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Original poster

to lol at 'football related sadness'

252 replies

TequilaMockingbirdy · 05/05/2014 22:34

Man on my facebook reckons he needs a day off work because of emotional stress, I said he should have one if he needs it and asked the reason why.

He said the footy results.

he is being deadly serious and saying he's suffering from 'football related sadness' and that he feels so alone and upset, he is crying.

Now I fully understand mental illness having suffered/suffering from it myself... but really?

Maybe a sign of something underlying you may say but I've known him for a good few years and football really does seem to get him down when his team loses!

Anyone else glad they don't have a partner who is obsessed with the football?!

OP posts:
MrsWolowitz · 06/05/2014 11:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

windchime · 06/05/2014 12:33

I have a theory that the average football fan does not have two brain cells to rub together. You only have to watch when the camera focuses on the fans to understand this theory. At the very best, they are sheep.

Goldmandra · 06/05/2014 12:45

Tempting though it is to judge groups by the standards of their lowest common denominator, I don't think that is a fair comment.

There are plenty of fans who behave responsibly and intelligently and are given a bad name by those who use the sport as an excuse for antisocial behaviour. It's just a shame that there are so many of the latter and the impact of their behaviour is so significant.

Andro · 06/05/2014 12:50

Football's reputation isn't helped when you regularly see groups of supporters being marched to the stadium surround by police, that level of trouble prevention being required is not good.

Fortunately there is no FRS in this house - although there was some rugby related angst this weekend (perspective was rapidly restored).

PrimalLass · 06/05/2014 12:50

I have a theory that the average football fan does not have two brain cells to rub together. You only have to watch when the camera focuses on the fans to understand this theory. At the very best, they are sheep.

Yawn.

weebarra · 06/05/2014 12:51

Nice, windchime, I consider myself to be a pretty average footie fan and have a postgrad My DF is a doctor. Any evidence for that sweeping statement?

Thumbcat · 06/05/2014 12:59

DH and I had a good laugh at the grown men crying in the stands on TV. I mean honestly! I used to be married to a man-child who would spoil the whole weekend with his pathetic sulking and dramatics if his team lost.

BitOutOfPractice · 06/05/2014 13:00

"I have a theory that the average football fan does not have two brain cells to rub together."

Perhaps you'd like to expand on that windchime
Signed
BitOutOfPractice BA (Hons) and passionate football fan

I have a theory that the average anti-football fan bigot is prone to make sweeping statements they can't back up.

Lord do I get tired of being labelled as a thug and lout by these kind of people

I have experienced both football related sadness, happiness and every manner of emotion in between following my team. If you don't get that, fair enough, just don't tar me with some loutish brush because you dont get it. I'm sure you like something really dull that would leave me cold - I'm not going to judge you for it.

specialsubject · 06/05/2014 13:04

if the nation participated more and spectated less, we wouldn't be so fat.

nothing wrong with playing football (although the lack of team work and wussy drama staggers me...) but watching it? (or watching anything else and paying a fortune for it?)

stop looking, start doing.

BitOutOfPractice · 06/05/2014 13:08

Thanks for the heads up special

I do do sport - I run 3 or 4 times a week. In fact, running a 10k race tomorrow so if you feel like cheering me on to encourage my sporting prowess further then PM me and I'll give you the details

Sadly I am now too old to be considered for professional football or I'd give it a shot

Goldmandra · 06/05/2014 13:10

if the nation participated more and spectated less, we wouldn't be so fat.

I think football has more participants than most other sports. My DD2 loves tennis but it's a lot harder to find place for her to play than it is for her friends who want to kick a ball about.

Football has a lot going for it. The problems come when people start to inflate its importance beyond what is reasonable. It is just entertainment and the highs and lows of being a fan shouldn't be indulged to the point where it excuses making other people unhappy.

squoosh · 06/05/2014 13:14

I can understand that they invest all their manly emotions in football and then feel devastated when their team is beaten, but get your sad little bum into work.

