Propoganda Wars: Understanding TS Bias and Bashing

[Unregistered]

Use search function to search on this phrase "ECNL Preview". Below is what gets returned, Notice how several of the threads in other state forums either resemble ones in the Mass forum or are exact duplicates.

The ECNL Sales Pitch - Fact or Fiction - 1 Hour Ago -Massachusetts
Propoganda Wars: Understanding TS Bias and Bashing - 10 Hours Ago - Massachusetts
ECNL San Diego Preview - 1 Week Ago - Florida
PDA, Match Fit ECNL Preview - 2 Weeks Ago - New Jersey
This weekend's ECNL preview - 2 Weeks Ago - Pennsylvania
This weekend's ECNL Preview - 2 Weeks Ago - Maryland
This Weekends ECNL Preview- 2 Weeks Ago - Connecticut
This Weekend's ECNL Preview - 2 Weeks Ago - Massachusetts
Stars of Mass ECNL Preview - 3 Weeks Ago - Massachusetts
ECNL Weekend Preview: Maryland United - 3 Weeks Ago - Maryland
PDA vs Match Fit - 3 Weeks Ago - New Jersey
PDA vs Match Fit - 3 Weeks Ago - New Jersey
Scorpions SC - 03-13-2014 - Massachusetts
Ohhhh ECNL... - 10-21-2012 - Florida
ECNL Phoenix preview - 09-29-2012 - Florida
ECNL preview - 06-12-2012 - Massachusetts

This is what social media marketing is all about. Clearly someone with an allegiance to the ECNL is working very hard on all of the TS forums to keep the ECNL at the forefront of all of the discussion. It also calls into question Perspective's motives for resurrecting years old threads and keeping them active with wild accusations. There is an agenda there as well and it is becoming increasingly apparent that the two are linked.

[perspective]

Use search function to search on this phrase "ECNL Preview". Below is what gets returned, Notice how several of the threads in other state forums either resemble ones in the Mass forum or are exact duplicates.

The ECNL Sales Pitch - Fact or Fiction - 1 Hour Ago -Massachusetts
Propoganda Wars: Understanding TS Bias and Bashing - 10 Hours Ago - Massachusetts
ECNL San Diego Preview - 1 Week Ago - Florida
PDA, Match Fit ECNL Preview - 2 Weeks Ago - New Jersey
This weekend's ECNL preview - 2 Weeks Ago - Pennsylvania
This weekend's ECNL Preview - 2 Weeks Ago - Maryland
This Weekends ECNL Preview- 2 Weeks Ago - Connecticut
This Weekend's ECNL Preview - 2 Weeks Ago - Massachusetts
Stars of Mass ECNL Preview - 3 Weeks Ago - Massachusetts
ECNL Weekend Preview: Maryland United - 3 Weeks Ago - Maryland
PDA vs Match Fit - 3 Weeks Ago - New Jersey
PDA vs Match Fit - 3 Weeks Ago - New Jersey
Scorpions SC - 03-13-2014 - Massachusetts
Ohhhh ECNL... - 10-21-2012 - Florida
ECNL Phoenix preview - 09-29-2012 - Florida
ECNL preview - 06-12-2012 - Massachusetts

This is what social media marketing is all about. Clearly someone with an allegiance to the ECNL is working very hard on all of the TS forums to keep the ECNL at the forefront of all of the discussion. It also calls into question Perspective's motives for resurrecting years old threads and keeping them active with wild accusations. There is an agenda there as well and it is becoming increasingly apparent that the two are linked.

Wow. The 3rd thread with the same thing. Pretty desperate.

BTW, what was the wild accusation? I'm sure you'll ignore that like all the other questions you can't answer or don't like the answer.

[Unregistered]

Timeline
TS Fist MA thread - 5/16/2007
DAP Started - 2007
Red Bull League - 2007-2009
Encl Started - 2009
NEFC Formed - 2009
NEP Started - 2009
ECNL Clubs Drop Out of State Cups - 2011
DAP Moves to 10 Month Schedule - 2012
NE NPL Leagues Formed - 2013

