Thoughts of a Negative Poster

[Oldfan]

I read the entire post; I just feel it's entirely irrelevant and completely incongruous. It most likely should have been posted a few years ago. There's nothing about the past that I want to even think about. I'm looking forward and avoiding all negative thought. That's my opinion.

It isn't about the past. It's conclusion is about right now and in the future.

But, if you don't want to hear it, no problem.

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Liverpool fan too, I find some analogies between Liverpool and the Redskins. Storied franchises whose glory was in the 80s. Both young/arguably upcoming teams now. Though I liked where the Redskins are now better.

2005 and Istanbul aside, both last won their 'holy grail' back in 1991.

If you'd said to me in the May of that year that 21 years I'd still be waiting for either another Redskins SB or L'pool League title, such was the dominance of both back then, I'd of laughed in your face. How times change, sighs.

And yeah, with 10 at the helm, I'm liking the Redskins chances of getting back to the top spot first much better.

Hail.

[RGIIINATION]

It isn't about the past. It's conclusion is about right now and in the future.

But, if you don't want to hear it, no problem.

The first line in your conclusion is this: "I write this to encourage more negative voices in this forum."

I found it easier to focus positively on where we are now and where we are going, rather than dredge up what we had done in the past. If I didn't fully placate the answer you were hoping for, my sincerest apologies, sir.

[Oldfan]

The first line in your conclusion is this: "I write this to encourage more negative voices in this forum."

I'll concede that anyone can pull a line out of any of my paragraphs to distort the message. I'm not sure why they would want to do that, but it's an easy thing to do.

[MartinC]

2005 and Istanbul aside, both last won their 'holy grail' back in 1991.

Ahem. Leeds won the old 1st Division title back in 1991

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Ahem. Leeds won the old 1st Division title back in 1991

Meh, 1991-92 season. So I class that as 1992. Don't argue with an 18 time champion.

Hail.

[Oldfan]

I vow never to mention the Cork City Rebels again.

[Mad Mike]

Do you realize that your post is off-topic or did you read the OP as encouraging members to be negative as a habit?

At some point with so many people telling you that it reads as an endorsement of negativity, you might want to consider the idea that *your* wording is at fault. As the author, it's on *you* to make yourself understood clearly. It's YOU who titled the thread "Thoughts of a Negative Poster". It's YOU who claimed to be a fountain of wisdom AS a Negative Poster. It's YOU who chose to begin your closing paragraph with "I write this to encourage more negative voices in this forum." when you claim you are trying to encourage realistic perspectives.


You went on to claim....

This thread was inspired by one begun the other day complaining about the quitters amongst us. The author was referring to the posters of the type who inhabit the gameday thread I'm told (I don't participate) but a few of the posters in it took it a step further to register the usual homer complaints about their fellow members who they look down on as negative posters.

Here's the thread. Post #94 is quite instructive.

http://www.extremeskins.com/showthre...arly-quitters-)

It doesn't bother me when you homers get together in a thread to agree that you are superior fans. What bothers me is when you do it in threads that I start. I can't being to tell you how often I've been hit with being a negative poster. I really don't give a damn. i realize that some people just have to satisfy their need to feel superior. But, please, do it in your own threads, not in mine.

I came here tonight to celebrate a Redskins win with fellow Skins fans. I didn't come here to hear the home majority carp about other members.

Screw this place.

Gosh, I wonder who could have written that? Clearly *someone* thinks that their threads and comments are above reproach and no one should be allowed to enter "their" thread to contradict him.

Oh, and here is that same poster again...

You are living in a fantasy world if you feel your "faith" is being rewarded. You imagine that you have earned special privileges to enjoy Redskins wins because you are foolishly unable to separate your hopes from your expectations.

The jury is still out on the Shanahan reign, so let's not count that. I have predicted high-level mediocrity, a team that averages 8.5 wins tops, but we'll see. Prior to Shanahan's hiring I was optimistic twice during the Snyder era. I supported the hirings of Steve Spurrier and Jim Zorn and was spectacularly wrong both times. Aside from that, I have been negative on all the major moves while the majority of Redskins fans have supported every one of them: the hirings of coaches, the major trades, trading picks for vets, and the big name free agents.

I would estimate there were 25 such moves since Snyder bought the team. So, my record on major predictions is about 23-2 while the majority of fans are 0-25. You homers think that there's something praiseworthy about blind optimism. There isn't. Optimism or pessimism without good reason are simply dumb.

