kevinmurphy999

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Huang Gang
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Martin
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(20 articles) Messalina
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Miguel Mariano
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(2 articles) edward webb

chris smith

Garret, with an eye on keeping two of my favorite Celtics posters on
speaking terms, and without trying to steer you towards any particular
action, let me lay out the situation for you as I see it - as a neutral fan
who has studied trolling as an art fan and is very familiar with the work
done by the Banditos. No patronizing tone is intended - this is all just
information for you to chew on (and might also help Macca sort out some of
his confusion).

1. The Banditos are real fans.
- Before he turned to trolling, Chris O. Smith was a widely respected
poster with a strong knowledge of the history of the game and an ability to
discuss it in an even-handed manner. He is now irrevocably a troll on
Usenet, but I have no question that he's a Laker fan.
- Michael Fletcher is a rabid Laker fan who enjoys Usenet debate. He
trolls to defend Laker honor and insult the stupid.
- Brz Wald is a highly respected classy Laker fan who generally tags
along and doesn't stoop to insults. Same story with sthomps, who I don't
believe has put in an appearance here yet.
- Weber's a Bitch/Laker Glove is ostensibly a Sonics fan - he was a
Sonics troll in the late '90s, began trolling the Kings group a few years
ago, and has been taking on increasingly pro-Laker tones in the last few
years. It's quite possible that this troll persona is an alter ego of a
well-respected poster elsewhere on Usenet.
- Dust (known by many other names, currently Gaseous Clay) is a Spurs
troll who is often jeered or embraced in an insulting way by the Banditos.
He is a separate, but related, anomaly.

2. The Banditos are Laker homers who enjoy heated debates - sarcasm and
insults, but not quite to the level of hard-core trolls and flame-baiters
(for examples, just venture outside the bastion of the asbn hierarchy).
Their entire raison d'etre is to respond to slights to the Lakers with
witty, pointed insults - either in the Lakers ng or elsewhere. Chris Smith
is especially proficient at this, and he generally calls the Banditos to
action by pointing out a specific offender, heaping insult on them, and
putting them on his permanent list of ridicule. This happens most often when
the poster in question either trolls the Laker NG or, if a poster elsewhere,
defends their position hard-headedly, in an insulting manner, or in a way
that the Banditos feel would be easy to ridicule. Rightly or wrongly, you
are now a primary target on Chris' list, which also includes Jefferson
Glapski (Sixers), VerizonNews (Knicks), Richard Hutnick (Knicks), JMG
(Knicks) and Glenn Greenstein (Knicks). Ever wonder why some of Chris' more
blatant trolls are crossposted to the Knicks, Sixers and Celtics ngs? That's
why.

3. The Banditos tend to respect those who discuss basketball in a
knowledgeable and non-confrontational style, or those with a sense of humor
and who are willing to see this all as the big game that it really is. There
are many examples throughout Usenet - fans of the Blazers, Spurs, Knicks,
Kings, Mavs, etc. Neil Cerruti is another example here. Personally, I've
never had a problem with them, and in fact some of my most rewarding
basketball conversations and best laughs have come out of conversations with
them. I'm about the farthest thing from a Laker fan, but yet we coexist in
geniality.

5. You have a stubborn streak that no doubt has suited you well in real life
but which breeds contention on Usenet. I've always gotten along famously
with you, and you're a good poster, but you tend to come down hard on those
who disagree with a position you hold strongly - like Chris Wallace, Larry
Bird, Eddie Griffin, the FYC. It seems that the Celtics' superiority over
the Lakers in terms of total titles and the Lakers' move from Minneapolis
are two such issues. Considering the previous few paragraphs, without even
looking at who's right or wrong, the conflict between you and the Banditos
isn't just predictable, it's near-inevitable. You are their target
demographic, and you provide exactly what they're looking for.

