Veil of Negativity

[Dr. Gonzo 24,468]

11 hours ago, Axis of Bob said:

Because blogs are boring. 

Shots fired! @Supermercado

[The heart beats true 18,201]

1 hour ago, Demonstone said:

I understand that and I wasn't having a shot at you. 

It was more a comment on poor journalism based on incomplete and misleading stats.

No stress @Demonstone

I’m overly sensitive because I’m still waiting for the weekends result to get overturned on appeal. 👍

[Dr. Gonzo 24,468]

8 hours ago, Grapeviney said:

I don't think that's true. Pessimists might tell themselves they're not disappointed because they knew it was going to happen, but they experience the same hurt we all do.

And that's why - from a rational outside perspective - it's better to be an optimist. We all end up in the same place emotionally at the end of the ride, it's just that one group (the optimists) have enjoyed the journey while the other have grumbled all the way.  

The pessimists are disappointed during the journey as well because they can't see it ending well.

Edit don't get me wrong, I've certainly been pessimistic during my time supporting the MFC. But not when we are reigning premier, 3rd on the ladder and playing for a spot in the 4 in the last round. You can't control the outcome so may as well enjoy these times as supporters, definitely beats the season being over by round 5 (or earlier!)

Edited August 15, 2022 by Dr. Gonzo

[Wodjathefirst 2,671]

My contribution to the negative side of life.

This coming game on Friday is going to be tough and a real challenge. It’s an away game ffs!

Gets worse, the first final that follows against whoever will no doubt be even tougher! And the next one even tougher.  Can you believe that!

And you guessed it, the GF will make the preceding games that we played in feel like a walk in the park.  
And we are going to win  them all….. I hope!

For the second year in a row we are real contenders.   How many times in our lives have we had the opportunity to think like that.  Enjoy the ride, it won’t go forever.  GO DEES!

[Dr. Gonzo 24,468]

3 hours ago, binman said:

Jezus  - how did the cats get that draw?

Three games in tbe second half of the seaon against top 3 sides, at least one of which was at home (us).

And they played North twice!

Port and Dogs dropping out certainly impacted that.

[layzie 34,528]

13 hours ago, The heart beats true said:

This will make you feel better. It’s from tonight’s On The Couch:

Matches vs Top 8 teams since Round 12:

Melbourne - 7

Freo - 5
Carlton - 5
Richmond - 4
Brisbane - 4
Sydney - 3
Geelong - 3 
Collingwood - 3

We also played the Dogs in that time. We’ve had a hard run and come through it.

Also, Jeremy’s Cameron’s done his hammy, and Essendon are a shambles. Lift the veil and look around. We are going ok.

It gives you a good sense that our team is 'battle hardened' in the last month. I firmly believe this can be of great benefit leading into finals whereas Geelong have played 2 top 8 teams since us who may not even feature in finals. THEN you have the pre finals bye, how long is it safe to go without being really tested? We'll find out!

Edited August 15, 2022 by layzie

[mauriesy 7,444]

Despite a premiership and being up to our eyeballs this year, it seems for some that the veil of negativity never really went away.

I don't understand why, but I guess most football supporters are by nature pessimistic and can only highlight mistakes.

[Supermercado 2,806]

13 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Shots fired! @Supermercado

You still get plenty of comments on blogs, it's just most of them are offering business opportunities in Zimbabwe.

[Demon17 5,262]

17 hours ago, Wodjathefirst said:

My contribution to the negative side of life.

This coming game on Friday is going to be tough and a real challenge. It’s an away game ffs!

Gets worse, the first final that follows against whoever will no doubt be even tougher! And the next one even tougher.  Can you believe that!

And you guessed it, the GF will make the preceding games that we played in feel like a walk in the park.  
And we are going to win  them all….. I hope!

For the second year in a row we are real contenders.   How many times in our lives have we had the opportunity to think like that.  Enjoy the ride, it won’t go forever.  GO DEES!

Just trying to help out here  W, but We've won our last 12  interstate games. The last being Freo in Perth a few weeks ago.

They travel well for sure. That won't be an issue IMO

[binman 44,825]

7 minutes ago, Demon17 said:

Just trying to help out here  W, but We've won our last 12  interstate games. The last being Freo in Perth a few weeks ago.

They travel well for sure. That won't be an issue IMO

We've won our last 12 interstate games?

I didn't realize that. That's a crazy amount of wins on the road.

I wonder how much a role phycology plays in our success (paging @Engorged Onion)?

I say that becuase i heard Melk being interviewed after the blues game and he was asked about the upcoming lions game.

The first things he said is the boys love travelling interstate together, find it a positive bonding experience and they have a great record on the road. 

I was reflecting that i have heard so many dees players mention in interviews variations on that same theme since Goody has become coach.

Of course winning helps, but i wonder if it is like a virtuous cycle where the repetition of such a positive narrative and framing makes winning more likely and winning reinforces the narrative.   

Whatever the case its worked on me - i'm even more confident we will win!

[Mel Bourne 4,541]

21 hours ago, binman said:

Jezus  - how did the cats get that draw?

Three games in tbe second half of the seaon against top 3 sides, at least one of which was at home (us).

And they played North twice!

They also will have played West Coast twice this year. Their minor premiership is a hollow victory. 

Edited August 16, 2022 by Mel Bourne

[Engorged Onion 10,226]

2 hours ago, binman said:

We've won our last 12 interstate games?

I didn't realize that. That's a crazy amount of wins on the road.

I wonder how much a role phycology plays in our success (paging @Engorged Onion)?

