I went for about 30 years before I stumbled across a football forum. 
In that time if you played for Carlton you could do no wrong in my eyes...of course the fact was that we had quality sides for most of that period and that meant that if you were good enough to get a game you were a pretty good footballer.
Being on a forum is different though because you'ré not just looking at it with your own bias.
Someone might mention a fault you may not have picked up on and once aware you tend to notice it a bit more....or you might reject the opinion completely.
Players are analysed for their strengths and weaknesses.
Some people get a set against a player, others defend them.
The fact is we've had a lot of players in the last fifteen years who have had their limitations.
Skills and effort are constantly questioned.
But that's actually the purpose of a football forum....argument and discussion.
Even opinions that are outrageous or hypercritical have their place because they serve as a basis for the discussion.
If everything was constantly rosy and there was nothing to pick fault with this would be a deadly dull and boring place.
I can understand the backlash against the negativity...I get a bit upset with it myself from time to time, especially when it's against a player or aspect of the club's function that I don't mind...
but the best way to combat it is with counter-argument.
That's when the forum thrives.
In that time if you played for Carlton you could do no wrong in my eyes...of course the fact was that we had quality sides for most of that period and that meant that if you were good enough to get a game you were a pretty good footballer.
Being on a forum is different though because you'ré not just looking at it with your own bias.
Someone might mention a fault you may not have picked up on and once aware you tend to notice it a bit more....or you might reject the opinion completely.
Players are analysed for their strengths and weaknesses.
Some people get a set against a player, others defend them.
The fact is we've had a lot of players in the last fifteen years who have had their limitations.
Skills and effort are constantly questioned.
But that's actually the purpose of a football forum....argument and discussion.
Even opinions that are outrageous or hypercritical have their place because they serve as a basis for the discussion.
If everything was constantly rosy and there was nothing to pick fault with this would be a deadly dull and boring place.
I can understand the backlash against the negativity...I get a bit upset with it myself from time to time, especially when it's against a player or aspect of the club's function that I don't mind...
but the best way to combat it is with counter-argument.
That's when the forum thrives.