An Aside About Field Gulls

Keep up the good work John et. al.
GO HAWKS!

is analysis of plays and performance of players. Because there is not currently another Seahawks site doing that. You do great work.

I’ve gotten pretty annoyed with some of the comments on several threads.

I do think that this is not the only blog suffering this. Bloody Elbow, which is the MMA blog on SB Nation, had an infestation of trolls and confrontational people once it became more popular. As a result there were mass bannings and pissing contests with the writing staff which still occurs today.

Just my view, I think Field Gulls is getting the same thing. I think you stated traffic shot up during the draft and it’s obviously coerced people into signing up from all walks of the internets, and this includes guys who should probably be on the ESPN commenting boards. They could subside, or we could have even more trolls on FG and we may essentially have to have stricter rules or a tweak in the guidelines and rules here.

From much better football minds and eyes than mine.

That’s what I come here for. That’s what I will continue to come here for. I don’t think you’ve ever acted as if you were somehow some kind of football xo god with the power of foresight. That other people like to come here, point and say “I told you so!” is on them and more than anything is a sign of a good job like SSreporters said. Keep on keepin on, John!!

We seem to be living in a world where we react online instantly, and as the years go by, more and more people will be of that culture. Maybe it is bad manners, poor parenting, diminishing brain-cells, or pod-people. Whatever it is, I agree that is seems worse this year than years past. But Fieldgulls is definitely not at the point where my local paper message threads are. Those are painful, troll-ridden and leave me wondering why I started reading them in the first-place.

I like it here. I could like it more with some tweaks, but most of those are individual changes, and not site-wide.

I thought he was asking about community. Though I would figure, John, having access to our usernumbers, that while you highly value community, and I figure a lot of people do read comments, there’s also some traffic purely for articles. Which makes sense.

If that’s the case: eh? Seriously, this is the internet, and sports, rancor, stabbing and “I MUST BE RIGHT IT IS IMPORTANT” attitude is just part of the package. Can’t say I think it’s a big deal.

Besides, I think some of the rancor was fostered by how unwelcome dissenting voices are here. I saw plenty of that myself just after registering, and still now. If someone gets knocks for dissenting, the situation quickly spirals out of control.

It’s a two-way game of a settled community with little patience for people new to “settled” debates and new users looking to express themselves. That doesn’t really have an organizational solution, it’s organic by definition. Unless you wish to suppress either side, strictly and in regulations, it’s hard to “steer” the community right.

I don’t read every thread and I don’t really get into the discussions of why certain moves are good or bad, so I don’t get the whole experience of what takes place here.

I love this team. I love this site. I love the passion in your writing. Writing a blog about anything is difficult to do, especially because you open yourself up to criticism. For the people who question your intelligence and passion for football, they can go to hell. If they don’t like what you write about, they can go elsewhere.

Whatever you decide to do from this time forward, I am behind your decision. I know Jeff at LL went through a similar experience not long ago. It is not easy being you guys and I respect all the effort that goes into building a community like this. You certainly don’t get compensated enough.

Thanks for all you do.

You are tghe one who really makes this website what it is Jon, hence why I’ve been reading it for two years. “Tappageddon” was actually the motivator to have me make a screen name and be more active. Not for the sake of voicing my own opinion, but so I could feel more connected in a community which shares the same passion as I do for the Seahawks. That very same passion which I saw bubble over the Tapp trade, which, looking back, seems more comical now. At the time I remember having a nuclear breakdown and my poor girlfriend had to deal with me frothing at the mouth over names she, like most people, knows nothing about.
     Cut yourself some slack man. This is by far the most intelligent, non-confrontational sports blog I’ve visited, and I’ve visited a lot of them. Nowhere else can even compare to the insight that this site provides. Everyone has their opinions, but not everyone is as good at voicing them as you are. Provided we don’t get flooded with trolls, name-bashing, and anything resembling a PFT message bored, I would say we are in the right direction and for that I say thanks to you and everyone else who contributes dilligently to this site.

We’re all passionate about football, but no matter what we think we know we’re all just speculating.

That’s why they play on Sundays. To see who wins on the field, not on paper.

I have long seen the pseudo-intellectual debating that goes on here, and I see it as kind of a Fight Club. We love football. All forums of football discussion plumb the depths of human inanity. But football is the thinking man’s sport. And we’re smart! Now we find a place where intelligent discourse springs, and it’s a chance for us to exercise our skillzez. See what we’re made of.

Are we smart, really? Do we measure up, mentally, in general, but about football in particular? I am Jack’s cracking knuckles. I can see now that I had been motivated in the past to see how I measure up against smart minds like Brian, Aron and guys like Nate Dogg. And if they’re Soda Popinski and the Sandman, you’re Mike Tyson. I can only imagine others subconsciously do the same.

