When I checked the most popular articles today, I was not surprised to see that all of them, every single one of the top six, were regarding the Oakland Raiders.
Why wasn't I surprised?
Dave Nemetz explained to all of us why there are so many Oakland Raider fans hanging around Bleacher Report. He says that even though there are fewer Raider articles on the site, they get linked to from "a whole host of other Raider sites and forums."
I hold nothing against Oakland fans for that. In fact, I congratulate them on a job well done.
I just wish that they could write better comments.
Have you ever seen the heap of "anonymous" comments that wreak havoc on any and every article that even mentions the Raiders?
Today's Must Reads
Let's take a look at a few that caught my eye (it was hard to filter out the endless profanity):
"When we start a new era I just want you to whole heartily to admit you don't know crap about the raiders, I will go out with my head high because win or lose we are the greatest dynasty in the national football league."
"The Raiders don't deserve to be called a nation???? they are THE nation... yeah that’s about how far I was able to read before getting mad"
"You wanted to get the nation angry? We are always angry! I wish you could look at me, I'm you daddy!"
"Hey YO I have news for you. The Raider NATION was the first, yea we're down, but all you busters copied us"
My note to these Oakland Raider fans is very simple:
First of all, make sure your comment makes sense! It does NOT help the Raider Nation when flamers and bashers post comments like those above.
If you want to help "further the Raider Nation,” please don't write (or type) like a second grader. Not only is it extremely hard to read, but it gives football fans a horrible image of Oakland Raider fans.
I will be the first to admit, when I think of Raider fans, the first thing that comes to my head are pictures like that above. I think of crazy people who dress in black in 75-degree weather, and I think of people who cannot type correctly for the life of them.
Please do your part to clean up the image of Oakland Raider fans worldwide.
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4 months ago
I agree with you on the comments thing, but I think of people that actully do more than wear jerseys for their team
4 months ago
I agree with you on the comments thing, but I think of people that actully do more than wear jerseys for their team
4 months ago
Yes ,maybe some people post comments that sound childish or filled with anger and say things that don't make sense. But just so you understand ,to me I feel like your just singling out the Raider Nation my friend . I am not sure why but start writing some negative articles about other teams and see what happens. I get people posting like that from all walks of life. So to single out Raider Fans kinda shows your colors.
from 4 months ago
I am singling out Raider fans, my friend. They are the only people that I've seen who post very sloppy comments.
I never said that other team's fans wouldn't do the same, just that I haven't seen it happen yet. But, rest assured, I'll keep my eyes peeled.
4 months ago
Andrew, before you start correcting the "Nations" English why don't you start with that writer for Bleacher report named Ron Johnson (time to put up or shut up)..
4 months ago
"Joe,youre just a fat dork with no friends or life.bears,cubs,hell all of chicago sucks.voice your opinion when you get the hair off your palms.you are the poster boy for the morning after pill. anyway.. Mcfadden i think isnt that good,look at his vids on youtube,he cant slash or cut, just straight speed.if you have a good O-line anyone can run for good yards,look what Denver was doing all those years with their RBs .was it the runners or the line?"
Just a little tidbit I got from a Raiders fan, thought I would share it with you all.
4 months ago
Well apparently not everyone is as talented as you when it comes to writing articles, I guess if we were all as inteligent as you then we would all have the "Senior" preface our name. Come on, if everyone was as good as you, then you wouldnt be as bad ass as you are!!
Also I'm posting this Anonymously, which you also criticized people of doing but when I look at your profile there seems to be an Anonymous chefs hat on there. Go Figure!!
So instead of being the inteligence bully, why dont you go and beat on a hornets nest somewhere else.
Because in the end that is all your after is more people looking at your posts and striking controversy!!! Bottom Line is your not perfect so dont treat other people that come from different walks of life as if you are perfect and much more intelegent than they.
4 months ago
You must think we're stupid! If you title your silly sudo-journalistic ramblings with anything remotely associated with Raider, or Oakland you know there is a link on every homepage of every member of "THE NATION". That is the only way to get your spewings read. WE "THE NATION" are so connected by heart, soul, and senew to the SILVER AND BLACK that you, "I'm to afraid to write about my own favorite team because our fans are to busy sweatin' the RAIDERS", know your jokes I mean posts won't ever reach the literate public. Please write about the qweefs, donkeys,or dolts and stop trying to get your numbers up so THE NATION doesn't take another greatest fan response on this site again. Silly man. Your team is busted, your comrades have no heart, and you live in fear of the day we receive our next Lombardie trophy because that means we stomped your team to sleep to get it!
" Look ma, I didn't even tell him to suck my $%#@".... I'm a RAIDER Bi~atch! One time with me NATION, "WIN...LOSE...or TIE...RAIDER TILL WE DIE!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
4 months ago
No anonimity her bro, str8 chuuch! WELL!