I say that becuase i heard Melk being interviewed after the blues game and he was asked about the upcoming lions game.

The first things he said is the boys love travelling interstate together, find it a positive bonding experience and they have a great record on the road. 

I was reflecting that i have heard so many dees players mention in interviews variations on that same theme since Goody has become coach.

Of course winning helps, but i wonder if it is like a virtuous cycle where the repetition of such a positive narrative and framing makes winning more likely and winning reinforces the narrative.   

Whatever the case its worked on me - i'm even more confident we will win!

*nerd alert

Great question @binman it can help reinforce  behaviors that lead to success- and let's not use it as the reason to just expect things to occur.

What you're discussing is the notion of Self as Context vs Self as Concept from an Acceptance and Commitment perspective.

Essentially, the conceptualised self refers to self-evaluations that are formed through interactions with the environment and with others. Although the conceptualised self may be helpful in guiding behavior, trying to teach individuals to view the self as ever-changing and influenced by both internal and external events, is useful.

Why?

Well, imagine we were a team that always lost to North Melbourne (recent times eh).

You might (and supporters are always more likely to) hold on to the story that we always lose. If that 'feels' true to you, you are more likely to engage in behaviours when performing, that inadvertently reinforce that belief coming true..such as playing safe, which leads to another loss. (contingent on how you have gone in the season thus far). The self as concept then turns out to be true "We always lose to North" (the self as concept)... BUT what happens on the day of your first win? You didn't buy into self as concept, you were able to shift into self as context - understanding that your brain is getting caught up in old conceptualised views of the self, that don't have to inform behaviour.

On the flip side (when things are going well)

It's nice to have a self as concept that we have won x amount of games interstate... That is a really lovely feeling, however it doesn't actually help performance against Brisbane on Friday night...the behaviours still need to be consistent with our teams values and I would hope/expect Goodwin and co, reinforce that, as well as inadvertently, the notion of self as context.

Edited August 16, 2022 by Engorged Onion

[binman 44,825]

So, if understand you correctly EO - we are going to hammer the lions!

[layzie 34,528]

I'm turning this around the other way, the optimists can say we're going to win every week or win the flag every year and on the occasion that they are right they can parade themselves around like geniuses.

Not a bad tactic really, a broken clock ia right twice a day and if all it takes is being positive all the time to get that one major windfall of social veneer then I'm down!

[Axis of Bob 11,945]

21 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Shots fired! @Supermercado

To be fair, I was referring to writing a blog without receiving feedback. Supermercado clearly gets more than enough of his human interaction from the African start-up community.

[Fat Tony 5,337]

All 5 of our double up games have had a percentage greater than 104%. 

[Bitter but optimistic 22,289]

Well [censored] the negativity! Maybe I'm Shiraz pumped but I just gutted my Sportsbet account on the Dees at $2.04.

When we win , I'll buy a bottle of Grange!

[layzie 34,528]

3 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Well [censored] the negativity! Maybe I'm Shiraz pumped but I just gutted my Sportsbet account on the Dees at $2.04.

When we win , I'll buy a bottle of Grange!

How would you feel about buying me one as well? 😛

[old55 23,861]

On 8/15/2022 at 11:34 AM, CYB said:

I get your point, it is a fine line. Most thread titles give an indication of what they are getting themselves in for. If it doesn't interest you, I don't get why some feel the need to jump into the thread and criticize the OP on their sentiment alone. 

Isn't that exactly what you've done?

[Bitter but optimistic 22,289]

10 minutes ago, layzie said:

How would you feel about buying me one as well? 😛

I'd want something in return Laze      I'm not entirely altruistic! ( To be honest I'm not [censored] altruistic at all )

[Diamond_Jim 12,773]

Where is Nitschke when we need him. What a name for a footballer even if my spelling is wrong.

I'd almost give up a first rounder for a Freud or Camus. Hell I'd even take a Conrad to guide us through the Darkness

[redandbluemakepurple 377]

40 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Where is Nitschke when we need him. What a name for a footballer even if my spelling is wrong.

I'd almost give up a first rounder for a Freud or Camus. Hell I'd even take a Conrad to guide us through the Darkness

Let's recruit a Kafka just to trade to Essendon.  We'll send him with a few late picks as steak knives.

[JJR 681]

On 8/14/2022 at 12:40 AM, DeeSpencer said:

I’ll be less negative when our players and coaches start putting out a product that isn’t so negative.

Jayden Hunt and Trent Rivers tonight took the game on late and created scoring chances. 

If we get some run, carry and corridor football I’ll start believing. Until then, we’re making up the numbers. 

Surely you have to have some sort of positivity? Were sitting 3rd by the end of round 22. We win this week we are guaranteed top 4, we then go into finals and give it a good go again. What more do you want as defending champs? 

[Grouse 207]

Demonland couples therapy:

Partner A.  'your always being negative and finding problems, can't you just be positive and give some compliments once in a while? We have so much to be positive about.' 

Partner b.  'I'm not being negative im critically analysing the situation and addressing the problems so things can be even better.  They're easy to fix if we focus on them and then once they're fixed I will give compliments.' 

Therapist.  'I see this isn't going to be a one session fix'.  

Edited August 17, 2022 by Grouse

[binman 44,825]

8 hours ago, JJR said:

Surely you have to have some sort of positivity? Were sitting 3rd by the end of round 22. We win this week we are guaranteed top 4, we then go into finals and give it a good go again. What more do you want as defending champs? 

Yep. 

By way of contrast, Port made the prelim last year and will not be in the finals.

The dogs made a GF, and, with one round to go, are not a lock for the finals.