Not that I condone it, but I understand. And I can definitely empathize with you. It gets under my skin, too.

That this matters to you this much, exemplifies the quality of the community pastoring and not just the content.

Lord knows I would have an enormous amount of trouble being thick skinned enough to handle what you face, not to mention what Sando faces despite his attempting to be the most objective ESPN writer ever. I don’t have any real sage advice, except not to let it get you down. Haters gonna hate. You make more of a difference in community than you know.

but I think I may have buried my intention here.

What I want to know is, why is it that Field Gulls can not be a community that allows for disagreement but unites behind the team? If that makes sense.

It seems like a lot of people feel like they can’t disagree, and I don’t like that, and it seems like a lot people feel like they can only disagree by being belligerent, and that wears me down. Maybe it’s like trying to talk and fearing that you’ll be shouted down and so responding by being more militant, more intimidating, and if that’s so, is there anything we can do so that people don’t feel shouted down, don’t feel a need to fight just to be heard?

Or is it, as a lot of people seem to be saying, that there is no way to avoid people being rude and obnoxious? This might sound strange, but I don’t have much stomach for misanthropy and solutions that involve ignoring others because, well, screw them, don’t appeal to me.

I think it’s important to realize that the voices you read in the average comment thread don’t necessarily reflect the greater readership at whole.

I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve posted on this site, but I’ve been a member/followed the site for years, and consider it (and John Morgan) specifically the best source for Seahawks insight on the web – or any other media for that matter. I have a friend who’s from Pittsburgh and loves the Steelers (I know, I know), and he was shocked and just a little bit jealous at the intelligence and detail of the content on this site when I showed him it. Apparently other fans aren’t as spoiled as we are.

I don’t comment often because frankly I don’t have much to add. But I think that there are quite of few of us out there that check each day for your posts, silently appreciating the work that you do. It’s unfortunate that some people prefer to use this as a forum to indulge their inner-pettiness, but on behalf of the vast majority of us, thank you for your work and I hope you continue.

I rarely dive into the comment threads other than on draft day, but I read the site everyday. I know you’re not a god-like talent evaluator/team-building strategist, but you’re a dedicated, intelligent writer and I love this site for it.

Don’t post much, if ever, but I read every day. I’ve got to say I love the work you do John.. I don’t find myself thinking, “that John Morgan is insanely football smart,” or “that John Morgan is an idiot.” Most of the time I find your articles well thought and your opinions well articulated, not to mention the fact that the time you spend watching film shines through.

Basically just wanted to say keep up the good work, don’t take the garbage personally.

And for all the ‘Hawks fans who read and post… quit worrying so much about the past whether you agree or disagree, whether you were right or wrong… who cares? Let watch some ’Hawks… they’re winning the division at the moment!

Dogs are gonna bark. Let ‘em bark. In part it’s a reaction to the silly Morgan-worship on the site, which if I were you I would find as annoying as the animosity. But there’s nothing you can do about that.

Woof I say, woof!

There are a lot of people that agree with what John says because John says it, in such a well reasoned and articulated way. Thus, you have John Morgan clones that will staunchly back anything John says even when he changes his opinion on a player or move. We need to realize that not every reader is a John clone. And we need to realize that those offering a differing opinion are not automatically stupid.

Another thing, most importantly: we need to greet a Seahawks W with joy and enthusiasm. I am appalled at what went on in the post game thread yesterday. It seems like a lot of readers are too caught up with winning beautifully that they can’t enjoy a win at all and that is just pathetic. We saw the most exciting game in YEARS yesterday, and what was the response? “The defensive scheme is awful”, “fire Gus Bradely”, “I’m so tired of Matt” and on and on and on……
Drop it and savor success. Worry about process later. We are 2-1, and looking like a favorite to go to the playoffs. After 4 and 5 win seasons! We have playmakers, damn exciting young and discovered talent.

Keep up the awesome work John, I hope you regain your fire for FG soon :)

Maybe we don’t do enough lighthearted stuff. Maybe all this emphasis on roster construction and strategy makes it so we’re all a little too serious.

I stay for Scuffy’s gifs.

I think this would solve some of the snippiest

the site generates interest (positive and negative) is good. people are here, people are stupid,
BUT
people are here, lots of them, and more importantly…they are true fans, knuckleheads.

I think some of the Tapp stuff is just stuff that happens. I don’t think Dave Cameron is ever going to be able to get away from the the #6org thing, a lot of people here (myself included) didn’t like that trade and now that it appears Seattle might win it people are going to say stuff.

You’ve been writing about the Hawks for a long time, John and your outstanding writing as gotten the site a lot more hits, unfortunately that means more people that have to let you know about any little thing you’ve missed or been wrong about.

