Trahan did not realize what fan base he was dealing with....

[thewildcat2011]

2011, that's simply not right.

Thought exercise to prove my point: name the biggest troll on NU's boards over the past several years. One who is still trolling you guys to this day. An NU fan, not an outsider.

Question: why haven't you shut him down?

The point: I have zero control over other people's internet habits. And no desire to attempt to gain any control over them. That's true of NU fans, and Vols fans, and Bama fans, and people who have nothing to do with college football to boot.

It's not my responsibility to make a bunch of strangers (esp. a bunch of 16-25 year old idiots who see the internet as a license to no-holds-barred verbal jousting) behave. I don't care what team(s) they profess to like.

I defend no one's actions on the internet but my own. I feel responsibility for myself, but not for them. I suspect you feel the same way, if you think through it a bit.

Your interpretation of what I wrote is rather self-serving. Of course I don't expect you as an individual go out and police what people post. We as individuals are responsible for our own actions first and foremost. However, what I said was that the rational majority (many people) should act. You've been doing your part here by asking people to be polite, but I have not seen that anywhere else.

The fact of the matter is that UT does not have a culture that nips these things in the bud, that's plainly obvious. There were 2 people to apologize to Trahan after this happened and say "It's not all of us"...yet they did nothing to interact with the countless of others who were laughing at him and asking him if he was going to cry to his mommy or that he deserved it. That's a failing of your fan culture.

Trahan's website posts trolling videos of every team we play called "Every Week is Hate Week" and nothing has ever happened beyond some trash talk in the comments. That's because we have a culture of mutual respect in the B1G, and while things may get heated at points, it's nothing that drags in loved ones.

Perhaps a statement from the AD on fan respect and behavior would be nice. It would be nice if you guys policed your own more often from what I've seen.

 

[SciCat]

Why the personal attacks? "Pathetic"? Really? I'm trying to discuss this calmly with you, and you're letting emotion get in the way, badly.

I've never met (electronically or in the real world) these people, to my knowledge. Have had absolutely no opportunity to interact with them in any way, positive or negative.

What, did you think there are only a couple of hundred Vols fans and that we all follow each other around the internet?

So why, again, are you calling me pathetic?



Trahan put himself on a smart-ass path, and it took him somewhere he should have anticipated if he has any internet experience whatsoever. Since he writes a blog, I have to assume he should have known.

That statement on my part does not in any way equate to me condoning the filthy and despicable actions of those who responded by insulting his girlfriend. There is no logical way for you to even interpret it that way. To then call me a "moron" is simply stooping to a level more appropriate to those you're condemning than it belongs in a conversation here.

By the way, I have not destroyed anyone's sex life ... except my own, when I watch too much football and get the cold shoulder as a result.

I'm sorry you think less of me, but do what you must. I think you're being unfair, and when you calm down, might realize that.

VFL, I'm with you on this one. Trahan is a young, immature student, and he's a condescending smart-ass. While his girl friend should be off limits, he brought the rest of this on himself.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

You seem like generally a reasonable person forced into a position of defending something indefensible.....

I haven't been forced into anything, Glide, and I'm not defending anything or anyone. Not one time, not with a single sentence have I defended anyone involved in this.

All I've said, and it's absolutely true, is that if you willingly step onto the dark path, you should realize that it leads downhill and goes to unsavory places. That's not a defense of anything, it is simply an acknowledgement of the way the internet is today.

I am, frankly, surprised that so many folks here are shocked at this revelation. The internet has been brutish like this for years, and it has nothing to do with the fans of any given institution's football team.

p.s. To claim NU fans and graduates do not get crude, insulting and even threatening on the internet is very naive. You get enough of any group of people together, and I can guarantee there will be a percentage who are disgusting when they think they have some anonymity. I don't care how much your diploma cost.

 

[shakes3858]

Why the personal attacks? "Pathetic"? Really? I'm trying to discuss this calmly with you, and you're letting emotion get in the way, badly.