Yearly posting data
2007 - Threads: 545 - Posts: 23,927 - Views: 1,895,556
2008 - Threads: 804 - Posts: 38,809 - Views: 2,209,014
2009 - Threads: 914 - Posts: 42,264 - Views: 2,770,797
2010 - Threads: 1,306 - Posts: 64,159 - Views: 4,348,321
2011 - Threads: 1,254 - Posts: 62,205 - Views: 3,866,099
2012 - Threads: 1,047 - Posts: 55,616 - Views: 3,541,823
2013 - Threads: 1,033 - Posts: 60,453 - Views: 3,575,314
2014 - Threads: 188 - Posts: 9,244 - Views: 533,248

Age group posting data
U18 - Threads: 60 - Posts: 1,857 - Views: 113,444
U17 - Threads: 88 - Posts: 5,606 - Views: 341,869
U16 - Threads: 75 - Posts: 8,577 - Views: 458,378
U15 - Threads: 87 - Posts: 8,381 - Views: 425,646
U14 - Threads: 162 - Posts: 20,375 - Views: 1,124,557
U13 - Threads: 173 - Posts: 20,828 - Views: 1,282,017
U12 - Threads: 146 - Posts: 21,684 - Views: 1,196,478
U11 - Threads: 125 - Posts: 17,634 - Views: 822,475
U10 - Threads: 69 - Posts: 4,508 - Views: 298,835

Club posting data
NEFC - Threads: 161 - Posts: 9,252 - Views: 680,743 - Attacking: 54%
Scorpions/Breakers - Threads: 144 - Posts: 10,860 - Views: 813,873 - Attacking: 40%
Stars - Threads: 133 - Posts: 7,533 - Views: 502,958 - Attacking: 32%
MPS - Threads: 109 - Posts: 7,646 - Views: 484,142 - Attacking: 44%
Revs - Threads: 76 - Posts: 5,939 - Views: 352,067 - Attacking: 34%
Bolts - Threads: 74 - Posts: 4,071 - Views: 233,286 - Attacking: 36%
Blazers - Threads: 34 - Posts: 1,345 - Views: 91,411 - Attacking: 68%

League posting data
MAPLE - Threads: 226 - Posts: 12,275 - Views: 733,628 - Attacking: 39%
DAP - Threads: 127 - Posts: 11,722 - Views: 628,457 - Attacking: 25%
NEP - Threads: 127 - Posts: 6,642 - Views: 421,552 - Attacking: 54%
Region 1 - Threads: 115 - Posts: 5,628 - Views: 420,453 - Attacking: 18%
ECNL - Threads: 92 - Posts: 8,298 - Views: 454,758 - Attacking: 42%
MASC - Threads: 21 - Posts: 295 - Views: 22,745 - Attacking: 29%
NPL - Threads: 20 - Posts: 1,225 - Views: 62,310 - Attacking: 45%
Super Y - Threads: 20 - Posts: 1,025 - Views: 66,695 - Attacking: 15%

ID Program posting data
ODP - Threads: 111 - Posts: 7,466 - Views: 543,648 - Attacking: 32%
ID2 - Threads: 11 - Posts: 318 - Views: 24,527 - Attacking: 9%
NTC - Threads: 16 - Posts: 632 - Views: 48,871 - Attacking: 0%
PDP - Threads: 3 - Posts: 227 - Views: 13,151 - Attacking: 0%

Scorpions
First Thread - Scorpions Soccer Continues it's U18 Fee Structure for 07-08 (6/7/2007)
First Positive Thread - Congratulations to Region 1 Champions - Scorpions U-14 (7/17/2009)
First Negative Thread - Could the Scorpions empire be crumbling?? (9/30/2009)

Bolts
First Thread - Bolts Tryouts (7/7/2007)
First Positive Thread - SoccerAmerica rankings: Bolts Boys #10 (2/9/2008)
First Negative Thread - Bolts parents worst in country (2/12/2009)

Stars
First Thread - Good luck Stars tomorrow (8/1/2007)
First Positive Thread - Good luck Stars tomorrow (8/1/2007)
First Negative Thread - Stars lose every game today (7/9/2009)

MPS
First Thread - Monitoring The MPS Impact (4/17/2008)
First Positive Thread - MPS U16 and U17 Boys Going to Nationals! (7/4/2008)
First Negative Thread - Will MPS Win a SC Title This Spring? (1/28/2009)

Blazers
First Thread - BU17 Tournament Results FC Blazers win Nomads (4/11/2008)
First Positive Thread - BU17 Tournament Results FC Blazers win Nomads (4/11/2008)
First Negative Thread - What is up with the Blazers? (6/10/2009)

