I live for rugby, I never miss a game, I never pass over an article that has something to do with rugby…but I think I have had enough, not of rugby…but this is the last article I will EVER publish, and I will obviously refrain from commenting in future. I expect this article to be removed shortly after being published, so I hope one or two people can have a glimpse of it.
I may not be the world’s most unbiased blogger, it’s a fact, I am a WP/Stormer man first and foremost, then a Springbok and then the rest, but everyone knows this. You also know that I am brutally honest, so much so, that I am frequently slayed as being one-eyed, jealous, a poor loser, tainted and many other things, the Lions supporters Ed the Lion, Willa and the like, have supposedly left the site, because I said the Lions were pathetic, so they went over to We Talk Rugby where the team of the week usually consists of 13 Lions and 2 Sharks…which is obviously a fair reflection on the form of the teams in Superrugby.
But the same thing has been happening here, albeit much more gradually. Lately any negative comment regarding the Bulls have been either censored or harshly critisized. I am thus led to believe that the Bulls are currently leading the Superrugby log, and are merely hiding this fact from us.
I can say what I want about the Sharks, the Lions or the Cheetahs, but the Bulls are royal game it seems. GBS made it perfectly clear that my opinion is worthless, and that I must go somewhere else and commit character assassination there…which is his new word for critisism. So cheers, I don’t know whether I will at all leave a void, probably not, but I hope some bloggers found some value in some of the things I said over time, and that some even enjoyed one or two articles…it was entertainment after all.
So cheers, good luck and may the Stormers finally reach their potential.
I don’t really frequent this site but there is a definite Bulls bias here…so good luck Saint!
Come on Saint, I rag the Bulls all the time. You need to understand that the Bulls supporters on here have a defensive mechanism that helps them cope when things aren’t going well with their team.
Mostly they have been in a state of denial for the first part of this season’s Super 15.
But slowly some are coming around and admitting they have a problem. Perhaps rather than run away you need to explain to them the 12 steps of admitting and overcoming a problem.
I do not know it off by heart, but do know it starts with Denial, Anger etc.
So don’t give up on them yet, it is like handling a rebellious teenager at times. If you say white and blue stripes, they will say blue, blue, blue. They may want to be particular and say light blue, light blue.
The trick is not to get sensitive to their responses. I firmly believe even a Blue Bull supporter has a sense of humour, just not so good when the joke is regarding their team.
Saint you’re over reacting and actually are perhaps guilty to a degree of what you are accusing certain others of. We all love our teams and will support them through thick and thin…..mine happens to be Natal. I will be critical of whoever I like on this site and there may be some adverse reactions (but not so many because most know I am objective). If someone wants to say something about me….well they are entitled to their opinion and I know they are worse off for not engaging with me and getting to know me. I left the other site because of the overt racist comments and the one sided bias of this….a black point aqainst a guy I otherwise admire…Mark Keohane. There is a Bulls bias to this site, but I have personally engaged with a few of the Bulls supporters and find when there is no hysteria involved they will come around to talking about it on an objective basis. As for personal remarks against me….well people are enttitled to their opinion, if there is ignorance attached I just ignore them after that….or send a pvt e-mail and suggest they relax. I for one would be sad to see you go and yes your team might reach their potential this year…..but they have a long way to go.
Saint….also a word of advice from an old head…..when someone gets under my skin in business….I draft a letter to them immediately and then leave it unchecked on my computer overnight. The next day….in the cold light of a new day I check it and invariably alter what I have to say before sending it.
The only problem with instant communication is that sometimes we don’t pause to consider for a while first, what we are saying.
HUH? What have I missed?
Saint, you do like to try and stir shit and some of what you say borders on needing to be censored, like when you attack players.
Having said that, I agree that [sometimes] the Bulls supporters do get offended when others criticize their team and players. I think that it is cool, it shows passion.
Try supporting the Freestate, everyone criticizes you and your team, and then they go and poach all your players! Flukken Bulls , Sharks and WP!
Listen to 4man, take it easy!
Dit sou nogal roerend gewees het… as dit nie so pateties was nie!
4 man @ 4
wise words, those.
i use more or less the same technique .. difference is that i would type a response, then cut it, paste it again, read it through, change it a bit etc etc etc … on most occassions i never come around posting it. on the occassion that i do post the comment/s, the sting has been taken out of it!!
..
saint
i hope that you would reconsider … and yes, i for one have enjoyed most of your articles (wink wink … wont say which one, lol)
….
i have also noticed (as you’ve said this morning in one of your comments) how much of your predictions were proven correct over time
..
so, will you leave a void if you leave? of course you will!!
..
therefore i hope that you would consider “taking time-out from the site”
rather than leaving us for good!!
Ek weet nie veel nie, maar DIT weet ek wel….die Bulle is kuk vanjaar, uiters kuk….
