I was wrong about sports fans who say ”we won”. Here's what I missed:🧵
Pep@peptalksblog
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Oct 12, 2025
~3 min read
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I was wrong about sports fans who say ”we won”.
Here's what I missed:🧵
Here's what I missed:🧵
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I used to judge it as stupid when someone said "we won", referring to their favorite sports team.
I could conjure up some understanding if it was their local team, but I'd think:
"You didn't win the game, some people you've never met did."
As usual, my judgment was ignorance:
I could conjure up some understanding if it was their local team, but I'd think:
"You didn't win the game, some people you've never met did."
As usual, my judgment was ignorance:
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To be fair, my ignorance around sports games went deeper than this.
I didn't even understand rooting for a particular player. Personally, I just applaud a beautiful game.
Yet I now think "we won" is a more coherent perspective than my dismissal of it was.
Here’s why:
I didn't even understand rooting for a particular player. Personally, I just applaud a beautiful game.
Yet I now think "we won" is a more coherent perspective than my dismissal of it was.
Here’s why:
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Imagine you're running a marathon.
You're on the verge of giving up.
But suddenly, there's your family on a street corner, cheering you on: "I believe in you."
An hour later, you dip again. A random stranger notices and says "don't give up buddy, I can tell you got this!"↓↓
You're on the verge of giving up.
But suddenly, there's your family on a street corner, cheering you on: "I believe in you."
An hour later, you dip again. A random stranger notices and says "don't give up buddy, I can tell you got this!"↓↓
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After the marathon, you come home and hug your family.
You say "your support from the sidelines was crucial in helping me finish".
And that's the truth. ↓↓
You say "your support from the sidelines was crucial in helping me finish".
And that's the truth. ↓↓
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Imagine you're running a marathon far from home.
Maybe it's on a mars. In fact, let's call it "the marsathon".
You're representing humanity in this interplanetary footrace.
No other human is there to cheer you on, but people you’ve never met are watching from their homes. ↓↓
Maybe it's on a mars. In fact, let's call it "the marsathon".
You're representing humanity in this interplanetary footrace.
No other human is there to cheer you on, but people you’ve never met are watching from their homes. ↓↓
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Of course the supporters are part of the team!
It's hilarious that I missed this, I worked as a musician for years.
In all the best gigs I played, the audience's magic did as much as the musicians.
I just refused to see this in sports because of an aversion to group-think:
It's hilarious that I missed this, I worked as a musician for years.
In all the best gigs I played, the audience's magic did as much as the musicians.
I just refused to see this in sports because of an aversion to group-think:
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To put it in woo terms, a big sports game is:
- a handful of warriors on a field
- 1000s of shamans chanting, pounding and yelling in the stadiums, giving the warriors extra mana
- millions of sorcerers in their homes concentrating on the game, holding 1 intention in their heart
- a handful of warriors on a field
- 1000s of shamans chanting, pounding and yelling in the stadiums, giving the warriors extra mana
- millions of sorcerers in their homes concentrating on the game, holding 1 intention in their heart
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...and to go back to point of "why root for 1 when you can root for the game?"
What I missed there, is that the division of rooting for 1 specific team is paradoxically what creates the experience of unity many people feel at a sports game.
↓↓
What I missed there, is that the division of rooting for 1 specific team is paradoxically what creates the experience of unity many people feel at a sports game.
↓↓
Pep@peptalksblog
I used to think it was utterly stupid to be a supporter of only 1 sports team.
Like, why be so emotionally involved in a win or loss from a group of people you don't know? Why not celebrate sportsmanship regardless of team?
Then I met a guy who is passionate about watching sports, and explained how the division between teams is exactly what allows people to experience such strong unity.
(Similar to how your friendships feel strong because you don't feel them with other people. An outgroup increases oxytocin.)
(I think both contain truth ;-) )
Like, why be so emotionally involved in a win or loss from a group of people you don't know? Why not celebrate sportsmanship regardless of team?
Then I met a guy who is passionate about watching sports, and explained how the division between teams is exactly what allows people to experience such strong unity.
(Similar to how your friendships feel strong because you don't feel them with other people. An outgroup increases oxytocin.)
(I think both contain truth ;-) )
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Yes, this can sometimes go too far.
E.g. Guy once picked a fight with me because I was wearing a purple shirt, and that's 1 of the colors of his rival team.
But one might wonder if people who harbor such a vibe wouldn't gravitate to an outlet for it regardless. ↓↓
E.g. Guy once picked a fight with me because I was wearing a purple shirt, and that's 1 of the colors of his rival team.
But one might wonder if people who harbor such a vibe wouldn't gravitate to an outlet for it regardless. ↓↓
Mark W@maaaaaaaaaaark
@peptalksblog @temporis5566 I think also it’s quite a good way of safely experiencing and processing disappointment, and maybe useful for sublimating our appetite for combat? Obviously big downsides too
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Btw this is a symbiotic relationship:.
-“Fans” notice the spark in a person & fan it
- They’re on fire! Let’s fan harder.
- Their performance sets the fans on fire
- Person is the public face of this collective fire
This is not limited to sports, in fact:
-“Fans” notice the spark in a person & fan it
- They’re on fire! Let’s fan harder.
- Their performance sets the fans on fire
- Person is the public face of this collective fire
This is not limited to sports, in fact:
Pep@peptalksblog
@visakanv Also, once a fandom reaches certain density, the person become a representative.
E.g.
- Taylor Swift is also the representative of swifties in society
- Athletes bringing "glory" to their city.
In a sense, this is a diplomatic role. High-risk (& reward) for the representative.
E.g.
- Taylor Swift is also the representative of swifties in society
- Athletes bringing "glory" to their city.
In a sense, this is a diplomatic role. High-risk (& reward) for the representative.
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A twitter account posting viral bangers every day is not acting in isolation.
They are a trained word athlete, acting as a representative for anyone who resonates with the words in the post.
Who then send extra mana by liking, reposting, interacting or quietly rejoicing.
They are a trained word athlete, acting as a representative for anyone who resonates with the words in the post.
Who then send extra mana by liking, reposting, interacting or quietly rejoicing.
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I could write more about this, but this felt like too obvious a place to insert the classic move:
"If you liked this thread, would you be willing to send me some mana through a repost?"
May I be wrong many more times and have it lead to more loving perspectives to share.
"If you liked this thread, would you be willing to send me some mana through a repost?"
May I be wrong many more times and have it lead to more loving perspectives to share.