I've never met (electronically or in the real world) these people, to my knowledge. Have had absolutely no opportunity to interact with them in any way, positive or negative.

What, did you think there are only a couple of hundred Vols fans and that we all follow each other around the internet?

So why, again, are you calling me pathetic?



Trahan put himself on a smart-ass path, and it took him somewhere he should have anticipated if he has any internet experience whatsoever. Since he writes a blog, I have to assume he should have known.

That statement on my part does not in any way equate to me condoning the filthy and despicable actions of those who responded by insulting his girlfriend. There is no logical way for you to even interpret it that way. To then call me a "moron" is simply stooping to a level more appropriate to those you're condemning than it belongs in a conversation here.

By the way, I have not destroyed anyone's sex life ... except my own, when I watch too much football and get the cold shoulder as a result.

I'm sorry you think less of me, but do what you must. I think you're being unfair, and when you calm down, might realize that.

Trahan does have internet experience. Lots of it. He and other bloggers at insideNU have a section called every week is hate week. They go make videos trashing something about every school... But guess what never happens? People don't get all upset because someone wasn't super nice about the other school. They don't escalate things to the point where harm can be brought upon a 19 year old female.

I call you a moron, because anyone using the "But mommy, he started it," excuse is in fact a moron.

 

[shakes3858]

And on that note... every volunteer poster is getting ignored. I joked about the SEC being stupid, but you guys are proving it. (have fun posting pictures of my girlfriend)

 

[gocatsgo2003]

This is going to get philosophical fast, pushing the conversation in this direction. Slight insults to 5,000,000 innocents versus deeply crude insult to 1. Can we get a Utilitarian ruling here?

I've no desire to slog down that intellectual path.

I simply know that everyone directly involved in starting and escalating this (fairly typical) internet fist-fight is wrong. Period.

I rest easy knowing that it's not my responsibility to determine whether any of them crossed a legal boundary and should be prosecuted; I have some confidence that, if any of them did, someone will go out of their way to pursue it.

I have low regard for the lot of them, Trahan right there in the mix, and am quite content leaving it at that.

There is no "intellectual path" here. What Trahan did is to be expected of a FAN BLOG. What the UT fans did was completely crude and uncalled for.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Look at this thread.

You have, collectively, personally attacked ("pathetic," "moron") a person who has tried to have a calm and rational discussion. That person called no names, offered no insult, but is nonetheless being ignored by some and vilified by others.

Are you sure you're not familiar with the brutish nature of the internet? Why the shock and indignation? You seem to be, collectively speaking, practitioners of the very sort of brutishness that you condemn in others.

 

[thewildcat2011]

Look at this thread.

You have, collectively, personally attacked ("pathetic," "moron") a person who has tried to have a calm and rational discussion. That person called no names, offered no insult, but is nonetheless being ignored by some and vilified by others.

Are you sure you're not familiar with the brutish nature of the internet?

Come on man...stop it. That's a complete false equivalence. We are all INTIMATELY familiar with the brutish nature of the internet. Yet, we all still feel that posting pictures of someone's loved and talking about various explicit thing is not appropriate.

And this thread was created to BRAG about the fact that someone made a rape joke about a college girl. Come on man.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Come on man...stop it. That's a complete false equivalence. We are all INTIMATELY familiar with the brutish nature of the internet. Yet, we all still feel that posting pictures of someone's loved and talking about various explicit thing is not appropriate.

And this thread was created to BRAG about the fact that someone made a rape joke about a college girl. Come on man.

My point is, once you step down that path, you're on it. And a handful of NU fans have stepped eagerly onto it in this thread.

Should I be afraid for my safety at the bowl game? Should I not go? Recently retired Army officer who graduated from West Point in 1982 with the initials or nickname JP who now lives in Lebanon, TN, with daughters at Vanderbilt, that's child's play. Finding a photo and name should be cake. Should I be worried based on being called--unreasonably--pathetic and a moron by some here?

