Greetings, single issue voters.<div>
</div><div>I'd like to clarify a few conflicting theories about various message boards in this neck of the tinfoil woods. Much like Ancient Rome and the British Empire, communities rise and fall. Everything finds its cycle. However, I'd posit that rationalizing that a board dedicated to one team is both funnier and sharper during thin times while simultaneously rationalizing that a team's malaise is the reason for low traffic from certain "distinguished citizens" is a contradiction.</div><div>
</div><div>Even in an online community assembled for the sole purpose of sharing a common interest in a sports team, more than that team's record can affect the makeup. I can speak personally when I say that while the tone of this board was radically different at the nadir of Sly Croom regime (and yes, obviously more funny, as comedy springs naturally from disaster, like weeds in a sidewalk) it's not like you didn't care about State's future. You cared a lot. You were angry, and you were still devoted to thinking about your team, and from that came sharp, funny, accurate cynicism and comedy. That's appetizing for the neighbors. Bold predictions and wooly kool aid hype are not. Fact.</div><div>
</div><div>The idea that a board or community is "thin," "boring" or "absent" because of a football team's performance would speak ill of that entire fan base. And say what you like about us damn dirty Rebs, and same about you damn dirty Dogs, but neither fan base is absent of passion. I'm working on a piece about the false prophecy of Vanderbilt's James Franklin this afternoon. THOSE folks are truly indifferent, and because of it, that guy's in for it.</div><div>
</div><div>I will say this, with full disclosure that I'm friends and some fashion of colleagues with DS and HD6 in the non-digital world - Both Six Pack and Nafoom have suffered in recent years. Both communities seem to have laid down the sword in policing their own, and like a wideshot in the climax of a zombie flick, the monsters have overtaken the place and made us all monsters with them. There are still smart, sharp posters here. I like VHDawg and DesotoCounty and Sesh and others I can't remember this very second (forgive me), and hey, who doesn't love Saddawg?</div><div>
</div><div>I don't visit Six Pack less because State has a damn good football coach and a far better football team at this present day and time - that logic has never stopped me from lurking at Tiger Droppings. I don't visit Nafoom less because Ole Miss isn't having a Cotton Bowl year. And I don't visit either less because of my personal schedule. Message boards are conversations with your friends (real or internet real) that you can pause at any time, and involve yourself in at any level.</div><div>
</div><div>I visit both less because I hate crowded bars and stupid people, and there's no online equivalent to the benefits of a crowded bar (nary an accidental bump into a large chested lass), only pop up ads at every corner.</div><div>
</div><div>You can take this from the guy who hates Starkville from that one column, that's fine, but that sort of proves my point - I think a former life Six Pack would've boxed my ears and fired back something witty, but understood that I was making hay and arguing a point with comedic intent. As it stood, I got a batch of responses from some folks not fit to hold GEDs. That's not all (or even some) of the fault of SPS specifically, but again - crowded bars, stupid people.</div><div>
</div><div>For the record, Six Pack is lesser crowded, stupid bar at the moment.</div><div>
</div><div>Carry on, thanks for reading, ring responsibly and remember - we're all just Mississippi to everyone else.</div><div>
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</div><div>I'd like to clarify a few conflicting theories about various message boards in this neck of the tinfoil woods. Much like Ancient Rome and the British Empire, communities rise and fall. Everything finds its cycle. However, I'd posit that rationalizing that a board dedicated to one team is both funnier and sharper during thin times while simultaneously rationalizing that a team's malaise is the reason for low traffic from certain "distinguished citizens" is a contradiction.</div><div>
</div><div>Even in an online community assembled for the sole purpose of sharing a common interest in a sports team, more than that team's record can affect the makeup. I can speak personally when I say that while the tone of this board was radically different at the nadir of Sly Croom regime (and yes, obviously more funny, as comedy springs naturally from disaster, like weeds in a sidewalk) it's not like you didn't care about State's future. You cared a lot. You were angry, and you were still devoted to thinking about your team, and from that came sharp, funny, accurate cynicism and comedy. That's appetizing for the neighbors. Bold predictions and wooly kool aid hype are not. Fact.</div><div>
</div><div>The idea that a board or community is "thin," "boring" or "absent" because of a football team's performance would speak ill of that entire fan base. And say what you like about us damn dirty Rebs, and same about you damn dirty Dogs, but neither fan base is absent of passion. I'm working on a piece about the false prophecy of Vanderbilt's James Franklin this afternoon. THOSE folks are truly indifferent, and because of it, that guy's in for it.</div><div>
</div><div>I will say this, with full disclosure that I'm friends and some fashion of colleagues with DS and HD6 in the non-digital world - Both Six Pack and Nafoom have suffered in recent years. Both communities seem to have laid down the sword in policing their own, and like a wideshot in the climax of a zombie flick, the monsters have overtaken the place and made us all monsters with them. There are still smart, sharp posters here. I like VHDawg and DesotoCounty and Sesh and others I can't remember this very second (forgive me), and hey, who doesn't love Saddawg?</div><div>
</div><div>I don't visit Six Pack less because State has a damn good football coach and a far better football team at this present day and time - that logic has never stopped me from lurking at Tiger Droppings. I don't visit Nafoom less because Ole Miss isn't having a Cotton Bowl year. And I don't visit either less because of my personal schedule. Message boards are conversations with your friends (real or internet real) that you can pause at any time, and involve yourself in at any level.</div><div>
</div><div>I visit both less because I hate crowded bars and stupid people, and there's no online equivalent to the benefits of a crowded bar (nary an accidental bump into a large chested lass), only pop up ads at every corner.</div><div>
</div><div>You can take this from the guy who hates Starkville from that one column, that's fine, but that sort of proves my point - I think a former life Six Pack would've boxed my ears and fired back something witty, but understood that I was making hay and arguing a point with comedic intent. As it stood, I got a batch of responses from some folks not fit to hold GEDs. That's not all (or even some) of the fault of SPS specifically, but again - crowded bars, stupid people.</div><div>
</div><div>For the record, Six Pack is lesser crowded, stupid bar at the moment.</div><div>
</div><div>Carry on, thanks for reading, ring responsibly and remember - we're all just Mississippi to everyone else.</div><div>
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