Bobcat Nation...a good thing? Or bad?

[GOKATS]

I think this board is a great thing for not only Bobcat Athletics, but Montana athletics as a whole

shut up!

Have to admit you're growing up a bit kid!

[BelgradeBobcat]

It's all good.

I've been doing this internet message board thing for 7 or 8 years now I guess. I remember when some of the old MSU message boards maybe had a dozen or so regulars. It's really grown since then.

I think the traditional media has a love hate relationship with message boards. You know they can't help but look in, but you also know they think we're a bunch of psycho idiots with no lives. But how many newspaper articles have referred to Bobcatnation? There's been a few.

I love it when we can right a serious wrong like getting the Billings Grizette to correct their latest screw up (you know they really hate us).

I just think it's a whole lot of fun-and maybe it's good for my typing and writing skills (though I don't try too hard for proper grammer-it's good practice for trying to get a point across as efficiently as possible).

[Egg Salad]

It's all good.

I've been doing this internet message board thing for 7 or 8 years now I guess. I remember when some of the old MSU message boards maybe had a dozen or so regulars. It's really grown since then.

I think the traditional media has a love hate relationship with message boards. You know they can't help but look in, but you also know they think we're a bunch of psycho idiots with no lives. But how many newspaper articles have referred to Bobcatnation? There's been a few.

I love it when we can right a serious wrong like getting the Billings Grizette to correct their latest screw up (you know they really hate us).

I just think it's a whole lot of fun-and maybe it's good for my typing and writing skills (though I don't try too hard for proper grammer-it's good practice for trying to get a point across as efficiently as possible).

[rant]
I like the end of yours. It's hard to take a lot of people on BobcatNation seriously when they destroy the English language. Many people get pissed at the media, especially the Gazette, for messing up, and say they can't take them seriously because of it. The difference between "its and it's", "there, their, and they're", are not that tough to figure out. Also, there is a difference between questions and statements. When writing, this difference is made by a question mark at the end of one. I stay up at night because I read things that are supposed to be questions, come across as statements. Well, not really, but it is annoying.

Other than that, BN pretty much kicks ass because a lot of good ideas come around. Would thundersticks have made it to the game without these boards? Probably not. That is just one example.

[/rant]

You can all call me "Mr. Egg" or "Mr. Salad" from now on.

[Bleedinbluengold]

I missed MSU Athletics criticizing BN?

One way to view BN is as a real-time public opinion poll. However, it's better than a public opinion poll, because real people give real opinions, they don't just answer questions, which were formulated to obtain certain results.

I would say the primary problem with BN is with respect to criticism of student athletes. Sometimes the words that are written can be very cutting, and maybe we could double check the golden rule before posting something about student athletes.

With respect to coaches and administration, though? I say, criticize all you want, but try to do it in a manner that will be constructive. And, I really don't think it makes any difference whether a person posts anonymously or not.

Golden Rule = Good Rule

[kmax]

I missed MSU Athletics criticizing BN?

I just want to set the record straight here, MSU Athletics did not come out and criticize BobcatNation. This all started due to a random comment from rtb, I think in the stadium renovation thread, about the Athletics department not really liking BN. While they haven't and would likely never say anything public against BN, it has been shown and made known in other ways that some members of the Athletics department would be just as happy if this (or any board like it for that matter) didn't exist. To be fair, there are others within MSU Athletics who see BN as a mostly positive place and have used it in very positive ways, see Mike Carignan for a great example.

Golden Rule = Good Rule

I agree. Now if only we could get everyone to follow that rule while still being anonymous it would be one big happy internet and we could all sing kumbaya together via web chat.

[Cat in NC]

In all honesty, I couldn't be a bigger fan of BN. The website as a whole is a great resource for those of us who have relocated faaaaaar from Bozeman and only can get back for maybe 2-3 games per year. There's only so much that someone can get from satellite TV and the official athletics website (especially before the update). Forget about the Chronicle and Gazette websites, as their competency has been brought into great focus more than once here. Those of us 2500+ miles from home (even those of us who donate money to the university and athletics) can feel pretty far removed - both literally and figuratively - from MSU and having the eyes and ears and opinions of those still in Big Sky Country available to us is a big deal.

