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& most Man Utd fans were born in Surrey
For that very reason I didn't say most Man Utd fans were born within sight of Old Trafford!
My father was actually born within earshot of Old Trafford but his father didn't like football and never took him. And my father never took me as he had no interest and I too have no real interest.
Well, I at least can have a conversation with some-one based around what interests them rather than me. If that’s football, cool. I’m not a huge fan, but I’m also not self centered enough to realise that regardless of my opinion of it, it’s still pretty popular, and as binners points out, imagine! The trauma of some-one engaging you in conversation…Oh the horror!
I don’t get this line of thought, maybe I’m just self centred. I wouldn’t want to talk about football, last nights tv or the latest celebrity gossip so why would I show an interest? Why the hell would I read up or have knowledge of something I don’t give a shit about? Life is way too short for that and having no knowledge of things I have no interest in hasn’t affected me in any way. Are we supposed to have a base knowledge of everything, just in case some random person instigates conversation?
It's comparable to:
(1) simply not believing in god
or
(2) being actively atheist.
Being number 1, ie no interest in football, or god, gets little or no reaction.
Many people, unwittingly or otherwise, are actually option (2) in life. This gets a reaction. As you're posting on about it on an Internet forum you may be straying into number 2.
If someone asks you about the game last night and you simply say "you didn't see it, get up to anything good at the weekend with the family? then that's done and moved on.
If you reply "no, I don't like football" then I you're responding to natural small talk about the national game rudely. They don't actually care about your opinion on the weather or football, just don't want to stand in silence. You're being a football militant atheist.
Think about being asked "muggy weather today isn't it"
And responding
"I don't really like weather"
It's just a bit rude and lacking social skills. Just move on to talk about something else, they're making conversation and it's often a bankable opener, and should be if you like it or not!
Don’t drink tea coffee or alcohol and ambivalent about football. If you listen to 5Live you can’t help but know about football, I really don’t like how it is the major sport in the country to the detriment of others ie press coverage etc.
Went to see Everton last year with a mate who was visiting from America. Throughly enjoyed it, Goodson being an old ground felt some how authentic.
Don’t understand how people get so into a team they want to fight other fans.
Hey I like Baseball which really confuses people, went to Fenway last year just to see it, an amazing ballpark, Babe Ruth played there, incredible
As a game/sport I like it, the professional game does attract the tribal bellends. Stopped playing in my mid 20s and lost any interest in it until Junior decided he wanted to get involved. I ended doing a coaching course with the FA, I find this side of it really enjoyable
It’s comparable to:
(1) simply not believing in god
or
(2) being actively atheist.
Being number 1, ie no interest in football, or god, gets little or no reaction.
That’s a good way of putting it and I firmly fall in camp one 99% of the time. There have been occasions, like others have mentioned, where somebody pretty much won’t accept it though. They either carry on talking football or can’t comprehend someone not liking it. Very odd and thankfully rare behaviour.
Why the hell would I read up or have knowledge of something I don’t give a shit about?
Yeah, why would you, after all; what's important to you and only you exclusively is the only thing that matters, right?
Y'know what? I've spoken to lots of blokes who say they can't do small talk, that they hate the social events that their wives and partners "make" them go to...This thread is full of these people. I feel sorry for you, I really do, there are hundreds of interesting people out there, and they do endlessly fascinating things, some of them even like football...
If you reply “no, I don’t like football” then I you’re responding to natural small talk about the national game rudely.
Hardly rude is it. If I said to someone did you see the last stage of the tour and they said "No, I don't like cycling" I would just think fair enough and not see it as rude at all.
I would just see it as honest rather than pretending to have interest in something and to me it is rude to assume that someone else likes something and wants to talk about it just because you do.
And football militant, little bit dramatic.
. I feel sorry for you, I really do, there are hundreds of interesting people out there, and they do endlessly fascinating things, some of them even like football…
Thanks, but that’s a tad over dramatic and a waste of your emotions. I have an active social life and will happily chat to anyone I meet. All of this without ever having to discuss football. It’s possible for people to find something in common without having to be knowledgable about something that doesn’t remotely interest one of the parties. I don’t expect strangers to have a base knowledge of mountain biking, skateboarding or the Clutch back catalogue. I know! How crazy is that?
What annoys me are the loud mouthed england rugby fans that cant id half their own team or players with around a hundred caps like Richie Mcaw or AW Jones etc.
