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We need to talk...

Posted on 2/5/15 at 3:56 pm
Posted by greenbastard
Parts Unkown
Member since Feb 2014
2740 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 3:56 pm
So, I figured we should talk about this upfront. It was referenced to in the 2015 recruitment thread but it got lost among the hysteria that is NSD.

I know a lot of us got so involved in this recruitment process that it consumed us so much. But has a small segment of our fan base gone too far? More specifically, has TexAgs become so big that it is now a burden to our university and image? After Kyler's signing ceremony, Kevin Murray seemed none too happy about what had transpired between Aggie fans and his son. He specifically stated that he was disgusted by the awful attacks from fans these last few weeks. When Olin asked him specifically if it was A&M fans, he flat out confirmed that it was indeed our fans. (See INTERVIEW here, specifically 8:20) Now I know Kevin always has that serious attitude and always looks a bit mad, but he genuinely looked bothered by the stuff that he had read.

Now this is just pure speculation on my part, but I'm pretty sure TA was part of that hateful spew he is referencing. Now I'm sure he also read some hateful tweets, but to find what Aggies, as a collective internet group, are thinking you go to TexAgs. Now, as a Former Student, I could understand his frustration if this sort of filth that questioned my legacy was posted. And that was just one of many threads that I recall that openly attacked the Murrays after his Austin visit.

So has the TexAgs staff lost control of their own boards? It seems like more hatred is tolerated and the mob mentality has caused its users to forget that the internet DOES have consequences. For example Old Rivalries went after 2 guys that sent awful tweets at Mack recently, but was it really necessary to disclose their names, family, employers, and residences?! I know they deserved to be put in their place, but at what cost? Have the users of that site been so plugged into TexAgs that they forget that what they type is read by real people? Also, what responsibility does TexAgs staff assume in these sort of circumstances? It seems to me that the anonymous staff has sort of joined the 'mob' mentality if they have allowed such vile comments to plague their boards. I know as far twitter, not much can be done to universally patrol our own (unless you take the Old Rivalries route ), but it seems like TA staff can do such a better job at controlling the masses by deleting distasteful threads about recruits. I know this is a problem for every fan base, but when you factor in the friendly reputation that our fan base has been known for in the past, its really concerning.



For the TL;DR, Has TexAgs and twitter become a problem for A&M's fanbase?
Posted by finestfirst79
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Member since Nov 2012
11646 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 4:07 pm to
The problem isn't TexAgs or Twitter. The problem is anonymity. Every idiot out there can hide at their laptop or phone and say whatever they please about anybody. That won't change, though.
Posted by aggressor
Austin, TX
Member since Sep 2011
9204 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 4:21 pm to
He never referenced Texags. He was more likely to have been bothered by Twitter. That said, there is no way to control stupidity in social media other than to accept that it just is part of it. For that matter we don't know if the people that bothered Kevin could have been sips posing as Aggies, hell one of them made up an entirely fake ESPN article saying we were being investigated by the NCAA.
Posted by cardboardboxer
Member since Apr 2012
34904 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 4:24 pm to
quote:

Has TexAgs and twitter become a problem for A&M's fanbase?


Twitter isn't our problem. It is their problem. And they plan to clean it up:

LINK

The problem with Texags is you have to pay money to get to the decent boards. That makes the zoo a disaster and simultaneously the thing that represents us. Honestly I wish they would either get rid of the free football forum or make it so M&W is read only. Heck I know if it was read only I would pay the man if only because I would read something on there that pissed me off and I would pay to respond, like Candy Crush or something.

We need to be careful too. As I said before one thing that is good about the zoo is that it is so wild that it is hard to take seriously. That means the best place for a lurker to take a look at serious A&M conversation for free is right here.

Honestly I wish we would police our own more. Let us know Kevin who did what and we will take their rings and throw them into Mount Doom. As finest said as long as people can stay in the shadows they have no fear while making a baseless attack. I don't like Ag on Ag violence, but a good cult keeps its members in line. I never expect Texas to not have sad old assholes on Twitter but we should shoot for better.
Posted by Dr RC
The Money Pit
Member since Aug 2011
61049 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 4:34 pm to
Kinda sad that people commenting on that article are claiming twitters specific use is for trolling so to get rid of that would be to get rid of the bulk of their users.
Posted by Iosh
Bureau of Interstellar Immigration
Member since Dec 2012
18941 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 4:37 pm to
quote:

For example Old Rivalries went after 2 guys that sent awful tweets at Mack recently, but was it really necessary to disclose their names, family, employers, and residences?!
If you're gonna send shitty tweets from an account easily traceable to your real identity then you deserve what you get.
Posted by Projectpat
Houston, TX
Member since Sep 2011
11036 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 4:38 pm to
quote:

Has TexAgs and twitter become a problem for A&M's fanbase?


