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Perspective of a new-ish user




I should probably preface this by saying that I have only registered recently (I think maybe the day of the Oakland Raiders game...?) but have been reading this blog and following the rec'd fanposts and main entries since before the season started.  And no, I didn't join to vent frustration or anything of the type.  This isn't exactly 100% football related, so delete it if it's too offtopic.  Instead, I am writing this fan post about my opinion of the blog and it's community, opinion wanted or not!

Star-divide

The reason I changed from merely reader to member of BTSC wasn't because of the thoughtful insight or the well written fanposts that used what little information the average fan actually has (compared to the players) to try to conclude some kind of points.  I registered because I appreciated a community that could produce these pieces as well as be very open to sarcastic banter in the comments.  I'll admit that the W-A-V-E-S enticed me!  And I think that is a very important part of a community.  I mean, look at the very title of the website: Behind The Steel Curtain - A Pittsburgh Steeler's blog.  This is an internet community with a wide and varied user base, not a college stats course or an english class.  While it is great that an internet community can put their collective thoughts and ideas together in an insightful manner, I think it is important that you not forget that this place was most likely (assumption, I know) for entertainment and to find people with similar fandom to yourself.  Bringing a doom and gloom atmosphere to a place like this is not conducive, at least in my humble opinion, of entertaining conversation.

 

One thing I've learned about football, and I think it can be applied to communities, is that it's never as bad as you think it is and it's never as good as you think it is.  I saw a fan post earlier where they had some quotes of sentiments that were being posted here as all but fact, and some of them were a little bit ridiculous.  That is just an example.  On the opposite end of the spectrum now, you have people whining about trolls (it's going to happen, you're on the internet, whether or not bloggers from this site troll others is irrelevant), you have a million fan posts full of all caps, and enough users registering simply to bitch and moan to make any regular's head spin.  The way I see it, is that this blog is very much like the Steelers.  When they're winning, there is going to be a winning buzz and everyone's going to be happy and getting along, where when they're losing as bad as this, obviously the opposite is going to happen.  Naturally, none of this is going to reverse until blitz/dyms/anyone else that's been absent returns.

I realize I've rambled, but all I'm really trying to say is don't let the best facet of this website go down the tube because of how bad the team or the community seems right now.  I think we all know sarcasm and jokes are the best medicine anyway.

To keep this more football related - the positives that are most likely going to come out of this season:

 

Mike Tomlin will never let his team get lax and have a fun training camp or try to be buddy buddy, if he's a good coach.

Due to the offense's wonderful showing this season, Bruce Arians will hopefully be shown the door.

And the most obvious, you don't have runs like we did from 05-08 without going 6-10 every once in a while and getting high first round players like Troy and Ben.  So look forward to what will hopefully be a stellar first round pick and another good run of years, we have the talent.

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Rabble, rabble, rabble

Sarcasm and humor are about the only things keeping us from e-punching each other in the face right now.

The Hell that Tomlin & the Steelers have unleashed on me this December is indescribable.

by John Stephens on Dec 13, 2009 3:35 PM EST reply actions  

Thanks for the perspective

I appreciate the sense of community here, too. Seems like many of us, like me, are resident outside the Pittsburgh area. So we don’t get the same opportunity to share our happiness and misery with friends and family as those back in the Burgh. So this blog becomes all the more important to us. After the debacle in Cleveland, I didn’t think I’d be able to return to BTSC for a week or two. But it’s such a key part of my daily routine that I missed it too much to stay away. I have even come to appreciate our resident Raven troll, MaLoR — he’s sort of like the guy behind you in the stands that you love to go back and forth with about whose team is best. That being said, I agree with an idea I saw on another posting — that new members should have a one day waiting period before being allowed to post or comment. That would help a bit to keep the taunters and the drunken ramblers off the blog.

by Citizen of Steeler Nation on Dec 13, 2009 8:56 PM EST reply actions  

actually a very good idea

that i will strongly consider

Freel free to email me anytime at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, complaints, etc, or to just say what's up. -Michael Bean (Blitz)

by Michael Bean on Dec 13, 2009 9:57 PM EST up reply actions  

I have noticed that other SBN blogs include a one day (or one may have even been a two day) period before allowing you to post. Probably is a good idea considering how much traffic BTSC is getting these days.

