Do we take footy too seriously?

[Sttew]

Yeah i always tell my missus, i love you but in fairness Football was here first.. Now i know you have your grandmother's funeral today but the Pies are playing so i'll book you an Uber.

And no doubt the missus is well aware footy was there first. But you give them an inch and they take a mile

 

[Xtreme]

Some take it too far:

 

[hench]

I think Australians in general have it under control . We don't have the amount of violence associated with our sports like some European leagues do

Ask my dog how ****ing violent it is when we lose.

And we lose quite often up here.

 

[Komrade_Tiger]

It's not entertainment. It's a way of life

Indoctrinated since birth

 

[Jesse Custer]

If you think we take footy would love to know what you think of some of the european and south american football (soccer) fans.

apart from politics that's all they've got.

To answer the op, some do yes.

 

[HBF]

Don't take the actual game day as seriously as I used to, but I do enjoy what Big Footy provides in that we can discuss whatever we like about the greatest game on the planet.

 

[Wallaby]

Well, I'd ask my wife, but I'm not married.

I'd ask my girlfriend, but I've never had one.

I wanted to ask my work colleagues, but I haven't had a job since 1982.

Sorry - got to go - need to complete my spreadsheet on Richmond Free Kicks between the Half-forward flanks and Forward Pockets vs those for Opponents- between 1996-1999 (away games only). I have to send it to the club for them to use in future game planning.

What was the question again?

 

[The Swert]

According to that thread asking if you get physically angry after a loss...yes we do.

 

[Sttew]

In Sydney, at a party or meeting, you get asked, "What school did you go to", but In Melbourne and probably other heartland AFL states, the first question will be "Who do you follow in the AFL".

 

[STFU Donnie]

Ask my dog how ******* violent it is when we lose.

And we lose quite often up here.

My dog does somersaults when we lose.

How many, I hear you ask?

It depends on how hard I kick it up the arse.

 

[M Malice]

Some take it too far:

looks like he jumped the gun in 08.

 

[kranky al]

I think we (generally) do take it too seriously, but it's also part of our tribal instinct. People seem to yearn to band together "as one" and beat our chests loudly at "the others".

Doesn't matter if it's football teams, Apple v Android, my music taste v yours, left side of politics v right side, we want to group together and feel part of a group, and then get swept along with the emotion of it.

The media then want to play as well, as evidenced by things like the wanky pre-game build up and the over dramatisation that precedes just about every talking point on AFL360.

So if the seriousness of footy was taken away from us, we'd just replace it with something else.
In short, don't take the seriousness of footy too seriously

This is all about right- except for the android apple argument - droiders are clearly wrong

 

[TedDougChris]

"Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that."

Bill Shankly, former Liverpool FC Manager.

Was just trying to find that quote. Good man !!

 

[momentbymoment]

I find it hilarious watching people gloat over their teams success as if they somehow had something to do with it.

Then I watch myself do it ;(

 

[momentbymoment]

In Sydney, at a party or meeting, you get asked, "What school did you go to", but In Melbourne and probably other heartland AFL states, the first question will be "Who do you follow in the AFL".

No. In Sydney you get asked how much your house is worth.

 

[Sassafras]

Footy? Probably not. Great sport to play even if it's just kick to kick from school age to any age, it's healthy and in most towns from the suburbs to the country there is a local team and it can be a really inviting with a passionate community feel. Also great for conversations, whether talking about any level a lot of different backgrounds and lifestyles can relate and be brought together.

As for AFL? I think so. When your a kid I think it's different, it's all about big name players, singing the song, the team colours and the huge entertainment aspect. But I think when you get a bit older and you kind of see it as the business it is, when you only get to see the footy when you squint and filter out the sponsors, gambling, media, contract talks, jumper designs, and statistic after statistic... I think it all wears a bit thin and it's hard to be emotionally invested or take it seriously.

 

[beta_condition]

Football club is like a childhood pet, it's not part of the family but it is, even someone like me who has only ever been to one live game I feel connection to Hawthorn where i can physically be sick watching a close final

 

[J_Moore]

You have to take it seriously for it to work as entertainment. Otherwise it's blokes playing for their own enjoyment. Of course, that's how it started out until spectators realised that watching people perform athletic feats that you can't accomplish yourself gives you a visceral thrill.

It's better than movies because no-one is acting and you never know the ending.

As a Bulldogs and West Ham fan I've wished I was born with the gene that some blokes have, the one that means you have no interest in sport. But im stuck with it. May as well make the most of it.

Nah seriously though good post and gets to the nub of the issue perfectly imo

 

[IllBeTheJudge]

This is all about right- except for the android apple argument - droiders are clearly wrong

I've been a Windows Phone guy for years now, I reckon you're both wrong

And yes it is lonely in my tribal group

 

[crippton09]

The media and the clips at the award ceremonies do IMO. All these overly dramatic voice overs to slowmo footage. dribbling on with cheesey analogies and talk about spirit, strength and rising through adversity etc. Such bullish*t IMO. Its a game. Yeah we cheer at the great plays and give it to the opposing teams when they don't go so well, that's fine. But yeah definitely media and the clips they play. The brownlow medal night is one of the worst offenders.

 

[Sttew]

I find it hilarious watching people gloat over their teams success as if they somehow had something to do with it.

Then I watch myself do it ;(

And, when people congratulate you on your team's success as though you were part of it.

 

[M Malice]

I find it hilarious watching people gloat over their teams success as if they somehow had something to do with it.

Then I watch myself do it ;(

And, when people congratulate you on your team's success as though you were part of it.

yep, funny stuff. reading some of the gloating by supporters on BF you would think they were a vital member of the team coaching or recruitment staff.
most of it is just good-natured banter but i have noticed some take it and give it too seriously.

 

[Toump Ass]

THIS IS A ****ING DISGRACE.

Seriously this dog needs to be taken out behind the shed to have a bullet put into the back of its head.

And you can take that ****in' prick "Boomer" along with him.

Also no I don't.

 

[kid_a]

I find it hilarious watching people gloat over their teams success as if they somehow had something to do with it.

Then I watch myself do it ;(

yep, I'm very guilty of this.
Its amazing how a bunch of blokes running around out on a field, most of whom I've never met before or probably never will meet (have actually met a few players) can impact my emotions so much.
But really you don't follow the players, the players are the representitives of the jersey and other fans around you who are your comrades.

It really is silly, but I love it.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Television commentators should take it more seriously.