It has, but it's been that way for a while. Every fan base has that portion, but sometimes it seems like we have a bigger number of problems due to TA's popularity.
Posted by Old Sarge
Dean of Admissions, LSU
Member since Jan 2012
61957 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 4:39 pm to
Anonymity fosters stupidity.
Posted by Projectpat
Houston, TX
Member since Sep 2011
11036 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 4:39 pm to
quote:

Honestly I wish we would police our own more. Let us know Kevin who did what and we will take their rings and throw them into Mount Doom. As finest said as long as people can stay in the shadows they have no fear while making a baseless attack. I


We should and it's the reason I'm not quiet about bashing other forums and posters who I see making baseless attacks.
Posted by tmc94
Member since Sep 2012
11559 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 4:40 pm to
Posted by Roger Klarvin
DFW
Member since Nov 2012
46671 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 4:41 pm to
The answer to your question is probably yes, but the Murrays brought this on themselves. To make the fanbase that has worshipped you for 30 years believe you were going to completely frick over the program days before signing day is just exceptionally poor form. Do that shite in September, not January. Not to mention that the mere act of visiting and entertaining Texas probably cost us a couple of recruits.

It was a dick move, and I'd say that in person to anyone who asked including Kevin Murray. Sorry if he doesnt like it.
Posted by WhiskerBiscuitSlayer
Your Mom’s Sperm Donor
Member since Jan 2013
13892 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 4:42 pm to
Holy shite, when did every poster on tArk start posting like agressor?

Is he having nightly classes on how to write the most words possible without really saying anything?

ETA: He posted in this thread and it was shorter than several other posts. Good lord.
This post was edited on 2/5/15 at 4:46 pm
Posted by ShaneTheLegLechler
Member since Dec 2011
62985 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 4:43 pm to
Having so much of our fan base centralized on one forum is not a good thing IMO. It's not TA fault, they've done a great job capturing the market. But it's one stop shopping for all things A&M so when things like this go down everyone knows where to look

quote:

The answer to your question is probably yes, but the Murrays brought this on themselves. To make the fanbase that has worshipped you for 30 years believe you were going to completely frick over the program days before signing day is just exceptionally poor form.


Also on this I'd like to add that putting Twitter on blast for bashing Kyler while ignoring him using the same medium to send out a picture of a Texas jersey is pretty hypocritical. He was using it for attention, just like our fans did
This post was edited on 2/5/15 at 4:46 pm
Posted by tmc94
Member since Sep 2012
11559 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 4:55 pm to
quote:

I'd like to add that putting Twitter on blast for bashing Kyler while ignoring him using the same medium to send out a picture of a Texas jersey is pretty hypocritical.

Apples and oranges. You can't compare business to personal use.
Posted by EKG
Houston, TX
Member since Jun 2010
45154 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 5:01 pm to
Poor behavior on social media is a symptom; it's not the problem.
If you were taught to show respect to others--and said behavior was modeled for you--it would never enter your mind to be a hateful tool.
Twitter wouldn't be your weapon.

It's akin to many of the comments made on tSECr.
Folks will say, "I'm just trollin' you, man. It's the SECr--that's what you're supposed to do here."
Hogwash.
There's good-natured ribbing, and there's acting/speaking as though you've been raised by wolves.

Anonymity or not, the true test of a man's character is what he does when no one's watching.
Twitter/social media certainly grease the wheels for the "when no one's watching" part of Mr. Wooden's quote; but society has a character problem, not an invisibility one.
Posted by ShaneTheLegLechler
Member since Dec 2011
62985 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 5:03 pm to
Who was using it for business?
Posted by tmc94
Member since Sep 2012
11559 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 5:07 pm to
you seriously need me to explain that shane?
Posted by Iosh
Bureau of Interstellar Immigration
Member since Dec 2012
18941 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 5:10 pm to
Me, obviously. I get paid ten cents a tweet to troll recruits under a fake UT handle.
This post was edited on 2/5/15 at 5:11 pm
Posted by ShaneTheLegLechler
Member since Dec 2011
62985 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 5:14 pm to
yes

Fans using Twitter to blast Murray and Murray using Twitter to send out a photo of a Texas jersey both classify as personal use to me.

And FWIW I am absolutely not defending the fans who said whatever dumb shite that they said or comparing what they did to what he did. But he was certainly soaking up the attention on Twitter and soliciting reaction by sending out the photo
Posted by WhiskerBiscuitSlayer
Your Mom’s Sperm Donor
Member since Jan 2013
13892 posts
Posted on 2/5/15 at 5:22 pm to
quote:

Fans using Twitter to blast Murray and Murray using Twitter to send out a photo of a Texas jersey both classify as personal use to me.


I agree with that. Tweeting out the Texas jersey, while it relates to a business decision of his, was definitely just an attention grab.

That tweet and it's responses are like an Aggie starting a Chavis thread around Christmas 2014 on tRant. You know exactly what is coming.
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