For ideas on statistical analyses, email me at wolfpacksteelersfan@gmail.com.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Dec 13, 2009 10:38 PM EST up reply actions  

I would agree with this policy. I don’t mind immediate comments. It’s easy enough to ignore an idiot jumping into a post, but it’d be nice if the right side of the screen didn’t explode with new users after every game.

by Chicago Steeler on Dec 14, 2009 1:30 PM EST up reply actions  

The thing that has gotten much worse since I joined in May...............

are the personal attacks if someone disagrees with someone else’s opinion. There have even been absurd threats of physical violence (I doubt any have been taken seriously), let’s get real.

by grapes on Dec 13, 2009 9:22 PM EST reply actions  

Yeah

I followed the surreal exchange you were involved in on another post. The guy completely flew off the handle. Thinnest skin I’ve seen among regular users. I actually agreed with some of the stuff he said in his post but he completely lost me when he started threatening anyone who disagreed with him.

by Citizen of Steeler Nation on Dec 13, 2009 10:31 PM EST up reply actions  

threatening physical attacks on the internet is the white flag of any disagreement.

I’m wrong, my points are invalid, but I bet I could totally whoop your ass in person!

by klompus on Dec 13, 2009 11:40 PM EST up reply actions  

thanks for the post klompus

It’s always good for me to get some feedback like this. Appreciate you taking the time. We’ll get through this!

Freel free to email me anytime at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, complaints, etc, or to just say what's up. -Michael Bean (Blitz)

by Michael Bean on Dec 13, 2009 9:57 PM EST reply actions  

Many times ...

feelings are like farts … they stink and annoy other folks in the room. Blogs aren’t the sole domain of the bluebirds of happiness. Blogs are a place where folks go to vent, share, pontificate, … whatever. I’ve never been a fan of physical violence, though for a lifetime I have been prepared to issue forth the most terminal of violent acts, and cursing as a critical thought has never been a winner, so in that regard I’m in full agreement.

by tenthmtnman on Dec 14, 2009 8:04 AM EST reply actions  

I still don't like trolls

and I think we are going to wave your post because you mentioned it. lol

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Dec 14, 2009 8:10 AM EST reply actions  

Hold on I need to grab the wax for my board

The Hell that Tomlin & the Steelers have unleashed on me this December is indescribable.

by John Stephens on Dec 14, 2009 8:54 AM EST up reply actions  

Share man...don't hoard

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Dec 14, 2009 9:04 AM EST up reply actions  

This wave might get big, don't get floor'd

The Hell that Tomlin & the Steelers have unleashed on me this December is indescribable.

by John Stephens on Dec 14, 2009 9:24 AM EST up reply actions  

You'll get a Nobel Peace Prize Award

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Dec 14, 2009 12:01 PM EST up reply actions  

welcome aboard

"Coach Mike Tomlin promised that his Steelers would unleash hell, not look like it." Ed Bouchette PPG

by WARDANE33 on Dec 14, 2009 12:24 PM EST up reply actions  

FYI klompus you cannot use words twice, good lord!

The Hell that Tomlin & the Steelers have unleashed on me this December is indescribable.

by John Stephens on Dec 14, 2009 12:40 PM EST up reply actions  

Good wave ettiquette, should not be ignored.

