C'mon guys. It's a freakin' message board and, no matter how seriously some might take it, is primarily for information and entertainment purposes. Not one aspect of anybody's "real" life is going to be, nor should be, the least bit affected by anything that is posted here--except, maybe, people who's real names are used and are insulted or slandered (e.g., recruits, players, etc.).
That having been said, the administrators of this board have made it clear that personal attacks on other posters is not allowed. I've always kind of thought that if you want to part of a "club," you've got to follow the rules. Otherwise, go join a different club. So, I agree with OMM and others about the civility that must be maintained, for this and other reasons (mainly having to do with common sense and good manners). But, otherwise, who cares about what someone posts? We all have different levels of knowledge of, and approaches to, ND football and other aspects of the University. It'd be awful boring around here if all the posts said the same damned thing in different words.
As to eternal optimism, I confess. I always thought the words to the fight song said "What tho' the odds be great or small, old Notre Dame will win over all. . . ." Not "well, I'll be optimistic and cheer loud if we look good on paper and had a top recruiting class the year before." And if someone else thinks differently, so what? It's just an opinion, and you know what they say about those.