Sure, I'm using a reducto ad absurdum argument of sorts here. That does not invalidate the point. Whether it's a "3" or a "5" or a "7" on the threat scale, or on the disgust-meter, wrong is wrong.

Pots and kettles come to mind....

 

[thewildcat2011]

My point is, once you step down that path, you're on it. And a handful of NU fans have stepped eagerly onto it in this thread.

Should I be afraid for my safety at the bowl game? Should I not go? Recently retired Army officer who graduated from West Point in 1982 with the initials or nickname JP who now lives in Lebanon, TN, with daughters at Vanderbilt, that's child's play. Finding a photo and name should be cake. Should I be worried based on being called--unreasonably--pathetic and a moron by some here?

Sure, I'm using a reducto ad absurdum argument of sorts here. That does not invalidate the point. Whether it's a "3" or a "5" or a "7" on the threat scale, or on the disgust-meter, wrong is wrong.

Pots and kettles come to mind....

Once you sit in a car, you're asking for a car crash. Once you start handling a firearm, you're asking to be shot. Once you put on a tank top, you're asking to be raped. It's an interesting extension of your logic.

Yet, no one is interested in finding your name, or your daughters, or posting pictures...why is that? You're saying that if I were to post a personal picture of yours here and make lewd jokes about your daughters you'd be ok with it?

 

[EvanstonCat]

Feli is not dragging girlfriends, wives or any family members into the discussion. He is not posting pictures or personal contact information. He is just being nauseatingly repetitive. His online behavior is rubish, but not personally offensive nor potentially endangering. He is nowhere near crossing the line. Not even by a country mile.

Can someone explain exactly what was posted/said? I missed all the action post the bowl announcement, and now I don't know what happened here. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

 

[thewildcat2011]

Can someone explain exactly what was posted/said? I missed all the action post the bowl announcement, and now I don't know what happened here. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Nothing that wasn't asked for apparently.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Once you sit in a car, you're asking for a car crash. Once you start handling a firearm, you're asking to be shot. Once you put on a tank top, you're asking to be raped. It's an interesting extension of your logic.

Yet, no one is interested in finding your name, or your daughters, or posting pictures...why is that? You're saying that if I were to post a personal picture of yours here and make lewd jokes about your daughters you'd be ok with it?

2011, you keep making that logical fallacy. No, I'm not okay with any of this. I'll hit it once more: saying that Trahan was wrong, that he never should've started this, in no way makes anything that followed ok. It all disgusts me. I don' t think smartasses like Trahan should make inflammatory comments about an entire fan base. I don't think people should over-respond to it, nor do I think they should condone it. I don't think thugs like those who insulted his girlfriend should have responded at all, much less by dragging her into it. If they did threaten her, they should be prosecuted. Whether they did or not, they're disgusting.

They are all wrong. Starting with Trahan. Why "starting with" him? Because that's how chronology works.

 

[thewildcat2011]

And on that note... every volunteer poster is getting ignored. I joked about the SEC being stupid, but you guys are proving it. (have fun posting pictures of my girlfriend)

Finally found one.

 

[thewildcat2011]

2011, you keep making that logical fallacy. No, I'm not okay with any of this. I'll hit it once more: saying that Trahan was wrong, that he never should've started this, in no way makes anything that followed ok. It all disgusts me. I don' t think smartasses like Trahan should make inflammatory comments about an entire fan base. I don't think people should over-respond to it, nor do I think they should condone it. I don't think thugs like those who insulted his girlfriend should have responded at all, much less by dragging her into it. If they did threaten her, they should be prosecuted. Whether they did or not, they're disgusting.

They are all wrong. Starting with Trahan. Why "starting with" him? Because that's how chronology works.

