jaywbigred
Well-known member
I just wanted to vent quickly about pro sports and their fanbases.
I often here from various people, esp. when their team is part of a heated rivalry, things like
"The Eagles have the worst fans!"
"Steelers fans are the most obnoxious!"
"Yankees fans are dirt bags!"
"Red Sox fans are classless!"
"Michigan fans are horrible people!"
"Ohio State fans are idiots"
And so forth.
And it drives me nuts.
To me, labeling an entire fanbase a certain negative attribute or stereotype is wrong and borders on being dangerous. I mean, "Red Sox Nation" or whatever sports "________ Nation" you want to talk about, is comprised of hundreds of thousands or even millions of fans. They come from all walks of life. As you go from city to city, the demographics might change slightly, but I would say they are probably more similar than they are different.
And to me, the danger is that labeling all Steelers fans as "drunken morons" is only 1 step away, in human psychology, from labeling "all Armenians are drunken dogs" or "all Serbs are dirty" or whatever.
Now of course, in sports, the stakes are generally lower. Wars do not break out because "Ravens fans" think "Steelers fans" are "obnoxious." But to me, falling inline with sentiments like these is dangerous.
Now, to a certain degree, it adds to the flavor of sport; I get that. But I still try not to buy into it, at all times. I think personally, I do a good job of it. And I have to report that It doesn't stop me from hating Michigan, and it doesn't stop me from rooting against the Rangers and the Red Sox and the NFC East, not in the least. the rivalry is still just as strong.
Sorry for the rant!
I often here from various people, esp. when their team is part of a heated rivalry, things like
"The Eagles have the worst fans!"
"Steelers fans are the most obnoxious!"
"Yankees fans are dirt bags!"
"Red Sox fans are classless!"
"Michigan fans are horrible people!"
"Ohio State fans are idiots"
And so forth.
And it drives me nuts.
To me, labeling an entire fanbase a certain negative attribute or stereotype is wrong and borders on being dangerous. I mean, "Red Sox Nation" or whatever sports "________ Nation" you want to talk about, is comprised of hundreds of thousands or even millions of fans. They come from all walks of life. As you go from city to city, the demographics might change slightly, but I would say they are probably more similar than they are different.
And to me, the danger is that labeling all Steelers fans as "drunken morons" is only 1 step away, in human psychology, from labeling "all Armenians are drunken dogs" or "all Serbs are dirty" or whatever.
Now of course, in sports, the stakes are generally lower. Wars do not break out because "Ravens fans" think "Steelers fans" are "obnoxious." But to me, falling inline with sentiments like these is dangerous.
Now, to a certain degree, it adds to the flavor of sport; I get that. But I still try not to buy into it, at all times. I think personally, I do a good job of it. And I have to report that It doesn't stop me from hating Michigan, and it doesn't stop me from rooting against the Rangers and the Red Sox and the NFC East, not in the least. the rivalry is still just as strong.
Sorry for the rant!
:lol: )
