Reflection on VolNation and Fandom

#127
#127
VFL-82-JP said:
Tome. Tome is the word you're looking for. Rhymes with "Rome." Tome means "big book." Tomb (rhymes with "womb") means "place where Egyptian mummies are buried." You meant tome.

Happy to help, glad you got a lot out of joining this thread. :)
Click to expand...

Spellchecker is a beyotch. Apologies. Not for ignoring the tome. Yep I received all I needed when you were unable to put a cogent thought together without publishing a tome.
 
#129
#129
Remy said:
Spellchecker is a beyotch. Apologies. Not for ignoring the tome. Yep I received all I needed when you were unable to put a cogent thought together without publishing a tome.
Click to expand...

Yes, because nothing good in the world comes longer than one or two sentences. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#131
#131
Witch Doctor said it before, this and every other sports board in America is such a small microcosm of what real fans think(show up and go to games, give money..etc) I think this is the best "free" board ...period, but it actually on represents well below .01%(people on this site at its highest web traffic wouldnt fill up one section in Stokley...if even that much. Thats not to offend anyone, its just facts.)

Best rule of thumb, if you wouldnt hear whats posted on here said inside a sports bar in Knoxville out loud...its probably trolling to some extent. Bopp them on the head with a jazzy come back and laugh....remember its just sports

BNL
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#132
#132
VFL-82-JP said:
You walk into the bar. You've been a patron of this bar since you turned 18, many years ago. It's "your" bar, the bar closest to home, the one with all the folks you know, all your friends and ex-girlfriends and former enemies, even the moms and dads of some of your old high school classmates. It's as close to "home" as a place with a liquor license can be.

And everyone in this bar loves the Vols. Venerates them. Each and every game is played live on all seven TVs hanging in all the corners and side walls, and then played again at least four or five more times during the week. Orange is by far the predominant color, both in the decor and on the backs of the patrons.

It's okay to talk trash about the head coach, as long as it's clear you love the guy and would run through the wall for him. Not because his name is Butch, but just because he's our coach. Some of the folks in the bar think he's not the long term answer, sure, and plenty of beer has been spilt over heated debates on that topic. But even for them, while Butch may be an idiot, he's OUR idiot. Any fan of another school walks in that door and takes advantage of some insider criticism, and they'll quickly find out that the color orange is FAR more important to us than petty disagreements about any particular coach or player.

This is a Tennessee Volunteers bar. It's a second home. Arguing, dancing, or watching the game together, it is comfortable as the womb, because it's full of people who share a love. A Vols love.

...

break/break

...

That, that word picture I just drew, that's what a lot of us would like VolNation to be. An online version of your favorite bar, the place where you get together with friends to talk Vol Football.

Trouble is, Freak doesn't sell beer.

Okay, we can get beer out of our own refrigerators. So we'll overlook that one.

Trouble is, the social anonymity of the internet encourages people to act like jackwagons to each other.

Okay, that's just life online. Have to roll with that.

Trouble is, we're infiltrated with fans of other schools pretending to be Vols fans just enough that they can cause trouble. Not talking about 99gator or bamawriter, or guys like them. They're open and honest about who they support, they're guests in our house, and welcome for their (wrong, inbred and socially inept, haha) opinions. No, talking about the trolls who pretend to be Vols but are really just here to denigrate.

Again, that's just life online. Have to ignore them as best we can and get on with it.

...

break/break

...

This thread is really for and about the other group. Those folks who haven't yet figured out how to be a devout fan while criticizing. Those who, when they turn on the negative flow, don't know how to control it, who haven't developed their fine tuning enough to avoid being nasty, petty or boorish when they want to talk about how things aren't perfect.

Norm walks into Cheers, everyone shouts NORM! He sits down, orders a beer, and joins the chatter about the Red Sox. He's not a big fan of John Farrell, and he's free to explain why, BECAUSE he is so well known in the bar to be a consumate Red Sox fan. Because for everything critical he might say about the manager or one of the players, he says ten or twenty positive things about the team. And even if he's not the hugest fan of Farrell, he wouldn't for a minute put up with a Yankee fan walking into the bar and talking trash about him or any other member of the team.

Why can't we all be like Norm?

When did disagreement forcibly turn into hate and rudeness?

Something to think about.

Go Vols!



NOTE: Not saying anyone (other than the trolls, they know who they are and we do, too) isn't a fan. This isn't about defining fandom or excluding anyone. It's about suggesting that we, as a group of Vols fans, consider raising our game, becoming more the fan base that ALL of us can be proud of.
Click to expand...

Amen a thousand times. You spoke for me, brother. I hope we all can bring our inner Norm to this place...and the jackwagons can find theirs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#133
#133
VFL-82-JP said:
You (and Behr and a few others) in that thread gave me the idea for this thread, MC. :)
Click to expand...

By the way, I don't know if it was on purpose, but good timing on this thread. Also, you have two responses on your post from last night. Fwiw.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#134
#134
VFL-82-JP said:
You walk into the bar. You've been a patron of this bar since you turned 18, many years ago. It's "your" bar, the bar closest to home, the one with all the folks you know, all your friends and ex-girlfriends and former enemies, even the moms and dads of some of your old high school classmates. It's as close to "home" as a place with a liquor license can be.

