “Acid Tests”, where LSD-laced Kool-Aid was passed out to the public (LSD was legal at that time). Those who drank the “Kool-Aid” passed the “Acid Test”. “Drinking the Kool-Aid” in that context meant accepting the LSD drug culture, and the Pranksters’ “turned on” point of view. These events were described in Tom Wolfe’s 1968 classic, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.[4]

Link: Kool-Aid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

Either that, or bust on Earthquake's XBox skills, or Smootsmack's lack of Tecmo Super Bowl Skills or LB's Deerslaying skills.

Hey! My guys fought their guts out. I think what you try, what you want is...balance. But hey I'll tell you what, "Fill in name" is super smart. Obvioulsy the next game becomes very important. I'm really pleased with "Fill in name's" progress. I'm sure there are some things he would like to take back. All the credit goes to the guys on the other team. If anyone knows how to stop them, you tell me...

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by jdlea

Yeah, I almost pointed this out a few times...the Kool-Aid references are not such a good thing...in fact, it's a little disturbing. Not sure why everyone says it, and I'm by no means limiting that statement to this site, it just seems like an odd statement to me. One of, if not the worst mass suicide in the history of the world doesn't seem like a joking matter to me.

True. Very true. To me it's always been an expression that I don't instantly relate to Jonestown when I hear, but I hear what you're saying.

I mean I get kind of bothered by that one sig we have on here that says "Dan Snyder is the Cancer..." Kind of belittles both Snyder's battle with cancer and the tragic impact of the disease itself, in my opinion. But maybe I'm just overreacting.

By the way, cool story here: ESPN - OTL: Jonestown founder's grandson redeems family name - ESPN

[RobH4413]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

True. Very true. To me it's always been an expression that I don't instantly relate to Jonestown when I hear, but I hear what you're saying.

I mean I get kind of bothered by that one sig we have on here that says "Dan Snyder is the Cancer..." Kind of belittles both Snyder's battle with cancer and the tragic impact of the disease itself, in my opinion. But maybe I'm just overreacting.

By the way, cool story here: ESPN - OTL: Jonestown founder's grandson redeems family name - ESPN

Wow, crazy story.

Don't know how else to describe it. Pretty amazing.

[BleedBurgundy]

Not to continue this hijack too far but i saw a special on jonestown awhile back on History channel or something and his biological son was just destroyed by the fact that his father did this...

[GMScud]

If everyone always agreed, this wouldn't be much of a site. Disagreements often make for the best discussions/threads. Everyone just needs to be smart and respectful (I realize the former may be hard for some) in their posts. I don't think it's too hard.

One thing that absolutely drives me nuts are internet tough guys. Anyone who can get personally insulting- calling people douche bags, physical threats, etc on a fan website or any other online forum is a complete tool. It's really easy to hide behind a user name and an avatar and go after others. It's also really cowardly and childish. Anyone remember that Porterhouse fiasco??

Don't be dumb, don't be a bully. Or I'll kick your ass!