I do however know what football is, have an understanding of the structure, the culture around it and so on but I still didn’t know who that bloke was who couldn’t lie to save his life
This was my point earlier. You may hate it, but any semi aware adult in the UK will have a basic understanding of it.
Nope cant see the attraction whatsoever, hated playing it at school and have zero interest in watching, talking or reading about it.
So just because you hate something and have zero interest in it you can't understand why someone else would enjoy it? Do you feel the same about everything you have no interest in?
It is not about understanding why someone else may like something it is about the people who are saying everyone should know about football just in case someone wants to discuss it, see how silly that sounds?
And if I MUST know about football what level of knowledge do I need to have, all the team in Premier league or lower leagues? Which key players do I need to be aware of? How much time should I spend on gaining this knowledge in a subject I have zero interest in? and again - all because someone I may or may not know may want to discuss the topic in a casual conversation.
It is not about understanding why someone else may like something it is about the people who are saying everyone should know about football just in case someone wants to discuss it, see how silly that sounds?
Bingo! I have somebody feeling sorry for me and thinking I’m missing out on the rich wonders of the world. All because I don’t discuss football. Very bizarre mindset.
I've been accused of being unpatriotic because I wasn't interested in the world cup or how England would do in the world cup. I did point out they were right I'm not patriotic, but it's got bugger all to do with football.
I don't hate football I just have zero interest in it, the same for rugby and cricket.
I have zero interest at all. When I have watched it the behaviour and attitude of the players put me right off
I couldn't name a single current professional player apart from Gary McGuir (only because he is all over the news right now). Couldn't tell you who he plays for though.
Not found it to be a problem though and I have no issue with other people enjoying it
Y’know what? I’ve spoken to lots of blokes who say they can’t do small talk
Ah so a working knowledge of football is required for small talk?
I spent 8 years or so as a service engineer, visiting aerospace and materials manufacturing plants over the UK and the world. Football is an almost universal language and topic of conversation - I found that being able to chat on even the most basic of level about what was happening in the English Premiership (the most widely watched league around the world) would go great lengths towards building a rapport with the guys on site that I was working with, which in turn meant they were that much more willing to help you out, lend you a hand, tools, whatever. Made every job that much easier and more pleasant.
I think sometimes people wear their difference from the masses too much like a badge of honour, as though it somehow elevates them above the hoi polloi. You're not better, just different. Our time here is short and fleeting, and if you can't understand why the first topic of conversation with a stranger might be the most popular and widely played/followed sport in the world then I think that says far more about you than it does them.
If I said to someone did you see the last stage of the tour and they said “No, I don’t like cycling” I would just think fair enough and not see it as rude at all
Then we're different. I think this is abrupt, unfriendly rude and lacking social ability.
If I wasn't interested in cycling and someone asked me about the last stage of the tour then I could say:
"I didn't catch it, was it good?"
This allows me someone two speak passionately about something they're clearly interested in, which I enjoy and I might learn something. It makes it about them, not me, always good in life. Only talking about about things you like is basically selfish.
Or
"no, I didn't catch it. I saw you went to xyz at the weekend. It looked great, what was it like?"
Again, about them, not only responding to things you like. Take an interest, learn something, this is how conversations work and friends are made.
If you see other people's interests as things you have to endure and "pretend to take an interest in" then no wonder you're struggling with speaking to people and feeling alienated.
I'd you only respond to things in conversation you personally like in a positive way then, I'm afraid to say, the problem is likely you.
And football militant, little bit dramatic
I'm happy with this. You're posting publicly about how people don't like you after you're rude to them about something they enjoy when they're only making small talk. Militant is reasonable.
It is not about understanding why someone else may like something it is about the people who are saying everyone should know about football just in case someone wants to discuss it, see how silly that sounds
I wasnt disagreeing with you..
My comment was aimed at an earlier poster
Ah so a working knowledge of football is required for small talk?Ah so a working knowledge of football is required for small talk?
No, just the cliches:
"You wus robbed"
"He played a blinder"
"That ref was blind"
"Sick as the moon / over a parrot" or whatever.
I have no interest in it whatsoever, but a blunt 'I don't like football' when someone tries to open a conversation with you comes across as being rude. I usually resort to "I don't really follow it" which doesn't cut the other person off at the knees.
