Well I just thought I'd put my two pennorth in.
Firstly can I say well done to the OP as it makes a refreshing change of late to have a sensible post from a newbie.
Right, I've said this many times before, both clubs grew up on the back of hard working, working class folk who were damn proud to be so. Coal mining, ship building, dockers & lots of heavy industrial engineering. Back in the old days men would often attend either club depending on who was playing at home. Rivalry was always there but as time went on it got bitter & nasty with some very unsavoury incidents taking place, maybe things have mellowed a little lately.
I think one thing that unites us in some small way is the way we are both treated by the national press, they still seem to have an image of us as pit heaps, cloth caps, prize leeks & whippets. I long since gave up reading the national dailies as they treated us with constant contempt. So **** them I say. The radio & TV stations are the same.
When we do seem to be ticking along nicely & attempting to genuinely give us something to shout about, someone comes along & knicks our best players, alas, I feel that may always be the case. So you see there really is no difference between us at all apart from the colour of our stripes. Most of my family, including my dad were/are Newcastle fans.
Maybe it's because I grew up in a very mixed area, I don't know but I've always had respect for the loyalty the Mags have shown over the years & I have plenty of mates on both sides. Janie's family all come from Newcastle/Gateshead area. When I first met her brothers they took the piss a bit but in a friendly, non hostile way & soon made me one of their own. Bridges can be crossed for sure.
Mind, I've had plenty of rows with Mag lads but always we made up. There are tossers linked to every club but to me, most fans I've met are just normal people just like us. Some do have that holier than thou attitude but I'm not gonna name names. I love talking with the away fans at the burger vans after the matches & have met some cracking lads on the most unlikeliest away trips. I have had my skin saved one more than one occasion by opposing lads when thins have kicked off.
Maybe this is a bit long winded but going back to the original point, I think it's called mutual respect even though many will not agree.