Why I liked this forum...

[AbeVigodaLive]

It was just a bunch of beaten down fans of a beleaguered franchise coming together to commiserate in our pain and relish the tiniest glimmers of hope. We disagreed at times... errr... ummm... sometimes more often than others. (Damn you Andrew Wiggins!)

But it was a respite from almost every other social media platform. From the old ESPN basketball forum, three outlets broke out. One place is now a borderline third-rate Stormfront site where I'm considered a "faggoty cuck libtard faggot" for reasons that escape me.

The other site skews hard left, where I'm considered a "Trump apologist and racist" for reasons that escape me. I don't post any differently at either site... and I've even posted the exact same post sometimes to see the crazy difference of opinion to it from both sites.

Both sites rarely discuss basketball anymore. And, when it happens, it's usually for the non-court-related reasons. So, I've always had a soft spot for this forum. It's been where I can come for my more hardcore basketball nerdy fix.

And now, damn politics has seeped into this forum too. I do not like politics. I think many of those who work in politics do so for very self-serving reasons, despite the guise of doing it for "the good of the people." I despise... HATE... partisan politics. And mostly for the reasons I described above and have hinted at during previous points. Social media gives us infinite sources to cement/support our takes and to find like-minded people. That's not inherently bad.

Trying to "walk in another man's shoes" is a dying, antiquated trope. I'm watching as so many people balk against learning about others different that them. It's harder. It's super duper hard because there's no concrete answer. And it's not fun to admit we don't know... or even could conceivably be wrong about stuff.

________________________


This is a preachy post. Acknowledged. And I'm not saying my take is the right way. Only that I'm a bit of a pragmatist, good or bad. And that I've seen what happens to a sports message board that begins to discuss politics more ... and more... and more.

Polarization sets in. Anger sets in. And people dig in harder. And harder. And it's not a very friendly place after awhile.

That doesn't mean it's a worse experience for those interested in that sort of thing. Heck, it might be a better online forum for them. They might even thrive in that type of environment.

I don't.

I miss basketball. I miss talking about basketball.

"Still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they're gone. I guess I just miss my friend."



[Note: I love basketball. When you play basketball, everything washes away. You're thinking about when is that that guy is gonna cut from the wing, or when do I go try to help defend that big lug in the post, or I'm gonna drill the next jumper I take... you don't think about work. Or, family stuff. Or politics. Maybe I also just miss playing basketball. Damn it. We've all been cooped up far too long. And we all get a bit stir crazy, especially when uncertainty is the only real unifying thing we share.]

[thedoper]

Thanks Abe. I can stop talking politics for the sake of what is good about this board. I agree with you, preachiness and all.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Where's mook in the highpost when you need him? Come to think of it, where's Tim/Doug or some of the other old guys? It's good to see you guys still here along with Kiwi, Lip, and a couple other old hands.

It's a little weird to say this changing online community going back to the ESPN board has been one of the most constant things in my life. I've been coming back here now for almost 20 years. I think I started around 2001-2002 or so. The Anthony Peeler heydays.

I don't really ever remember politics coming up on this board before the last few years. There's always been arguing on this board about basketball, but I think even that has changed over time. My sense is that it used to be more jovial and fun-loving. I wonder if you guys agree. To me, it feels like somewhere along the line, sometime after the old ESPN boards closed and we moved here, it just gradually started growing more serious and hostile. More troll-ish and argumentative. It feels like that has accelerated in the last few years, maybe as a reflection of what's going on in America in general. It's not just when politics comes up, although that's generally a bad sign. I've also kind of sensed it in the talk about basketball too. It's about how we talk with each other as much as what we talk about.

I hope we can reverse these trends, on the board, and in the country.

. . . .
Drew takes a (metaphorical) hit . . .
. . . .

EDIT:
This isn't meant to be an indictment of anyone in particular. More of an appeal for us to get back to a more fun and curious board culture in which people didn't take themselves too seriously (me included) and were more willing to change their minds and think differently.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Well said Abe and nice Shawshank reference to boot. I agree. Most of us can't resist the urge to share our opinions on everything and I'm guilty as well. Let's make Wolves talk great again!

[Coolbreeze44]

Well said Abe and nice Shawshank reference to boot. I agree. Most of us can't resist the urge to share our opinions on everything and I'm guilty as well. Let's make Wolves talk great again!

Hahahaha - I'm all for that

[TAFKASP]

Who would you draft again given can only change one, and the choice cannot be based upon who you could have gotten in that particular draft, only on the two players I'm about to list:

Wiggins
Rubio

Go woofs!

Great post Abe!

[AbeVigodaLive]

[youtube]ZZgU0cT_TfI[/youtube]

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Who would you draft again given can only change one, and the choice cannot be based upon who you could have gotten in that particular draft, only on the two players I'm about to list:

Wiggins
Rubio

Go woofs!

Great post Abe!

Oh i think you need to create a poll for this one and add a couple more players brother.

[Lipoli390]

Thanks for your post, Abe. We needed it. Or at least I needed it. :)

[Lipoli390]

Who would you draft again given can only change one, and the choice cannot be based upon who you could have gotten in that particular draft, only on the two players I'm about to list:

Wiggins
Rubio

Go woofs!

Great post Abe!

Oh i think you need to create a poll for this one and add a couple more players brother.

I agree a poll is in order for this inquiry. But if poll is limited to these two, I would think the result would be 100% Rubio. So I think broadening it just a little with a couple other choices would make it more interesting.