Why are (some) football fans so judgemental?

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PompeyLapras

PompeyLapras

Well-Known Member
Jun 29, 2011
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the Hufflepuff Common Room
There's a video clip doing the rounds on Twitter atm and it's a clip from St Mary's pre-game or something with a guy dancing, flashing lights, some opposition player or whatever shaking his head and I saw a longer version of the video today which also showed some pyrotechnics...

Now, I dunno if it's mostly because it's Southampton and the people whose comments I'm seeing are Portsmouth fans, but there's so many comments about it being embarrassing or cringe or terrible and like the worst thing in the world and it just annoys me. It's literally just harmless fun, who cares if someone is doing some OTT dancing, fair play to him for having so much enjoyment. And what's wrong with flame cannon and flashing lights? Again, it's just harmless fun. But I've noticed football fans (some of them) can be incredibly judgmental and to them the only way that is acceptable is their way, anything that deviates from their perception of the norm or what's right is terrible and wrong and the erosion of working class values or some BS like that. It's like who are you to tell people or clubs what they can or cannot do? Who are you to judge people (or clubs) for doing things differently to what you might like?

Personally, I'd love it if there were more pyrotechnics at Porsmouth,make the pre-game build up more of an event, more of a spectacle... At the moment it's just some person from some sponsoring company I don't know or care about being presented on the pitch and some kids walking around the pitch. Which is great for them, but hardly is entertainment. Of course, that'll never happen because apparently anything like that is terrible and wrong... People would have a mass hysteria attack if we so much as played a bit of goal music.

Yes I realise I might be being a bit judgmental too, but I feel being judgmental about people being judgmental is slightly more acceptable than just being judgmental about something different.
 
I have no problem with clubs trying to introduce something different at matches....the ones who just want to drink and grumble in the concourses can carry on doing it...they'd have cause for complaint if a rocket was sent through there, but otherwise let those who want to watch do it and those that don't aren't forced to. I suspect it appeals more to the kids anyway....and don't we want them to become interested.
 
I liked the light show before the last game.

I know people say we are becoming more American, but after recently seeing both an NFL game in a packed stadium and a football (I refuse to call it soccer) game in a packed stadium, i really like SOME of what they do over there. Even as a Brit I got goosebumps when the National Anthem was sung. loved it outside the stadium they were giving all the fans red and yellow cards to hold up. Funny as hell during the game, every time there was a foul, 50,000 people hold up cards lol. And when 2 players were sent off, the sea of red was hysterical :)

Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating full on US style, but maybe we shouldn't be 'atmosphere snobs' and take up a few pointers from over the pond
 
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thereisonlyoneno7 said:
I liked the light show before the last game.

I know people say we are becoming more American, but after recently seeing both an NFL game in a packed stadium and a football (I refuse to call it soccer) game in a packed stadium, i really like SOME of what they do over there. Even as a Brit I got goosebumps when the National Anthem was sung. loved it outside the stadium they were giving all the fans red and yellow cards to hold up. Funny as hell during the game, every time there was a foul, 50,000 people hold up cards lol. And when 2 players were sent off, the sea of red was hysterical :)

Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating full on US style, but maybe we shouldn't be 'atmosphere snobs' and take up a few pointers from over the pond
Click to expand...
Fully agree although I am a bit biased given I'm into MLB and NFL.
 
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thereisonlyoneno7 said:
I liked the light show before the last game.

I know people say we are becoming more American, but after recently seeing both an NFL game in a packed stadium and a football (I refuse to call it soccer) game in a packed stadium, i really like SOME of what they do over there. Even as a Brit I got goosebumps when the National Anthem was sung. loved it outside the stadium they were giving all the fans red and yellow cards to hold up. Funny as hell during the game, every time there was a foul, 50,000 people hold up cards lol. And when 2 players were sent off, the sea of red was hysterical :)

Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating full on US style, but maybe we shouldn't be 'atmosphere snobs' and take up a few pointers from over the pond
Click to expand...

I agree to an extent, the NFL is the most entertaining sport both on and off the field, but Americans in general seem more up for **** like that. English people are usually pessimistic miserable bastards who feel stupid doing anything like that so can't see it catching on. Don't see the harm in it myself
 
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Saintmagic said:
I agree to an extent, the NFL is the most entertaining sport both on and off the field, but Americans in general seem more up for **** like that. English people are usually pessimistic miserable bastards who feel stupid doing anything like that so can't see it catching on. Don't see the harm in it myself
Click to expand...
Think you've hit the nail on the head. We as a nation give a **** too much what others think of us in public. My theory on life - sod it, do as you please and enjoy. You only live once, this ain't a dress rehearsal.
 