6. This isn't to say that you have no reason to be angry. They are still
trolling your group, insulting you, and evidently they tried to send you a
virus (something I need more evidence on, as it's not really their MO).
Trolling is a violation of Usenet etiquette, and there's no reason you have
to get along with a Laker fan in the Celtics ng. I'd suggest, though, that
trolling is a way of life in today's Usenet, etiquette notwithstanding, and
in the troll hierarchy the Banditos are pretty easy to get along with.

7. While you have reason for offense, you need to realize your role the part
you play in this intricate dance. You are providing the Banditos exactly
what they want - somebody fiercely stubborn who they can rile up and dance
around while tossing out sarcastic potshots. The position you take in this
at this point is nearly irrelevant - as is the case with any trolls, the
game's the thing. One thing to keep in mind is that by starting threads
calling them out, as you have several times in the last few months, you have
largely squandered the higher moral ground you initally occupied as defender
of the group against Laker trolls. When you do that, it's hard to claim that
this fracas is anything other than a straightforward flame war between you
and the Banditos.

Please realize that I'm not trying to steer you in one direction or the
other. Flame wars are a time-honored tradition on Usenet, and it seems
inevitable that Laker fans and Celtic fans mix it up. It's been quite a few
years since the last incursion - S. Knight in '97 or so, if I'm not
mistaken - and in this case it's probably a good thing to remind everybody
in this sometimes contentious newsgroup just how much you all have in common
and who the real enemies are. I mean, come on! You and Kevin Murphy are
getting along!

:-)

More than anything, I'm trying to show you that smacdo is not your enemy -
he's just trying to point all of this out to you. Truth, justice, and the
Celtic way are not being served by posts like the one that started this
thread. And now that these cards are out on the table, if you continue this,
it's obvious that your real interest in it is a good old fashioned flame
war. I'm sure the Banditos would be more than happy to oblige.

Cheers,
Chris Hafner

don tiberone

No. Not even I had that much time. It's not like I trolled the Sonics group
all year. After we eliminated you in the playoffs, I left. LOL.

fletcher, michael

All you need to say, man. The word of Mike is law.


--
MF

See L.A. for class
On March 21 in Los Angeles, former Celtics great (who broke the hearts
of many Lakers fans) Bill Russell had his picture on the scoreboard.
The fans gave him a long ovation.
The previous night, when it was announced that Shaq O'Neal scored his
20,000th point, the fans in Sacramento booed. Then, to make matters
worse, a the game ball was defaced, presumably by a Sacramento fan.

Clinton E. Parish
Sacramento

Rest in Peace, Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn : 1916 - 2002

fletcher, michael

.......what?

--
MF

See L.A. for class
On March 21 in Los Angeles, former Celtics great (who broke the hearts
of many Lakers fans) Bill Russell had his picture on the scoreboard.
The fans gave him a long ovation.
The previous night, when it was announced that Shaq O'Neal scored his
20,000th point, the fans in Sacramento booed. Then, to make matters
worse, a the game ball was defaced, presumably by a Sacramento fan.

Clinton E. Parish
Sacramento

Rest in Peace, Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn : 1916 - 2002

chris smith

That was for kev murphy. He x-posted into asbnll.

lakerglove20

Leave S_Knight out of this.

hahahahahahaha

chris smith

Gm2 - Lakers 92, Seattle 68
Gm3 - Lakers 119, Seattle 1O3
Gm4 - Lakers 112, Seattle 1OO
Gm5 - Lakers 11O, Seattle 95

That must've ****ed for the Sonics group, esp after winning Gm1.

fletcher, michael

Man Shaq was great that series. A preview of things to come.

--
MF

See L.A. for class
On March 21 in Los Angeles, former Celtics great (who broke the hearts
of many Lakers fans) Bill Russell had his picture on the scoreboard.
The fans gave him a long ovation.
The previous night, when it was announced that Shaq O'Neal scored his
20,000th point, the fans in Sacramento booed. Then, to make matters
worse, a the game ball was defaced, presumably by a Sacramento fan.

Clinton E. Parish
Sacramento

Rest in Peace, Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn : 1916 - 2002

don tiberone

The Don doesn't troll. Although he may occasionally appear in different
forms and strike from the shadows.