Maar dit weet GBS, Superbul, Turk, rugbybal,Tripples en bdb ook, trouens, hulle het dit gese, hier op rugby-talk, Saterdag, na die wedstryd.
Ek weet nie van ander Bul-bewonderaars hier op R-T nie, dink nie eens daar is een nie… 🙁
Well, at least we can agree the Bulls are kak 🙂
@ Pam Anderson:
🙂 🙂 🙂
Of course all you and I need to get our a##es kicked here on RT is for the Bulls to turn around and win this S15 …. it will be hell for any non-Bull supporter here on R-T.
(But as long as a Saffa team wins the damn thing I couldn’t care less…)
In all seriousness though, I am worried about this WC, with the Bulls being in such poor form, lots of Bull players at that Kamp Planmaak (or whatever you call that indaba).
Ok, dan maak ek maar weer soos Rokkoff….voordat ek ge-ban word vir al my anti-Bul praatjies….. tjorts 🙁
If I can offer one piece of advice to you (or anyone who’s willing to read);
Stop taking yourself so seriously!
Seriously dude, if your opinion evokes criticism you feel belongs to the gutters, it does not take anything away from the point or opinion you made.
The fact that you take exception to how your opinion is treated however, gives something away to how much you value it yourself.
NEVER be afraid to learn from others
NEVER be afraid to admit you might be wrong
Most importantly, NEVER take yourself and your opinion too seriously…
It is afterall, just and opinion and something everyone enjoys, whether they agree with it or not.
@ Pietman:
Dont worry, in the very least, we will make a semi (and not disgrace ourselves IF we lose that).
You can take that to the bank.
Me done, I need to ensure my family is fed before they go to sleep 😉
8@ Pietman:
Oi Pietman you left me out! 🙂 ek is ook ‘n Blou Bul fan al is dit van anderkant die Haggis gordyn
Eish, die handsakke het weer geswaai vandag, en al die speelgoed is uitgegooi ! 😉
Ek hoop om my mening ook nou te gee oor hierdie draad en wat alles gesê is … gaan gou eers vir my ‘n koppie boeretroos maak … nou terug !
Iemand hier om saam te gesels ?
Saint, ek dink jy moet boodskap 4 en 12 hierbo mooi gaan lees, en nie net jy nie, ons almal. Baie goeie advies.
Hierdie lewe het soveel uitdagings en ander probleme, dat om oor rugby te verskil en oor ons spanne, regtig nie iets is waaroor ‘n mens nou slapelose nagte hoef te hê nie. Ja, ek raak self baie opgewonde en raak dinge kwyt (veral teen die refs!) wat ek dalk nie moes gesê het nie, maar ontspan, dit is nie doodsake nie. Daar is veel belangriker dinge in die lewe om oor ‘tantrums’ te gooi, regtig.
Ja, natuurlik het alles perke en is daar partykeer ‘n fyn lyn tussen ‘banter’ en ‘belediging’, maar ons moet ook soos Morne genoem het pasop om te fyngevoelig te wees, veral nie oor onsself nie. Jyself het genoem dat (in die Bulle se oë) die WP/Stormers altyd ‘pansies’ sal bly, gee nie om hoe goed hul is nie … so moet nou nie ‘n ‘pansie’ wees en weghardloop van die ‘oorlog’ op hierdie blog nie. Stel jou standpunt maar wees bereid om kritiek ook te vat, dit wil sê as jy uitdeel, moet jy dit kan vat ook … en nie soos Aplon gaan huil by die uitwysingskommissie omdat Bakkies jou so bietjie geboelie het nie … 😉
Oor die saak self, ek kan nie namens ander bulle ondersteuners praat nie, maar oor myself: gaan lees my boodskappe self oor hoe ek die bulle se huidige vorm kritiseer, van veral die Landers wedstryd tot nou toe, en saamstem dat hul nou regtig sleg speel.
Die groot probleem wat ek met jou standpunt het, is nie dat jy die bulle kritiseer nie (welkom daarmee, gaan staan agter in die tou!), maar die feit dat jy meen omdat baie van die bokbulle NOU swak is, daarom was hul OOK swak in al die vorige jare. En dit is eenvoudig nie waar nie. Om te sê die 3 supertrofees beteken niks, is seker die domste ding wat jy nog kwyt geraak het. Net so dom sou dit wees as iemand sê die 32 CB wat die WP gewen het beteken niks …
Goed, ek gee toe, daar is dalk so halwe waarheid in die laaste stelling … die helfte van daardie CB beteken niks, want toe wassie Bulle nog nie op die toneel nie ! 😀
En, jy hoef nie na ons subjektiewe ‘arrogante’ Bulle te luister nie, ander mense in SA en oorsese kenners sal dit vir jou sê, die Bulle was goed in 2007, 2009, 2010 (superrugby). So, sal ek erken dat die WP span van 1982-1986 hul beste was, en sal ek nie sê omdat die WP span van (bv) 2002-2008 swak was, daarom was die WP span van 2000-2001 ook sommer swak nie.