I honestly don’t really know what I’m trying to say, I read Field Gulls everyday, I love it and love 99% of the people that comment here and I think we’re all good fans that get the nervous butterfly feeling every Sunday for the Seahawks.

I just want you to keep doing what you’ve been doing all along. It really is a joy to read your content. TRULY!

I think that I take for granted the time and dedication that you have given to this site. I come here almost every day simply to read what you write, so please do not change when a small minority of people bite each other’s ass on a daily basis (it may seem bigger, but it really is a small contingency of us) or because of those who disagree with you or because of whatever reason that may be.

Your quality and content speaks for itself, and in my opinion is the gold standard for analysis and content. That’s what I want. That, and to continuation of the high standards of intelligent discussion about the Seahawks.

I regret that our behavior has cost you to lose some of the fire that you have in writing for Field Gulls. I hope that sooner rather than later, it is restored to you.

There is the good, the bad and the ugly, but I really enjoy the site. I don’t see the need to change anything.

I want apologize for how my “Hasselbeck or Whitehurst” poll became failry hostile. I started the poll with designs on getting people to answer a question that ignored future strategies and focused on the here and now, which I concluded may be the better future strategy: too cute.

Without fully disclosing my purpose at the outset, there was really no opinion to disagree with or attack, so “the hive” attacked my logic. That I took offense to and freely fired back. I got to the point of finishing responses with snide remarks which was childish.

We do need to remember that this is a community and people often disagree. People often disagree more passionately than others as well. Those who tend to be more abravise (me) need to chill. Those who shy at the first sign of a disagreement need to grow a tad bit of brass.

Balance in everything. Great post John.

Cause it has to take a lot of time.
I come here to here some different oppinions and have lively discussions. I’m not affraid to disagree with the masses and don’t have a problem with those that do.
I try to make sure that I don’t post anything that I wouldn’t say to anyone of your faces and don’t say anything about a player that I wouldn’t say to them directly.
I don’t always agree or disagree with you, but I love talking and listening to you.

As long as it’s in haiku form.
We need to remember that there’s a person behind each letter in every post. People need the approval of others.
Great football knowledge should be disseminated with civility.
When your engaged in verbal battle and you’ve already cut off a guys leg- don’t lob off the other one.
And for Christ sakes- stay away from his junk.

It would be a sincere waste of talent devoted to one of my life passions (Seahawks). I do have some input for what it’s worth.

There is combination of two posts above that I feel hit this nail on the head. The first one addresses the minority opinion becoming more and more aggressive, and the second (mentioned just above by Brandon8) is that the “collective majority” will tend to shout down those that disagree.

I have actually found myself at times “rooting” for the underdog position because of the voracity that the majority comes at them with. There is an informal indoctrination of thought that seems to become law when……

…….I don’t want to say this because I fear it comes off wrong. Please understand that I am trying to offer a potential root cause in an effort to solve a problem, and not intending whatsoever to impeach John’s obvious genius……..

…….There is an informal indoctrination of thought that seems to become law when you have analyzed something and published your findings. Your work is so thorough John that many take your very logically laid out thoughts as inflexible laws of nature. I don’t believe that even you would want people to do this. It lacks critical thinking on others parts. Unfortunately this mob mentality tends to cause those in the minority to anchor their positions even stronger. This may be a strong use of the term “mob mentality”, but can honestly say form someone who has felt this way that the feeling does come through for some (and not just the irrational uneducated).

I want to throw out an example to illustrate how a group can become polarized: Matt Hasselbeck.

I was one of those that was hoping to see the team go a new direction this off-season. A trade would have been ideal for me, but would have been only slightly more disappointed in a straight cut; however, I can’t help but find myself rooting for him to succeed every time I hear the “DIE MATT”, “FUCK MATT”, "MATT"S A PIECE OF SHIT" talk that fly’s every time he makes a mistake. I do not include you in this group John as your editorial has always been on the money and supported by data (not emotion).

I think we all get that Matt is on his last legs as an effective NFL QB. What really ruffles the feathers of many (in my observation) is that Matt is an all-time great Seahawk and for many die hard fans, deserves more respect than the “fuck you”. I speak only for myself, but feel that many confuse their right to freedom of speech and the consequences of doing so.

Does everyone have the right to vent? Absolutely. Do people have the right to call Matt a piece of crap? Again, Absolutely….. but others in this community need to realize that calling another man’s hero a worthless piece of shit is going to elicit an emotional reaction. This is coming from someone who was hoping the Hawks would go another direction at QB, so you can be sure I am trying to be as pragmatic as possible.

Again… for what it’s worth John. I’m not trying to placate you in saying that your work is on another level. Do what you need to do to get you head right with this community (that you’ve helped build), because your ass is needed right here!