And everyone in this bar loves the Vols. Venerates them. Each and every game is played live on all seven TVs hanging in all the corners and side walls, and then played again at least four or five more times during the week. Orange is by far the predominant color, both in the decor and on the backs of the patrons.

It's okay to talk trash about the head coach, as long as it's clear you love the guy and would run through the wall for him. Not because his name is Butch, but just because he's our coach. Some of the folks in the bar think he's not the long term answer, sure, and plenty of beer has been spilt over heated debates on that topic. But even for them, while Butch may be an idiot, he's OUR idiot. Any fan of another school walks in that door and takes advantage of some insider criticism, and they'll quickly find out that the color orange is FAR more important to us than petty disagreements about any particular coach or player.

This is a Tennessee Volunteers bar. It's a second home. Arguing, dancing, or watching the game together, it is comfortable as the womb, because it's full of people who share a love. A Vols love.

...

break/break

...

That, that word picture I just drew, that's what a lot of us would like VolNation to be. An online version of your favorite bar, the place where you get together with friends to talk Vol Football.

Trouble is, Freak doesn't sell beer.

Okay, we can get beer out of our own refrigerators. So we'll overlook that one.

Trouble is, the social anonymity of the internet encourages people to act like jackwagons to each other.

Okay, that's just life online. Have to roll with that.

Trouble is, we're infiltrated with fans of other schools pretending to be Vols fans just enough that they can cause trouble. Not talking about 99gator or bamawriter, or guys like them. They're open and honest about who they support, they're guests in our house, and welcome for their (wrong, inbred and socially inept, haha) opinions. No, talking about the trolls who pretend to be Vols but are really just here to denigrate.

Again, that's just life online. Have to ignore them as best we can and get on with it.

...

break/break

...

This thread is really for and about the other group. Those folks who haven't yet figured out how to be a devout fan while criticizing. Those who, when they turn on the negative flow, don't know how to control it, who haven't developed their fine tuning enough to avoid being nasty, petty or boorish when they want to talk about how things aren't perfect.

Norm walks into Cheers, everyone shouts NORM! He sits down, orders a beer, and joins the chatter about the Red Sox. He's not a big fan of John Farrell, and he's free to explain why, BECAUSE he is so well known in the bar to be a consumate Red Sox fan. Because for everything critical he might say about the manager or one of the players, he says ten or twenty positive things about the team. And even if he's not the hugest fan of Farrell, he wouldn't for a minute put up with a Yankee fan walking into the bar and talking trash about him or any other member of the team.

Why can't we all be like Norm?

When did disagreement forcibly turn into hate and rudeness?

Something to think about.

Go Vols!



NOTE: Not saying anyone (other than the trolls, they know who they are and we do, too) isn't a fan. This isn't about defining fandom or excluding anyone. It's about suggesting that we, as a group of Vols fans, consider raising our game, becoming more the fan base that ALL of us can be proud of.
Click to expand...

The only problem with an otherwise good argument is that the instance anyone says they are not a fan of Butch or criticizes him...it is automatically assumed they are a fan of another team.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#136
#136
volfannbama said:
The only problem with an otherwise good argument is that the instance anyone says they are not a fan of Butch or criticizes him...it is automatically assumed they are a fan of another team.
Click to expand...

Only by a tiny minority.
You've had many negative comments on Jones and I have never considered the possibility that you're a fan of another team (other than Navy of course).

I do have suspicions on a couple but that has nothing to do with CBJ. It's the culmination of spite towards basically everything UT. Coaches, former coaches, players, commits etc..
After so many comments, you have to wonder what exactly they supposedly like about UT.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#137
#137
volfannbama said:
The only problem with an otherwise good argument is that the instance anyone says they are not a fan of Butch or criticizes him...it is automatically assumed they are a fan of another team.
Click to expand...

And that's wrong to assume that. We have plenty of good Vols fans here who have valid criticisms of Butch. Heck, I have concerns about Butch, and I'm still "on his side" so to speak.

Like Norm in the OP expressing doubts in the Red Sox manager, no one should doubt a Vols fan just because they have doubts about a coach.

The trick is, having a history as a true fan BEFORE one starts talking the man down, and continuing to be a devout fan, even as one expresses those doubts. Plus, expressing them in a way that allows folks to disagree without bringing hate into it.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#138
#138
volfannbama said:
The only problem with an otherwise good argument is that the instance anyone says they are not a fan of Butch or criticizes him...it is automatically assumed they are a fan of another team.
Click to expand...

Not really - for me what makes me question someone is the constant criticism, the derailing of every thread, the inserting something negative even in a positive thread .... turning everything into a way to criticize a coach, a player etc.

Not saying you do that - that that is just what makes me question whether someone is truly a fan or not. And yes I do try to inject positivity when I see that because negativity does not solve anything - just makes things worse IMO.

This place though is not as bad as some on Twitter. Some posters on there cross the line daily. Sad, but they will be the first to jump back on the band wagon when Tennessee wins the SEC THIS year.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#139
#139
volfan102455 said:
I do wish Vol nation was more like what the OP said - but it's not.
Click to expand...

