FonRiesen
Registered User
I clearly wasn't effective in communicating to you... Hopefully I'm clearer this time.
You be you when it comes to being a fan - there are lots of flavours of fans and I find all of them fascinating - I love variety and different viewpoints. I'm not telling you not to post about actual weaknesses you see in the Bombers. They definitely have some. I actually appreciate that you post regularly - activity is important to keep a forum alive, and I'm just as against echo chambers as you are. However, making blanket statements about rose coloured glasses/positivity just gets old fast... My post was very specifically replying to your comment saying optimists were not realistic.
If I made one assumption, then it was assuming that your words during games reflect your mindset. I generally believe people mean what they type, or at least that it reflects their current state of mind. You literally posted "Game Over" in the 1st quarter of the BC game, and posted how it was clear from O'Shea's face he thought it was over, too... And were talking about the post-game show well before the game was over and already making comments that certainly came across as critical/condescending about those who would minimize negatives after this "loss". To be fair, that was an extreme game, and you weren't the only one...
I acknowledge that typing words of giving up and hopelessness ("game over") doesn't mean you are, in fact, feeling those emotions. Just realize that once you type something in a public forum, people are going to read your words and interpret them as written. And maybe in unanticipated ways. However, I didn't really need to bring that up to make my central point, and I could have used less inflammatory words. I'll try better in the future. I'm aware that when I accuse someone else of being condescending, there's a good chance I'm coming across in the same way to the person who's triggering me. Classic psychological mirroring.
I've been married to a "realist"(pessimist) for over 20 years, and I have learned to truly value the prudent caution her perspective brings. She sees things I don't, and I willingly integrate facts and warnings that are logical. I see things she doesn't, and she also has learned to appreciate and value my perspectives, and we're both better together. She's also learned that even if she doesn't feel negative when making negative comments, there is a line where it brings everyone else down. And I've learned that being too positive can be frustrating and trigger others, too. We're both just trying to be helpful, but what we bring isn't always what's wanted and/or needed. But sometimes it is.
Diversity is a strength in online forums, too. There is a line between pointing out negative truths, and tearing down others. I try, and sometimes fail, to minimize harm. And I know that my words sometimes just don't communicate the way I intend them to - and I try to extend that grace to others as well. I'm trying to do that for you here, too. No hard feelings at all, and you're an important part of this little sub-forum.
I think your last line is hilarious, though - my entire life revolves around helping people see multiple points of view and consider multiple possibilities, and empower them to choose what visions they want to pursue rather than be stuck in "totalitarian" narrative loops...
Edit: mods, sorry if this is too meta (and long winded). I'll stop. If this isn't a useful post, you're welcome to delete it; my intention is to try to get us fans to give each other more grace and be self-aware (some of this is a pep talk to myself, too), but it might not come across that way.
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