Seems this poster has a rather overblown sense of superiority and enjoys demeaning others.

But apparently these disparaging remarks about "homer" posters were not enough. "Someone" had to start a new thread to again claim mental superiority and disparage any "homer" who would dare to disagree with him.

Ego driven indeed.

[grego]

At some point with so many people telling you that it reads as an endorsement of negativity, you might want to consider the idea that *your* wording is at fault.

agreed.

oldfan, your post absolutely reads like an endorsement of negativity. you clearly didnt mean it that way, but it does read that way. a little confusing, no doubt.

[DogofWar1]

My view is that realistic expectations and optimism/pessimism exist somewhat on separate scales.

There's present realistic assessments, but optimism/pessimism should deal, at least from the way I define them, purely with the future.

A present realistic assessment would be that our pass protection is ok, and has problems mainly because of right tackle, a lack of blocking runningbacks, and having very average blocking TEs, but that our guard positions, while passable, could be upgraded if given the chance. There's unrealistic assessments, like saying our line is great, needing no replacements, and the flip-side, that our line is terrible and we need to replace everyone right of Trent asap. Homerism leads one way, negativity the other, but ultimately everyone is going to have different opinions and it's just a matter of support.

Optimism and pessimism (and homerism and haterism) would be looking to the future and thinking about what's going to happen. I don't think there's really a need to be wildly pessimistic about things, generally. Optimism is that we'll fix the Oline and pass protection problems, pessimism is that we won't. Unless one cannot devise a scenario where we fix the problems we see, I don't think it's necessary to start out from a pessimistic point looking towards the future.

Also calling Godwins Law.

[Oldfan]

At some point with so many people telling you that it reads as an endorsement of negativity, you might want to consider the idea that *your* wording is at fault.

I would clarify my wording if there were not several posters who understood me perfectly. I'm not in the least concened with opponent's twisting my words every which way in order to create strawman arguments. That's expected on Internet debates.

Here's the thread. Post #94 is quite instructive.

It actually would be instructive for someone impartial to read both parts of that exchange. But in the hands of a biased critic like you, it's deceptive.

The homer I confronted was typically whining about fellow members who, unlike him, had the gall to post negative comments about his team.

---------- Post added December-13th-2012 at 12:31 PM ----------

...oldfan, your post absolutely reads like an endorsement of negativity. you clearly didnt mean it that way, but it does read that way. a little confusing, no doubt.

My conclusion seemed to be clear to several others. Here is is again:

I write this to encourage more negative voices in this forum. I'm not referring to those who enjoy second guessing every coach's decision that fails or those who trash players beyond reason. I'm encouraging those who try very hard to be realistic and fair to speak up and be heard when you don't agree with the decisions of Redskins management. Don't worry that your opinions won't be popular with the homer crowd. Take solace in the fact that, so far in the Snyder era, the homers have been consistently wrong.

Now, if that wasn't clear to you, then my subsequent posts denying other positions should have made it crystal clear. So, why do we still have posters griping about being confused?

[JMUSkins]

I suggest everyone just let Oldfan be. His heels are dug in because a few people agreed with him and the rest of us are hopeless... or smart asses (that's me!)... or didn't read the OP... or did read the OP but can't comprehend "perfect" English... or are just throwing crap against the wall (me again!).... or homers who deserve to be skewered.

I tried not to post again after last night's debacle, but I find it hard to believe that another 7-8 pages of argument (not debate) have continued since then. It's pretty ridiculous and I won't be back in this thread.

Hail to the Redskins.

[grego]

Now, if that wasn't clear to you, then my subsequent posts denying other positions should have made it crystal clear. So, why do we still have posters griping about being confused?

i dunno. could be that those like me who got confused by it are just dumb.

[Oldfan]

...Optimism and pessimism (and homerism and haterism) would be looking to the future and thinking about what's going to happen. I don't think there's really a need to be wildly pessimistic about things, generally. Optimism is that we'll fix the Oline and pass protection problems, pessimism is that we won't. Unless one cannot devise a scenario where we fix the problems we see, I don't think it's necessary to start out from a pessimistic point looking towards the future...

If I understand you right, that optimism or pessimism should ideally begin with a realistic assessment of the present -- we're on the same page.

[NLC1054]

i dunno. could be that those like me who got confused by it are just dumb.

Clearly we're all just idiots who have no concept on context. If we were smarter we could just read the meaning under the meaning of the meaning.