A warning to all Warpath members

[BrudLee]

As much as anyone on this site, I have had fun at the expense of current Redskins, ex-Redskins, and opponents. With that in mind, I will ask everyone to read this post:

http://www.thewarpath.net/showthread.php?t=7911

Understand that jokes about this will not be tolerated. There will be no warnings other than this one. Posts will be deleted upon first read, and if I have anything to say about it (and I believe that I do) the user will be banned.

Have a pleasant weekend.

[CooleyAsCanBe]

I always respected Coles as a player. Now I respect him as a person. It takes a lot of courage to go public with such a painful memory, and there is no reason for him to do so aside from a sincere desire to help others with similar circumstances.

Sounds like New York may be a better place for him to be right now. I wish him the best in the rest of his career.

[mooby]

after reading that article, i honestly feel bad for coles. when he left, i hated him for the way he acted while he was here, but reading that article gives me a new light. to have to cope with that for 3 years, it made him stronger, and i'm glad he's bringing it out. for the way he's turned out in the nfl, coles has earned my respect.

[skinsguy]

That's a horrible thing that happened to Coles, but, I have new found respect for the guy. To come public about something like that takes guts.

[illdefined]

real glad you said something

[MTK]

Wow, I admit I was pissed about Coles and the way he left, but this is totally seperate from the football world, I wish him the best and I hope he knows Redskins fans will always have his back... and respect.

[Gmanc711]

Aside from how I feel about him on the football feild right now, thats downright horrible. I hope he has come around in his life (which I think he has) and can try to put away that painful time. Good luck to him in that aspect.

[STPainmaker]

I met Laverneus at the DC improv in 2001 and I have to tell you he was a great guy. He hung out after the show spoke to the management of the club, the fans, and the waitstaff. He signed autographs for about 15 minutes after the show and was extremely gracious. I've always been a fan but that experience made me like him more. Now that I know he was molested I have even more respect for the guy, being able to talk about it. Big Ups L.

[jamf]

I hope every network that covers the NFL runs this story.

for a superstar to come out with something like this....
if there is one kidliving in hell that takes a little hope/comfort/anyhting from this then LC is a hero.

[GoSkins!]

That takes a lot of courage. Hopefully this will give others the courage and confidence that they need to tell someone if they are stuck in the same situation.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by BrudLee

As much as anyone on this site, I have had fun at the expense of current Redskins, ex-Redskins, and opponents. With that in mind, I will ask everyone to read this post:

http://www.thewarpath.net/showthread.php?t=7911

Understand that jokes about this will not be tolerated. There will be no warnings other than this one. Posts will be deleted upon first read, and if I have anything to say about it (and I believe that I do) the user will be banned.

Have a pleasant weekend.

While I appreciate the serious nature of this issue, I'm not so sure such a stern warning is necessary, especially a preemptive warning. I do believe that most Warpathers know not to go there and crack jokes about such a sensitive issue. I also understand that within any group, even within the Warpath, there are going to be a few clowns. I'm sure that was the audience you intended to resonate with, Brud. So I can appreciate what you're doing with the warning. But with such a stern tone, and before any "clowns" actually cracked any inappropriate jokes, the site starts to feel a bit uptight.

Mind you, I'm totally on the same page with you, it's not a funny thing to joke about. And I'm not a mod, so maybe there is a reason, to which I'm not privy, explaining why the site needs to be so mindful of it's Ps and Qs. I guess the point of this rambling post is just to wonder if such a stern tone is really necessary.

No love lost though.

[BrudLee]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

While I appreciate the serious nature of this issue, I'm not so sure such a stern warning is necessary, especially a preemptive warning. I do believe that most Warpathers know not to go there and crack jokes about such a sensitive issue. I also understand that within any group, even within the Warpath, there are going to be a few clowns. I'm sure that was the audience you intended to resonate with, Brud. So I can appreciate what you're doing with the warning. But with such a stern tone, and before any "clowns" actually cracked any inappropriate jokes, the site starts to feel a bit uptight.

Mind you, I'm totally on the same page with you, it's not a funny thing to joke about. And I'm not a mod, so maybe there is a reason, to which I'm not privy, explaining why the site needs to be so mindful of it's Ps and Qs. I guess the point of this rambling post is just to wonder if such a stern tone is really necessary.

No love lost though.

If I was to begin pointing fingers at those who have made inappropriate comments about former Redskins, I would start with myself. The boundaries for such behavior are pretty lenient here. I wanted to make sure everyone knows that such boundaries do, however, exist - and that cracking wise about sexual abuse is way past them.

Nearly everyone has a story about telling jokes at a party, when all of the sudden someone breaks out the inappropriate racist or sexist or fill-in-the-blank-phobic joke. The whole gathering is spoiled by one person's idiotic insensitivity. This was to remind everyone not to be that guy.

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by BrudLee

This was to remind everyone not to be that guy.

no one likes me

[joecrisp]

This story explains a lot about Coles's demeanor, particularly around the press. He was one of the most unapproachable players I'd ever met; you could see him physically tense-up and bristle whenever the press approached him. He always avoided making eye contact, giving brief and often curt answers to reporters' questions.

It's obvious now that much of that behavior was a product of the defense-mechanism he's developed from coping with such an emotionally damaging trauma.

I sincerely feel bad for him now, especially since I had developed a genuine dislike for the guy while dealing with him as a member of the press for two years, then hearing how he treated Joe Gibbs and the team leading up to his departure.

When you find out that someone has been carrying the burden of such a dark and painful secret in their life, it totally changes your perspective on all their past behaviors, and forces you to think twice next time the impulse to judge may strike.

[BrudLee]

Originally Posted by That Guy

no one likes me

lower case, not Upper Case.