Tonight I was asked what this blog was about and why I do it.
I write this blog for fun. It’s like a hobby. Do I take it too seriously? At times, yes, I suppose I do. Do I enjoy it? Most of the time yes.
Perfect? Not me. No one on this earth is. I make mistakes, I write things that come across poorly or things that are misunderstood. I may poke fun or disagree with what I see occasionally, but my intent is never ill willed. I have come to realize that some of what I post here upsets people out there and I really do try to avoid controversial subjects. If 9,999 other people disagree with me, so be it. It doesn’t hurt my feelings. I leave an open door for suggestions for myself as well. (Please keep it family friendly though)
I am not a professional writer. I am not a journalist. I have no education that would put me remotely in these fields. I’m a fan writing about stuff that this fan cares about. I’ve been asked how I feel about competing local sports blogs. I really don’t feel I’m competing at all. I encourage you all to read The Morning Call’s Hog Blog and The Bacon & Biscuit blog. They write a whole lot better than I do and have a good appreciation for the game. I even have good friends that share the interest of blogging like the The Matt Metal Blog and The Corner Seat. Check these blogs out. There’s good stuff there.
Sure, I’ll admit that I’ve been bitten by the charity bug lately. I even stopped at WalMart today to buy some socks because I saw a billboard of how many children stayed in homeless shelters last year. Is helping charity a fault? I hope not.
I love the game. I love the team. I love the fans and friends.
Let’s get out there and have fun! OinK!
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
Right on Dan! And that’s exactly why we are here!
If anyone has any doubts they should really take the time to know you and the Nation before passing any sort of judgement.
As a new member of the Nation I am always astonished at all the people that come up just to say hi. The strangers who just want to ring a bell. The smile on other’s faces in the trough when the Left Right Left drill commences. Visitors from the other team who stop by to ask questions “because you guys look like you know”. The list goes on…
At the end of the day the Nation will be known for what it is. A group of knowledgeable, hardcore fans with big hearts and certainly their own opinions. Long time members/contributors have earned the right to their opinions. They’ve been around since before day one. They’ve been here and done it – all. Others would be wise to listen now and again – there is some good stuff in this blog.
Just my opinion from a guy who’s been all around the park the last few months and luckily found my way to the Nation.
Stay the course Dan – and we will be sure the Nation is heard!
Bring the Noise!
JasonDiPro
p.s. Call me a fanboi/kiss a$$/whatever – that’s fine I won’t be offended. You see those terms only become offensive when you’re not speaking the truth!
Dan, I enjoy reading your blog. I can’t get to every game, so I enjoy hearing your take. I enjoy hanging with the Nation when we go to SWB. Wish I could hang with you for the games but, well you know.
By the way, we are hoping to get out to the yard sale this morning, but if we don’t could you safe me a cookbook ?
Thanks,
Jill
I appreciate the vicarious trips to CCP. I still say management ought to put you on the marketing staff. (And as longtime newsroom veteran, I can assure you that you write better than quite a few of the professional sportswriters I’ve edited.) Have fun at the yard sale, and eat some pancakes for me!
Dan I enjoy this blog and this is America feel free to speak your mind. We are all out to just have a good time and in a world where everything seems to be bad, this is quite refreshing. The past few months I’ve been down and out and almost didn’t come back this year but because of the Nation and your friendship and the friendship of others I did. This is what it’s all about, having fun. I too encourage others to read the other blogs. They are good too but like you said, it’s all a fan’s perpective and not to be competive. Nobody’s out to hurt anyone, it’s all one’s opinion. We are all entitled to one, which is why this is a great country! So I say too LONG LIVE NOISE NATION!! OINK, OINK!!
This is a big country, and an even bigger Internet, and there will always be people who don’t understand something about either. The best we can do to help them understand, is to be calm, friendly and honest. So far, we’ve succeeded at that.
Jimmy T said what I was going to say. THIS IS AMERICA!! Unlike some other countries, we have freedom of speech, and like you Dan, a Marine, people serve to protect that freedom, including dying to protect. So for those who don’t like what is said, you have three choices. Give your point as to why, read and say nothing, or don’t bother reading at all.
Keep doing what you are doing. I don’t watch the games with the Noise Nation group but its always a pleasure for me to read the blog and share a few observations when I see you at the stadium. For those of us lucky enough to have first experienced the Reading Phillies baseball operation and now who have the Ironpigs in our own “backyard” its obvious what you are trying to do with your blog and why your approach is a good fit for the team and its followers.
“some of what I post upsets people out there”
Golly, I hope not. I mean, really–it’s a big internet out there, isn’t there other stuff for some people to get upset about? But then, perhaps there are some with a vested interest…
Anyway, sounded great on the radio the other night. We were listening as we left the soccer tournament in Quakertown. (aside: the Sara Parvin Memorial Soccerfest benefiting the American Cancer Society) Now, if we can just get back to the topic of PodCasting…
The writing is often spot-on and well done. It’s why I haven’t contributed more this season; you often say it better and faster than I can.
Long Live the oinK!
Thanks Kram! I’m using some vacation days this week to catch up on yard/house work. Feel free to post 🙂