En, as ons nog steeds verskil, ‘so what’, dan verskil ons. Ontspan ou maat.
2: dankie dr. Phil !
7: jou die hele week gevat om die boodskap te tik ?
Saint, since when has being wrong or right become more important than the game itself?
Enjoy the game for it never ends.
Ai, niemand wil met my gesels nie, nou gaan ek soos Saint ook finaal groet ….. tot more.
20: jou naat steek uit …..
Saint
Kom nou mater relax man.
Ons almal weet jou hart bloei eintlik maar net soos ons s’n omdat die Bulls so sukkel 😆
bdb, hehe!
Sien jy het nou mooi kalmeer – jou naat is nerens te siene nie. 😉
Saint jy het nou n perd opgesaal en nou wil jy hom nie ry nie.
Wat jy se is heel alraait vir my , die enigste ou hier wat jou vasvat is GBS en ook net omdat hy as Baas(moderator) hier moet keer dat persoonlike beledigings nie hier verskyn nie.
Dat jy die Bulle slegse oor hul swak spel kan ons vat, ek het die afgelope 3 weke self woes ingeklim onder my geliefde Bulle.
Jou obsessie met Pierre Spies vat jy te ver. Jy kap hom ek kom met stats vorendag wat bewys hy is baie aktief en hardwerkend in ELKE game, dis okay as jy nog steeds nie my stats glo en van hom hou nie maar dan is jy doodstil as ek vra wat doen jou gunsteling Duanne Vermeulen dan so wonderlik.
Kyk net omdat PS nie kook die jaar is almal nou DV dissipels. Ek moet nog oortuig word wat hy nou vir die span se heil beteken. Kankowski meestal n vergete man kan ek sien, maar nie Duanne nie. Stormers is baie een dimentioneel en daar pas Duanne nou lekker in, hy verdedig goed, dalk baie goed. Maar hy slaan nie bresse nie. Of hanteer die span slegter as die Bulle. WAAR IS DIE DRIEE WAT HY SKEP? Waar is enige driee? Die hele lot kan net verdedig.
Sharks gaan Saterdag 3 driee druk, hoor my lied, dan waarmee antwoord die Stormers? Ek sien n pak slae kom op Nuweland.
Haibo!! So baaie moeilikheid? Ontspan die kuitspiere manne, en dames!! Soos Loskoppie sê, try biki om ‘n Tjieta supporter te wees!!
As mense net “debate” en nie mekaar name toesnou, en mense slegsê nie, dan sal dinge beter gaan. Dis juis waarom ek nie Keo geniet nie, want die kinderagtige modder gooi daar is pateties!!
Enjoy manne/dames
Gooi mielies Cheetahs!!
Surely the whole point of us all making comments, writing article, giving and receiving criticism and generally chatting about the sport that we love is in order to promote and develop thoughts, ideas and hopefully have some positive influences on the game.
If we take it to the point where we are bordering on the slanderous, then surely it is our duty as responsible users of the site to take a step back, read clearly what we are about to post, comment or whatever, ask ourselves, “would I like someone to say something like that about me, my Mother, Wife or children?”, & if the answer is “No” then re-phrase whatever offends before pressing “submit”.
To criticise is and never will be a bad thing, and let’s face it, if we as authors can’t allow people to disagree and give constructive comment and criticism back at us, then we shouldn’t be writing here or anywhere else.
Saint, I don’t know you “from a bar of soap”, but for the most part I find your posts to be worthwhile reading. You seem to have a good technical grasp of many of the forward aspects of the game, and we have debated, along with some others of the front row union, such issues previously.
If some Bulls supporters take umbridge at your giving their team a pasting, them IMO it shows that you have hit an exposed nerve and that the “boys in blue” are feeling the heat somewhat. They’re bound to become a little defensive.
However I think the incident you refer to is one where you did in fact border on the slanderous in what you wrote about certain players that you actually named.
I’m sure that we would all be most aggrieved if ANY ONE of the authors here at RT (or even the website as an entity) started receiving letters from attorney’s representing players, unions or agents because of something that one of the authors had written.
I think the vast majority of bloggers here came across from “the dark side” to try to get away from the childish, racisit, politically charged and downright depressing (IMO) atmosphere that had become the norm “over there”. Let’s not allow that type of cancer to take a hold here.
Despite being far too busy work wise to spend as much time as I would like here on RT, I really believe that you will have to search far and wide to find a site with a group of bloggers who are as knowledgeable and open to criticism as you do here.
Goodness knows, as a die hard Lions fan I have to be able to let the criticism roll off me like “water off a duck’s back”. If I took exception to it all I’d be a jibbering idiot liable to commit mass murder. (And I didn’t even play for the Blu….Oh shit, better not go there!)
scrumdown @ 27
well said bru
and
yes, its better not to go there!! 😉
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