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Post by Rey Kahuka on Sept 30, 2019 15:33:34 GMT
This is a thread about fandom. How much is too much fandom? To me there's a difference between being a fan, and wanting to identify first and foremost as a fan of a particular team. I don't know what message you're sending to people, but it isn't a good one. Now, I'm on record saying there's nothing wrong with people casually wearing jerseys or whatever else they want to wear. But to me there are limits. I don't wear jerseys to go grocery shopping, but I'm not going to balk if you do. But let's say a jersey and a hat? Or say, a t-shirt, jacket and hat? If you're going to a game, fine. If it's opening day or a playoff game...I'll accept it. Otherwise it's overkill.
You know what crosses the line into the embarrassment zone? The entire family I saw at Disneyworld a couple weeks ago decked out in Steelers gear. It's wasn't just sadly comical because it was Steelers gear, but because Mom, Dad, and the two kids all had Steelers t-shirts and hats on. All of them. At Disneyworld. "This is the most crowded place I've ever been, and if I drop dead today, above all else, these people will know we're Steelers fans." Conversely, I packed my Patriots hat so I made sure not pack a Pats t-shirt so as not to cross the line from "Hey, I like this team," or "Hey, this is something I'm into," into "HEY EVERYONE I ROOT FOR THE PATRIOTS SO THERE." Mostly because I'm not a dipshit, but also because nobody cares. (Though I have to admit, knowing how pissy Steelers fans are, I really hope they saw my Pats hat.)
If I'm wearing a Pats or Red Sox hoodie or a hat while I'm traveling I'll get nods or comments of recognition from other Boston sports fans, and the closest thing I've had to a negative reaction was a kid in Chicago giving me a hard time about the Patriots while not actually saying anything negative. (Again, Midwest. They're good people.) Maybe I'd get a bigger reaction if I wore five pieces of team gear? Or if I made my wife and son also wear Pats gear around Disney with me? Maybe they do it for attention, good or bad? I don't get it.
Thoughts/opinions on how much is too much when it comes to expressing your fandom? Are you guys with me or am I just an asshole? Fair enough I am an asshole, but does anyone agree/disagree with me here?
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Post by _ on Sept 30, 2019 16:07:25 GMT
(Again, Midwest. They're good people.)  Not sure why, but for some reason, lower class types walk around STL wearing tons of Blues and Cardinals stuff, the cheap looking crap, too, like they got it on sale at Wal-Mart.
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Post by masterofallgoons on Sept 30, 2019 16:08:36 GMT
I'm pretty much on the same level as you it seems, but you've given it way more thought than I have.
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Post by Marv on Sept 30, 2019 16:38:56 GMT
For clarity, wearing sports clothing is very common in Pittsburgh. It's not because everyone is 'rah rah rah go team' all the time but it's just fashionably common year round. It's normal to see someone in a Steeler jersey at a grocery store in mid april with no football game in sight.
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Post by screamingtreefrogs on Sept 30, 2019 16:50:33 GMT
I want... No. I need... This Phillie Phanatic tattoo 
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Post by DrKrippen on Sept 30, 2019 17:07:24 GMT
I'm a fan of a team about as much as I'm a fan of a movie. I like 'em, admire 'em, but in the end it doesn't amount to much.
I got over all that living and dying with the wins and losses a long time ago. It's all just wasted energy and laughable emotions over nothing.
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Post by DrKrippen on Sept 30, 2019 17:09:28 GMT
Have you heard? They're introducing Vegan restaurants at Disneyland/World.
Finally, some place at Disneyland that won't have a long line.
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Post by TheGoodMan19 on Sept 30, 2019 17:21:13 GMT
In the 90's I had tons of sports related clothes. Red Sox shirts, Bills hats, Sabres sweatshirts, Pen State stuff, any combination. Now, I have nothing. , other than shit people get me as gifts. I still have two Bills jerseys that I reserve for games (#58, Shane Conlan and #83 Andre Reed. My #12 doesn't fit anymore but I can't throw it away). Anyone who feel the need to buy me gifts, friends, relatives, co-workers, always buy me Red Sox or Bills crap. I got four WS championships T shirts or sweatshirts last year and two hats. I say thanks and try to wear it when I think I might see them. I got tired of being a billboard for a sports team or looking like a rapper.