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thereisonlyoneno7 said:
I liked the light show before the last game.

I know people say we are becoming more American, but after recently seeing both an NFL game in a packed stadium and a football (I refuse to call it soccer) game in a packed stadium, i really like SOME of what they do over there. Even as a Brit I got goosebumps when the National Anthem was sung. loved it outside the stadium they were giving all the fans red and yellow cards to hold up. Funny as hell during the game, every time there was a foul, 50,000 people hold up cards lol. And when 2 players were sent off, the sea of red was hysterical :)

Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating full on US style, but maybe we shouldn't be 'atmosphere snobs' and take up a few pointers from over the pond
Click to expand...

Which NFL game did you see?

I agree we should take up some pointers from them, they really know how to put on a show and each NFL game is a big event in itself, not like football matches here. Though I suppose there are less of them. But still...

You're probably right that it's the stereotypical British stiff upper-lip, don't show your emotions rubbish, I personally hate that particular aspect of British culture and I do like the fact that Americans are more free-spirited and fun loving.... but I think there is an undercurrent of those who reject such notions of... toxic Britishness shall we say (like toxic masculinity but... with Britishness) because there are a small subset of people who are more about just having fun than this very regimented, traditional atmosphere you get at football games over here... And at the NFL games at Wembley, you do get some people who are really into it and are... dancing like that dude in the southampton video...
 
Lincoln just conceded. Bad timing but the Lancaster came over. Merlins roaring. The crowd went wild. Gave it all for the rest of the game as if we were winning..............which we ended up doing.

Arsenal have their silly little planes asking for managers to be sacked. We don't mess about with that uninspirational small fry. Instant "dambusters march" response (if you listen carefully because the video stops before the full crowd gets going.):

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PompeyLapras said:
There's a video clip doing the rounds on Twitter atm and it's a clip from St Mary's pre-game or something with a guy dancing, flashing lights, some opposition player or whatever shaking his head and I saw a longer version of the video today which also showed some pyrotechnics...

Now, I dunno if it's mostly because it's Southampton and the people whose comments I'm seeing are Portsmouth fans, but there's so many comments about it being embarrassing or cringe or terrible and like the worst thing in the world and it just annoys me. It's literally just harmless fun, who cares if someone is doing some OTT dancing, fair play to him for having so much enjoyment. And what's wrong with flame cannon and flashing lights? Again, it's just harmless fun. But I've noticed football fans (some of them) can be incredibly judgmental and to them the only way that is acceptable is their way, anything that deviates from their perception of the norm or what's right is terrible and wrong and the erosion of working class values or some BS like that. It's like who are you to tell people or clubs what they can or cannot do? Who are you to judge people (or clubs) for doing things differently to what you might like?

Personally, I'd love it if there were more pyrotechnics at Porsmouth,make the pre-game build up more of an event, more of a spectacle... At the moment it's just some person from some sponsoring company I don't know or care about being presented on the pitch and some kids walking around the pitch. Which is great for them, but hardly is entertainment. Of course, that'll never happen because apparently anything like that is terrible and wrong... People would have a mass hysteria attack if we so much as played a bit of goal music.

Yes I realise I might be being a bit judgmental too, but I feel being judgmental about people being judgmental is slightly more acceptable than just being judgmental about something different.
Click to expand...


I agree with you totally. There are lots of fans that bemoan the 24 hour social media derived "keep 'em on message" style of modern clubs (mainly Prem. Diss it all you like but if peeopl want that then who is to argue?

A bloke at the end of our row (at Lincoln) wears the full on FA cup face paint and red/white clown wig with flag draped around his shoulders every game. What's wrong with that? Cringey? Yes, I suppose, but what's wrong with it? He's actually Scottish which makes it a bit funnier but nothing is cringey in the sense that some mean "cringey". Some like to really go for it on football day. Maybe an escape from a mundane life or just a celebration of the here and now but what the F has it got to do with anyone else.

More cringye is as you say. Pre-planned, methodical, no spontaneity corporate stuff. I love it when people take themselves out of their comfort zone and release. That is what it is all about.
 
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