An interesting post in the STL Post-Dispatch board about recruiting

[KillerB]

The first post from the man asked here to find info about Mizzou's recruiting. After getting several answers he posted this:

"My son is being recruited by Mizzou and we just want to get a feel from the fan base and how they discuss their football program, recruits, and other schools. Things can get heated, this is to be expected. However, some schools have a bit more trash to them then others.

I don't believe forum posters understand what an impact they have on a teenager's perception of their school.

What you post is usually a clear picture of what you really think."

[tornado]

amen...and there are examples of top level recruits who have come out and said PLAINLY that the vicious and negative comments from people claiming to be fans had an impact on their decision...
LOL - what kid would want to go to a school where the fans habitually rip their own to pieces??

[buschsquirrel2011]

amen...and there are examples of top level recruits who have come out and said PLAINLY that the vicious and negative comments from people claiming to be fans had an impact on their decision...
LOL - what kid would want to go to a school where the fans habitually rip their own to pieces??

I understand your point in theory but pretty much all fan message boards are the same, regardless of college basketball, football, NBA, MLB, NFL, etc.

The dynamic is exactly the same on every single message board---at least those of programs or franchises that have a passionate fan base.

[tornado]

I understand your point in theory but pretty much all fan message boards are the same...

wow - on this you and I disagree as incredibly much as is possible..
I can easily see enormous differences in the way different fan message boards are run and there is a quantum difference in the trends and attitudes on differing boards with some being neverendingly hostile
and terrible lies and insults being allowed - even encouraged or considered the norm..
vs. other boards where people are polite and the board needs very little but firm and consistent moderation and runs perfectly...
From the messages the people at this board routinely get from readers and posters I'd say many, many others also appreciate the differences, as well.

[buschsquirrel2011]

wow - on this you and I disagree as incredibly much as is possible..
I can easily see enormous differences in the way different fan message boards are run and there is a quantum difference in the trends and attitudes on differing boards with some being neverendingly hostile
and terrible lies and insults being allowed - even encouraged or considered the norm..
vs. other boards where people are polite and the board needs very little but firm and consistent moderation and runs perfectly...
From the messages the people at this board routinely get from readers and posters I'd say many, many others also appreciate the differences, as well.

Wouldn't you say you are more closely affiliated to this board than any other?

Do you know what kind of messages those who run other message boards get?

I don't see how you could really know how other boards are run unless you were to talk to those in charge of other boards. Having a sample size of one isn't really an indicative sample size.

As an outsider and poster on message boards fans pretty much act the same and post the same all over the country.

It's one thing to say "i really like our fans. I think our fans are polite and well informed.". It's another thing to say "our fans are the best. The coaches tell me all the time how great our fans are".

To say one message board is run "better" would mean you would have to be equally as close and informed about every board out there. Do you really know how the moderators of illinitalk.com or the creighton message board feel about their posters?

[Da Coach]

I think anyone with insight can see the vast differences in how fans on message boards treat or show respect for their own athletes. And I have spent a lot of time looking at other boards, and there are great differences in the moderating. It only takes one or two loose or absent moderators or just a handful of vicious fans to turn a board into a cesspool. It is the major reason why competing message boards appear for the same fan base.
Whether those message board fans truly represent a team's fan base is debatable, but the kids and their families will usually believe they do .

[tornado]

..Do you know what kind of messages those who run other message boards get?..

yup -- I see all the time on other boards where posters plead for and beg for stricter moderation and the elimination of the bad and argumentative element..
I can't say I have ever seen someone on any board ever ask for more hostility, bickering, attacks, or negativity.

Virtually every board that declines into bickering loses traffic and heads quickly for demise....even though a small circle of the bickering might still claim their board is relevant

[buschsquirrel2011]

Virtually every board that declines into bickering loses traffic and heads quickly for demise....even though a small circle of the bickering might still claim their board is relevant

Sheesh dude. How many message boards do you follow with the same intensity that you follow this one? I don't see how that is possible.

I don't know about any message boards that have gone into "demise" because of bickering, loss of traffic, etc.

All the ones I have been reading and posting on for nearly 10 years now are all still going strong. Maybe I'm just not going to the right ones to see the "demise" of them all.

Which ones do you remember being good message boards that have now ceased to exist for the reasons you stated earlier?

[tornado]

I am sure you do - go try to find Valleytalk

[buschsquirrel2011]

I am sure you do - go try to find Valleytalk

That is a good point. I didn't like how that board ended up. I do like what they've tried to do with the new MVCFans site.

[tornado]

Sheesh dude. How many message boards do you follow with the same intensity that you follow this one? I don't see how that is possible. ...

well actually - if you believe the experts I am really several different people -- as there are gobs of other posters who repeatedly get accused of being me and then conversely some have accused me of being more than one person... In reality I just multitask and give that appearance

[buschsquirrel2011]

well actually - if you believe the experts I am really several different people -- as there are gobs of other posters who repeatedly get accused of being me and then conversely some have accused me of being more than one person... In reality I just multitask and give that appearance

Well if you ever get accused of being me then you are really in trouble

[Da Coach]

I am sure you do - go try to find Valleytalk

Actually, Valleytalk has had several incarnations, all of which suffered from lack of moderating and all met the same eventual inevitable demise. I do congratulate MVCfans.com for much stricter rules and moderating.

[jrish12]

There is a difference between fans being negative and fans calling it as it is. Some fans can take off the (insert team color) glasses and see it objectively. Some fans, and thats all fans college or pro, go over the top and are blinded by their own allegiances that they cant see the big picture. Those are usually the radicals that can give a fan base a bad rap. Yes you want to be supportive of your team but not to the point of being unrealistic IMO.

[MacabreMob]

...I didn't like how that board ended up.

Hard for ya to see it go, huh? Miss reading (and maybe posting) in the Mecca thread?