Fan Zone or Cynical Zone

[Cumart21]

I've been doing some thinking about this message board of late, wondering how much enjoyment I actually get from it. In years past, it has been a great source for team information throughout the year but lately it has become more a source of negativity and cynicism. I'm not gonna lie, its not the best of times for Cowboys fans. I'm not happy with the early indicators of how this season is going to go, but I'm optimistic that with the return of a few key players like Melton, the defense can at least hold its own. I've done my best when posting, to put a positive spin on things because what's the point of spewing negativity? Is it going to make Jerry Jones step down as GM or sell the team? Is it going to inspire the players to actually play better? What negativity on this board does, is it turns off the average Cowboys fan and turns them away from this message board.

I've been considering taking my ball and going home. Leaving his board, because I'm just not getting the things I should from this forum. Am I wrong? Am I expecting too much from people who claim to be fans of America's Team? I think we're capable of bringing more to the table here. Is it easy to be positive when this team looks to be destined for another season of mediocrity? Of course not. But anyone can be a fan when times are good.

 

[CCBoy]

Just this advice, don't take another's shortness in view, as a reflection upon your own. Stand tall, and enjoy your own thoughts. There are enough who will accept you on the basis that you love their team as well. You don't always have to be the winner in a confrontation on views, to still have a winning card to draw from, in your own views.

Share here, what you wish to...and there will be people looking after you as a fan, as well.

I'm not ready for a sack over the head, by any means...and I don't fit well in a stereotype.

No, enjoy your Cowboys and let the strength of your own thoughts dominate, instead of seeking emotional returns from what sometimes boils down to harassment of a belligerence as well. You will find that in almost all sectors of society. No, be proud, not a victim...

 

[Risen Star]

Oh great. Another what's the point of being negative it won't change anything so let's live in a fantasy land where everything's okay even when it's obviously not thread.

 

[NJ22]

This board is 80% mindless homers. If it is too negative maybe you need meds.

 

[Arkyvarminter]

Well, some of the posters on here have valuable input but there are a few with thousands of posts who think since they have more posts their opinion is somehow the right one. They look at your post count, and if its low, they treat you like a troll if they think your question is dumb in their eyes. Anyway, the best thing to do is just put them on ignore and go with the flow. Most on here, however, are very knowledgeable fans who will converse with you respectfully. Don't go anywhere, we need all the support we can get....

 

[TwoDeep3]

The point must be made as this team travels away from the days when expectations and reality were similar, the frustration level of fans rises.

This board isn't even a microcosm of the usual fan of this team. It tends to support the happy go lucky fan and moderates the dialog to keep it in that arena.

Reality is this. The further away this team gets from the good years the more divided the fanbase will become.

One group will see this as the ineptitude of the management to create a winner.

Another group wants to hold on to hope.

And a final group, those who were born after the 95 championship will have a so what attitude.

Want to change the dialog?

Win, win consistently, get into NFC Championship games, and bring home trophies.

That will heal everything wrong with a fanbase that picks fights daily.

 

[waving monkey]

Oh great. Another what's the point of being negative it won't change anything so let's live in a fantasy land where everything's okay even when it's obviously not thread.

In fact this is a game we all watch and something to enjoy.
In fact everything is OK it's a game ,it's not reality.
All of us are investing into a fantasy yet some call themselves realist.

 

[Arkyvarminter]

Oh great. Another what's the point of being negative it won't change anything so let's live in a fantasy land where everything's okay even when it's obviously not thread.

This type of response is what's turning people off. You can't really speak your mind on here without a sarcastic remark....It's not the negativity that turns people off, its the sarcastic remarks that are really better left unsaid.

 

[TheDude]

Here's the thing, if you surround yourself with only people you agree with, you will learn nothing and become completely complacent and bored. Its why other Cowboy forums likely dont get the traffic as it does here. If everyone agrees the team sux, 3 minutes later you are talking about the weather. If everyone agrees it is a SB contender, all they see is the "fate" or "higher power has it in for us" side. Either way, its professional football, if this board is anymore than a passing hobby and humor, and you dont earn money from it, maybe the content of the board isn't wahat is really bumming you out

 

[5Stars]

Dude, none of this is really real. It's just stupid cowboy fans and trolls.

Like "homers" vs. "realists". Type "A" and Type "B" personalities. Positive/Negative. Black and Blue. Inside or outside. Lover or hater.

It's easy to see...

 

[TheDude]

This type of response is what's turning people off. You can't really speak your mind on here without a sarcastic remark....It's not the negativity that turns people off, its the sarcastic remarks that are really better left unsaid.

THis thread is a bad example to throw that card out. The "look at me - you aren't providing me happiness - Im taking my ball and going home" threads are much more juvenile to me

 

[xwalker]

I've been doing some thinking about this message board of late, wondering how much enjoyment I actually get from it. In years past, it has been a great source for team information throughout the year but lately it has become more a source of negativity and cynicism. I'm not gonna lie, its not the best of times for Cowboys fans. I'm not happy with the early indicators of how this season is going to go, but I'm optimistic that with the return of a few key players like Melton, the defense can at least hold its own. I've done my best when posting, to put a positive spin on things because what's the point of spewing negativity? Is it going to make Jerry Jones step down as GM or sell the team? Is it going to inspire the players to actually play better? What negativity on this board does, is it turns off the average Cowboys fan and turns them away from this message board.