Ok, that's an interesting way to look at the world, I guess. So what about the tweets that Trahan used as sources in the article...those came before the article, so clearly UT fans started it. But wait, were they responding to a Trahan tweet? Maybe he started it. But wait, I'm pretty sure he was responding to UT tweets in that pervious tweet, so maybe he did start it in the first place? But wait, he was only responding to tweets that were directed at Aaron Morse, so maybe the people who were responding to Morse started it. But wait, Morse tweeted something about the Outback Bowl, so maybe he started it? Maybe it's all Morse's fault? What do you think?

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Once you sit in a car, you're asking for a car crash. Once you start handling a firearm, you're asking to be shot. Once you put on a tank top, you're asking to be raped. It's an interesting extension of your logic.

Yet, no one is interested in finding your name, or your daughters, or posting pictures...why is that? You're saying that if I were to post a personal picture of yours here and make lewd jokes about your daughters you'd be ok with it?

If I went out of my way to insult you and NU, I frankly would not be surprised to see someone in this forum go out and find personal information about me to post here. Keep in mind, one NU fan on these boards was talking about taking Mr. Brown's personal information and using it to sign him up for a lot of stuff on the internet, including porn site mailing lists and so on.

I didn't see a lot of outrage there. Some "no man, don't do that," but not a single person was outraged, or said anything about how that might impact Mrs. Brown or any Brown children.

The outrage in the Trahan case is palpable and widespread. The response to that threat of retribution in the Mr. Brown case was calm and muted.

I'm not saying anyone here was wrong in either of those cases...I'm just saying that the outrage has been dialed up a lot further when the response was against someone wearing purple,.

 

[Hungry Jack]

If I went out of my way to insult you and NU, I frankly would not be surprised to see someone in this forum go out and find personal information about me to post here. Keep in mind, one NU fan on these boards was talking about taking Mr. Brown's personal information and using it to sign him up for a lot of stuff on the internet, including porn site mailing lists and so on.

I didn't see a lot of outrage there. Some "no man, don't do that," but not a single person was outraged, or said anything about how that might impact Mrs. Brown or any Brown children.

Well, shame on Shakes (again) for threatening that.

But I beg to differ. I was pretty outspoken about not retaliating against Brown, even when I was highly certain he was a fictional troll. And Glades was the first to weigh in. In fact, it was Glades who took the initiative to call Brown, confirm his identity, and then alert the rest of us.

IIRC, it was a UT fan who posted Brown's personal information here. That's no excuse for Shakes threatening to take that information and wreak havoc with it, but it was an irresponsible act to begin with.

 

[GlideCat]

Keep in mind, one NU fan on these boards was talking about taking Mr. Brown's personal information and using it to sign him up for a lot of stuff on the internet, including porn site mailing lists and so on.

I didn't see a lot of outrage there. Some "no man, don't do that," but not a single person was outraged, or said anything about how that might impact Mrs. Brown or any Brown children.

No. You saw someone actively get involved, call Mr. Brown, and end the issue. You saw other people support that involvement and congratulate him for it. You saw self-policing. And you saw none of the statements in those posts become actions which might hurt Mr. Brown much less his family. Terrible example for your point.

 

[GlideCat]

IIRC, it was a UT fan who posted Brown's personal information here. That's no excuse for Shakes threatening to take that information and wreak havoc with it, but it was an irresponsible act to begin with.

That a UT fan posted Mr. Brown's information is immaterial. Had Glades not stepped in and the fanbase here not put an end to any question of escalation, that would not have been justification for anything inappropriate being done.

 

[Hungry Jack]

That a UT fan posted Mr. Brown's information is immaterial. Had Glades not stepped in and the fanbase here not put an end to any question of escalation, that would not have been justification for anything inappropriate being done.

That's not my point.
It's an illustration of the first line that was crossed. I am fairly confident that no regular around here would have done that. I could be wrong, but I think the moral compass of this community is relatively straight.