Revs
First Thread - New England Revolution Youth Academy (2/3/2009)
First Positive Thread - Revs DA player to Malaga? (8/21/2010)
First Negative Thread - WHY DON'T THE REVS EXPAND THEIR YOUTH ACADEMY TEAMS (2/19/2009)

NEFC
First Thread - NEFC: Must be a joke (7/17/2009)
First Positive Thread - In 4 years NEFC will be the only show in town (10/7/2009)
First Negative Thread - NEFC: Must be a joke (7/17/2009)

Facts and figures versus wild accusations

[Unregistered]

Come on man. You're looking desperate. You've been getting your clock cleaned for a while now. Give it a rest, take a good, long break, and live to fight another day.

Interesting take on things. It would appear that the following points have been amply made.

a) that Perspective doesn't like BTDT and believes that he is behind a concentrated effort to sell NEFC and attack the ECNL, Scorpions, and Stars on TS
b) that BTDT doesn't like Perspective and believes that he is behind a concentrated effort to sell the ECNL, Scorpions, and Stars on TS and attack NEFC on TS
c) that all of the clubs have been just as active waging their own marketing campaigns on TS

Now that we have established that basically both sides detest each other, where does that leave the discussion? Does knowing that there is definitely propaganda being put out on TS and who might be behind the message mean that there is no truth behind the information? Probably more important, did one side actually win the propaganda war as is suggested by this post or was it basically fought to a stalemate?

[perspective]

Interesting take on things. It would appear that the following points have been amply made.

a) that Perspective doesn't like BTDT and believes that he is behind a concentrated effort to sell NEFC and attack the ECNL, Scorpions, and Stars on TS
b) that BTDT doesn't like Perspective and believes that he is behind a concentrated effort to sell the ECNL, Scorpions, and Stars on TS and attack NEFC on TS
c) that all of the clubs have been just as active waging their own marketing campaigns on TS

Now that we have established that basically both sides detest each other, where does that leave the discussion? Does knowing that there is definitely propaganda being put out on TS and who might be behind the message mean that there is no truth behind the information? Probably more important, did one side actually win the propaganda war as is suggested by this post or was it basically fought to a stalemate?

Especially given the meltdown we witnessed last night, I appreciate the attempt to "boil down" "the discussion" into some type framework, and overtly in a fairly neutral framework at that. The problem, and this is happening frequently, is that the attempt is too reductive and harbors so many presumptions and assumptions that then, wittingly or not, are supposed to become things just accepted unconsciously. A few points....

1) I actually DON'T believe the so-called "marketing hype," unless we are talking about the obsession of one person, is grossly overrated. And even in that case, I think what we see is something much more personal that the person would like to be believe is something more akin to professional business tactics in the age of the internet and "social media." In short, the guy is pissed and just can't get over it.

2) NEFC didn't rise because of ANYTHING on TS. It rose because it already was two relatively good clubs with decent infrastructures and combined to become stronger and that started out with some very good and state cup challenging and winning teams from the very outset. So if folks want to talk about the fall of certain clubs the rise for NEFC also is overestimated as it started out pretty good to begin with. Aside from all the noise and the saga with Scorps, they had some good coaches and some resources, and they by any measure have done quite well. One thing that few talk about much is that NEFC has done well partly because they have had relatively strong programs for girls AND boys. Stars have been OK with boys and Scorps have had an occasional good boys team, but big advantage for NEFC here, and in that sense more like the old Bolts.

3) Wherever Stars and Scorps are in reality has nothing to do with TS. From my pov from a distance, Stars appear to have been pretty steady while Scorps have had major ups and downs with the bruises getting a lot of press here but to the extent that Scorps slipped it was because of things on the ground and not on TS.

4) I don't buy the TS as marketing theory in general (which is not to say they that a few rogue parents don't try or don't get into woofing...see U11 boys thread...buut I don't see anything in the ballpark of what is claimed. If a club takes a shot, then certainly folks from the other side fire back. Classic examples are the periodic flare-ups with CSU, PTUSA, SS Select, etc. In the big picture those are minor little scraps and not part of some organized plot to take over the world via TS.

5) I, in fact, as I've stated over and over, have no affiliation with Stars, Scorps, ECNL. The idea that I am somehow connected to some nationwide ECNL publicity drive and am connected to events in Phoenix or the Arizona TS (is there one???) was one of the most ludicrous things I've heard. From what I've heard and from limited quasi-direct experiences, I don't even particularly like any of the major players with Stars or Scorps. If I was lying there are certainly some out there who know who I am and who could have called me out. I obviously take myself too seriously to leave myself open to being exposed as a blatant liar.

