Well, to me the difference is who is determining that someone "hates" a player. If a poster says "I hate Scal", then please, ask them to explain why they hate Scal. If someone makes an argument of why they believe POB is not a good basketball player, or should not be on the team, it does not mean they "hate" him. It also does not mean they are making "extreme" or "outlandish" comments, that are not based in "fact".
Let's be real here, there is very little fact involved. It is all opinion, and everyone is allowed to have their own. If their opinion is that the stats are not a good measurement of a player being ready to be part of the rotation, then that is fine. Is someone else feels that the stats are reason for him to get a shot, that is fine too. Discussions like this are based on opinions...particularly discenting opinions. The only way we are able to maintain good, quality discussion is if everybody's opinion is respected, and taken for what it is...an opinion.
I can tell you from experience that the quickest way for a discussion to deteriorate is if someone feels like they are dealing with fact, and everyone who doesn't agree is either an "idiot", or simply has an agenda. All that does is create animosity, and destroy constructive discussion.
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Can you tell me how the comment "POB has no basketball ability" is not extreme then? Would that be considered a statement that is reasonable? That is the point. I am perfectly happy to have dissenting opinions about POB. I am perfectly happy to discuss why I think he is more valuable than some might think. You can't discuss something with someone though that says "the sun is green" and then keeps telling you that you're wrong when you say it isn't. If you make ridiculous over the top comments, then there is no rationale discussion. That's where this thread went off. At some point you just have to own up to the fact that you said something that was wrong to try and make your point because it was easier than actually discussing things that were factual.