4 months ago
Andrew, PUHLEASE! If Raiders fans are the only ones you see writing poorly, then you are not much for thorough research and definitely have a hidden agenda. As a regular poster online I visit many teams fan sites and see an equal balance of intelligent and less than intelligent posts from fans of every team. Your bias paints you as ignorant, lazy and dare I say - uneducated? You are the proverbial "Pot calling the Kettle Black", you and your anonymous chef hat - HYPOCRITE! Just go away dude.
4 months ago
And "her" is St. Louis for here... just ask Nelli! Don't even try to play me I'm a RAIDER. Graduate of the AL Davis school on "How to treat Hoes". You just made me a legend! Stick to your day job in front of the Frosty machine Raggedy Andy... Why would you want to get us started? RAIDER NATION, "MOUNT UP"!
4 months ago
The only reason they write articles like this is cause they know the NATION will respond...OF COURSE WE WILL there is no other franchise in the NFL I belive that has devoted fans like the Riaders no matter how bad or good they do their fans stand by them, last season 4-12, and I still say WIN, LOSE, OR TIE GO RAIDERS TIL I DIE.........
4 months ago
I agree with your thoughts, Andrew. Some of these fans must learn to write in a more sophisticated manner. But dont let just a minority of these fans represent the Raider Nation as a whole. I have writeen an article describing the Raiders and their fanbase and I would apprecite your comments upon it. Thanks!
from 4 months ago
Thank you for the thought-out comment, Umer. I appreciate it.
I also appreciate the article that you wrote. I don't doubt the passion of Oakland fans, that's for sure.
4 months ago
Mr. Kneeland,
A few points about your article:
Raider Fans have more fun at their games than anyone else, hence the costuming.
The anger you write of comes primarily from the incessant misinformation and down right lies that have been published as of late.
The fact that we tend to post anonymously stems from most sites wanting to collect our email addresses for who knows what nefarious purpose. Besides, if all YOUR sources and the inaccurate and sometimes lying sources quoted in the media are “Anonymous”, why should we be required to identify ourselves? Get the media to start naming names first.
As to the writing ability, I apologize if we don’t have editors to review our comments prior to posting them. Further, we are generally under a time constraint and must post without proof reading and are reacting to a collection of statements designed to anger us.
Have you ever talked to an Eagles fan? Most of the ones I know can’t string a three word sentence together without two profanities.
If you want the posting to make sense, try writing articles that make sense and ones that don’t insult the intelligence of the average reader.
The bottom line is the average Raider fan is more knowledgeable about the game than fans of other teams. We are passionate about our team. We have fun, and we really don’t care what you think.
from 4 months ago
1. I'm not mad, and I don't have "anger as I write."
2. The above comments don't NEED editors to review them. A simple, 10 second re-read would suffice.
I never said that Raider fans didn't know about their team. On the contrary, I believe that Oakland fans are some of the most passionate fans in the NFL.
Thanks for the comment!
4 months ago
I didn't say "anger as you write", I said "The anger you write of". I was referencing the "flamers and bashers" line in your article. You were insinuating anger from posters.
And, we don't "hang around" Bleacher Report. Many of us set up Google News Alerts. Mine are a combination of Raiders and Politics. That way I don't have to go surfing. I have a life. Unfortunately today I'm home suffering from a 30 year old back injury, so I have a little extra time on my hands.
4 months ago
You failed to mention that those 2nd grade responses were to an article that seemed to written by a 2nd grader. The person who wrote that article was not writing a piece to be considered journalism it was just a rant that comes from his hatred for the raiders and their fans. It bothers me that anyone can be journalist you don't have to be good at your job you just have to have a computer at your disposal. I agre that responses like this one:
"Hey YO I have news for you. The Raider NATION was the first, yea we're down, but all you busters copied us"
However articles like that do not deserve anything better than such a response.
4 months ago
hi i like the denvr broncos mike shanahanan is the graytest genus of all time# we alwys beet the gayders by like 5 tochdowns becouse they suck!?!
and r gay al davus is a old man who wil dye soon hahalmao stopid raiders go jay cutlr he wil be better then jon elway becuos shahnanahan never maks mistaiks and he is a genis russel ways 400 pounds and marshyal is way bettar then jevon walkr he is a beeiotch
denver owns oakland 4evar!
4 months ago
RAIDER NATION,
Why should be help out this pathetic fake journalist get comments? I know the urge is great to refute all the articles that bash the Raiders.
I am not sure how the bleacher report works, but I assume something happens when you make the most popular list, or have many comments.
We are giving them what they want. I say F#$k them, and their articles, and stop writing comments. We should only respond to well thought out analysis of the Raiders, not some p#$$y that is trying to get his name out there.
