Posting Update: A Reminder, and Feedback on 'How Negative' Can We Be?

A reminder to all; NO CONTINUOUS TEXT, please. When there is no spacing...it is hard for old eyes (like mine) to read it. Many people skip reading a continuous text post with no spacing, because it is too hard, and the site metrics back that up. So if you want to have your post read for certain....

Every three sentences--hit the "Enter" key twice on a PC, or the "Return" key twice on Mac. Everybody is doing this as a courtesy for you, please reciprocate! (See Rule No. 29)

Negative is FINE, but Venting is NOT...

An OBD member chastised me recently in a post, writing that he thinks I "believe it is inappropriate to make negative comments." That is NOT what I've written, nor is it what our rules, as No. 31, 31a, and 31b have stated for years. If you had read what I have written over the last three days, and how I have not deleted any negative—then everyone would understand better what I was conveying.

Negative is what we discuss here, and is a big part of what a forum is. I, as an owner/manager of several sites over the last 15 years have been through many down times such as this before. I do believe that to a degree—people have to let their frustrations out, which is what you see a lot of. I get that, as it is true for me as well.

But there is always a small percentage that truly ENJOY being negative, and they not only share their bile, but they post new insults to the program, the coaches, etc. It is not an occasional summary of complaints, but a continuous barrage of negative as that is what brings them pleasure. That is how they are hard-wired, as they have to vent their issues upon all of us.

There is a massive difference between stating your opinion on what went wrong Saturday, and engaging in threads about the reality of what we all saw...versus using us as a therapist couch, and venting your feelings upon us. We have not hit that yet, but some people are very close. After a certain point....we are not responsible for your mental health, as you need to vent your extreme negative with a licensed professional.

But typical posts about the team both good and bad are normal and welcome. Don't start asking if it is OK to post negative; if I see an issue--you will hear from me, and again---some are close as their negative was ongoing, and seemed to be looking for new ways to put down the team or coaches. Normal stuff is fine, but tons of negative posts is where it crosses the line as extreme, and what I'm referring to.

And often this small percentage of OBD members don’t post when things are good, but only when they have something to complain about. Not a “glass-half-full” kind of guy…

I even have someone applying for membership again, when he left us before-he got disgusted with Oregon fans for not agreeing with his extreme negative takes. Clearly, he has been reading things here recently, but wants to rejoin now after we lose a game?

Gee, I wonder what he wants to post about? 🤷‍♂️

Be careful how you characterize me, when you do not have the extensive hours of experience I have lived in dealing with hundreds of members since 2011. My observation is an accurate one; a small percentage of members want to “vent” on us whenever a game is lost.

One member wrote in a prior year after the first loss to Washington that he would understand if you decided against being a Duck fan, and then left this forum for good! He left when I objected to the over-the-top negative view, and he was a FishDuck writer! It is an example of the crazy stuff I have to deal with.

So post negative--it is fine. Just don't go extreme in your language or the number of times you post about it. If you have given us your opinion...fine. But we don't need to see the same thing five times. If you have questions or concerns...email me at charlesfobd@gmail.com and I'll clarify.

Now, let's get back to following the team with both the positive and the negative!