There is no one definition of being a "fan"...

[Roy H.]

Really, the title should say it all.  The single most condescending, illogical argument made on this blog is that another poster is a "fake fan" or on the "bandwagon" or "not a real fan".  News flash:  nobody has the monopoly on being a fan on here.

There are literally millions of Celtics fans in the world.  Some of those people live in Boston, and have 57 Paul Pierce jerseys.  Others live in California, and have never been to a Celtics game but faithfully cheer on the team.  Some fans are of the ra-ra "In Danny I Trust" mindset.  Others are more frustrated by the team, and seem to see things from a glass half empty perspective.  All of these people, despite their various viewpoints, want the team to succeed, even if they have different visions regarding how to get there.

The calling out of fans needs to stop.  It's against our rules (and we're going to be start enforcing those rules very strictly), but more importantly, it's divisive.  Rather than an "us vs. them" dynamic when the Celts are battling the Lakers, we're developing an "us vs. us" mentality.  I just don't know what's served by that.

Of course, the main point of contention right now seems to be the trade, and the (perhaps related, perhaps not) play that has followed.  I fail to see how being critical or supportive of the trade calls into question one's fanhood.  If people know the particulars of the trade, and care enough to post about it on a message board, it's pretty clear to me that they're a "real" fan.

In short, let's stop all the nonsense.

[Redz]

To summarize:

Roy's not a real fan.   

Nah, I hear what you're saying.  I definitely feel like a "real fan" because I was born just outside Boston and grew up loving the Celtics (and all Boston teams) as a household law that I gladly accepted.

But, that doesn't make anyone else's allegiance any less real.  If they're your team, then they're your team. 

Better question:  What makes Hellman's mayonnaise "REAL MAYONNAISE"?

[barefacedmonk]

Better question:  What makes Hellman's mayonnaise "REAL MAYONNAISE"?

The label?

[BballTim]

Better question:  What makes Hellman's mayonnaise "REAL MAYONNAISE"?

The label?

  Probably because nobody really knows what fake mayonnaise is, or would really be comfortable contemplating the possibilities.

[slamtheking]

Really, the title should say it all.  The single most condescending, illogical argument made on this blog is that another poster is a "fake fan" or on the "bandwagon" or "not a real fan".  News flash:  nobody has the monopoly on being a fan on here.

There are literally millions of Celtics fans in the world.  Some of those people live in Boston, and have 57 Paul Pierce jerseys.  Others live in California, and have never been to a Celtics game but faithfully cheer on the team.  Some fans are of the ra-ra "In Danny I Trust" mindset.  Others are more frustrated by the team, and seem to see things from a glass half empty perspective.  All of these people, despite their various viewpoints, want the team to succeed, even if they have different visions regarding how to get there.

The calling out of fans needs to stop.  It's against our rules (and we're going to be start enforcing those rules very strictly), but more importantly, it's divisive.  Rather than an "us vs. them" dynamic when the Celts are battling the Lakers, we're developing an "us vs. us" mentality.  I just don't know what's served by that.

Of course, the main point of contention right now seems to be the trade, and the (perhaps related, perhaps not) play that has followed.  I fail to see how being critical or supportive of the trade calls into question one's fanhood.  If people know the particulars of the trade, and care enough to post about it on a message board, it's pretty clear to me that they're a "real" fan.

In short, let's stop all the nonsense.

How about   FAN: "a machine for producing airflow, often for cooling".  At least that's what wikipedia says  

[dark_lord]

the easiest way to police this is for the mods to take care of it.  this has been an issue for a long time, and i think it always will as new posters come to join the forum.  people in society always try to label others, this is the same for here.  i say, mods take care of it and everyone else try not to do it.

[barefacedmonk]

the easiest way to police this is for the mods to take care of it.  this has been an issue for a long time, and i think it always will as new posters come to join the forum.  people in society always try to label others, this is the same for here.  i say, mods take care of it and everyone else try not to do it.

Good point. I agree with this.

[Roy H.]

the easiest way to police this is for the mods to take care of it.  this has been an issue for a long time, and i think it always will as new posters come to join the forum.  people in society always try to label others, this is the same for here.  i say, mods take care of it and everyone else try not to do it.

Good point. I agree with this.

Part of taking care of it is education and discussion (thus, this thread). Suspending new members isn't the preferred option, although it may end up as the only method that works.

[dark_lord]

the easiest way to police this is for the mods to take care of it.  this has been an issue for a long time, and i think it always will as new posters come to join the forum.  people in society always try to label others, this is the same for here.  i say, mods take care of it and everyone else try not to do it.

Good point. I agree with this.

Part of taking care of it is education and discussion (thus, this thread). Suspending new members isn't the preferred option, although it may end up as the only method that works.

i dont think it should be a suspendable offense, imo.  warnings with pm's would likely be more effective and help rectify it.

[Roy H.]

the easiest way to police this is for the mods to take care of it.  this has been an issue for a long time, and i think it always will as new posters come to join the forum.  people in society always try to label others, this is the same for here.  i say, mods take care of it and everyone else try not to do it.

Good point. I agree with this.

Part of taking care of it is education and discussion (thus, this thread). Suspending new members isn't the preferred option, although it may end up as the only method that works.

i dont think it should be a suspendable offense, imo.  warnings with pm's would likely be more effective and help rectify it.

Any breaking of the rules can give rise to a suspendable offense, based upon context.  It's not the preferred option (which is why we start threads like this, and publish public warnings).  At the same time, attacking others by discounting their fanhood isn't something that we're going to continue to tolerate.

Anyway, the point of this thread isn't to get into a big discussion of the rules.  It's to discuss what being a fan is, and to see if there's any legitimate reason (other than personal attacks) for all the "not a real fan" stuff.

[dark_lord]

the easiest way to police this is for the mods to take care of it.  this has been an issue for a long time, and i think it always will as new posters come to join the forum.  people in society always try to label others, this is the same for here.  i say, mods take care of it and everyone else try not to do it.

Good point. I agree with this.

Part of taking care of it is education and discussion (thus, this thread). Suspending new members isn't the preferred option, although it may end up as the only method that works.

i dont think it should be a suspendable offense, imo.  warnings with pm's would likely be more effective and help rectify it.

Any breaking of the rules can give rise to a suspendable offense, based upon context.  It's not the preferred option (which is why we start threads like this, and publish public warnings).  At the same time, attacking others by discounting their fanhood isn't something that we're going to continue to tolerate.

Anyway, the point of this thread isn't to get into a big discussion of the rules.  It's to discuss what being a fan is, and to see if there's any legitimate reason (other than personal attacks) for all the "not a real fan" stuff.

i was just throwing in my 2 cents.