Dysfunctional Board

[Atlanta Warrior]

There are some people, on this board, who seemingly have a misison of finding anything remotely negative to dwell upon.  The recent LaDaryl Billingsly thread being a perfect example.  What is the point of bringing up an episode from approximately 13 years ago that had no positive impact on MU?

Even when some bring up former players (such as Terrell Schulndt) recently it's only to make some form of negative comment.  This from people who couldn't carry Terrell Schulndt's jock strap on their best days.

Finally we had the Newbill debacle which went on for a ludicrous 14 pages with Chico's droning on, certain that if he only repated himself long enough or loudly enough others would see the wisdome of this self-appointed moral barometer of all things MU Hoops related.

Frankly, it's rather sad and pathetic.  I am not saying posters need to be all rah rah all the time and there are certainly times where critical comments are warranted but when the majority of posters seem to be more critical it calls the alleged mission of the board (presumably to support MU Hoops) into question. 

[damuts222]

Swiftly kicks the soap box from under Atlanta Warrior and leaves the room

[Atlanta Warrior]

Damuts, I believe your statement is referred to as an ad hominem attack.  I am seriously trying to understand the culture of this board.  I realize it probably skews a little (maybe a lot) younger than me but I just don't get the level of negativity.

[tower912]

Completely agree, Atlanta.    However, the other board is like an English Gentlemen's club from the Victorian era during the summer.    At least there is something going on here, even if it is a bunch of disfunctional whining.

[Skatastrophy]

Atlanta Warrior starting a negative thread about excessive negativity.  Metanegativity at its best.

[StillAWarrior]

There are some people, on this board, who seemingly have a misison of finding anything remotely negative to dwell upon.

Thanks for the positive, uplifting post.  We're all glad to see that you're not dwelling on the negative.

[NersEllenson]

There are some people, on this board, who seemingly have a misison of finding anything remotely negative to dwell upon. 
Finally we had the Newbill debacle which went on for a ludicrous 14 pages with Chico's droning on, certain that if he only repated himself long enough or loudly enough others would see the wisdome of this self-appointed moral barometer of all things MU Hoops related.

I understand your point, and I've been called a "fanboy," by some on here.  I'm still not quite sure what a fanboy is..or why someone who is very optimistic and not critical of the MU program makes one a Fanboy?  I get the idea of "not drinking the kool aid," but the reality is that I'm not going to be overly critical or judgemental of the current regime - compared to past regimes.  I'm a HUGE fan of Buzz..HUGE..and my enthusiasm gets criticized by some.  Fact is..i just LOVE the direction the program is headed under Buzz and am thrilled about our prospects.


HAving said this..dissenting opinios are part of the fun of a message board, and so long as posters here are TURE fans, and are more level-headed/less enthisiastic/more critical of the program...than am i...they are still MU fans..and I don't mind their "reality checks," or criticisms.  I will say that even our resident, self appointed,  moral compass has his place and role here...as does Marquette 84 and his longstanding Crean-mance, and lengthy replies.

[mu_hilltopper]

... the alleged mission of the board (presumably to support MU Hoops) into question.  

Not to comment on the remainder of your post .. but I don't think that's the "mission" (if there ever was one.)  The mission would be to talk about MU Hoops, pro and con.

Not to be crass, but there is a board that skews much more heavily toward "support" of MU that has a stricter editorial policy.

[Atlanta Warrior]

Atlanta Warrior starting a negative thread about excessive negativity.  Metanegativity at its best.

Touche'  

I guess I can see the certain irony to my initial posting but seriously, there seem to some on this board whose attitude towards MU can best be described as destructive.  Almost to the point that you have to wonder if they are trolls with a very clear goal.

As for the Tom Crean thread (either pro or con) let it go already.

[thekahoona]

Finally we had the Newbill debacle which went on for a ludicrous 14 pages with Chico's droning on, certain that if he only repated himself long enough or loudly enough others would see the wisdome of this self-appointed moral barometer of all things MU Hoops related.

...I believe your statement is referred to as an ad hominem attack...

good thing you are avoiding ad hominems too.

[StillAWarrior]

I guess I can see the certain irony to my initial posting but seriously, there seem to some on this board whose attitude towards MU can best be described as destructive.  Almost to the point that you have to wonder if they are trolls with a very clear goal.

Not to be contrarian, but "destructive" of what?  As much time as I've spent on this board (far too much), I have a hard time seeing how any of us (those I agree with and those that I don't) has any effect whatsoever on Marquette basketball.

