Constant negativity and its effect on HuskerBoard - how do we deal with this?

knapplc

knapplc

Active member
Exhibit A - Hunter94

I invite you guys to go read Hunter's last, say, 250 posts, and find one that is in any way positive about this team, the players, the coaches or the direction this ship is going. Every single post, in every single thread, is negative. He doesn't like Pelini. He doesn't like Martinez. He doesn't like any other coach. He doesn't like the offense. He doesn't like the defense. He doesn't like the fans. Lather, rinse, repeat.

My question - at what point is allowing this kind of posting "letting people have their own opinions" and at what point does it start to damage the board? This guy posts every day, not a lot, but frequently. No matter the tone or tenor of the conversation, his input is negative.

Do we need this? Do we care? If we decide it's not OK, what would you (anyone) do about it?

Hunter isn't the only one, just the most current example. We have several other Odd Posters (Haspula comes to mind) that I think we should discuss, but this is the topic that popped up on my radar with yet another Hunter post.

 
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You know, knapp, this is something I've given a lot of thought to lately and I give you a lot of credit for coming up with the topic and putting it to words. I think I've made a conscious effort on my own part to be a lot more positive than I have been in the past. Not to a sunshine-gushing extent that people might dismiss, but more nitpicking when someone's down on a guy and I think there's room for more optimism. All of that Watson/Taylor drama was very draining and overall, really, not good for the board. I hope for my part that I did not contribute too much damage there when things got heated.

I think it is important to keep in mind the effect on the board, long term, as a place where members can enjoy themselves when they come together to talk Huskers and other things, in mind. However Hunter's done nothing to earn discipline, at the same time. (That I recall) Haspula I think has been largely a respectful poster, as well (contrast to bshirt, who is constantly dreaming up fights with the 'haters'...but what can I say, I love bshirt.)

I don't know if there is too much we can enforce, but that doesn't mean there isn't something we can do. As moderators we do, in some small way, set the tone. Staying respectful and upbeat in our disagreements is something that influences the overall atmosphere of the board. There's still nothing to do about the ones who will always be negative, but there's a place for them too -- the minority that most people will tend to disagree with. Hopefully in a respectful way. In that role, I do not think they do too much damage that could otherwise be avoided.

 
Putting aside whether they have technically broken the rules, are they instigating or inciting other members to start attacks? I'm a tad leery of banning just due to negativity; part of the purpose of a board like this is to provide a forum for all views. One of the reasons we allowed formerfan to hang around as long as we did was that, initially at least, he was one of the few voices of protest against Callahan. That lead to a lot of posts and threads and some pretty good debates. It was when it became clear that EVERY topic would be derailed by the guy that we finally shut the door (and we had at least as many posters taking an anti-Callahan stance as those supporting).

For advertising, post count is one component considered. We certainly don't want the tone of the Board to be sacrificed to the alter of post count, but it's a consideration.

The other issue is - what constitutes negativity? I won't deny that when a poster posts nothing but negative comments it's pretty easy to handle, but where do we draw the line? It would be difficult to articulate that line and enforce it fairly.

 
It's a difficult question, and one I've been meaning to bring up for a while but haven't because, like you guys said, they're not breaking any rules.

Specifically about Hunter94, he doesn't incite (although his pattern is now being noticed by others, and that prompted this thread), he doesn't bait, he doesn't attempt to start fights. All he does is say point out the bad - and we all know there is bad to point out.

I don't have any idea what to do about this. I don't in any way advocate banning a guy for not being positive, even if he's never positive, ever. I don't think even a warning is in order, and in fact, unless it was known that it caused problems, I don't think even a PM is in order. But at the same time, I don't think it's good for the board - kinda like having an Emo kid moping around the party. It's just a drag.

And Frank's right - I what does constitute negativity? This past few months I would be considered "negative" by some of our members, I'm sure. I've been pointing out a lot of the bad I'm seeing. It's in the eye of the beholder, and mine isn't going to be yours.

Frank is also right in pointing out that what could be considered "negativity" fuels many debates, which in turn translates to more posts, more page impressions, etc. It can be good for the site, which is why I didn't run off all the HuskerPedia members right away... until they wore out their welcome (which brings up Yossarian, but that's probably another topic for later).

So I don't know what to do. I just wanted to broach the subject so it's on the table. Any other guidance or input is more than welcome.

 
I don't think there's really a slippery slope here, because there's nothing in the form of disciplinary action we can do that is any different than what we do now. But what is important and very valuable is that this idea has been brought to the forefront and it should be something we think about and consider.

IMO, the best way we can help counter any damage to the board -- and there will always be negative nancies which both fracture a fanbase as well as generate valuable, insightful discussion - is to set a good tone. As moderators and admins we give cues with our conduct. Every action we take and everything we write, publicly or privately, is something people look to as a setting of a standard. I'll be the first to admit that I haven't been the best at keeping that front and center of my attention at all times. But the role we play in this regard is pretty significant. We benefit from an awesome self-policing, respectful (largely) member base, but we are also caretakers of the whole thing.

In that regard, I think taking disciplinary action should be off the table in general. Stemming the tide of truly damaging negativity won't be helped by making a fight out of it, giving the impression that only certain opinions are allowed, and encouraging the other side to defensiveness and anger. I think you guys all do a great job of leading by example -- so, keep that up. The tenser the total state of the fanbase, the more critical that will be. Can't the season get here soon enough?

 
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Lots of good insight. Doesn't hurt to air concerns and get feedback from the other mods/admin. Plz let there be no formerfan or benard. Thank You.

Nothing more to add.

 
I like the discussion, and I hope if anyone has any ideas they post 'em here. Too much negativity can drag down a board just as much as "all sunshine pumpers".

 
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