Weep while you work sonny.

BomChickaMeowMeow · 06/05/2014 13:14

I agree, OP.

But at the same time I did laugh when I read about Suarez crying.

chicaguapa · 06/05/2014 13:16

I haven't rtft but I used to be a massive football fan. Once, when I was a singleton, I was really down after a match and struggled to get out of bed. Blush I was gutted that the team had lost.

So I understand the guy in the OP a little bit.

But, since I had DC and DH isn't into football at all, I struggle to engage emotionally with a football match. I don't understand how it can mean so much to people when there are far more important things to be emotional about.

BomChickaMeowMeow · 06/05/2014 13:25

Yep, passionate, upset, gutted at the time maybe- but then you quickly move on. Not being able to suggests a deeper problem.

Jjou · 06/05/2014 13:28

Psh...football related sadness is a definite feeling. Couldn't imagine taking a day off sick for it though, but there's a fair few of us in work today feeling a tad deflated. The other half of the office (those who care) are pleased as punch despite their team losing this weekend.

No domestic violence or detrimental effects on my family here, and more than 2 braincells to rub together thanks very much, but I did turn the TV off last night at the final whistle and flounced off to bed in disgust without getting the lunches or uniforms ready for this morning

KenDoddsDadsDog · 06/05/2014 13:30

I would love it if you could check out the Street Child World Cup - to see how football at it's roots is supporting street children all over the world.
I was out in Tanzania with their team earlier this year. An hours football a day helps kids with no family , no home , no money just be children and 'somebody' for the day.

Original poster
TequilaMockingbirdy · 06/05/2014 14:33

Oh wow this has moved on.

If football affects you so much I do think there's something wrong. I do cry at films, because the situation is sad but then I move on and get over it because it's a film.

OP posts:
MrsWolowitz · 06/05/2014 14:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DenzelWashington · 06/05/2014 15:01

But sometimes football is an escape so people invest emotions in it as a release from shitty stuff in RL. We are in this position slightly: football results are affecting DH a lot more precisely because it takes his mind off our RL stresses and he was really hoping for the emotional lift he'd have got if his team had won something.

JeanSeberg · 06/05/2014 15:10

he needs a day off work because of emotional stress

Christ, I'd love one of my staff members to ask for a day off because they were upset over a game of football...

EverythingsDozy · 06/05/2014 15:20

I'm a Manchester city fan so the football results from this weekend has delighted me no end!! (Also a closet sunderland fan thanks to DMums husband!)

You should have seen me on the last day of the 2011/2012 season. Bawling like a baby because city were 2-1 down to QPR! Like a baby! I swear, those last two goals made me cry even harder! (For those who don't know, city scored 2 in injury time to win the league!) Most amazing end to the season! Hoping to go to the parade in Manchester again if we win the title (which we best had!!)

JeanSeberg · 06/05/2014 15:25

See you there Everything!

BumpAndGrind · 06/05/2014 15:28

I cried at this and I don't 'do' football.

ILoveCwtches · 06/05/2014 15:40

I don't understand needing a day off due to FRS, but I do get the emotions involved. Those of you who say you can just switch off after the final whistle/end of game and forget about it, obviously aren't that interested in [insert name of sport here].

My family are big sports fans as is DP. We follow Man U, Hull City, Cardiff City and Liverpool, between us, so a mixed bag of emotions going on, this season. We also enjoy rugby, tennis, golf, athletics etc.

None of that makes us unintelligent, sheep, sad or pathetic. Everyone likes different things and I would find it odd, if after a crucial match, you didn't carry some residual feeling over into the rest of the day/next day.

I, however, have no time for using it as an excuse for violence, sulking or spoiling family life.

My DF is the only one of us who can make a result spoil a day. He then had the nerve to tell me football, "was only a game" after Man U lost the FACup Final to Everton in 1995, when I was 15 and in tears! The irony. Hmm