Let's talk about "true fans"

[DaFace]

Marcellus's thread was clearly a lot of attention whoring, but when it comes down to it, he has a point. The word "true fan" has become a catch-all for anyone who doesn't agree with a person on here about XXX player or XXX move that the Chiefs have made.

The issue I have with it is that it's increasingly become a straw man insult that doesn't even make sense. Discussion around here lately reminds me of discussions in D.C. where every issue has to be black and white and anyone who doesn't agree with you is an idiot. The reality is that there are opinions all over the spectrum and that nothing is ever black and white. I'd think there are at least five different categories of Chiefs fans these days:

1 - True "homers" who will cheer for the team and applaud every move they make unconditionally. These types almost don't even exist on ChiefsPlanet (though people like to act like they do). These are only a small portion of the Chiefs fanbase, and they look like this.

2 - Optimists who will always cheer for the Chiefs, but have a sense of realism about it. They probably cheered Cassel for the first few years, but reluctantly joined the SOC bandwagon last year when it was clear that there was just no hope in saving the team under Cassel.

3 - Fans who try to keep a balanced approach. They don't get too excited about drafting a RT at #1 or trading for Alex Smith, but they believe that it's likely the team will at least be improved this year if not dramatically so. Their approach is a "wait and see" reaction, though they'll be quick to criticize if things don't work out.

4 - Pessimists who are skeptical that the Chiefs are going to be competitive any time soon, but who do try and give the team some benefit of the doubt under the new leadership. They're probably not happy about Alex Smith being our QB, but are grudgingly willing to see what he can do.

5 - Total naysayers who have had it with the team for the past 40 years and will refuse to be optimistic until the Chiefs find some real success (playoff wins at a minimum, and Super Bowl contention ideally). They believe that the front office should be constantly scrutinized given that their predecessors were given a long leash and screwed it all up.

Anyway, I thought it would be interesting to see where people would put themselves on the spectrum. It seems like most threads these days are battles between 5's and 1's, but I'd bet that those types are actually pretty rare around here. My dream would be that we can one day have discussions that are dominated by 2's, 3's, and 4's, but who knows if that can ever happen until the Chiefs start showing success.

Discus.

[Setsuna]

I'm a naysayer and I just became a Chiefs fan.

[gblowfish]

I tried to join the Optimist Club, but every time I went to a planning meeting, I'd find myself blurting out "THIS WILL NEVER WORK!!!"

[Carlota69]

Im a 2.5 as well.
Im neither stoked or disgusted with the Smith trade. Im hoping he does well and that coaching brings out the best in him.
Im also OK with Eric Fisher. Happy that it wasnt Joker and waiting to see if it works out. Im hoping that our Oline is dominant and we win alot of games.
Im also chill when it comes to the draft and who we drafted. I have no true idea if these guys are going to work out, but I really hope they do. Time will tell.
Im willing to truly look at this team as coming from the absolute bottom and look at positives, even win we lose.
However, if they choke their ass off by the 2nd yer of this regime, Ill be pissed again. Then if shit continues to roll down hill in the 3rd year, Ill be apathetic again (2012) and lose my passion for football. Which for me is the saddest part.
This past season was the worst, so Im going to try have a fresh attitude about whats to come and hope what the new regime is doing, works.
I also agree that certain people try to put you into homer category if you are just trying to have better outlook and willing to give new FO and clean slate.

[siberian khatru]

I reluctantly voted 3, even though I'm wary of the term "balanced." It sounds like one of those labels, like "independent voter" or "political moderate," that a lot of people use in a self-congratulatory manner to show how "open-minded" they are. But if you quiz them on their beliefs or voting habits, you often find they routinely support one political party or ideology over the other.

But based on how DaFace described it, that's pretty much where I'm at -- " Their approach is a 'wait and see' reaction, though they'll be quick to criticize if things don't work out." Although there are many times I swing to No. 4 ("They're probably not happy about Alex Smith being our QB, but are grudgingly willing to see what he can do").

[alpha_omega]

3

[Bowser]

I WANT to be an optimist. Hell, I'd like to be a full blown homer ala Patriot or Steeler fan, but I'm a pessimist. I've seen this dog and pony show before. They're going to have to earn my optimism or homerism.

"If there's a new way, I'll be the first in line. But it better work this time." Ah, Megadeth. Political and football savants.

[patteeu]

I'm an optimistic realist. Part of what helps me remain optimistic is the fact that I have what I think are realistic expectations.

I hope for the best and understand that plans don't always work out. I'm skeptical of some moves like trading for Cassel and drafting Poe on potential, but even in those cases I'm willing to wait and see how it turns out.

I wouldn't have included a "balanced" option in this poll.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by SNR

This thread exhibits all kinds of True Fan behavior.

Go drink your own anal leakage

You have serious issues

[Rain Man]

In general, I'm a 2. I figure that if I can't start a season hoping for the Super Bowl, why be a fan? Ever since the 1999 Rams, I refuse to believe that there's no chance.

However, that doesn't mean that I approve every move or believe every move will work. I hated the Jared Allen trade, for example, and the Tony Gonzalez trade, though I knew that one was necessary. And I tirelessly voiced my opposition to Herm after that disastrous Colts game where it became obvious that he was not ... playing ... to win ... the game.

But when Ryan Succop is approaching the ball on the opening kickoff of Week 1, I believe that we will win the Super Bowl. Otherwise, the whole thing is a waste of time.

[Buehler445]

I'm probably balanced, but voted pessimistic. I did after all have a fairly significant meltdown with the whole albert fisher thing.

[suzzer99]

The thing about the NFL is you never know. The Chiefs were hoping for playoffs, but no one expected 13-3 in 2003. Alex Smith could flourish under a dominant o-line, plenty of experience under his belt and free from the pressure of 1.1 at SF.

/optimist

[Ming the Merciless]

Overall I am fairly realistic....

I allowed myself to have hope during the Pioli regime

I really liked what haley did with Az., and homerishly thought it would translate

I trusted the 'executive of the decade' to know wtf he was doing with Cassel


Now Im pessimistic about the current regime


I dont have faith in Alex

I Dont llove what we did in the draft



So I guess it all balances out....in general I just ride with it , and try not to go too far in either extreme...

I got labeled a ball washer during the early cassel years, simply because I wanted to give him a chance...now I see the same thing happening all over again. Lines are drawn and if alex smith turns out sucking & not winning a playoff game, there will be people labeled as ball washers etc...

CP 3:14
Let he who wants to accuseth his brother of ballwashery, wash his own balls first.

[PunkinDrublic]

Optimist. I don't buy into the bullshit of Clark being cheap. I honestly believe he's trying to do what's best for the Chiefs. The Jury is still out on Dorsey as a GM. I'm certainly not going to pin all the years of ineptitude on Dorsey like some of the morons on here are fond of doing. As I've gotten older, I've kind of learned to root like hell for the team for 3 hours and then try and let it go when it's over.

[WV]

I was all set to join the Balanced or Optimists club, but I was waiting until after the draft to see how the QB situation was handled.

After how it was addressed, I'm back to pessimist. Along with the apparent trade valuation of this FO.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

You have serious issues

You have butt polyps.