Stay Together. Stay Positive.

[Phil]

I wrote up a bit of a verbal diatribe of sorts a while back that some of you may remember titled "Understanding Behavioral Etiquette and Reflecting on Your Contributions Here?" that I thought did a great job of outlining something of a mission statement for the forum in direct response to a ton of negativity and outright trolling that was really plaguing the forum. I could have just bumped that thread again since both those things are becoming a major factor again lately, but I thought a new thread with a refreshed take would be more effective.

 

We've exchanged PMs and posts with a number of users over the last few days/weeks who feel completely drowned out by the negativity here, so much so that they don't even post here as much as they'd like to, due to the backlash to any positivity or objectivity. Quite frankly, the weeds are strangling the grass, and this is a serious problem.

 

It was said before, but it's worth repeating ? above all else, this forum exists for no greater reason than to serve as an outlet for all of us as fans of the New York Rangers to discuss the club in all its facets and levels in a civil and engaging manner. Emphasis on civil. Double emphasis on engaging. I'm not sure where the message is being lost on some of you, and maybe this is the fault of myself and the Staff with how we lead discussion, but the constant berating and bashing of the team and it's players and coach is not at all civil or engaging. In fact, it's downright juvenile. Now before you angrily respond to this claiming you're being targeted or that you aren't allowed to have a dissenting opinion, understand that by no means are we telling you how to think or what to feel. You are more than entitled to think/believe that Torts is a horrible coach, or that Del Zotto is a bad defenseman, or that Callahan isn't exempt from criticism, etc. The last thing we want is for everyone here to be parroting the same exact sentiments about the team, because the forum is lost at that point, but this is a community, not your personal soap box to lash out at anything that makes you angry. The issues we're constantly running into with the same group of users are an outright inability to actually discuss these criticisms civilly, and in an engaging matter. This defeats the purpose of the forum, which is designed entirely on the platform of debate. That means it's give and take, and means that both sides to any argument or issue have to be willing to compromise. If your only focus in an argument is being right, you are here for all the wrong reasons. You could accomplish this easily with your own Twitter account where you can pat yourself on the back until you break your own arm. Additionally, if all you're looking for out of being a member here is kudos for posting berating attacks without logic or evidence, why are you even a member here in the first place? Again, this is a community poised on debate, not your personal podium for angry tirades and temper tantrums. Wouldn't you be better served using your own personal Twitter account, or posting to something like the Rangers' official Facebook page if that's all you want out of your online experience? We assure you, you'd get plenty of "likes" and re-Tweets from like-minded lazy users who have no interest in anything but their own opinion.

 

So what's the point of all of this? It's simple. Stay together. Stay positive. That's the mantra for the New York Rangers this post-season. If the Rangers can do it, why can't we? We get that there are times when it's difficult to support the team, but from an outsiders perspective, shouldn't the forum look like one that is actually designed for the Rangers, and not like one that just tears the team apart? If we were to strip the vBulletin themes down and swap out the logos and colors for Devils ones, who would be able to tell the difference if all we see are threads about how horrible Players A, B and C are and how everything is X, Y and Z's fault?

 

We can't tell you how to feel or what to think, nor would we ever try to, but what we can tell you is that in keeping with the theme of trying to have this place not only be an outlet for discussion, but the best possible source for it for this team, we all need to do a better job of being conscious of our efforts and being conscious of our contributions. That starts with the forum leaders, but it works it's way down to everyone, including the guy with one post who registered yesterday. This place should feel like a warm, welcoming tavern to fans frustrated over the lack of objectivity and passion they might experience on other forums, or online platforms for the team. It should be constructive and engaging, and that begins and ends with you. If you are not constructive, engaging, passionate or objective, what reason do they have to even join in the first place? We need this place to grow, and we feel there are lurkers who probably would register to add to the community and help it grow, but are completely turned off by the attitude of this place. That means we need discussions and not bash fests, and frankly we're more concerned with keeping users here who contribute, and less concerned with people who think the forum is their toilet bowl for verbal diarrhea.

 

We're Rangers fans. We love this team. It's the bond that unites us all. Let's act like it.

 

Now LET'S GO RANGERS!

[LindG1000]

To give you a better idea of what we mean by "staying positive" - consider this example:

 

"Man DZ sucks, he's turning the puck over all the time. We should trade that lazy shitbag"

 

vs

 

"DZ's really getting pressured hard right now by the Caps forecheck. Torts should shelter his minutes or change his matchup, because he's struggling tonight."

 

The first adds nothing and is a prime example of what we mean by "using the forum as your personal forum for verbal diarrhea". It adds nothing to our conversation, is an attack on a player that's sure to incite tempers and makes an overblown, over the top statement.

 

The second is a cogent observation that adds to our discussion without being inflammatory. They both say relatively similar things - one is just a ton more constructive to our discussion.

[Phil]

To give you a better idea of what we mean by "staying positive" - consider this example:

 

"Man DZ sucks, he's turning the puck over all the time. We should trade that lazy shitbag"

 

vs

 

"DZ's really getting pressured hard right now by the Caps forecheck. Torts should shelter his minutes or change his matchup, because he's struggling tonight."

 

The first adds nothing and is a prime example of what we mean by "using the forum as your personal forum for verbal diarrhea". It adds nothing to our conversation, is an attack on a player that's sure to incite tempers and makes an overblown, over the top statement.

 

The second is a cogent observation that adds to our discussion without being inflammatory. They both say relatively similar things - one is just a ton more constructive to our discussion.

 

To add to this, there are ways to talk about trading Del Zotto as well. Formulate an actual opinion on the matter.

 

"Because he's a lazy shitbag" is not formulating an opinion. It's nonsense. Maybe you really do think he's a "lazy shitbag", but that doesn't constitute a rational argument in any sense. "Because the depth the Rangers have with John Moore's increased play and the players they have in the pipe might afford us the opportunity to move him for a significant return" just reads much, much better. Someone can actually counter that. There's a constructive argument to be had there.

 

We've yet to have to act on it, but there is a general "Pain in the ass" rule written into the rule book that we have at our disposal. Make an effort. Make it difficult on the Staff not to warn or infract you by not posting stupid short-winded rants. It's really easy.

[Albatrosss]

To give you a better idea of what we mean by "staying positive" - consider this example:

 

"Man DZ sucks, he's turning the puck over all the time. We should trade that lazy shitbag"

 

vs

 

"DZ's really getting pressured hard right now by the Caps forecheck. Torts should shelter his minutes or change his matchup, because he's struggling tonight."

 

The first adds nothing and is a prime example of what we mean by "using the forum as your personal forum for verbal diarrhea". It adds nothing to our conversation, is an attack on a player that's sure to incite tempers and makes an overblown, over the top statement.

 

The second is a cogent observation that adds to our discussion without being inflammatory. They both say relatively similar things - one is just a ton more constructive to our discussion.

 

thats pretty much saying the same thing in two different ways of saying it. some people who arent as emotional would use the second example, some who are very emotional would probably use the first and be vulgar.

 

some people went to college and can write a paper, some dropped out of high school and now are digging in the middle of madison ave, so they can only write vulgarities. lol