With proper credit to the folks at SaintsReport.com, it's about time we offered a similar message for all visitors to our site. Therefore, I have adapted this message, A must read for all visiting team's fans, for our site.
Hello and welcome to our New Orleans Hornets fan site and message board.
I'd like to take a few minutes of your time and clear up a few lingering misunderstandings, myths, and notions.
First of all, this is a website created by New Orleans Hornets fans, maintained by New Orleans Hornets fans, and devoted, primarily, to New Orleans Hornets basketball. While we enjoy having visitors (it must be the southern hospitality within us) we didn't leave the door open because we are hoping to have someone drop in who will change our way of thinking.
We are quite happy being New Orleans Hornets fans. Despite the past history of the team in its former city, we believe in providing the New Orleans Hornets with a clean slate and a fresh opportunity with their new fan base. You, of course, may take issue with that or feel the need to remind us of the team's and owners' past misdeeds, but if you do it here, it probably won't be taken too kindly - in fact it will probably be met with much hostility.
Although New Orleans has been without an NBA team for the past 23 years, we still have many knowledgable fans here who know a lot about the NBA in general -- as well as a host of other topics -- and have taken the time to learn quite a bit about Hornets basketball, along with a host of novices who are enthusiastically reaquainting themselves with the ways of the NBA. If you are here, as you say, to just talk basketball, then don't focus on the few here who may behave badly on occasion -- every team has them, we don't pretend we don't, we just ask that you let them be and they will move along. Rather, focus on the Hornets fans who are sincerely trying to engage you in conversation. They are plentiful.
Also, don't make the mistake of thinking this is a <insert the name of any other NBA city/Charlotte> friendly environment. This site is named NEWORLEANSHORNETS.com / HORNETSREPORT.com for a very deliberate reason. We'll talk about upcoming games, player movement, basketball, and anything else but expect it to have an overall pro-New Orleans Hornets bias to it. If you've spent time on other fan sites, you'll have to admit that notion is fairly universal. We'll do our best to keep it as cordial as possible but bear in mind you are the unknown to us. You'll probably be treated in accordance with how you come across. Otherwise, just ignore the pea-brains.
We have a variety of opinions expressed here and demographics represented so you are making a huge mistake if you dismiss us as all hating the Lakers, Knicks, Jazz, you, or anything outside of Louisiana. But you've obviously chosen to be a guest in our home so take the time to familiarize yourself with our guidelines and the environment of the boards. You might decide you don't like it here but we've worked hard to get it to this point and we like it an awful lot. Besides, us New Orleans Hornets fans will still be here 24/7, win or lose, through thick and thin. And, remember, you sought us out and not vice-versa.
We do allow a lot of New Orleans Hornets bravado here because that is part of the Hornets experience. Don't necessarily expect equal time. More than likely you will read critical, disparaging, mean-spirited, and callous statements about things related to your chosen basketball team. Ever been to a pep rally before? Nothing about this site should have suggested to you that we are remotely interested in being all things to all basketball fans. Nevertheless, if things become personal in nature we'll address it. Just keep in mind that this board is moderated by real live human beings who dabble in having personal lives so things might not always be done in what you deem to be a timely fashion. We'll do our best and only expect the same of you.
We do draw the line at "smack talk" that violates our guidelines, though, regardless of who engages in it. Ask some of our members about how some of the unruly in our flock have been handled. (Shudder) If you want to talk smack, we have a board for that, but you will quickly find it a very lonely place populated mostly by outside visitors and the occasional local who is willing to stray into the fray.
Enjoy your stay here -- just don't allow that to interfere with our ability to enjoy your stay here.
Here's to some good-natured discussion and a good game.
Peace
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