6) Certainly because the content of discussions so frequently drift to these clubs and ECNL (as we can see from our friend's fine research), I can understand the impression that I have some stake in what happens with NEFC, Stars, Scorps, ECNL, etc. It's just not true. Until this last phase it actually had been a while since this was the content of the contentiousness between myself and my friend. We went on quite a while very recently about claims that only high school soccer was needed to play D3, reactions to my descriptions of particular colleges in certain conferences at various levels, and debates about the relative prestige of certain schools. Our situation happened long before ECNL and even long before I was involved in any discussions about NEFC, Stars, Scorps, etc. When we started I don't even know if he was affiliated with NEFC. We started with things like D3 soccer being a waste of time and that playing in college only made sense if you got money to play, blah, blah, blah, as well as admittedly tedious and stupid arguments about what grades one had to have an at elite school to make that as good or better than doing a little better at a "lesser" school.

7) So, why am I so obsessional? If it's not about NEFC and ECNL, what is it about? What drives my involvement. See next post when I get to it.

[perspective]

Does knowing that there is definitely propaganda being put out on TS and who might be behind the message mean that there is no truth behind the information?

Point of clarification....I'm going to overlook the first part of the sentence above even though I don't entirely agree with it (and I object to the word 'definitely' there because that functions, intentionally or not, to sway folks into accepting the premise as a fact...which sloppily happens here all the time)....but what does "truth behind the information" mean? What information exactly?

[perspective]

I'm going to try this in a different format.

Q -- So Perspective, what gives?

A -- I can't remember exactly when and why it all started. I just know it had nothing to do with these specific clubs and leagues. Much later, after our "rhythm" and patterns with each other had been established I did start calling the person out when he took swings that clearly were out of bitterness and/or glaring efforts to manage perceptions, and/or when someone would say something nice about one of the clubs and he would immediately jump in to make sure no one thought too much of a compliment, or a result, or whatever. Then we'd get into it over other totally unrelated matters again, and then something like the Breakers thing would happen giving the appearance that it is all about what the post above describes. The truth is that the patterns between us have never really changed regardless of content and regardless of whether he was signing in and I wasn't or like now when I sign in and he doesn't. Indeed, I think he partly stopped signing in because he couldn't tolerate the challenges to his logic and disagreements, again, regardless of content.

Q -- OK, but that doesn't really explain your own obsessiveness in the whole deal? What got you going and kept you going?

A -- The other poster has always (since I've been here) assumed a dominant, alpha dog, wise sage, ultra-expert (e.g. Looking through the rearview mirror, etc, etc) position on the site and was and is known for starting a thread and then offering 4 or 5 very long posts in an informative, seminar style to educate the rest of us. Occasionally, more in the past, those offerings WERE informative and I believe many including myself did benefit at times. It was often in the 2nd or 3rd stage of a thread or a discussion that we would disagree about something, and I typically would become very irritated by the leaps in logic, statements made with multiple unestablished presuppositions, and then the characteristic condescension and "blowhard" kind of stuff. These of course always escalated, as no one likes to be told he doesn't know anything or is deranged or whatever. Over time the deception, attempted slip-screens, "creative" maneuvers, hypocrisies, failures to see the hypocrisy or at least to ever admit it, gross logic failures, etc...while all of that was in the context of presenting as THE definitive expert were very annoying. And I'm sure there was a cumulative effect that escalated conflict into something quite recalcitrant and even competitive over time.

Q-- What about the personal element? Don't you have an inferiority complex about having a kid who only played D3? You feel like a little man and somehow you feel better going after a semi-celebrity?

Well, I don't think I have an inferiority complex in that way at least. I was thrilled my kid played D3. When you don't have any real expectations beyond high school anything else feels like a bonus, icing on the cake. I really couldn't be happier about how things worked out for my kid. Now that doesn't mean I never have taken personally when he actually disagreed with playing D3 as something that is just stupid and a waste of time, and certainly I get ticked off when he initiates a discussion and then become very invested for some reason in saying just playing in high school is good enough for D3 and D3 is basically like intramurals or any ordinary extracurricular. I know that's part of the whole attack club soccer agenda and his frequent thing about having to make a stink about parents overestimating their kids and no one really knowing how good the truly elite players are. Yes, that stings, and it stings even more because I have made a point of distinguishing the truly great from regular very good athletes and I have actively agreed with him about the importance of real talent and over the past 6-9 months I have made a concerted effort to endorse the whole multiple paths deal and that a great player is going to be a great player regardless of club. When you make efforts to seek common ground and are brushed away and then further insulted over and over....well, yes, I am sure there is some cumulative momentum in terms of taking things personally.