I've been considering taking my ball and going home. Leaving his board, because I'm just not getting the things I should from this forum. Am I wrong? Am I expecting too much from people who claim to be fans of America's Team? I think we're capable of bringing more to the table here. Is it easy to be positive when this team looks to be destined for another season of mediocrity? Of course not. But anyone can be a fan when times are good.

I understand where you're coming from. People don't like it, but I'm at the point that I think some other teams fans are here posing as Cowboys fans. I just don't see how real Cowboys fans could be so negative and hate the Cowboys in 100% of their posts which is the case with at least 2 posters here. I know for certain the concept has been done because there was a Cowboys fan that did it in past years and came on another Cowboys message board to laugh about how he got Commanders fans all worked up while posing as a keeping it real fan on their board.

I would recommend posting here more as a fan with a positive attitude. It would help dilute the negativity.

 

[xwalker]

Well, some of the posters on here have valuable input but there are a few with thousands of posts who think since they have more posts their opinion is somehow the right one. They look at your post count, and if its low, they treat you like a troll if they think your question is dumb in their eyes. Anyway, the best thing to do is just put them on ignore and go with the flow. Most on here, however, are very knowledgeable fans who will converse with you respectfully. Don't go anywhere, we need all the support we can get....

It does not appear that people have treated @Cumart21 like that. He has a 2 to 1 post to like ratio which is the best I've seen.

 

[TwoDeep3]

What I find the most enjoyable aspect of this is watching people positioning themselves as experts here.

Using jargon they hear tossed out during games.

Watching a pay for view recap that allows one to resee plays over and over so they can write up important sounding posts of evaluation.

People assembling stats and expressing how this plus that means this over here when it could very well not mean any of that.

We are fans, watching a game on TV - for the most part - listening to semi-qualified announcers, reading comments from the press, and living off the information - which is actually disinformation - the team decides is worthy of making public.

I have no answers, just what I see juxtaposed against what i have seen in the past. Does it look familiar? Well, kinda. Then it must mean this.

I am wrong far more than I am right. But I have an opinion. Like everyone else. No better, no worse.

But the truth is, as this team wanders in the wilderness of 8-8, the fan base will become more and more disillusioned with the outcome.

 

[Arkyvarminter]

It does not appear that people have treated @Cumart21 like that. He has a 2 to 1 post to like ratio which is the best I've seen.

That's true...I guess I just put my own perspective in there....

 

[TwoDeep3]

I would recommend posting here more as a fan with a positive attitude. It would help dilute the negativity.

How about this. Try winning 11+ games a season for four or more in a row, pop through to the NFC Championship game a couples of times, win a Super Bowl, and then watch how diluted the negativity would be.

This is all relative to results.

 

[bodi]

yes but you gotta post what you feel like - some days I hate the cowboys moves - others I love

such as the trade up for Morris Claiborne - which sounded fine at the time but - then you read this today

who is still limited as he copes with a sprain to the AC joint in his shoulder. Claiborne looks likely to miss all four preseason games, and the focus could be on getting as prepared as possible for Week 1 against San Francisco.

does not look so good know does it

I hated the Roy William's trade

 

[Moderately_Askew]

My advice is to just keep posting your opinions and add to conversations how you see fit. There are just the vocal minority.

 

[casmith07]

I've been doing some thinking about this message board of late, wondering how much enjoyment I actually get from it. In years past, it has been a great source for team information throughout the year but lately it has become more a source of negativity and cynicism. I'm not gonna lie, its not the best of times for Cowboys fans. I'm not happy with the early indicators of how this season is going to go, but I'm optimistic that with the return of a few key players like Melton, the defense can at least hold its own. I've done my best when posting, to put a positive spin on things because what's the point of spewing negativity? Is it going to make Jerry Jones step down as GM or sell the team? Is it going to inspire the players to actually play better? What negativity on this board does, is it turns off the average Cowboys fan and turns them away from this message board.

I've been considering taking my ball and going home. Leaving his board, because I'm just not getting the things I should from this forum. Am I wrong? Am I expecting too much from people who claim to be fans of America's Team? I think we're capable of bringing more to the table here. Is it easy to be positive when this team looks to be destined for another season of mediocrity? Of course not. But anyone can be a fan when times are good.

I'm sorry you feel this way. When I was a mod, I tried my best to help to make this place enjoyable for all, but as you can see, I'm not a mod anymore.

Read into that how you will.

 

[casmith07]

Here's the thing, if you surround yourself with only people you agree with, you will learn nothing and become completely complacent and bored. Its why other Cowboy forums likely dont get the traffic as it does here. If everyone agrees the team sux, 3 minutes later you are talking about the weather. If everyone agrees it is a SB contender, all they see is the "fate" or "higher power has it in for us" side. Either way, its professional football, if this board is anymore than a passing hobby and humor, and you dont earn money from it, maybe the content of the board isn't wahat is really bumming you out

It's not about agreeing. Disagreement and conversation is good when it's constructive. Far too often the same people are destructive. Or their delivery sucks.