Why are baseball fans so mean to each other?

Question

I mean, really people. Why does your love for your own team need to come out as vile hatred for another team? The only team I ever have an issue with is the team that may currently be beating my Cubbies (though, thankfully, that's not very many this year) and as soon as that series is over, I move on. The way I see it is my team will win based on their own merit, when they have a great season and then a great series and no other team can stop or create that greatnes. I mean I'm insanely loyal and passionate about my team, but I don't feel the need to disrespect every other fan of every other team. Why do so many other people spread so much hate? Besides, if other fans feel the same way about their own teams as I do about my team, then when their dreams get crushed, as mine so often do, I actually feel sympathy. Is there room in baseball for sympathy?

P.S. I know I'm taking a risk with this long post, considering my audience is baseball fans....but maybe it's time to prove the stereotype wrong.

Answer 1

C.mon... lighten up. It is a healthy outlet for venting aggression. It is a timeless tradition, as old as baseball itself.

Oh yeah... and your team syucks!

Answer 2

for the love of the game

Answer 3

Well I'm sorry, that's just how it goes sometimes. But I guess they aren't the Loveable Losers anymore. I guess just drop the "Loveable".

Answer 4

I think for myself and most guys I know it is just a competition thing. Most guys I grew up with either played or wanted to play sports. The whole really hating the other team thing is more a way to get the adrenaline flowing rather than truly hating the other city or their fans in my opinion. I think everyone in sports needs the adrenaline boost weather it be the players or the fans. It is funny to me though that the fans seem to have more loathing for each other then the players do for their opponent.

Answer 5

I think it is only male ego. I am a yankee fan and I didn't really hate the red sox until after they won the World series in 2004. I was embarrassed to have my team lose that way in the ALCS. Since then I have just been pissed to not been able to beat them. Funny thing is I respect most of the players in the red sox but I can not stand the fans!!! I do not believe female fans are this way.  

Answer 6

thats planet earth for ya..

Answer 7

I try not to be mean to other fans...

I'm a Rangers and Orioles fan, and while I do have an aversion to Yankee fans, I try to respect their opinions...

After all, what fun is baseball if you can't trashtalk your friend's team?  

It's a mutual thing, and I get my fair share of knocks for liking below-average teams.  

However, we all know that we're just joking around with each other, and I honestly like hearing what they think about my teams.

I agree that many people here in the Baseball section can be ignorant (and can't even spell "suck" correctly), and unfortunately, as Fozzy said, they are often the most active.

And as to sympathy for the losing team... Yeah, I've felt sympathetic, but not enough as to not celebrate my team's win.

Don't lose hope... For every trashtalking person here, there is also a good fan that actually gets through an answer without saying "By the way so-and-so sucks".

I'm glad to see that someone agrees with me on hating fans, but I think we just have to accept it as a fact of life.

Answer 8

It's not that we're so mean that we want to shoot the other guy. If a Cubs fan trips, I would help him up. It's just that we have our friendly fights of who's better. Those who absolutely hate their rivals that they'd wipe out all the fans don't deserve to watch baseball in my opinion. Sports are for fun, not wars. I'm taking a big risk of this too, considering all the rivalry in this section.

Answer 9

Wow you think people are mean here in the Baseball section??

The Basketball section makes the Baseball section looks like a love in!!

10 Haters to every 1 good person in YA Basketball.

Answer 10

Wow!! This is the question that I have been wishing that some one would ask.

I would have asked myself, but there are so many "jxuzut" haters out there, that I didn't dare.

I have been trying to illustrate the point of "OK", let's have differences about baseball teams, but let's keep it "civil"  for two years now.

The game of baseball is meant to be enjoyed and should not be used  as a springboard to insult or downgrade other teams, or their supporters.

Finally, YES, there is room for sympathy in Yahoo Baseball Answers.

Answer 11

I think it's typical of people in all walks of life, not just baseball fans. Unfortunately, the ignorant ones in any topic of discussion tend to be the most vocal. And in this forum, there are a good number of people who come on here for no other reason then to hurl insults. I'm as competitive as the next guy, but I was also taught that it is possible to want to beat your opponent's brains in but still respect them. The shame is that sportsmanship is the most important life lesson anyone can learn from sports, but very few fans seem to learn that lesson.But keep looking - you will actually see a large number of incredibly intelligent (as well as polite) baseball fans in here. It's just that most of them are much more selective in the types of questions they answer, preferring not to get into a mindless discussion that ends up in nothing more then a contest to see who can say "suck" the most.

Answer 12

I agree completely with you. I love meeting fans like you, and unfortunately there aren't very many of them. It seems like there is always someone on here who feels the need to blast other teams and fans. Some people are just ignorant. I'm glad I'm not the only down to eath person on this section. There are also some very nice fans here. It just depends on who the person is. Some fans are jerks, and some are nice.  

Answer 13

While I do that myself sometimes, I try to balance things out with good comments, too. You are absolutely right. The poor sports here and in general are not taught very well by their parents about sportsmanship. I love to bash the Cub fans who are so very mean and cliquish, but I always stop to give a hand to the good, too. I think it is only responsible to be both an irritation and a salve. It's more fun and you never feel guilty.