As regards tribalism - I think humans are programmed for it. If it wasn't football, it would be something else.
You’re not better, just different.
Well that cuts both ways.
In or work place there's it and sales. All of sales are footie fans. All of it are not. Sales morning meetings are almost an hours worth of football talk. In it we are vastly more efficient having reduced it down to ”did you see the game last night? "Yes great goal want it!?"
Talking of IT computers play a huge part in culture these days don't they? Yet no one starts small talk with an opener about binary or logic gates.
When people find out I'm from Glasgow, almost without fail if the person is male, the question is, 'So are you blue or green?' said with the same knowing condescending smile because the only thing Glasgow has going for it is heroin addicts and a fanatical devotion to a sport that has also managed to seamlessly intertwine politics and religious bigotry.
I used to say I supported Partick Thistle but as I've become comfortable with people assuming I'm homosexual/effeminate/whatever-masculinity-challenged-label-applies, I just say I don't like football.
If people feel comfortable assuming I follow a football team and subscribe to all the political bullshit that goes along with it I have no problem hurting their feelings by saying I don't like football.
Yes, it's rude to say, 'I don't like football' but it's also rude for people to just assume you follow their chosen sport.
I don't think its rude to say "I don't like" or don't have an interest in something. I personally think it's ruder to lie or bullshit about something.
'The Glasgow problem' is also another huge example of why those of us on the outside struggle to come to terms with football support and why 'liking football' is so different to enjoying following most other sports. I just can't imagine ever wanting to get involved in that regardless of how fascinated I was with it as a sporting spectacle.
Genuine question - your support of Celtic or Rangers is pretty much decided at your conception, but does the 'paid talent' on show care or know what's what and which side they have picked before they sign up? Or are they just overseas guns for hire paid to do a job for the highest bidder?
That’s where I stand tbh. Honesty is the best policy. Faking an interest in something is just plain odd behaviour to me. Best to just be truthful and say “Sorry, but I don’t watch / like football” and then everyone knows where you stand on the subject. Feigning interest and then having to keep that up would be bloody exhausting. Fair play to those that do like it though. It’s not like they’re going to be short of folk to discuss it with.
Ah so a working knowledge of football is required for small talk
If you don’t have an opinion on how the game is being adversely effected by VAR’s draconian interpreting the offside rule, then what’s the point of being alive?
Seriously...
😃
Yup, the Glasgow problem as you put it is something few folk on here appreciate outside of the ones that have lived in its vicinity. That's not to say everyone is a full 11 on the Mason Boyne scale but when you meet the ones that are it somewhat tempers your opinion.
As for small talk, I've managed to kill hours of my life chatting with colleagues, tanker drivers and whoever else I'm trapped in a room with and not one has reacted negatively when I said I don't follow football. I think some of you are rather thin skinned and lacking in imagination if you think thats the only way to make small talk. Oh and nobody likes a bullshitter.
When I've been asked who I support, I've given answers like "Z Vetements" or "Kent", or "London Irish", and they look at you like you're from another planet.
My old flatmate used actually answer with a footy team, but having a fairly posh English accent and answering "Kircaldy" (some remote ancestry there) he also looks as if he was an alien from another planet. There certainly are people that assume that you must support a team that typically play in the top 1-2 English divisions (plus the 2 Scottish teams that people have heard of)
It's when they say "we" that cheeses me off. OK, I didn't realise you played for them... what position do you play? And you get looks as if you're an alien from another planet 😉
In the olden days when every town had it's club and it was the only weekly social thing I can understand "we" but sorry, now it's purely business, and town names in club names are purely historic leftovers. If it's not amateur then sport exists purely for the purpose of moving money from lots of people to a few elite rich.
If you don’t have an opinion on how the game is being adversely effected by VAR’s draconian interpreting the offside rule, then what’s the point of being alive?
Well I suppose I could counter by asking for an opinion re. bolting on grit or some such. Or maybe the struggles surrounding oboe reeds. But I don't.
I wonder if this is a age thing or a part of the country thing? I haven't had this since I was in my early 20s.
Now 39 live down south. If I do get asked it's more along the lines of "Are you interested in football?" Rather than "What team do you support?".
Reading, writhing, arithmetic, football...
Doesn’t matter if you like it or not. Spending 1min a day reading the sport pages gives you an additional language / skill that will aid you for life.