4 months ago
You can talk all the interenet shit you want, but you would never say half this shit up in the East Bay.
and i cant think of any other team that would still have this many fanatics after the recent history.
i love how every charger fan i talk to can't tell me who was the running back before LT. not one person has been able to name him and ive asked at least a dozen people
4 months ago
I love how this writer quotes responses from Raider fans but neglects to quote the rediculous an uninformed articles originally posted by the BR's "senior writers." The last one I read was titled something like "Raider fans Put -up or Shut -up. This kind of writing is usually limited only to trolls that roam forums trying to get responses out of loyal fans. The reason so many Raider fans post on this site is because the no talent hack writers post disparaging and uninformed articles about our team. Maybe if there was an article with any real information to discuss you would see the quality of the responses increase.
4 months ago
I feel that the only reason that the raider nation is so active on this site is because everyone keeps on writing some absolute sh*te about them. Whether it be rumors about the organization or mock drafts that include Oakland picking someone that we do not need because "Al Davis loves speed". Is that a viable reason to come to the conclusion that the Raiders would pick an unneeded and, in my opinion, overrated player called Darren McFadden.... I think not. Writers are trying to create discomfort in the ranks of The Nation and are acting very childishly in trying to provoke fans into unnecessary arguments. Having said that I have also enjoyed alot of the material posted on this forum concerning the raiders and there is nothing wrong with a bit of friendly banter between fans; although some are trying to take it a step further... Raiders 08!! Just Win Baby!!
4 months ago
Andrew? Is it. Well as a member of the Nation of Raiders, i would like to just thankyou for taking time out of your day to dedicate a full article to us Raider Fans. You may think your proving a point, or getting under the skin of the most loyal fans in all sports.....but truth the is that your attempt at disruption towards the Nation is quite pathetic. Five seasons of losing records itself couldnt destroy the will of the Raider Nation, so what makes you believe anything would. Its clear to me that the League is feeling a bit nervous for the future of the Oakland Raiders. OH NO! Now who will the entire league, commissioner n company and all NFL fans pick on! Well Andrew, as a proud loyal Member of the Nation of Raiders I say to you.... Join us. We will embrace you like a brother and treat you like family. Thats the Nation for you, think it through and get back to us.
from 4 months ago
What? Since when am I trying to "disrupt" the Nation? The purpose of this article was to get Raider fans to pay more attention to the way, and things they write.
Nothing more.
4 months ago
Sounds like an elitist. Who cares about their image, at least these guys are passionate about their team. Stop with your condescending and patronizing attitude, and spend some time writing about some useful subjects. Silly commentary...and I'm not even a Raiders fan!
4 months ago
This message needed to be said, but could have been done more diplomatically. While I liked your article, Andrew, you did make a few generalizations of a personal nature, like Raiders fans "can't type for the life of them." While you did mean to apply this to the bad seeds, I could make statements about all the Vikings fans I have met in games against the Packers that were buttheads, and it might feel to you like I am applying it to you.
However, I think to some extent you have proven your point based on some of the comments and responses from Raider Nation (who I work, eat, and go to church with!): I saw multiple errors (like "sudo-jouranlism"...it's pseudo), censored profanity showing no imagination, and unbelievable arrogance. The FIRST nation? The Bears and Packer have been in professional football longer than the NFL! And we have more loyal fans, too.
I submitted an entry to my personal blog (link below my name) about the way we as believers present ourselves I encourage you to read. Please understand that I do this not to admonish you--like I said, I know what you meant, but while God sees our heart, people often do not. If we are to further His kingdom, we must be diplomatic when talking to those who might not be in it.
4 months ago
The point is not that Raider fans are bad, evil, uneducated, or anything like that.
The point is that in my experience, a majority of Raider fans on Bleacher Report post unconstructive comments that are along the lines of "Raiders Rock, your team sucks!" The point is, it isn't very eloquent or civil.
I would not say that eloquence would be required- some second graders are very passionate about their team (I certainly was) and are entitled to their opinions. But those second graders, and other fans, should be aware that writing "you sux" or "RAIDAZ 4EVER!!!" and "TAKE MCFADDEN B/C HES THE SHIZZZ" is not constructive. If you're going to argue for why the Raiders should take McFadden, or anyone else, you should provide a reason why. I have no problem with disagreements, only with people who aren't civil.
I have objectively evaluated my own team, the Ravens, and have come to the conclusion that yes, they do, in fact, suck. That is why they have a top-10 pick. But when people bash the Ravens, it's constructive. It's always a toss-up whether I'll even go near a Raiders article, because when I so much as say, "The Raiders should take Glenn Dorsey because last year they had a bad run defense" I get "YOU SUX RUNDMC RULZ!"
Again, if you post constructively, I have no problem with your opinion that the Raiders should take McFadden, though I disagree. I have had several interesting exchanges with a few Raider fans who think, for example, that drafting McFadden would indirectly help the Raiders' run defense- a very interesting idea.
The point is, I like interesting ideas and good debate. I'd prefer not to just get bashed for stating my opinion. Please refrain from bashing evaluative comments. It goes a long way toward establishing credibility.
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