While there are dangers (ie. the bashing of players and the tendency for "stories" to take on lives of their own), I think that those dangers are mostly mitigated by a great group of moderators. In addition to the mods, I think that the self-policing of the website is obvious - for example, the speed with which just about everyone made sure that the LeBlanc thread didn't go in a bad direction.

Finally, it gives the eGriz crowd somewhere to go if they actually want to observe the English language used properly.

Thanks Nation!

[HelenaCat95]

I don't think MSU would/does have much of a problem with people talking about player and coach performance.....they have to expect that this takes place with or without the internet. While some of this discussion may get out of hand at times, I think the only time that it could/should effect on the field performance is discussion of potential game plans and injuries. I would have to think that our opponents may check into this board on occasion (as I would think we would do with our opponents board). And if they read something that someone saw/overheard at practice about gameplans, or about injuries, I would be upset if I was in their shoes.

Where I think MSU may think the real problem lies is in the discussion (most of it anonymous) with player/coach behavior off the field. The most recent discussion of LeBlanc (but it did get reined in pretty quickly) is an example. But I think the most eggregious example is how quickly things got onto this board in the Miller and LeBrum incident from last Spring. There was a lot of personal information that was posted here, that we are now learning may be discoverable in a court case.

I'm not making a judgment here, just trying to put myself in an MSU Adminnistrator's shoes.

[MAGOO]

Egg said to Belgrade Bobcat:

I like the end of yours.

EGG, MY SON, I HAVE ANSWERED YOUR PRAYER FOR A UNIQUE SENSE OF HUMOR.

GOD

[HelenaCat95]

It's all good.

I've been doing this internet message board thing for 7 or 8 years now I guess. I remember when some of the old MSU message boards maybe had a dozen or so regulars. It's really grown since then.

I think the traditional media has a love hate relationship with message boards. You know they can't help but look in, but you also know they think we're a bunch of psycho idiots with no lives. But how many newspaper articles have referred to Bobcatnation? There's been a few.

I love it when we can right a serious wrong like getting the Billings Grizette to correct their latest screw up (you know they really hate us).

I just think it's a whole lot of fun-and maybe it's good for my typing and writing skills (though I don't try too hard for proper grammer-it's good practice for trying to get a point across as efficiently as possible).

[rant]
I like the end of yours. It's hard to take a lot of people on BobcatNation seriously when they destroy the English language. Many people get pissed at the media, especially the Gazette, for messing up, and say they can't take them seriously because of it. The difference between "its and it's", "there, their, and they're", are not that tough to figure out. Also, there is a difference between questions and statements. When writing, this difference is made by a question mark at the end of one. I stay up at night because I read things that are supposed to be questions, come across as statements. Well, not really, but it is annoying.

Other than that, BN pretty much kicks ass because a lot of good ideas come around. Would thundersticks have made it to the game without these boards? Probably not. That is just one example.

[/rant]

You can all call me "Mr. Egg" or "Mr. Salad" from now on.

Mr. Egg,
Were you referring to my posting on the Gazette this weekend? Because if you were, I would submit that my post referenced the fact that they called us "Montana", not "Montana STATE", which is very different than confusing "they're", "there" and "their".
Just asking.

[Egg Salad]

It's all good.

I've been doing this internet message board thing for 7 or 8 years now I guess. I remember when some of the old MSU message boards maybe had a dozen or so regulars. It's really grown since then.

I think the traditional media has a love hate relationship with message boards. You know they can't help but look in, but you also know they think we're a bunch of psycho idiots with no lives. But how many newspaper articles have referred to Bobcatnation? There's been a few.

I love it when we can right a serious wrong like getting the Billings Grizette to correct their latest screw up (you know they really hate us).

I just think it's a whole lot of fun-and maybe it's good for my typing and writing skills (though I don't try too hard for proper grammer-it's good practice for trying to get a point across as efficiently as possible).

