The Pollyanna principle  is the tendency for people to remember pleasant items more accurately than unpleasant ones, Research^] indicates that, at the subconscious level, the mind has a tendency to focus on the optimistic while, at the conscious level, it has a tendency to focus on the negative. This subconscious bias towards the positive is often described as the Pollyanna principle.

I'm one of those guys who probably subscribes to this principle. I was watching the game while in NC on Saturday. At the end of the game I looked at the posts made after UT went up 27-14 until just before the final drive. 

Wow. Go back and read them yourself. I am just maybe dumb enough to think that the Gators had a chance, and while I surely thought "it's not looking good" I am just a little surprised at those who actually took the time to post what they posted. But I sat there at a bar in North Carolina (on my wife's birthday no less), praying, cussing, yelling and willing (along with legions of Gator fans all across the USA) a win.    

Actually logging in and writing the stuff that was posted - just wow. I know I know, free country and all of that, and "don't read it if you don't like it ... "  

 Maybe I don't get it.  Why come on here and post "Game over" or "underwhelming"?Or

"gassed but also out coached...offense of shame" "

The DC should be fired for this performance"

 "Better win or he sinks below the Muschamp line "

Really? 3 Freshmen OT and a redshirt QB and this is an offense OF SHAME? Someone actually wrote that after viewing Exhibit A last year.  

I know I'm going to get bashed for posting this ... is it just that misery loves company?Or was it strong drink? Or is it the stench of Musgump still on the fans? Cause I'm just a pollyanna I guess. I have enough name calling, pressure, and stress in my life. I don't dump on the team that keeps me sane. Or the coach. Even though the games make me borderline insance. 

halftime at the game while the ut band was playing classical music (not bad)  and saw what the posters on the VS were thinking and just wanted to throw up. It is generally a sad commentary on our fan base. A giant of a hulk sits in the row in front of me and he whines, bitches and moans worse than any human being I have ever seen... ever! He was screaming about VH3's play and after every ut play of significance he yelled this is over blah blah blah... he threats about leaving and I cheer to myself when he does go back to central florida... Pretty much a waste of a person. I would punch him out and be arrested but he is about 6'8" and 350 or so....

 Anyway, sitting next to me was a new someone from the usual seat holde, a lady and her 2 sons who were about 8 and 11. She was an alum who had just moved back to sofl from NYC and it was her first game since being a student during the SOS years and it was also her boys first Gator game. She leaned over to me in the 3rd quarter and said it wasn't quite the same and asked why the top of the student section was vacant. I explained how times have changed a bit but how I was encouraged earlier in the season when the seats were filled at the first and second home games.  She was cheering hard anyway and the boys were anxiously trying but you could see the concern on their faces.... I said to the three of them... hang in there and watch this place get electric when we start coming back.

I think I enjoyed seeing these strangers raw exhilaration as much as what happened on the field as things unfolded! They were jazzed about the pregame video and wide eyed when the "what it means to be a Gator" video.... but when they finally left after the final singing of the alma mater it was so obvious they had a lifetime memory and now understand what their mom had told them and what it is like live in the Swamp.