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Post by screamingtreefrogs on Sept 30, 2019 17:23:52 GMT
17 years old is the cutoff age to be wearing another man's name on your back.
at 18 you're officially a man.
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Post by _ on Sept 30, 2019 17:27:12 GMT
17 years old is the cutoff age to be wearing another man's name on your bac. 
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Post by Rey Kahuka on Sept 30, 2019 17:33:59 GMT
17 years old is the cutoff age to be wearing another man's name on your back. at 18 you're officially a man. You've also criticized graphic tees in the past. I'm curious, what do you wear as casual attire? Is it ever acceptable to reference anything with your clothes or is it all button downs, polos and suitcoats for you? On a somewhat related note (I'm hijacking the thread a bit, but it's my thread so I guess I'm just making a detour), how do you feel about tattoos?
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Post by Rey Kahuka on Sept 30, 2019 17:35:04 GMT
Have you heard? They're introducing Vegan restaurants at Disneyland/World. Finally, some place at Disneyland that won't have a long line. Not true. I saw plenty of people at Disneyworld who look all too eager to eat a few vegans in one sitting.
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Post by masterofallgoons on Sept 30, 2019 17:36:50 GMT
Have you heard? They're introducing Vegan restaurants at Disneyland/World. Finally, some place at Disneyland that won't have a long line. Plagiarism. |
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Post by masterofallgoons on Sept 30, 2019 17:37:36 GMT
17 years old is the cutoff age to be wearing another man's name on your back. at 18 you're officially a man. You've also criticized graphic tees in the past. I'm curious, what do you wear as casual attire? Is it ever acceptable to reference anything with your clothes or is it all button downs, polos and suitcoats for you? On a somewhat related note (I'm hijacking the thread a bit, but it's my thread so I guess I'm just making a detour), how do you feel about tattoos? He might mean 'graphic tees' specifically in that Ed Hardy, MMA, douche bag t shirt kinda way. |
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Post by _ on Sept 30, 2019 17:40:37 GMT
17 years old is the cutoff age to be wearing another man's name on your back. at 18 you're officially a man. You've also criticized graphic tees in the past. I'm curious, what do you wear as casual attire? 
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Post by screamingtreefrogs on Sept 30, 2019 17:46:15 GMT
17 years old is the cutoff age to be wearing another man's name on your back. at 18 you're officially a man. You've also criticized graphic tees in the past. I'm curious, what do you wear as casual attire? Is it ever acceptable to reference anything with your clothes or is it all button downs, polos and suitcoats for you? On a somewhat related note (I'm hijacking the thread a bit, but it's my thread so I guess I'm just making a detour), how do you feel about tattoos? Good questions. I'm here to answer. I have spiritual tattoos (Hidden). Too many to count right now on my upper biceps, back and shoulders. They're quotes that mean something personal to me (i.e. experiences I've been through in life that relate to me and struck a cord which I continually go back to when in a state of self doubt, trouble, etc) - and as far as my Celtic crosses - they are from where my ancestors resided. They are hidden - as at work I have to wear dockers, polos and button downs. I find graphic t's are fine in certain circumstances. i.e. going to a game with a simple team logo - nothing too flashy or elaborate though. For instance - at a Flyers game a black t with a 'medium' Flyers logo in the middle across the chest is sufficient. I wouldn't wear one to the chain restaurants I typically frequent - i.e. the Bonefish Grills, Outback Steakhouses of the world. So when going to to the store (i.e. food shopping) - I simply wear a 'plain t'. I can't stress 'plain' enough - no phrases or logos. i.e. a dark navy blue or charcoal grey looks magnificent with jeans.