By the way, your last sentence sounds suspiciously like the whole "you're not a real fan" comments that really are "destructive" to attempted good-natured discussion and debate over a basketball program we all love.

[Blackhat]

I am a young pup compared to some of the dinosaurs on this board and the retirement community on the Dodd's board.   But I've been apart of the MU internet community since 2000.

MU Scoop is by far the best board for discussion on MU hoops.   Sure it's not always a pep rally here but issues get discussed and you grow a thicker "internet skin". Plus you can always actually use your discretion and learn how to ignore people/threads/trolls if need be.  

I guess this is as good a time as any to say thank you to MUScoop for existing and offering a non-country club/judge smails forum for marquette fans.

[bilsu]

What do you expect from people who have an abnormal obession with college basketball? They spend hours on this board and some of them even follow the players on twitter.

[GGGG]

BTW Atlanta...most of these kind of threads will cease within the next few weeks and recruiting ramps up and the players get back on campus.

[ChicosBailBonds]

There are some people, on this board, who seemingly have a misison of finding anything remotely negative to dwell upon.  The recent LaDaryl Billingsly thread being a perfect example.  What is the point of bringing up an episode from approximately 13 years ago that had no positive impact on MU?

Even when some bring up former players (such as Terrell Schulndt) recently it's only to make some form of negative comment.  This from people who couldn't carry Terrell Schulndt's jock strap on their best days.

Finally we had the Newbill debacle which went on for a ludicrous 14 pages with Chico's droning on, certain that if he only repated himself long enough or loudly enough others would see the wisdome of this self-appointed moral barometer of all things MU Hoops related.

Frankly, it's rather sad and pathetic.  I am not saying posters need to be all rah rah all the time and there are certainly times where critical comments are warranted but when the majority of posters seem to be more critical it calls the alleged mission of the board (presumably to support MU Hoops) into question.  

Atlanta (assuming you are the Atlanta Warrior from Dodds board)...I've always liked you, respect your opinions but I do find it funny that you call out the 14 pages and you helped to push it that far.  Ultimately, who gives a crap if it's 14 pages or 2 pages?  Seriously.  If people don't want to read it, don't read it.  If they want to contribute to it, then contribute to it.  But you'll have to excuse me for chuckling about your above post that attempts to call someone out on their opinions on how to conduct themselves when you are doing the exact same thing with your post.  Pot meet kettle.


I would say this board has a much healthier skepticism than other boards out there, and as such, the opinions are less group think and fit less into the molded parameters of allowed discussion set about on other boards.  

As far as the tone, it's like the old argument...is he a realist or a pessimist.   Well that all depends on where your POV is.  

I don't think ANYONE here on this board wants MU to fail, the coach to fail, the players to fail.  If they do, I'd be surprised.  There are certainly posters on this board that have hated our coaches, our ADs, our university Presidients, that's just the way it goes.  But everyone, in one shape or another, wants MU to succeed.  I think where it gets convoluted is the path one takes to get there.  Some of us are much more concerned about that path than others.  And we express it.  Others have a win at all costs mentality and don't give a crap about the path.  Others are in the middle.  It's a healthy discussion, but its obvious that you don't care for the dialogue here as expressed in most of your 30 posts.  

So I have to ask, if this board is not for you and has a fairly established culture to it, why do you subject yourself to the pain it provides by reading it?

[ChicosBailBonds]

good thing you are avoiding ad hominems too.

RBSC....damn, good to see you.  Hope all is well!

[thekahoona]

RBSC....damn, good to see you.  Hope all is well!

all is well.  with you too, i hope!

always lurking, occasionally posting.  i just couldn't resist this one. 

[Atlanta Warrior]

Chico's I guess I would have to cop to being both Pot & Kettle in this case.  I really was trying to get an idea as to what drives the culture on this board.  I am not going to call anyone out but there are clearly some posters who have serious issues with the current leadership of Marquette's basketball and athletic programs.  I am also a little surprised at the personal vitriol that takes place but that might just be a style issue.  Sorry for "calling you out" Chicos but I found the Newbill thread (which you correctly point out I helped along with a couple of posts that simply asked the rhetorical equivalent of "our we there yet) the most vivid example of what I am talking about.  It was pretty clear after a couple of pages and crystal clear after 8 or 9 who believed what.  Everyone had staked their positions and articulated their arguments, but it just didn't stop.  On and on it went for 14 pages.  I am sorry, call me naive if you like, but I don't see what purpose it services.  Recruits do read these boards and I do think some might be taken aback by some of the discourse they see.  How would you like to be an 18 year old and have both your on and off the court life dissected.

