Been chewing on this for a while, but I've come to realize it's best for me to take a break, likely a permanent break, from the Bunker. I love this place, but the truth is I probably love it a bit too much and such loves are easily distorted if you're not careful. The online world has this insidious ability to numb us to reality and I've found that I've gradually become more and more desensitized to the life in front of me. Online "highs" replace physical "highs", online "hurts" replace physical "hurts"... you're weirdly angrier at people you've never met with an avatar than your coworker or neighbor... you're more concerned with what you'll say online after the game than the game itself... Simply put, I'm not present when I'm on the Bunker and I'm on here a good bit. I imagine most of you navigate this better than me, but never forget dear Bunker that we are physical creatures. Online presence will never - can never - replace physical presence. Go and taste and see and smell and sit in the beauty of this world! It's truly a glorious place.
If this place has taught me anything, it's that 99% of our arguments are over the fact that others don't process stress/grief the same way we do. When something "bad" happens, some wanna vent, some want to see the silver lining, some are in denial, some are here to bargain, some genuinely have their head in the sand and others need to be pulled back from the ledge. We tend to jive with those who process the same way and tend to hate those who process differently. And if familiarity truly breeds contempt, those who process differently become hard to stomach over time. If you can grasp that, this place begins to make a lot more sense. Wish I had had more empathy to that over the years. We really all are on the same team. Forgive me for not recognizing that enough in my interactions with many of you.
I'd be remiss not to thank/shoutout the many of you I've come to know over the years, especially the basketball crew. The OG basketball poster and truly thoughtful person @au4life_rz , my true E-friend and bball homer @MattAU05 , I will genuinely miss your positivity and spirit and your ability to empathize with others, my favorite homer @DavistonTiger , @DM8 pretty sure we disagree on a lot of things, but I've come to really respect you and obviously you love you some roundball, always enjoyed @tigers3014 and his thoughts, @warchief64 @Kaiiu @Horace From Three who have some of the sharpest bball insight on the board, my man @Docdumpsta and his surprisingly endearing manner, @DufnerFanBoy you're a good one, as is @gatorz1209 , the world's best liker @Tiger Hoops Guy, @BruceGOATPearl -- Trae Young is the worst, but you're alright, the GOAT of the in game bball threads @Lover of Pearl , always respected the opinions of @StatsMatter , @rthomas14 you're passionate man and you care about things, that's worth a lot in my book, , @jkethridge @Daddy4? you're both genuinely good and likable guys, @jolivesr with his sneaky inside opinions, the ever-present sunshine of @ricedp105 , @brazilnut @texasAUtiger @KilgoreTrout @HSVTiger22 @AuburnAlumni @crococile22 @Eagle5 so many other solid posters. Oh and @jhead34382 you should run for office, you're that good at navigating people/politics and I mean that as a compliment. And... @Bill Widges just because. I know I'm missing a ton... seriously lotta good folks on here.
@Jay G. Tate much appreciation my man. This place rocks. If you're ever in DFW, I'll treat you to the best Texas bourbon money can buy.
Lastly, I'd also my remiss not to offer some final polarizing "hot-takes."
- WG Jr. will be an All-SEC player before he graduates.
- KD is a poor poor man's Russell Westbrook... I'll leave it at that.
- Jalen Green will win an NBA MVP.
- Harsin will win 10+ games this fall, 8 the following season, and 4 the year after.
- And on a slightly serious slightly joking mic-drop manner... JD Davison is your SEC PoTY if he comes back.
Nothing but love fam, if you ever hear a guy yelling at the TV in Texas for Bruce to call a timeout, that's probably me.
Sincerely, and to hell with A&M,
W.I.T.
If this place has taught me anything, it's that 99% of our arguments are over the fact that others don't process stress/grief the same way we do. When something "bad" happens, some wanna vent, some want to see the silver lining, some are in denial, some are here to bargain, some genuinely have their head in the sand and others need to be pulled back from the ledge. We tend to jive with those who process the same way and tend to hate those who process differently. And if familiarity truly breeds contempt, those who process differently become hard to stomach over time. If you can grasp that, this place begins to make a lot more sense. Wish I had had more empathy to that over the years. We really all are on the same team. Forgive me for not recognizing that enough in my interactions with many of you.
I'd be remiss not to thank/shoutout the many of you I've come to know over the years, especially the basketball crew. The OG basketball poster and truly thoughtful person @au4life_rz , my true E-friend and bball homer @MattAU05 , I will genuinely miss your positivity and spirit and your ability to empathize with others, my favorite homer @DavistonTiger , @DM8 pretty sure we disagree on a lot of things, but I've come to really respect you and obviously you love you some roundball, always enjoyed @tigers3014 and his thoughts, @warchief64 @Kaiiu @Horace From Three who have some of the sharpest bball insight on the board, my man @Docdumpsta and his surprisingly endearing manner, @DufnerFanBoy you're a good one, as is @gatorz1209 , the world's best liker @Tiger Hoops Guy, @BruceGOATPearl -- Trae Young is the worst, but you're alright, the GOAT of the in game bball threads @Lover of Pearl , always respected the opinions of @StatsMatter , @rthomas14 you're passionate man and you care about things, that's worth a lot in my book, , @jkethridge @Daddy4? you're both genuinely good and likable guys, @jolivesr with his sneaky inside opinions, the ever-present sunshine of @ricedp105 , @brazilnut @texasAUtiger @KilgoreTrout @HSVTiger22 @AuburnAlumni @crococile22 @Eagle5 so many other solid posters. Oh and @jhead34382 you should run for office, you're that good at navigating people/politics and I mean that as a compliment. And... @Bill Widges just because. I know I'm missing a ton... seriously lotta good folks on here.
@Jay G. Tate much appreciation my man. This place rocks. If you're ever in DFW, I'll treat you to the best Texas bourbon money can buy.
Lastly, I'd also my remiss not to offer some final polarizing "hot-takes."
- WG Jr. will be an All-SEC player before he graduates.
- KD is a poor poor man's Russell Westbrook... I'll leave it at that.
- Jalen Green will win an NBA MVP.
- Harsin will win 10+ games this fall, 8 the following season, and 4 the year after.
- And on a slightly serious slightly joking mic-drop manner... JD Davison is your SEC PoTY if he comes back.
Nothing but love fam, if you ever hear a guy yelling at the TV in Texas for Bruce to call a timeout, that's probably me.
Sincerely, and to hell with A&M,
W.I.T.