It's not an argument that two wrongs make right. There is no justification for personally attacking somebody outside the boundary of the thread, nor bringing personal materials into it.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

My understanding was that Mr. Brown did in fact publish his own personal information. The account sharing it originally was the same as the account that responded later saying, "Hi, I'm Mr. Brown, and I'd ask that the Moderator delete my first post, I didn't realize, etc. etc."

As for the responses, read my last post again. Honestly, NU is supposed to have very bright graduates; some of you are either letting down your institution or are intentionally misreading what I've written.

I am fully aware that the community tamped down the one member's stated intent to commit identity theft and trash Mr Brown electronically. I did not dispute that fact. What I pointed out was the calm and measured way in which you all responded. There was no deep moral outrage of the nature we see in this thread. In other words, it's not what you responded, it's how you responded. No one called Shakes pathetic, or a moron, or put anyone on ignore, in the one case. But all those things have been done in the Trahan case. One can only conclude that the high-energy outrage only comes if the victim wears purple.

 

[shakes3858]

Well, shame on Shakes (again) for threatening that.

But I beg to differ. I was pretty outspoken about not retaliating against Brown, even when I was highly certain he was a fictional troll. And Glades was the first to weigh in. In fact, it was Glades who took the initiative to call Brown, confirm his identity, and then alert the rest of us.

IIRC, it was a UT fan who posted Brown's personal information here. That's no excuse for Shakes threatening to take that information and wreak havoc with it, but it was an irresponsible act to begin with.

Are we comparing signing an adult up to receive spam (albeit pornographic spam) to putting a picture of 19 year old female on the internet and making comments about raping her?

For the record, I didn't actually sign anyone up... I guess (hope) Tennessee fans are joking about raping Trahan's girlfriend and aren't actually going to do it, but: Get signed up for spam is something you shrug off and send to your spam folder. Getting raped not something you shrug off. So hey, shame on me. I'm the bad guy.

 

[Hungry Jack]

My understanding was that Mr. Brown did in fact publish his own personal information. The account sharing it originally was the same as the account that responded later saying, "Hi, I'm Mr. Brown, and I'd ask that the Moderator delete my first post, I didn't realize, etc. etc."

As for the responses, read my last post again. Honestly, NU is supposed to have very bright graduates; some of you are either letting down your institution or are intentionally misreading what I've written.

I am fully aware that the community tamped down the one member's stated intent to commit identity theft and trash Mr Brown electronically. I did not dispute that fact. What I pointed out was the calm and measured way in which you all responded. There was no deep moral outrage of the nature we see in this thread. In other words, it's not what you responded, it's how you responded. No one called Shakes pathetic, or a moron, or put anyone on ignore, in the one case. But all those things have been done in the Trahan case. One can only conclude that the high-energy outrage only comes if the victim wears purple.

I was not sure if it was Brown who posted that, or someone who found his letter posted on the WBIR site. I thought it was the latter.

Re "outrage" I think you need to separate style from substance. In all honestly, "how" does not matter as long as "what" is addressed. And "what" was addressed--pretty immediately and effectively IMO. Would it really make a difference if we all called Shakes a pubescent cretin offspring of felonious gene pools? Do we need more !!!!!!!!!?. I gave St. Paul a fairly blistering over-the-top tongue lashing for his response to what I thought was trolling. Was that not enough?

Seriously, it's all about the action.As someone who manages people and gets managed and shares a house with a loving but sometimes micromanaging spouse, I am sometime painfully aware of the critical difference of "what" vs. "how." Style points matter little. Judge actions by the outcome. It will help preserve sanity.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Are we comparing signing an adult up to receive spam (albeit pornographic spam) to putting a picture of 19 year old female on the internet and making comments about raping her?

For the record, I didn't actually sign anyone up... I guess (hope) Tennessee fans are joking about raping Trahan's girlfriend and aren't actually going to do it, but: Get signed up for spam is something you shrug off and send to your spam folder. Getting raped not something you shrug off. So hey, shame on me. I'm the bad guy.

