Thanks and Apologies

by David Hooper on Oct 21, 2009 7:22 AM MDT

My biggest irritation with text-based communication is that a lot of vital information gets lost. Inflection, connotation, intensity, sarcasm, etc. are all very difficult to convey without audible or face-to-face visual cues. It takes a lot of work on both ends of a lively discussion to push through that barrier.

Yesterday, during that interminably long discussion regarding the Stokley touchdown, I must have seemed near-trollish. I run a 60-70 hour per week schedule and I just don't get the time to swing by here as much as I'd like, so I don't get the chance to be a familiar part of the conversation flow. To suddenly show up and string out a debate like that can easily be irritating, and I understand that.

So, given those two factors, I want to express a heartfelt thanks to everybody who participated in the discussion. I really appreciated it.

Also, fully realizing that I may have come off poorly to some, I wish to express a sincere apology . I certainly did not intend to aggravate, anger, irritate, annoy, bother, or just plain piss off anybody.

[FYI, this post has no bearing on the actual contents of that debate. I'm not going to say a single word about the debate itself and am not interested in right/wrong here. I just wanted to step back for a second and be sure we're all in the clear.]

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Comments

I wasn't a part of the debate but,

much love from the MHR.

All you get from drafting the "best player available" is a team full of good football players.

Cotton McKnight: I'm being told that Average Joe's does not have enough players and will be forfeiting the championship match.
Pepper Brooks: It's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it pays off for 'em.

by orangeblood on Oct 21, 2009 7:39 AM MDT reply actions

I stayed out

but I found ti interesting how many people had such firm beliefs about the rules, without ever actually reading them. At any rate, way to man up!

by SlowWhiteGuy on Oct 21, 2009 7:41 AM MDT reply actions

I Jumped in

One of the really great things about MHR is that we can have spirited debates such as that one, and hopefully we all gain a better understanding of the rules and the game of football. HT and I went head to head and I really enjoyed the debate – thanks Steve! It is a bye week and I must get my broncos fix anyway I can …. so next debate please

by Flunkie on Oct 21, 2009 7:52 AM MDT reply actions

Hooper, now you make me want to go back and watch the car crash

I tend to stay out of the 500 post threads because it’s usually 2 or 3 cats flaming each other for a few hours.

It’s like a girl fight at the bar, you love to watch them (especially if it involves clothes being torn), but you ain’t gonna get in the middle.

Smokey, my friend, you are entering a world of pain.

by TJ Johnson on Oct 21, 2009 8:31 AM MDT reply actions

lol

Good luck. That thing bounced around more than Q-Bert on meth.

by David Hooper on Oct 21, 2009 9:29 AM MDT up reply actions

Nice!

Q-Bert! What a wierd thing to trigger a wave of nostalga.

"My job description is to win football games. I'm a hard worker. I'm not flashy by any means, but my job is to play football and win and I plan to do that." Kyle Orton

by odarol on Oct 21, 2009 12:14 PM MDT up reply actions

you wouldn't jump in the middle if clothes were being torn?????

If Taylor Swift were to try and tackle me, I'd let her.

by Troy Hufford on Oct 21, 2009 10:23 AM MDT up reply actions

I was involved in an altercation..

..(many years before entering law enforcement) where I attempted to break up two women fighting in a bar (I was in college at the time). I recieved an elbow to the ribs, and had a bruise that was very black, and covered most of the front of my torso. I went to the hospital a couple of days later to check for cracked ribs (just a major bruise).

I’ve fought inmates, criminals, and drunks before, but that lady hurt me worse than I’ve ever been hurt before.

Formerly known as HoosierTeacher or just HT.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Oct 21, 2009 2:48 PM MDT up reply actions

That is crazy, Steve.

If Taylor Swift were to try and tackle me, I'd let her.

by Troy Hufford on Oct 21, 2009 3:09 PM MDT up reply actions

Oh, wow.

Lesson to all of us – don’t get in the middle of those.

by David Hooper on Oct 21, 2009 3:26 PM MDT up reply actions

HT, holy crap! But...It's true, man. And if you've seen women fight at the bars, you know

they can say things to each other that you’ve never heard before in your life!

Smokey, my friend, you are entering a world of pain.

by TJ Johnson on Oct 21, 2009 7:21 PM MDT up reply actions

Another name change

You and NYC had me thinking, “Who is this” for a second til I saw your sig.

Man that sucks about those ribs. Being a spectator is usually the best thing.

2009 NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2009 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant

by weazel on Oct 21, 2009 10:44 PM MDT up reply actions

For the record

I love the name changes.

Now the big media can find you and pull you on as pundits! Don’t worry — it’s not selling out if you’re keeping it real! ; ) LOL

Conversation nonstarters: hoping McDaniels fails, comparing Bears to Broncos, Cutler to Orton, apples to oranges, and casual drinkers to Raiders fans.

by broncosmontana on Oct 21, 2009 10:51 PM MDT up reply actions

I would accept a job for pay.

But my employer would have to let me keep posting at MHR. This is home.

Formerly known as HoosierTeacher or just HT.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Oct 22, 2009 1:27 PM MDT up reply actions

No worries!

MHR is a true forum for thoughtful discussion on the NFL issues of the day, and, of course, our Broncos. Cheers!

by topnation on Oct 21, 2009 9:29 AM MDT reply actions

Just realized that the above link is a dud.

Here it is, in case anybody really cares.

by David Hooper on Oct 21, 2009 10:09 AM MDT reply actions

It's cool Hooper. I found that debate very informative.