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Post by nogbad on Sept 30, 2019 17:55:04 GMT
I wouldn't say I was a fanatic, but I do have "Kilmarnock FC, the pride of Ayrshire, Scotland's oldest professional football club, established 1869" tattooed on my penis.
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Post by Rey Kahuka on Sept 30, 2019 18:02:40 GMT
I wouldn't say I was a fanatic, but I do have "Kilmarnock FC, the pride of Ayrshire, Scotland's oldest professional football club, established 1869" tattooed on my penis. Layers to this joke, I appreciate the effort.
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Post by Winston Wolfe on Sept 30, 2019 18:11:14 GMT
I’m not sure how I identify. Non-team fluid, non-team binary. Maybe.
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Post by Rey Kahuka on Sept 30, 2019 18:25:22 GMT
You've also criticized graphic tees in the past. I'm curious, what do you wear as casual attire? Is it ever acceptable to reference anything with your clothes or is it all button downs, polos and suitcoats for you? On a somewhat related note (I'm hijacking the thread a bit, but it's my thread so I guess I'm just making a detour), how do you feel about tattoos? Good questions. I'm here to answer. I have spiritual tattoos (Hidden). Too many to count right now on my upper biceps, back and shoulders. They're quotes that mean something personal to me (i.e. experiences I've been through in life that relate to me and struck a cord which I continually go back to when in a state of self doubt, trouble, etc) - and as far as my Celtic crosses - they are from where my ancestors resided. They are hidden - as at work I have to wear dockers, polos and button downs. I find graphic t's are fine in certain circumstances. i.e. going to a game with a simple team logo - nothing too flashy or elaborate though. For instance - at a Flyers game a black t with a 'medium' Flyers logo in the middle across the chest is sufficient. I wouldn't wear one to the chain restaurants I typically frequent - i.e. the Bonefish Grills, Outback Steakhouses of the world. So when going to to the store (i.e. food shopping) - I simply wear a 'plain t'. I can't stress 'plain' enough - no phrases or logos. i.e. a dark navy blue or charcoal grey looks magnificent with jeans. Regarding tees (and this echoes back to the post by TheGoodMan19). I respect your fashion sense but I see things differently. I wear button downs to work everyday, but underneath I always have a graphic tee, as I do when I go out. Graphic tees, whether it's a sports team, a superhero, Star Wars, a band, NASA or whatever are just my way of having fun. It has less to do with sending a message to anyone else as it does reflecting my mood. It's like I was saying about what separates me from the Steelers family. They want you to know they like the Steelers. I just like the Patriots. I'm the dork that wears a Batman shirt to a Batman movie because I'm in a Batman mood (which before you laugh, is equivalent to wearing a team t-shirt to a game). I don't need you to know I'm a Batman fan. I'm in the theater to see a Batman movie so you know that already. It's just what I felt like wearing. Maybe I'm wearing a Led Zeppelin t-shirt because I listened to a few of my favorite tracks last night, I'm not looking for a soulmate who also likes Zep. So I don't see it as a billboard so much as something comfortable that reflects what I'm 'feeling' at that moment. I like what I like, and it's an expression of my taste no more or less than your plain tees. And I don't see the big deal with names on jerseys. It's an endorsement of that player, same as a Batman t-shirt. "I like the way this guy operates." But you're not into either so I know that won't make sense to you anyway. Regarding tattoos. I don't have anything against tats, I have friends who have plenty. But personally it's not my thing. Basically for the same inherent logic as my appreciation for graphic tees. I'm not always in a Batman mood or a Patriots mood or a Zep mood. I don't want it reflected on my body all day every day because it doesn't define me. I feel like a tattoo is a serious commitment to an idea; a permanent marking on your skin is suggesting the concept represented is a part of your core being. But that's my perspective. To some, tattoos are just 'billboards' to broadcast your interests. Either way I'm not into them because broadcasting isn't my thing (as discussed earlier) and if you want to know my personal mantra or whatever, just ask me. Like with team gear, I do think there's a limit to how much ink you can have before it gets ridiculous.
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