The 2017 state of the board discussion thread

[CGgater]

I thought my sarcastic question was worth a few likes.

 

[URGatorBait]

I thought my sarcastic question was worth a few likes.

Give it time grasshoppa

 

[stephenPE]

I agree but we are far from the bottom. I seem to remember a time when UF lost their home coming game so badly that many left at half time.

Or worse. We were their home coming game

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Allow me to preface my post with a quick background of myself. I did NOT attend the University of Florida. My family moved to Atlanta well before I was born, and the Hope Scholarship was too much to pass on. I have been attending UF sporting events for as long as I can remember (elementary school) and my father and I have been football season ticket holders since 2005. We make the round trip drive from Atlanta to Gainesville for most home games, typically in a single day. We frequently hit a road game per season, and try to catch Gator Basketball and Baseball in Athens. I guess you could say I'm more than the bandwagon or casual fan.

As a long time lurker on a few messages board going all the way back to several versions of the Sun's GSMB, I'll give you my honest feedback, which isn't all negative.

I spend a few minutes a day browsing the main board. I don't dare wander into the political or lounge boards for the following reason. I'm here for Gator Sports info, which is basically why you're here too. I use Gator Chatter, Swamp Gas, and Twitter to keep tabs on the latest info, and you guys do as good a job as anyone at providing me with the latest news and "inside" info.

I appreciate that you seem to have kept the likes of Alvin York, Lawrence of Florida/Canething, Catmania, etc from this board. Those gimmicks are the reason I only hit GSMB once/month or so. They destroyed that forum.

Having said all of that, I frequently bail on a thread after the first page. By then the topic of discussion typically devolves to inside jokes and personal attacks, and I don't have time for that. I can only imagine what the political and lounge boards are like. The exception to this rule is on-going events, like NSD or the like.

I get that a lot of folks spend quite a bit of time here and you develop friendships and rivalries, that's to be expected on a social forum like this. But personally attacking someone because he or she thinks Coach Spurrier/Zook/Meyer/Mac can/can't get the job done is a real turn off to the casual reader.

I hope this helps.

Jonesie

Edits for typos.

After you've been here for a while, we will introduce you to the point system of Gatorfandom.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Or worse. We were their home coming game

EVERYONE figures they have a shot with us now.

 

[Jonesie]

This message board isn't really intended for the every now and then casual reader/ non-poster type either. But what the heck. Hey Ox, you should change up the format/content/presentation of the board so it caters to the people who seldom come here. That's a winning formula right there.

You've clearly never been a member of any kind of memebr-based organization: a Fraternity, a country club, etc. New members are the life blood of these types of organizations. Internet forums included. Your attempt at a sarcastic response is a prime example. Please, feel free to be exclusive, insider, and private,and watch Gator Chatter die a slow, painful, boring death. If you want to see the future of Gator Chatter, go see the GSMB. That's what's going to happen.

 

[Jonesie]

Great post and I greatly appreciate Gator fans who don't have a degree, the Gator Nation is big enough for all and considering one of the most famous Gators never attended we have room for all.

To be fair, I have a degree. But it isn't from UF.

 

[URGatorBait]

You've clearly never been a member of any kind of memebr-based organization: a Fraternity, a country club, etc. New members are the life blood of these types of organizations. Internet forums included. Your attempt at a sarcastic response is a prime example. Please, feel free to be exclusive, insider, and private,and watch Gator Chatter die a slow, painful, boring death. If you want to see the future of Gator Chatter, go see the GSMB. That's what's going to happen.

Where do you think everyone came from? This place exists because of GSMB's death.

Message boards aren't for everyone, and we certainly aren't here to force anyone to participate. So join us, and change the environment if you want, or don't, you're choice.

BTW, if you intend to stay, get an avatar. ;)

 

[Jonesie]

Where do you think everyone came from? This place exists because of GSMB's death.

Message boards aren't for everyone, and we certainly aren't here to force anyone to participate. So join us, and change the environment if you want, or don't, you're choice.