The alternative is to spend more effort fighting you way around social situations with the masses globally in the office, lab, taxis and basically everywhere. Working overseas it is often the first thing that will bring you into a new group, while the person that doesn’t like football but has researched local culture is sat in the corner on their own. The benefits far outweigh the cons 😂
I don’t think its rude to say “I don’t like” or don’t have an interest in something. I personally think it’s ruder to lie or bullshit about something.
Even ruder is after telling someone you have no idea or wish to have any idea they insist on talking to you about it and won't accept it.
I had a manager who continually used football analogies .. despite both his two direct reports having no knowledge or wish to have any knowledge about it.
It's as much the expectation as anything... my mate/colleague is big into kayaks and outdoors... I like bikes and outdoors... I can talk to him about bikes without being condescending and likewise with kayaks... I don't expect him to know what the WC is or who the people are... let alone team managers or mechanics ... he lives a mile in a straight line from Okeford Hill bike park.. but I don't expect him to know where or what...
@markgraylish:
The CFL games went on for 4 hours…I think it was a ruse to make punters buy overpriced, shite beer…
I think you are absolutely right about ice hockey in Canada. I love it, but I have a brother who grew up hating it and feeling ostracised for it.
That said, in defence of North American football, I realised at some point that you had to think of it less as an action sport, and more as a living chess match. When you do that, and start to observe the strategies involved, it becomes more interesting.
Still super long and boring, but at least slightly more interesting...
If you don’t have an opinion on how the game is being adversely effected by VAR’s draconian interpreting the offside rule, then what’s the point of being alive?
Id counter with if you know what any of these things are, then what's the point of being alive? 🙂
Doesn’t matter if you like it or not. Spending 1min a day reading the sport pages gives you an additional language / skill that will aid you for life.
Never read a paper, never mind the sports pages. I suppose there is no way of knowing if it has helped, but I definitely don’t feel like I’ve been hindered in any way.
I'm with you OP. When I started work I soon came to the conclusion that I'd best at least pay attention to the football results or be excluded from all conversation.
That being said, I don't really "get" spectating at sports at all and that includes all forms of cycling.
Feigning interest and then having to keep that up would be bloody exhausting.
It certainly was for Roy and Moss in The IT Crowd.
"Did you see that ludicrous display last night!?"
Never been interested in football, no longer drink alcohol (got bored of pubs, hangovers etc.. in my 20's) no longer smoke, no longer do drugs and people think its weird!
Now for the non tea drinkers, you guys are pure scum and all of you should be shot!! what the hell do you dip biscuits in???
Ive nothing against people who watch football but what does confuse me is some people can be so passionate about a sport to the point they will watch any match being played on TV, they will fight, slag off and abuse supporters of other teams yet they never have a kick around themselves
How can people be so passionate about a sport yet not play it yourself (especially as football is cheap to just have a kick around with mates etc..)
you could be passionate about formula 1 racing and never drive one. Or even drive at all.
I did play but amongst my football-liking mates, I never went to matches as I was usually playing.
I find it odd that people follow teams religiously. That their mood is affected by how well their team preforms. This idea of them an us.
I don't understand why so much of the news is given over to a team sport. It annoys me that other radio broadcasts are interrupted to give you live updates about a game.
Don't mind the actual game of football, but don't follow it.
I lost interest in football when I was about 10 I think. Used to go with my dad who never really had much interest in it either. I think when I was young it was expected you were just into football. It was probably later I realised the ridiculousness of constantly being asked "who do you support?" and the answer could have a negative impact on the rest of your day.
My brother in law is properly into football and bases his family meal times around what games are on, last time we were there he was getting stressed out over which team his son (7 years old) was going to play with on a Saturday morning and having serious conversations with the boy over his commitment.
It seems to turn people into twonks
Spending 1min a day reading the sport pages gives you an additional language / skill that will aid you for life.
So now I have to start buying a paper as well?
Which one do I need to buy to fit in?
I find it odd that people follow teams religiously. That their mood is affected by how well their team preforms. This idea of them an us.
Bread and circuses...
So now I have to start buying a paper as well?
Which one do I need to buy to fit in?
pssst - if you don't want to look like a dick - just remember that websites have 'pages' too - no mention was made of 'newspapers'. And some of them are about sports AND you don't have to pay for some of them. I know, mental isn't it!