Because I too have doubts about his potential, I'll take a shot at answering you sincerely.
The reason is because you use particular words that seem like attack words. In other words, you seem to use words that one would associate with a Facebook attack rather than a supporting fan, notwithstanding your desire to see UConn do well. For example, you said he has "tiny arms." He is about 6/3 with a 6/4 wingspan. Not Mutumbo-esque, but pointing it out the way you did seem unnecessary and a bit of an attack. His arms are what they are, and he can't change them through training, so why bang on that at all? It seems a bit small. Also, you wrote he is "unable to dribble the basketball." You're exaggerating for effect, but it comes across as an attack because you could have just said, "he has a weak handle" or "he's not good at breaking the press."
As to the other poster's comment that he doesn't understand why you are attacking a player, I'm calling in
@fleudslipcon on this one to corroborate/refute my opinion. My opinion is this - you see that others are big on Purvis. You believe they are overzealous and wrong. You are irritated by that. So, in response, you attack the target of their affection. It's not unlike a girlfriend attacking a rival girl who the boyfriend happened to compliment or show good feelings toward.
I'm torn here for several reasons.
First, this thread is going off on a tangent and that rightfully irritates some posters. But I believe this tangent is significant for many people including some of those who would be irritated by it.
Second, there are so many ways to approach this with each approach helping someone change or begin the change for the better while at the same time creating an effect that would make some people more intransigent to something that would best serve them.
Third, I've announced my retirement from this type of stuff and here I am sucked up into something that I think is too valuable not to offer commentary.
So with sincere apologies to the members of this forum who are annoyed by this type of thing or feel it is inappropriate I will offer a few things.
The usage of words and the tonality of our arguments often belie our commentary. In this you were correct about
@James. But even if you were correct about his underlying motive, and I'm not sure you are, I think it is dangerous to express the underlying motive of a specific individual without being invited to do so, especially in a public forum. This is not meant as a reprimand. I've been guilty of doing this.
I limit it to essentially three situations. The first is when I believe many people are not aware of manipulation/deception, whether self imposed or outside of themselves, and that manipulation/deception creates a lot of damage. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one. Second is when I see an individual who is struggling to make an important change (a change that will help themselves and as a result help others) and is close enough that maybe with a little support/guidance they can succeed in making that change. The needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many. These first two reasons are noble and valuable. The third unfortunately is not. There are things we all need to overcome. And sometimes I get triggered by a person's statement that hits a nerve causing me to react in a non noble way even when I can make it appear to be noble. In this thread I can point out to all three of these processes. And since I can't always be certain when I am being noble (most if not all of us have the capability for self deception), nor can I always be certain I've assessed things correctly (about the problem and/or the approach to finding a solution to that problem) I err on the side of caution.
This post is already far too long for the attention span of most of us, me included. But I want to let you know that you've impressed me twice in this thread.
The first was when you admitted that your statements concerning Rodney could be biased. You're open to the possibility that the problem may not just be about Rodney. I felt the sincerity of that statement. I don't think you've targeted the issue. But awareness is the place to start.
The second was your attempt to explain things to James. Accuracy would be the most important thing on most peoples lists. Not mine. It was your sincerity to help someone and your approach with compassion that I thought was beautiful. It caused me to take the time to write this. It is not easy for me to put my thoughts into writing, part of the reason I prefer to remove myself from this process. But I was so moved by what you did I felt I owed you the time to respond.
