Game 8, 2013-14: BYU (Springfield)

Jackson96 · Post by **Jackson96** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 2:52 pm

I would just think this board would be, I don't know, a bit happier these days, but there seems to be a lot of weird stuff going on here lately:

A multi-page thread about what was pretty clearly explained as a mistake by The Collegian (I know there was other discussions about The Collegian on that thread but people still went back to the mistake.)

Tracking down and posting personal info of a nameless, faceless fan of BYU who is clearly a dipshit.

Mocking the religion of another BYU fan who was a perfectly nice guy and didn't deserve any of that shit.

Getting upset about what was a very positive Steve Buckley column because he mentioned the dirty laundry that sits in our hamper (and it is there, ignoring it doesn't change that fact.)

I could probably find more examples, but these are the ones that have made me wonder as of late (some moreso than others.)
Here's how I looked at these things:

The Collegian made an error. It's over.

Who gives a shit about what some yahoo BYU fan posts on Twitter? Life has a way of coming back on people like that so maybe I'll let life take care of him.

Wow, this nice BYU fan congratulates us on our big win against his team? Hey, how about we don't piss on his religion? How about a simple thanks-and-good-luck instead?

Wow. A 98% pro-UMass column in one of Boston's two major papers, maybe I'll concentrate on that instead of the 2% negative which was only presented as something that happened (which is the truth.)

I certainly don't live in the Land of Furry, Happy Bunnies and Golden Unicorns (if you looked at some of my past posts that would be clear), but man, I am pretty content right now.

Any of y'all want to go the other way on these things, that's fine. People can do whatever they want, say whatever they want, I get that. We just differ on things that are worth getting upset about. And that's fine, too. As is calling me a name or mocking what I just typed.

Just wanted to get that off my chest.

uz2b-len · Post by **uz2b-len** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 2:58 pm

http://www.cdc.gov/features/dsdepression/
One in eleven adults is depressed, one in 25 is experiencing a major depression.

Marty Peretz · Post by **Marty Peretz** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:10 pm

uz2b-len wrote:http://www.cdc.gov/features/dsdepression/
One in eleven adults is depressed, one in 25 is experiencing a major depression.

Which is probably less than the percentage of negative posts on this board of late.

Re: Jackson96's point--relax. Yeah, some negativity still lingers, but I think the overall tenor of the board is quite positive. And pointing out the clear minority of negative postings is counterproductive. A longstanding narrative exits on this board and it ends up being distressingly self-fulfilling.

It goes as follows:

A handful of mostly reasonable posters are engaging in a mostly reasonable conversation. Then one person says something kind of unreasonable. Then another person adds something that is genuinely quite unreasonable.

It could stop there. It could be ignored. We could just move on.

BUT THEN....

Thirty five otherwise generally reasonable people pile on the two unreasonable posters and complain about how unreasonable the board has become. It's preaching to the choir in the extreme. I'm certain I've piled on too, so I don't profess to be above this trend.

That said, the reality is, most of the time (at least when we're winning), the majority of people here are reasonable. The problem becomes when one person says something stupid, all the reasonable people act as if that stupid person or two is representative of the board at large.

So the extremes end up being newsworthy and distracting otherwise good users from continuing what is otherwise a decently civil discussion. It's basically the local news on a smaller level. The local news runs some story about how some dickhead mayor took a bribe. Then they run another story about how some other dickhead local mayor did the same. Then the masses start going crazy about how all mayors are dickheads who take bribes when, really, many are just hard working civil servants (mayors probably aren't a good example, but you see the point. We're basically creating mini-scandals for no reason).

Umass90 · Post by **Umass90** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:11 pm

Jackson96 wrote:I would just think this board would be, I don't know, a bit happier these days, but there seems to be a lot of weird stuff going on here lately.

Amen. Let's enjoy this!

For those finding things to bitch about this season, I question your fandom.

njumass08 · Post by **njumass08** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:17 pm

I got a bar in Detroit to put the game on Saturday. No one in the bar had any idea UMass was ranked until I told them.

They had a good time watching the game. They loved Chaz.

As the season goes on hopefully more folks will know Chaz.

mlaconte459 · Post by **mlaconte459** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:39 pm

69MG wrote:
mlaconte459 wrote:I Really think Chaz has a MONSTER game here.. I mean 26+ points and 7+ assists.. he has one of those games coming soon, and I am very positive this game is going to be it
I remembered this post and let's give mla some props for the prediction, even if he did underestimate Chaz just a bit.

haha thank you! thank you! I just had that feeling it was coming

xlgman · Post by **xlgman** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 8:22 pm

wmmmfan wrote:Whichever one it was looked more like a football player than point guard.

Keep up the good work Big Rich.

That guy WAS Big Rich! He was definitely the one wearing the long sleeve tee. Hinds and Clark were in street clothes and were up in the stands before, during, and after the game. I'm not sure, but possibly Hinds can't "travel" with the team. And Clark certainly can't.

Chris20 · Post by **Chris20** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 8:26 pm

Hahahaha, I saw him, but didn't think that's who was being asked about.

He definitely does not have a 20 year old PG body. He looks like S.D. Jones.

Refuse2Lose83 · Post by **Refuse2Lose83** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 9:35 pm

We won 105-96 in a 40 minute college basketball game. Tonight in a 48 minute NBA game, Denver won 75-74 over Washington.

Would you rather pay over $200 bucks for a family of 4 for NBA entertainment or less than 100 to go to a UMass game these days?? I love the NBA but damn we have a great product!! Oh it's so great to be a Minutemen fan right now!!!

xlgman · Post by **xlgman** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 9:50 pm

Chris20 wrote:Hahahaha, I saw him, but didn't think that's who was being asked about.

He definitely does not have a 20 year old PG body. He looks like S.D. Jones.

I loved Special Delivery. Man could never catch a break!

Jackson96 · Post by **Jackson96** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 11:01 pm

The best part about S.D. Jones was that when he was announced for a match, for the longest time he was from Philadelphia before it somehow got changed to The West Indies. I guess his Philly background was getting stale for Vince McMahon and company.