Hey I am rambling a bit.  I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.  I come to the board, on occasions, to see a fresh take.  Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised to find a great link or a great observation from a poster but, more often than not, I have to navigate through a lot of static to get there. 

So thank you all of indulging me and responding to my initial post.  I wish you all continued success with your board and, for all of our sakes, here's wishing we are on the verge of a successful and entertaining season.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Can somebody explain to me what the problem was with the Billingsley thread? Seriously...I didn't see that as anything other than an old recruiting story.

[Nukem2]

Can somebody explain to me what the problem was with the Billingsley thread? Seriously...I didn't see that as anything other than an old recruiting story.

Agreed.  And, its August. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

I really was trying to get an idea as to what drives the culture on this board.  I am not going to call anyone out but there are clearly some posters who have serious issues with the current leadership of Marquette's basketball and athletic programs.

It seems to me that when things change and policies change, people will ask questions if for no other reason to ask why the change.  When we never used to continue recruiting kids that verballed to other programs but now do, people will ask why the change.  Or the roster having more JUCO's as a percentage than ever before (doesn't make it wrong).  Not honoring a NLI, Etc, etc. Just a few examples of many (there are others I prefer to keep off the public boards) where people are going to be interested.

MU hoops is all we have at MU...it's a school with only one high profile sport.  People are heavily invested in MU hoops in terms of time, money, emotions, etc.  And as such, they will ask questions of those leading the organization.  I see this as a GOOD THING.  It means people care.  I would be worried if we just sat back all the time and said, don't worry...everything is fine.   With time, people will be more and more comfortable but the reality is we have a young head coach (in terms of tenure), an AD who is still in the very early stages of his career, we belong to a league that everyone and their brother thinks will implode at some point (not if, but when), etc....there is reason for optimism but concern until folks prove themselves out over the long haul.  If that means folks are questioning those running the jewel that is MU hoops, well I don't find that out of line at this point in the time line.

[wildbillsb]

Touche'  

I guess I can see the certain irony to my initial posting but seriously, there seem to some on this board whose attitude towards MU can best be described as destructive.  Almost to the point that you have to wonder if they are trolls with a very clear goal.

As for the Tom Crean thread (either pro or con) let it go already.

Oh, yeah, well MU dropped football my senior year.  How do you think that makes me feel now?  Not too good, mister, not too good.

[boyonthedock]

i think the diverse opinions stem from nothing more than the uncertain nature of college basketball. 90% of freshman are an unknown hit or miss quality over their whole careers, let alone year one. the entire sport is constantly in flux. its way harder to statistically analyze preseason that any pro sport, where players are around for years. even established players make huge leaps and drop offs in their 4 year college windows. this leads to a wide span of both realistic pesimistic and optimistic reasonable results. it is even more pronounced in the high range of possibilites in a program like marquette, which every year is predicted to rank anywhere from 10-50 in the game. if you are here, you care about the game being played at the university, whether you think its good or not. realistically, either side has an equal chance of being proved correct.

[Bob "Big Daddy" Wild]

I would like to add a point to Atlanta Warrior's post.

It is not the negativity of this board that bothers me.  I appreciate a critical eye.  What bothers me is the same handful of posters dominating a large amount of threads, no matter the subject of the thread, with the same 2 or 3 topics...over, and over again.  It gets to the point to where it seems like there are 5 murfs on a bad day - back and forth, back and forth - but these 5 aren't even talking hoops half the time.  It takes away value from the board, IMO.

Unfortunately several of these rehashes happen in threads with a subject I am interested in, and being the MU hoops junkie that I am, I read every damn page of the thread hoping for any nugget of information to come forth.  This becomes frustrating over time.

That being said, the scout site gets inundated with back and forth on bucky talk which is also annoying.

It is like pick your poison sometimes.  Not to be a shill, but the absence of my above complaints are why I enjoy the premium board on scout so much.

[ATWizJr]

Can somebody explain to me what the problem was with the Billingsley thread? Seriously...I didn't see that as anything other than an old recruiting story.

  It's irrelevant.  Ancient, negative history as opposed to ancient postiive MU BB history in which we (me included) revel and with which we identify.