[rant]
I like the end of yours. It's hard to take a lot of people on BobcatNation seriously when they destroy the English language. Many people get pissed at the media, especially the Gazette, for messing up, and say they can't take them seriously because of it. The difference between "its and it's", "there, their, and they're", are not that tough to figure out. Also, there is a difference between questions and statements. When writing, this difference is made by a question mark at the end of one. I stay up at night because I read things that are supposed to be questions, come across as statements. Well, not really, but it is annoying.

Other than that, BN pretty much kicks ass because a lot of good ideas come around. Would thundersticks have made it to the game without these boards? Probably not. That is just one example.

[/rant]

You can all call me "Mr. Egg" or "Mr. Salad" from now on.

Mr. Egg,
Were you referring to my posting on the Gazette this weekend? Because if you were, I would submit that my post referenced the fact that they called us "Montana", not "Montana STATE", which is very different than confusing "they're", "there" and "their".
Just asking.

I wasn't referring to any post in particular.
I was saying that many people find it hard to take the Gazette seriously when they miss things like "State" or call us the Bears. In the same way, I can't really take BobcatNation members seriously when they mess up simple grammar, spelling, etc.

[BobcatBulldog]

It's all good.

I've been doing this internet message board thing for 7 or 8 years now I guess. I remember when some of the old MSU message boards maybe had a dozen or so regulars. It's really grown since then.

I think the traditional media has a love hate relationship with message boards. You know they can't help but look in, but you also know they think we're a bunch of psycho idiots with no lives. But how many newspaper articles have referred to Bobcatnation? There's been a few.

I love it when we can right a serious wrong like getting the Billings Grizette to correct their latest screw up (you know they really hate us).

I just think it's a whole lot of fun-and maybe it's good for my typing and writing skills (though I don't try too hard for proper grammer-it's good practice for trying to get a point across as efficiently as possible).

[rant]
I like the end of yours. It's hard to take a lot of people on BobcatNation seriously when they destroy the English language. Many people get pissed at the media, especially the Gazette, for messing up, and say they can't take them seriously because of it. The difference between "its and it's", "there, their, and they're", are not that tough to figure out. Also, there is a difference between questions and statements. When writing, this difference is made by a question mark at the end of one. I stay up at night because I read things that are supposed to be questions, come across as statements. Well, not really, but it is annoying.

Other than that, BN pretty much kicks ass because a lot of good ideas come around. Would thundersticks have made it to the game without these boards? Probably not. That is just one example.

[/rant]

You can all call me "Mr. Egg" or "Mr. Salad" from now on.

Mr. Egg,
Were you referring to my posting on the Gazette this weekend? Because if you were, I would submit that my post referenced the fact that they called us "Montana", not "Montana STATE", which is very different than confusing "they're", "there" and "their".
Just asking.

I wasn't referring to any post in particular.
I was saying that many people find it hard to take the Gazette seriously when they miss things like "State" or call us the Bears. In the same way, I can't really take BobcatNation members seriously when they mess up simple grammar, spelling, etc.

Yes u r wright Eggsalad, but there is one difference. People who post on BN do not get paid to post and have degrees in journalism. People who work for papers that are distributed to 65000 homes are. That is why we in the BN turn a blind eye to the occasional TYPO while grilling the paper.

[MAGOO]

I share Egg's dislike for the casual style of grammer, spelling, etc., that is used by many posters. But, I think that many folks who use email do not spend a great deal of time using the written word in their lives away from the web. There are likely also more than a few posters who treat their posts as casual conversation as opposed to a dialog requiring proper language usage. Still, obvious mispells are a nuisance. Any chance that BN could include a spell checker for users?

[HelenaCat95]

It's all good.

I've been doing this internet message board thing for 7 or 8 years now I guess. I remember when some of the old MSU message boards maybe had a dozen or so regulars. It's really grown since then.