"We just have to play better as a whole team." James Harrison

by LongTimeSteelersFan on Dec 14, 2009 1:06 PM EST up reply actions  

Don't let the cord on this wave get pulled

Players who should be in the Hall of Fame
DIck Lebeau, Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel and Chris Carter

by WVPiratesfan on Dec 14, 2009 1:06 PM EST up reply actions  

That is not a rhyme, I have ruled

The Hell that Tomlin & the Steelers have unleashed on me this December is indescribable.

by John Stephens on Dec 14, 2009 1:13 PM EST up reply actions  

And they have been schooled

I love being the most-hated guy here. I love beating them while [their fans] are flicking me off. --Hines Ward

by samliam on Dec 14, 2009 1:21 PM EST up reply actions  

Sadly enough; it seem to have fallen on the sword.

When the tailgate drops, the BS stops. Shut up and play!

by 1BlkGldFan on Dec 14, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions  

I'm hangin 10 with the help of Hines Ward

"Now that I'm here, I don't want to just be here, I want to be here for a long time." Hines Ward, 1998 4th round draft pick.

by kick him in the head on Dec 14, 2009 5:53 PM EST up reply actions  

Troy is right up there with the Lord

Players who should be in the Hall of Fame
DIck Lebeau, Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel and Chris Carter

by WVPiratesfan on Dec 14, 2009 7:08 PM EST up reply actions  

I messed it up, used award for the second time.

Making the wave go to the left, is a little different. Instead of clicking “reply”, you click “up”, that takes you to the parent comment at the top of the page. Click “up” on that, and it takes you that parent comment at the top of the page. Then you click “reply”, type what you want,m and post as usual.
So in short: up , up, reply.

The new word is: cat

"We just have to play better as a whole team." James Harrison

by LongTimeSteelersFan on Dec 14, 2009 8:24 PM EST up reply actions  

Waving to the left

Ok, I wasn’t very clear with my previous explanation, I will try again.
For the wave to go to the right, just click “reply”, and it goes to the right.
To make it go to the left (like we should do now) instead of clicking “reply”, you have to click on “up”. When you do, the page will scroll up, and put the parent comment, at the top of the page. Now click “up” on the comment at the top of the page. Now you see the parent for that comment at the top of the page. Click “reply” on that one, type something, and post as usual.

(Don’t worry about the placement of your post in the “preview”, when you post it, it will be shuffled into the right place.)

Up, up, and reply, it is really as easy as that.

"We just have to play better as a whole team." James Harrison

by LongTimeSteelersFan on Dec 14, 2009 9:32 PM EST up reply actions  

Ahhh, you got it. These are my fav.

"We just have to play better as a whole team." James Harrison

by LongTimeSteelersFan on Dec 14, 2009 10:09 PM EST up reply actions  

The wave to the left sometimes is it's grave

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Dec 15, 2009 8:44 AM EST up reply actions  

When staring a wave to the left it is good to be brave

Players who should be in the Hall of Fame
DIck Lebeau, Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel and Chris Carter

by WVPiratesfan on Dec 15, 2009 11:08 AM EST up reply actions  

it will turn out if you behave

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Dec 15, 2009 11:31 AM EST up reply actions  

Tomlin can fix it, our team he will save.

"We just have to play better as a whole team." James Harrison

by LongTimeSteelersFan on Dec 15, 2009 1:24 PM EST up reply actions  

i screwed it up, i'll hide in a cave

"Now that I'm here, I don't want to just be here, I want to be here for a long time." Hines Ward, 1998 4th round draft pick.

by kick him in the head on Dec 15, 2009 4:39 PM EST up reply actions  

I'll fix it my friend kick....the path I'll pave

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Dec 16, 2009 10:34 AM EST up reply actions  

back to the left, it's a new rave

"Now that I'm here, I don't want to just be here, I want to be here for a long time." Hines Ward, 1998 4th round draft pick.

by kick him in the head on Dec 15, 2009 4:14 PM EST reply actions  

shit

"Now that I'm here, I don't want to just be here, I want to be here for a long time." Hines Ward, 1998 4th round draft pick.

by kick him in the head on Dec 15, 2009 4:14 PM EST up reply actions  

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