And I'm not gonna naively believe we could ever make it just like the description in the OP. That would utterly ignore the realities of the internet.

But we can maybe make it a little more like that than it is today. Nudge it a tad closer. Maybe an inch today, another inch tomorrow, an inch again next week.

Every little bit makes this a better place.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#140
#140
VFL-82-JP said:
And I'm not gonna naively believe we could ever make it just like the description in the OP. That would utterly ignore the realities of the internet.

But we can maybe make it a little more like that than it is today. Nudge it a tad closer. Maybe an inch today, another inch tomorrow, an inch again next week.

Every little bit makes this a better place.
Click to expand...

"The internet" is not capable of such, only the people behind the keyboard.
This is a personal issue for me because of experience.
You see, I hated Dooley with a passion and I mean a true dislike. Yet, I ventured onto the net each day (GVX at the time) and discussed possible victories, recruits I liked etc. The only time I mentioned my feelings towards DD was when it was directly asked.

The crazy part? It wasn't hard whatsoever. As much as I disliked the man, I knew everyone else wasn't there to read me moaning and bit##ing the sos every single day. No need to ruin it for those just wanting to talk fb. That's the reason I show no empathy towards "negavols". They aren't victims of their feelings or "only expressing their opinions when asked".
They're continuously whiney little self absorbed brats with no situational awareness.

Other than that, they're good guys. I've had worse friends.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 6 people
#142
#142
Tin Man said:
I reckon I'm older than most on VN. Six decades are already in my rear view mirror, and I'm rolling through the seventh. I witnessed the Artful Dodger live and in person during my matriculation at UT. Back then, fans would send moving vans to Bill Battle's house. Imagine the impact to his family...

I've seen a helluva lot since then, glorious victories on the gridiron, ignominious defeats, great coaching, wretched coaching, Vols fans working together in the rain to push a visiting Bammer family's car off the shoulder and back onto the pavement, a purported Tennessee fan (wasn't wearing a scrap of orange) angrily shoving my wife for being halfway into the stadium aisle (she was allowing someone seated in the middle of the row to make their exit before returning to her seat)... Mostly, I recall the innumerable acts of generosity, good will, and displays of good humor which identify Vols fans wherever they may be gathered together. This has been our general group character.

Experience has lengthened my view, tempered my perspective, and deepened my fandom. I know when to indulge in flights of fantasy and how to fully enjoy these as well as when and how to face the cold, hard truth. I've been on the path for awhile, and I'm a more enlightened fan.

I get thEmerson throwing up the Vols sign so it can be read!e OP. I get the impatient whippersnappers barking all over the threads. I get the negavols letting the air out of the raft, and I get the pumpers putting the raft into the river expecting nothing but blue skies and gentle breezes. It's all in perspective for me. Now, when you're ready to take a breath and offer me a refreshing beverage, I'll be genuinely appreciative. GBO.
Click to expand...

Well said, Tin Man, well said! 🍻

Edit: one can be over 60 and still enjoy a beer or 4 😎
 
Last edited:
#145
#145
VFL-82-JP that was a very good opening post. I started here when this site began. It was under a different handle back then and I genuinely had a good time with the other posters. But social media has changed and given false credibility to the anonymous poster. Narcissism has set in. This forum has been ruined by a few of those posters that are on here 24/7. They don't contribute anything but negativity, cynicism, and immature behavior. It's their form of entertainment.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#147
#147
IknoxvolsI said:
Yeap, you read correctly. "For YEARS".
Click to expand...

Since your current screenname has you joining Oct 2016, "For YEARS" means you were posting under another for past YEARS. You should understand the interest in said admission. :hi:
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#148
#148
Behr said:
Yea, I caught that in one of his posts last week about everyone here being crazy over Kiffin. Me and JP talked about it.

Definitely been here before under another name, just not sure if it was Igains or Iathens.
Click to expand...

Told you boys, I've, always, been, a, KNOXville VOLS fan! Actually, the #1 vols fan!
 
#149
#149
IknoxvolsI you're like the old fellow on the corner trying to sell Rolexes (spelled Rolez, if you look closely) and Authentic! diamond rings for pennies on the dollar. "Why's a no one buying my wares?" he laments over and over again.

That's you. Give up, you shyster, and admit that your former screen name before you were last banned was IgatorsandbieberI. :)


EDIT: Or maybe...just maybe...man, this is almost too crazy to contemplate...D4H? Is that you? Is this where you ended up?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#150
#150
VFL-82-JP said:
IknoxvolsI you're like the old fellow on the corner trying to sell Rolexes (spelled Rolez, if you look closely) and Authentic! diamond rings for pennies on the dollar. "Why's a no one buying my wares?" he laments over and over again.

That's you. Give up, you shyster, and admit that your former screen name before you were last banned was IgatorsandbieberI. :)


EDIT: Or maybe...just maybe...man, this is almost too crazy to contemplate...D4H? Is that you? Is this where you ended up?
Click to expand...

Lol, I thought the same thing, about D4H. I don't think so tho.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top