re: Psychology of a Fanbase . . . Origin of the Negatiger

I hate our fricking fans. Not only do they hate on our team, they hate on former players. Players that have won championships for us.

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I struggle to see where the incompetence is, when, again, Miles has consistently brought in winning records . . . excellent records.

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Add to that, the best 5 yr winning % EVER in the HISTORY of LSU football and that is equated to coaching incompetence.

Only in Louisiana???

I don't think I made any exaggerated negative statements. Unless of course it's in the heat of the moment. Say, a couple weeks ago in Oxford? Yea.

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LSU fans are just a symptom of a larger problem, i think.

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Maybe it's a southern thing? At which point it ain't going away any time soon.

frustrating, isnt it

my dad would say that to me all the time, when things didnt go as planned.
Most positive, resilient man ive ever known.

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I think it's a matter of forgivability. I'm willing to forgive mistakes. Look we're 9-3 poised to go 10-3. I'm hopeful.

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I think it's more about process versus results. Some fans only see wins and losses while other fans base their opinions of the program with the inclusion of other criteria.

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I struggle to see where the incompetence is, when, again, Miles has consistently brought in winning records . . . excellent records.

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You struggle to see the mismanagement? Seriously? LSU is .500 in the SEC the last 2 seasons. Our overall records are inflated by beating cupcake OOC opponents - and many of them in close, tight ballgames.

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Here's the other thing, there's no such thing as a positiger. As if there were an opposite to a negatiger.

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There is no such thing as a negatiger either. But if you're going to label a fan that notices and comments on weaknesses of his team and program, it is certainly feasible to label the blind supporters that refuse to be aware or admit any errors. I call them sheep, but positiger fits your argument.

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A negatiger relentlessly attacks the faults of his own team. A positiger would then, what, not attack the faults of his team . . . so that makes him a fan. Ok.

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That's your definition. Webster's doesn't have one. I don't think someone who is consciously aware of his teams weaknesses is relentlessly attacking them. It is not mutually exclusive to be both a supporter of a program and also have concerns over the direction of the program. That's the mistake most of you make. You think the answer is either blind support or find a new school. It's a rather simplistic thought process imo.

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The fan is normal . . . negatiger is deviation from the norm.

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I think it's 50/50 honestly. And actually I thought it was weighed more towards intelligent, cognizant, analytical supporters where both passionate support and honest critique exists. I am finding out that there are many more sheepish blind supporters than I had hoped.

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I don't think someone who is consciously aware of his teams weaknesses is relentlessly attacking them.

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I agree, however, someone who relentlessly attacks the program does, well, relentlessly attack the program. Why do you think I'm talking about you?

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LSU is .500 in the SEC the last 2 seasons.

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Again, this is a matter of a lack of forgiveability. Our situation is quite unique over the last 2 seasons. We should stick by our head coach after making the very difficult decision to drop the starting qb (who publicly admitted to being a serious problem and regrets it). Last year was one of the freakiest years ever, when our qb should have been learning to be a great qb he got screwed by an unbelievable case of bad luck (Pick 6's and all)

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I thought it was weighed more towards intelligent, cognizant, analytical supporters where both passionate support and honest critique exists.

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If this were only the case. One who cries out that Miles must be fired and compares him to other programs with the utmost of disgust is not someone who supports. If you must camp yourself in this grouping by all means do so, but it sounds like you too should be against the negatiger.

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I am finding out that there are many more sheepish blind supporters than I had hoped.

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In the end what would you rather: the sheep who follows blindly, or the sheep who constantly finds fault with the flock. In terms of fan-dom, the sheep who follows blindly is a thousand times better (in my opinion). But, oh, if only everyone could be a cognizant, intelligent, etc., etc. supporter.

The psychology behind the negatiger inherently exists in the evolution of the board - "the rant"
To "rant" is to defame, fume, rave, harangue. Psychology reveals this is normal human behavior - a simple normal distribution. Segments of the board's distribution are positive, segments are peacemakers and interest seekers, and, of course, some segments are negative - thus negatigers. Negative comments are healthy components to any message board. This forum allows people to vent and officially release thoughts that we all have during the game or after the game.

If you don't have this distribution, then the board would not be very engaging. I love the balance of this board. That is why we all make it one of the best boards in the country. Instead of throwing out our tv sets, we can just get on the "rant" and "rant".