No we aren't. But neither response is acceptable. Glad you did not act on your words. You are better for it.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

I was not sure if it was Brown who posted that, or someone who found his letter posted on the WBIR site. I thought it was the latter.

Re "outrage" I think you need to separate style from substance. In all honestly, "how" does not matter as long as "what" is addressed. And "what" was addressed--pretty immediately and effectively IMO. Would it really make a difference if we all called Shakes a pubescent cretin offspring of felonious gene pools? Do we need more !!!!!!!!!?. I gave St. Paul fairly blistering over-the-top tongue lashing for his response to what I thought was trolling. Was that enough?

Seriously, it's all about the action.As someone who manages people and gets managed and shares a house with a loving but sometimes micromanaging spouse, I am sometime painfully aware of the critical difference of "what" vs. "how." Style points matter little. Judge actions by the outcome. It will help preserve sanity.

Separating style from substance is precisely what I intended to do. And no, I don't want you to call Shakes anything untoward. I'd prefer you not call me (or anyone else) a pathetic moron, either. That's the point.

It should be possible to discuss this calmly, to disagree amicably, without folks resorting to names or Making The Public Announcement That You're Going on My Ignore List, Mister. We should be more mature than that, in every case. Whether the victim was wearing purple, orange, or a Mickey Mouse costume.

 

[stpaulcat]

Feli is not dragging girlfriends, wives or any family members into the discussion. He is not posting pictures or personal contact information. He is just being nauseatingly repetitive. His online behavior is rubish, but not personally offensive nor potentially endangering. He is nowhere near crossing the line. Not even by a country mile.

"Not even by a country mile."

Okay, now you've done it! Waiting for the explosion over your assertion that a city mile is better than a country mile

 

[rwhitney014]

Would it really make a difference if we all called Shakes a pubescent cretin offspring of felonious gene pools?

We don't already?

 

[VFL-82-JP]

"Not even by a country mile."

Okay, now you've done it! Waiting for the explosion over your assertion that a city mile is better than a country mile

It is more likely to come, in this milieu, if the mile was wearing purple.

 

[Hungry Jack]

HTTP Error 400. The request is badly formed.

I just got this message when trying to access this thread.

This discussion has pretty much broken the Internet.

 

[Hungry Jack]

We don't already?

I always thought his nickname was "Meat Pants."

 

[VirginiaWildcat]

I'd prefer you not call me (or anyone else) a pathetic moron, either.

Who called you a "pathetic moron"? I can't find it anywhere. That said, your defense of "he started it" is indeed pathetic and sad...

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Who called you a "pathetic moron"? I can't find it anywhere. That said, your defense of "he started it" is indeed pathetic and sad...

Again: I defend nothing. Trahan was wrong. The person or people who insulted his girlfriend was/were wrong. Trahan's error was a minor but uncalled for show of disrespect to millions of people based on the twitter accounts of a few. The cretin(s)' error was a major and disgusting show of disrespect to one person.

I'm not going to get into trying to measure those two indefensible acts against each other. To call my position pathetic is itself rude and unhelpful to the conversation. So you have just propagated it, rather than helping to settle things.

 

[Hungry Jack]

FWIW, I don't run a website, but I would never do what Trahan did. Just not the way I choose to roll.

Lost in all the hysteria is a very basic truth: You are defined by your actions, and you have a choice in every action you choose, or do not choose.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

FWIW, I don't run a website, but I would never do what Trahan did. Just not the way I choose to roll.

Lost in all the hysteria is a very basic truth: You are defined by your actions, and you have a choice in every action you choose, or do not choose.

Amen. I think our society has a greater tendency to forget that basic truth in these days.

 

[VirginiaWildcat]

To call my position pathetic is itself rude...