It was definitely a little bit heated, but good information came out of it. Apology accepted, although I’m not sure it is warranted, in this case. Sure, it got heated, but there was very good, in depth, thick and meaty information in there.

If Taylor Swift were to try and tackle me, I'd let her.

by Troy Hufford on Oct 21, 2009 10:28 AM MDT reply actions

Hooper

I thought your input was top tier. Keep it up.
I still don’t know what the actual rule means, but as long as the Refs call it like they did Monday night, I’m good with the Refs.

IT is, and it's impossible for IT not to be.
Parmenides (5th Century B. C. Greek)

by bradley on Oct 21, 2009 10:55 AM MDT reply actions

Actually, you were right

and those on the other side of the debate were mistaken. I’m sorry I didn’t catch that conversation earlier, because it looks like my post there was a waste of my time.

"Surprised to see you, Captain, though pleased." — from Star Trek episode Space Seed.

by spock on Oct 21, 2009 11:02 AM MDT reply actions

I saw that post and replied to it directly.

I am curious, though, what your debate background was. I may have missed that at some previous point in time.

by David Hooper on Oct 21, 2009 11:20 AM MDT up reply actions

It was many years ago in high school

A lot of effectiveness in debate is being objective, recognizing the potential weak points of your position, doing research, not losing control of your emotions, and not getting defensive or overbearing in assuming you’re right and the other person is wrong or just being pigheaded. People get emotional and lose their clarity of thought. None of what I just said was a reference to you, by the way.
I thought you handled yourself well in what must have been a frustrating exchange.

"Surprised to see you, Captain, though pleased." — from Star Trek episode Space Seed.

by spock on Oct 21, 2009 11:36 AM MDT up reply actions

Not frustrating at all.

Like I mentioned above, there is a lot of information lost when communicating in text-only form. I always try to give as much leeway as possible for moods and intent, and I try hard to express gratitude and respect. This is the kind of conversation that would have been an absolute blast in a sports bar, so I tried to have that much fun with it here.

by David Hooper on Oct 21, 2009 12:07 PM MDT up reply actions

Good attitude!

Dale Carnegie would have approved.

"Surprised to see you, Captain, though pleased." — from Star Trek episode Space Seed.

by spock on Oct 21, 2009 12:32 PM MDT up reply actions

How to Win Friends and Influence People

It’s still a classic, and a worthwhile read (summary of book included).

How to Win Friends and Influence People

A doctrine insulates the devout not only against the realities around them but also against their own selves. The fanatical believer is not conscious of his envy, malice, pettiness and dishonesty. There is a wall of words between his consciousness and his real self.

-- Eric Hoffer

by Colinski on Oct 22, 2009 3:30 PM MDT up reply actions

YOU NUT!

I was the guy that you sparred with the most, and I took ZERO offense at anything you said. You’re cool by me, and have nothing to apologize about.

It got to the point where I was repeating myself often (with many folks), and started getting annoyed at the repetition of the points by both myself and others. While the discussion was a good one, I think it may have dragged on a bit and gotten to the point of silliness regarding the degree and minutae that the conversation went to.

For my part, if I rubbed anyone the wrong way I fully and unreservedly apologize. For dragging the whole thing out on my part, I certainly apologize too. But YOU Hooper, have nothing to apologize for (in my own opinion).

I got to my bed time, got tired of the whole thing, and resigned myself to going to bed and never visiting the post or the conversation again. If I hear “endzone” again (not relating to a Denver TD in the future) I’ll just explode! lol

No worries at all Hooper!

Formerly known as HoosierTeacher or just HT.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Oct 21, 2009 2:42 PM MDT reply actions

BTW

Jeremy sent me an e-mail congratulating me on something along the lines of the terrific conversation, but if anything, I feel I may have contributed to the reductio ad absurdum that ensued under his fine post. And for that, I apologize to my friend and colleague Jeremy.

Formerly known as HoosierTeacher or just HT.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Oct 21, 2009 2:44 PM MDT up reply actions

Awesome

I have a paranoia about how conversations come across in text. It’s mostly because I’m a very visual communicator and the loss of facial expressions is a big deal.

I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation and certainly took no offense at anything either. As always, it was great to hear from you.

Besides, anybody who has the discipline to stop debating at bedtime is a wise man indeed. ;-)

by David Hooper on Oct 21, 2009 3:30 PM MDT up reply actions

hmmm

It’s mostly because I’m a very visual communicator and the loss of facial expressions is a big deal.

Are you really gromit???

Precision in thought, concision in style, decision in life.

"That's MR.Styg..."

by Jeremy Bolander on Oct 21, 2009 4:09 PM MDT up reply actions

LOL

No, but I did feel that Gromit was a good fit for an avatar.

Though I do love me some Wensleydale…

by David Hooper on Oct 21, 2009 5:45 PM MDT up reply actions

LOVE W&G

Genius!

Conversation nonstarters: hoping McDaniels fails, comparing Bears to Broncos, Cutler to Orton, apples to oranges, and casual drinkers to Raiders fans.

by broncosmontana on Oct 21, 2009 10:52 PM MDT up reply actions

Good stuff Hooper

I know exactly what you mean by text getting “animated” so you cannot tell if someone is getting overly emotional or not. I have been in that situation here before and when reading it the next day, I could figure out why someone responded a different way than intended, or I could see where I would have been misunderstood or misunderstood others.

Character may be manifested in the great moments but it is made in the small ones -- Philip Brooks

by KaptainKirk on Oct 21, 2009 9:31 PM MDT reply actions