One last thing here. It is TRUE that I am not entirely up-to-date on the latest leagues and what they mean. It's not true that I don't know anything or that my family and I don't have any direct links to D1 athletics, and via my own education, my own 50+ years, and visiting probably more than 50 colleges with my kids, I do know a fair bit about colleges.

Q -- Any regrets?

A -- Yes, I regret the times I have gone over a line or been out of bounds, especially anything that could be interpreted as directed at anyone's kids or that would expose my kids. I should not have made the 7-0 references. But sometimes things get heated and a little out of control. Not an excuse, but it happens on all sides. I have taken breaks and self-banned myself in the past. I will continue to try to move on. I shouldn't promise that, because sometimes temptation when you see something staring you in the face is just too strong. As at least several of us know, TS can be and is quite addictive.

Q -- Anything else you'd like to share at this time?

A -- Yes, strange as it sounds, I think there are a number of things in common, like I am sure is true for many on TS. First of all, I respect his family legacy, love his Dad as a fan, and genuinely from a distance hope for nothing but the best for his kids. I was actually nervous for him last night. I DO NOT wish him anything negative in real life. So, not in the celebrity sense, but I feel some kinship (that he rejects) in the sense of what it is like to be the son of an accomplished father and then the dynamics of being a bridge between a very successful father and children that you hope will be successful and lead very happy and satisfying lives. I have a personal and clinical interest in these dynamics, including how they impact things like narcissism (which all of us have to one degree or another) and how they impact burdens we consciously and unconsciously put on our children. The relationship between a father and a son, even after a father's death, is profound, and with profound effects.

And often it's just fun. TS is sort of like an adult playground. At times it's an intellectual challenge. Certainly the alleged "where's waldo" aspect has been a big part, but also understand the other person is very ambivalent about being anonymous, and not infrequently, without signing in, is very overt about who he is when it seems beneficial to an argument or discussion to disclose that. We obviously, to understate matters, aren't talking about a fringe player on TS who doesn't try to influence.

[Unregistered]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Unregistered]

Influence? Now that's funny..

I'm going to try this in a different format.

Q -- So Perspective, what gives?

A -- I can't remember exactly when and why it all started. I just know it had nothing to do with these specific clubs and leagues. Much later, after our "rhythm" and patterns with each other had been established I did start calling the person out when he took swings that clearly were out of bitterness and/or glaring efforts to manage perceptions, and/or when someone would say something nice about one of the clubs and he would immediately jump in to make sure no one thought too much of a compliment, or a result, or whatever. Then we'd get into it over other totally unrelated matters again, and then something like the Breakers thing would happen giving the appearance that it is all about what the post above describes. The truth is that the patterns between us have never really changed regardless of content and regardless of whether he was signing in and I wasn't or like now when I sign in and he doesn't. Indeed, I think he partly stopped signing in because he couldn't tolerate the challenges to his logic and disagreements, again, regardless of content.

Q -- OK, but that doesn't really explain your own obsessiveness in the whole deal? What got you going and kept you going?

A -- The other poster has always (since I've been here) assumed a dominant, alpha dog, wise sage, ultra-expert (e.g. Looking through the rearview mirror, etc, etc) position on the site and was and is known for starting a thread and then offering 4 or 5 very long posts in an informative, seminar style to educate the rest of us. Occasionally, more in the past, those offerings WERE informative and I believe many including myself did benefit at times. It was often in the 2nd or 3rd stage of a thread or a discussion that we would disagree about something, and I typically would become very irritated by the leaps in logic, statements made with multiple unestablished presuppositions, and then the characteristic condescension and "blowhard" kind of stuff. These of course always escalated, as no one likes to be told he doesn't know anything or is deranged or whatever. Over time the deception, attempted slip-screens, "creative" maneuvers, hypocrisies, failures to see the hypocrisy or at least to ever admit it, gross logic failures, etc...while all of that was in the context of presenting as THE definitive expert were very annoying. And I'm sure there was a cumulative effect that escalated conflict into something quite recalcitrant and even competitive over time.