Fair enough, but consider this: CaneThang, Alvin York, and Lawrence of Florida decided to create an internet forum. For those of us that are non-regulars, it's basically the same thing.

I'm not trying to radically change anything around here. I don't have the influence, and I don't want it. Just s little food for thought. If observation is "this is only a place for those that have the time to post thousands of posts and inside jokes" attacking it and saying that I need to find that time isn't really constructive.

 

[URGatorBait]

Fair enough, but consider this: CaneThang, Alvin York, and Lawrence of Florida decided to create an internet forum. For those of us that are non-regulars, it's basically the same thing.

I'm not trying to radically change anything around here. I don't have the influence, and I don't want it. Just s little food for thought. If observation is "this is only a place for those that have the time to post thousands of posts and inside jokes" attacking it and saying that I need to find that time isn't really constructive.

We certainly welcome new posters, however either you jump in and converse, or you don't, again, your choice.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

If observation is "this is only a place for those that have the time to post thousands of posts and inside jokes" attacking it and saying that I need to find that time isn't really constructive.

Spend a few minutes with us every day, even on your phone when you have nothing else to do. You will have your own inside jokes.

Obviously, things get better during the season and right around NSD. We have a nice mix of funny folks, people who gather links/tweets/etc, and quality posters who give us great analysis. It's hard to beat, unless you want to wade through 3 million tweets.

 

[stephenPE]

EVERYONE figures they have a shot with us now.

It was worse back then. Teams owned us. Now they figure they have a chance. Our trophy case was as empty as your list of positive comments about my favorite team.

 

[ThreatMatrix]

Just curious... does anybody ever sabotage a political thread with inappropriate sports comments?

I've tried to sabotage a political thread with titties does that count?

 

[bradgator2]

You've clearly never been a member of any kind of memebr-based organization: a Fraternity, a country club, etc. New members are the life blood of these types of organizations. Internet forums included. Your attempt at a sarcastic response is a prime example. Please, feel free to be exclusive, insider, and private,and watch Gator Chatter die a slow, painful, boring death. If you want to see the future of Gator Chatter, go see the GSMB. That's what's going to happen.

This place is not exclusive. It's not an insider. And it's not private. And it's the exact opposite of a country club or fraternity.

 

[ChiefGator]

To be fair, I have a degree. But it isn't from UF.

I assumed you did, that makes me wonder if Mr. Two Bits has one, I might have to check. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[oxrageous]

You've clearly never been a member of any kind of memebr-based organization: a Fraternity, a country club, etc. New members are the life blood of these types of organizations. Internet forums included. Your attempt at a sarcastic response is a prime example. Please, feel free to be exclusive, insider, and private,and watch Gator Chatter die a slow, painful, boring death. If you want to see the future of Gator Chatter, go see the GSMB. That's what's going to happen.

Wow, very positive approach and outlook. Great to have you join us.

By the way, the GSMB would still be going strong if they hadn't shut the damn thing down. I saw an opportunity and seized on it.

 

[ThreatMatrix]

This place is not exclusive. It's not an insider. And it's not private. And it's the exact opposite of a country club or fraternity.

Any place that you are Brad just feels exclusive.

 

[URGatorBait]

Wow, very positive approach and outlook. Great to have you join us.

By the way, the GSMB would still be going strong if they hadn't shut the damn thing down. I saw an opportunity and seized on it.

And if it wasn't for Brad, that board would have never shut down.
I think we know where the real credit goes

 

[MJMGator]

Fair enough, but consider this: CaneThang, Alvin York, and Lawrence of Florida decided to create an internet forum. For those of us that are non-regulars, it's basically the same thing.

I'm not trying to radically change anything around here. I don't have the influence, and I don't want it. Just s little food for thought. If observation is "this is only a place for those that have the time to post thousands of posts and inside jokes" attacking it and saying that I need to find that time isn't really constructive.

Hope you drop by more often and participate. Fun place to get info and have a few laughs.

 

[ThreatMatrix]

Hope you drop by more often and participate. Fun place to get info and have a few laughs.

Avoid MJM though.