I think the traditional media has a love hate relationship with message boards. You know they can't help but look in, but you also know they think we're a bunch of psycho idiots with no lives. But how many newspaper articles have referred to Bobcatnation? There's been a few.

I love it when we can right a serious wrong like getting the Billings Grizette to correct their latest screw up (you know they really hate us).

I just think it's a whole lot of fun-and maybe it's good for my typing and writing skills (though I don't try too hard for proper grammer-it's good practice for trying to get a point across as efficiently as possible).

[rant]
I like the end of yours. It's hard to take a lot of people on BobcatNation seriously when they destroy the English language. Many people get pissed at the media, especially the Gazette, for messing up, and say they can't take them seriously because of it. The difference between "its and it's", "there, their, and they're", are not that tough to figure out. Also, there is a difference between questions and statements. When writing, this difference is made by a question mark at the end of one. I stay up at night because I read things that are supposed to be questions, come across as statements. Well, not really, but it is annoying.

Other than that, BN pretty much kicks ass because a lot of good ideas come around. Would thundersticks have made it to the game without these boards? Probably not. That is just one example.

[/rant]

You can all call me "Mr. Egg" or "Mr. Salad" from now on.

Mr. Egg,
Were you referring to my posting on the Gazette this weekend? Because if you were, I would submit that my post referenced the fact that they called us "Montana", not "Montana STATE", which is very different than confusing "they're", "there" and "their".
Just asking.

I wasn't referring to any post in particular.
I was saying that many people find it hard to take the Gazette seriously when they miss things like "State" or call us the Bears. In the same way, I can't really take BobcatNation members seriously when they mess up simple grammar, spelling, etc.

Interesting:
1) You equate Bobcatnation's members with journalists.
2) You put facts on the same level with grammar and spelling.

I guess we have different pet peeves then. That's cool. I do enjoy your posts.

[Egg Salad]

I guess what I'm trying to get at most is, if people can't do any better themselves, then don't b!tch.

Thanks helenacat95

[SonomaCat]

I share Egg's dislike for the casual style of grammer, spelling, etc., that is used by many posters. But, I think that many folks who use email do not spend a great deal of time using the written word in their lives away from the web. There are likely also more than a few posters who treat their posts as casual conversation as opposed to a dialog requiring proper language usage. Still, obvious mispells are a nuisance. Any chance that BN could include a spell checker for users?

That's a good question ... and one that I will look into further along with the other mods.

I share the pet peeve about poor writing and spelling ... even as I make many mistakes myself. It would be nice to have a tool built into this board that would allow people to improve their writing (and teach us the correct way to spell things) without pulling up Word.

[rtb]

Just download the newest Firefox. It has a spellchecker that automatically works with forms.

[whitetrashgriz]

I share Egg's dislike for the casual style of grammer, spelling, etc., that is used by many posters. But, I think that many folks who use email do not spend a great deal of time using the written word in their lives away from the web. There are likely also more than a few posters who treat their posts as casual conversation as opposed to a dialog requiring proper language usage. Still, obvious mispells are a nuisance. Any chance that BN could include a spell checker for users?

so you dont like when i post like this? I USED TO POST LIKE THIS BUT WAS TOLD THAT THAT WAS COMPUTER "YELLING"! now i post in this soft, monotone whisper. and for what its worth......this site is awesome.

[KGKat]

I share Egg's dislike for the casual style of grammer, spelling, etc., that is used by many posters. But, I think that many folks who use email do not spend a great deal of time using the written word in their lives away from the web. There are likely also more than a few posters who treat their posts as casual conversation as opposed to a dialog requiring proper language usage. Still, obvious mispells are a nuisance. Any chance that BN could include a spell checker for users?

That is a rather casual style of spelling GRAMMAR that you seem to be using, Mr. Magoo

[MAGOO]

Well, crap! Here I thought somone would spot my nifty misspelling of "mispell," and you catch me being the real dunce that I be.

[MAGOO]

i'm sorry, whitetrashgriz, i couldn't quite hear what you typed. actually, whispering bill anderson is one of my favorite country western artists.