Q-- What about the personal element? Don't you have an inferiority complex about having a kid who only played D3? You feel like a little man and somehow you feel better going after a semi-celebrity?

Well, I don't think I have an inferiority complex in that way at least. I was thrilled my kid played D3. When you don't have any real expectations beyond high school anything else feels like a bonus, icing on the cake. I really couldn't be happier about how things worked out for my kid. Now that doesn't mean I never have taken personally when he actually disagreed with playing D3 as something that is just stupid and a waste of time, and certainly I get ticked off when he initiates a discussion and then become very invested for some reason in saying just playing in high school is good enough for D3 and D3 is basically like intramurals or any ordinary extracurricular. I know that's part of the whole attack club soccer agenda and his frequent thing about having to make a stink about parents overestimating their kids and no one really knowing how good the truly elite players are. Yes, that stings, and it stings even more because I have made a point of distinguishing the truly great from regular very good athletes and I have actively agreed with him about the importance of real talent and over the past 6-9 months I have made a concerted effort to endorse the whole multiple paths deal and that a great player is going to be a great player regardless of club. When you make efforts to seek common ground and are brushed away and then further insulted over and over....well, yes, I am sure there is some cumulative momentum in terms of taking things personally.

One last thing here. It is TRUE that I am not entirely up-to-date on the latest leagues and what they mean. It's not true that I don't know anything or that my family and I don't have any direct links to D1 athletics, and via my own education, my own 50+ years, and visiting probably more than 50 colleges with my kids, I do know a fair bit about colleges.

Q -- Any regrets?

A -- Yes, I regret the times I have gone over a line or been out of bounds, especially anything that could be interpreted as directed at anyone's kids or that would expose my kids. I should not have made the 7-0 references. But sometimes things get heated and a little out of control. Not an excuse, but it happens on all sides. I have taken breaks and self-banned myself in the past. I will continue to try to move on. I shouldn't promise that, because sometimes temptation when you see something staring you in the face is just too strong. As at least several of us know, TS can be and is quite addictive.

Q -- Anything else you'd like to share at this time?

A -- Yes, strange as it sounds, I think there are a number of things in common, like I am sure is true for many on TS. First of all, I respect his family legacy, love his Dad as a fan, and genuinely from a distance hope for nothing but the best for his kids. I was actually nervous for him last night. I DO NOT wish him anything negative in real life. So, not in the celebrity sense, but I feel some kinship (that he rejects) in the sense of what it is like to be the son of an accomplished father and then the dynamics of being a bridge between a very successful father and children that you hope will be successful and lead very happy and satisfying lives. I have a personal and clinical interest in these dynamics, including how they impact things like narcissism (which all of us have to one degree or another) and how they impact burdens we consciously and unconsciously put on our children. The relationship between a father and a son, even after a father's death, is profound, and with profound effects.

And often it's just fun. TS is sort of like an adult playground. At times it's an intellectual challenge. Certainly the alleged "where's waldo" aspect has been a big part, but also understand the other person is very ambivalent about being anonymous, and not infrequently, without signing in, is very overt about who he is when it seems beneficial to an argument or discussion to disclose that. We obviously, to understate matters, aren't talking about a fringe player on TS who doesn't try to influence.

So funny..does anyone really think there are "players" fringe or not...on TS? Influence? Get a grip. This is just a soccer board. No players, no influence.

[perspective]

So funny..does anyone really think there are "players" fringe or not...on TS? Influence? Get a grip. This is just a soccer board. No players, no influence.

Well, then, I guess you aren't familiar with the thesis going around that spawned this exact thread and a ton of others suggesting exactly the opposite. But, if you read my post, you'll that I actually take a minority position that whatever "marketing" or "propaganda" that does happen here has very minimal influence "in the real world." So, if you're laughing about anyone thinking that, you should direct your laughter elsewhere.

[Unregistered]

A little history here. The Massachusetts Talking-Soccer forum was built primarily from refugees from the old MAPLE Touchline forum which in its heyday was probably more popular than Talking-Soccer ever has been. That old Touchline forum was originally started by MAPLE for club administrators and coaches so roughly 80-90% of the posters who frequented it actually worked for one of the local soccer clubs. The thing to know is that forum did not die out, in fact it was going quite strong, MAPLE just decided to close it down for its own reasons. Now when MAPLE pulled the plug on the Touchline it was like flipping a light switch and a vacuum was created. Literally just before it went inactive someone posted a link to this site and everyone just migrated here to TS, virtually overnight with almost a herd mentality. To think that at this point in time that the population of TS posters has morphed in the opposite direction and is now completely made up of parents is a little naïve.