Don’t let one jerk get you down John. We as the public are the problem with sports journalism. We want to know if something was good or bad and we want to know NOW. Truth is, we don’t know the future. Sometimes you get Tom Brady, sometimes you get Ryan Leaf. But since the public demands, the writers oblige. Then shocker sometimes writers turn out to be wrong. Then the public comes and jumps on your back and beats you down. But, if you use the knowledge you have to make postulations to your best knowledge about the future and turn out being wrong, I don’t think theres any shame in that. I wish I had 1% the football knowledge you do, John. And to all the naysayers, well you can have your money back. If you stopped writing here it would be a tragedy. Keep your chin up and GO HAWKS!

things may have changed a bit lately (I’ve been working two jobs and missing a lot of Seahawksness as a result), but overall this is the only website (news, sports, entertainment – anything) where I’ve felt the user comments actually ENHANCE the experience.

It’s not perfect and there is some jackassery, but I respect most of the other members of the community, and I’m heartened to see how we treat visitors from other team boards. That is all

First time poster here, long time lurker. I live in Phoenix, AZ (behind enemy lines, as it were). I enjoy the hell out of this site. I mainly come here to follow the games through our crappy internet connection at the bike shop where I always have to work on Sundays. The internet is so slow there I can barely follow the game on NFL.com, so it’s better to read the open game threads and keep hitting F5 whenever I get a chance. Most of you guys who post regularly here make the game so much more exciting than watching a score ticker or arrows across a fake gridiron. I thank you all heartily for that.

The internet brings out the worst in some people, and unfortunately this website is not immune to that element. It’s easier for me to ignore them than I imagine it is for Mr. Morgan. There’s a whole internet full of blogs just waiting for flame wars – it’s sad that people have to bring that infantile shit here. But, like a spoiled babies screaming for attention, if you ignore them, they eventually stop. Almost very flame war I’ve seen always ends in stupidity without resolution. Ignoring the blog brats works for me.

Finally, I come here to learn about football. Every game review or even off-season post offers something new for me to help expand my knowledge. It’s constantly humbling to realize how little I know, but it’s fulfilling to take the time to figure out what’s being said. Thank you John Morgan and crew for that. Please don’t stop this blog due to idiots and cowards. I look forward to contributing some insightful comments as I learn more about the game.

… but John, I think your writing is fantastic and that as a moderator I know you have to put yourself in the middle of this whole debacle. However, and I say this as one who has posted something that was received negatively, your arguments and discussion are never belittling or begrudging. That you have an opinion and you write as such helps make this site as great as it is. Please do not let the select few get you down because this site would not be as great as it is without your insight.

So … thank you for all your hard work! I know I am not alone in appreciating it.

I mean, I understand that regular posters need to pile on less and be more respectful. I also understand that new posters need to work on being a little less defensive. Responsibility is important for everyone.

But I don’t think there needs to be a drastic change in the mentality of the posters. Challenging (in a respectful way) a new poster will allow them to logically formulate an argument. Those who can’t probably shouldn’t be making arguments. One of the reasons I like coming here is because it’s so based in fact and analysis that you need to think. If I have an opinion with basis in fact, I need to present it as such; otherwise I should be clear that it is my personal opinion.

The community standards seem to force coherent, critical thinking because it contributes greatly to every discussion. I love reading commenters who’s knowledge adds greater depth to the blog content. Much of it was borne because the regulars are continually setting the bar high for new posters. I’m happy with the intellectual standards set here (of course, everyone could be more civil and respectful about it) because they value analysis over all else. Posters (both new and old) are not blatantly shutting down each other, just disagreeing in a condescending tone. It’s a respect issue, not a hivemind issue. The hivemind has only been created because those we’ve all reached the most intelligent conclusion on many things.

If I have the opinion that Whitehurst should start over Hasselbeck, I should be able to say so without being called names (not that I have), or in any way attacked personally. If someone replies to my post and says, “FAIL”, or “idiot”, or “you’re not a true fan”, that is just an unnecessary attack. If someone replies and says, “Hasselbeck has the experience to call effective audibles and Whitehurst doesn’t”, then I have no reason to be offended.

Personally, I will always be an open minded fan with a tendency to be optimistic in regards to changes. I like to see players play and coaches coach before I arrive at my opinion of them, but once I do, I’d like to be able to state my opinions without being attacked by fellow fans.

I’m not here to prove anything, I’m not looking for recognition, and I’m not looking for a fight.

I’m here for analysis, news, and the exchange of opinions between Seahawk fans.

That being said, I think we go 8-0 at home this year, beat st. louis, oakland , and tampa bay on the road and end up 11-5.

Go Hawks.