I don't care if it was rude. It's the truth. I wonder...if it was your daughter that got her pictures posted without permission...would your first stated position be "Well...her boyfriend started it." That's basically what your first post in this thread was. Not, "That is awful to do to some innocent girl." You jumped in with fingers pointed immediately at Kevin, as if that made it reasonable. That....is....pathetic.

You didn't start changing your tune until everyone else pointed out how foolish that kind of thinking is. I wish you would have realized that beforehand...

 

[VFL-82-JP]

I don't care if it was rude. It's the truth. I wonder...if it was your daughter that got her pictures posted without permission...would your first stated position be "Well...her boyfriend started it." That's basically what your first post in this thread was. Not, "That is awful to do to some innocent girl." You jumped in with fingers pointed immediately at Kevin, as if that made it reasonable. That....is....pathetic.

You didn't start changing your tune until everyone else pointed out how foolish that kind of thinking is. I wish you would have realized that beforehand...

I don't like to quote myself, it seems pretentious. But I think it's called for in this instance:

You start down that road as he did, you're going to end up at the dark and miserable place where it leads. Every escalation is by definition worse than what came before, and perhaps "more wrong," but if you don't anticipate the escalation when you light it off, you're just a fool.

There is nothing in my original statement that is any different than what I'm saying now. Trahan was wrong. The cretin(s) is/are wrong. One might be more wrong than the other, but I'm not going to go down the road of trying to judge the relative weights based on absolutism or moral relativism or rule utilitarianism. They're just all wrong. Trahan's a fool. The cretin(s) is/are fools.

See? Same message now as when I first joined the conversation.

p.s. You've now gone out of your way to call me pathetic either twice or three times. Do you think this makes you a more reasonable person? Your argument any stronger? Or are you simply giving way to emotion. Are you "Kevin," or a friend of his? Have I touched a personal nerve in your case?

 

[clarificationcat]

Again: I defend nothing. Trahan was wrong. The person or people who insulted his girlfriend was/were wrong. Trahan's error was a minor but uncalled for show of disrespect to millions of people based on the twitter accounts of a few. The cretin(s)' error was a major and disgusting show of disrespect to one person.

I'm not going to get into trying to measure those two indefensible acts against each other. To call my position pathetic is itself rude and unhelpful to the conversation. So you have just propagated it, rather than helping to settle things.

I can't believe I am joining in on this but explain to me why Trahan was "wrong".
Please explain in very specific terms (referencing the portions of the article that were "indefensible"). And as I understand it, there were more than insults hurled at his girlfriend. I have not read them but some folks suggested that there were rape "jokes" made as well.

You and I clearly live in different moral universes, but in my universe, criticizing another team and their fans generally (including their beloved song) does not warrant threatening the writer's girlfriend or even bringing her into the debate. As others have mentioned, he has written articles more critical of other teams and their fans and this is the first time anything like this has happened, so I don' think he was asking for it. Criticize him for being geeky. Criticize the program for having a sad history of success. Criticize our fans for being geeky and pompous. That's all good. Leave the girlfriend out of it. If you can't see the difference between these two acts, I am glad we live in different parts of the country as well.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

Again: I defend nothing. Trahan was wrong. The person or people who insulted his girlfriend was/were wrong. Trahan's error was a minor but uncalled for show of disrespect to millions of people based on the twitter accounts of a few. The cretin(s)' error was a major and disgusting show of disrespect to one person.

I'm not going to get into trying to measure those two indefensible acts against each other. To call my position pathetic is itself rude and unhelpful to the conversation. So you have just propagated it, rather than helping to settle things.

Pretty sure "it was a blog post on a fan site" is a pretty simple, straightforward defense for a blog post on a fan site.

 

[thewildcat2011]

I don't like to quote myself, it seems pretentious. But I think it's called for in this instance:

I'm not going to go down the road of trying to judge the relative weights based on absolutism or moral relativism or rule utilitarianism. They're just all wrong.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Heh, touche. I earned that one.