[perspective]

A little history here. The Massachusetts Talking-Soccer forum was built primarily from refugees from the old MAPLE Touchline forum which in its heyday was probably more popular than Talking-Soccer ever has been. That old Touchline forum was originally started by MAPLE for club administrators and coaches so roughly 80-90% of the posters who frequented it actually worked for one of the local soccer clubs. The thing to know is that forum did not die out, in fact it was going quite strong, MAPLE just decided to close it down for its own reasons. Now when MAPLE pulled the plug on the Touchline it was like flipping a light switch and a vacuum was created. Literally just before it went inactive someone posted a link to this site and everyone just migrated here to TS, virtually overnight with almost a herd mentality. To think that at this point in time that the population of TS posters has morphed in the opposite direction and is now completely made up of parents is a little naïve.

You're talking about something 7+ years ago.

Two parents are the most prolific posters. I am one of them. When you take out of the equation all of the posts by these two people there is not enough left to reasonably claim that the major clubs in the area have a professional, 24/7, scheduled distribution hype machine. This is about one person. Period. And whenever there is any doubt, who do we see right here (and everywhere) posting and conniving away?

I provided a pretty honest and detailed account of my participation above. I doubt we'll see any reciprocation there...certainly not in terms of any measure of honesty and accountability.

[Unregistered]

You're talking about something 7+ years ago.

Two parents are the most prolific posters. I am one of them. When you take out of the equation all of the posts by these two people there is not enough left to reasonably claim that the major clubs in the area have a professional, 24/7, scheduled distribution hype machine. This is about one person. Period. And whenever there is any doubt, who do we see right here (and everywhere) posting and conniving away?

I provided a pretty honest and detailed account of my participation above. I doubt we'll see any reciprocation there...certainly not in terms of any measure of honesty and accountability.

Perspective. This is BTDT. You have always grossly under estimated your participation and over estimated mine. This is my third post in the last 24 hours. Not that I need to broadcast my movements but I was out of town most of yesterday and then busy most of last night. You have made at least 14 posts in the last 24 hours. Generally speaking what I observe is you post roughly 6-7 times for every 1 post that I make.

Yes I did have days in the past were I consistently posted a lot but those days are well in the past at this point. Yes I do still come on here occasionally and post more than 3 times but those days are far fewer than you seem to think. The reason I seldom respond to you is usually you just dismiss my responses without addressing the substance and call me a liar. I have just concluded there is no room for dialogue with you and all engaging with you does is piss the rest of the forum off. I have offered to discuss your issues with me off line before but you have refused. You can choose to keep this charade up if you want but I am tired of you and simply want to discuss soccer. Whether you believe it or not there are a lot of controversial things to discuss that don't automatically revert back to a NEFC vs Stars thing.

[perspective]

Perspective. This is BTDT. You have always grossly under estimated your participation and over estimated mine. This is my third post in the last 24 hours. Not that I need to broadcast my movements but I was out of town most of yesterday and then busy most of last night. You have made at least 14 posts in the last 24 hours. Generally speaking what I observe is you post roughly 6-7 times for every 1 post that I make.

Yes I did have days in the past were I consistently posted a lot but those days are well in the past at this point. Yes I do still come on here occasionally and post more than 3 times but those days are far fewer than you seem to think. The reason I seldom respond to you is usually you just dismiss my responses without addressing the substance and call me a liar. I have just concluded there is no room for dialogue with you and all engaging with you does is piss the rest of the forum off. I have offered to discuss your issues with me off line before but you have refused. You can choose to keep this charade up if you want but I am tired of you and simply want to discuss soccer. Whether you believe it or not there are a lot of controversial things to discuss that don't automatically revert back to a NEFC vs Stars thing.

Your distortion started right in the first sentence. When have I "underestimated" my participation?

Did you start this thread?

What's so controversial? I wish you would discuss them instead of playing your constant little games.

[perspective]

Yes I did have days in the past were I consistently posted a lot but those days are well in the past at this point.

I can't get over that you actually wrote that...."well in the past."