Being part of a group...is fun

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I have been in New York City all week, and will be for one more week , and I thought this was rather interesting...sitting with the Bleacher Creatures in Yankee Stadium. It was literally the most fun I have ever had in my life. I can't even begin to tell you how cool these people are. I'd say that no matter what team they were for, but the fact that they happen to be Yankee fans (like myself) only makes it better.

An important part of it, I think, is the psychology of being part of a group. The sense of being part of something greater than yourself alone. Of course it's always fun for any sports fan to cheer for their team, even when they're doing it alone (i.e. not doing the same cheer as a bunch of other people), but adding several voices together definitely multiplies the effect a thousandfold.

(Especially when this effect is directed against the sole Red Sox fan sitting in the bleachers. Note to all Sox fans reading this: Do not do that unless you have a thick skin. These people will be on you like a pack of dogs on a three-legged cat. Trust me, I've seen it. I've *done* it. And I would fully expect the same thing to happen to me if I happened to wander into Fenway Park, or indeed anywhere in Boston, wearing Yankee gear. And no, we are not a mob. Let's just cut that bullshit out right now, ok? It's just a lot of talkin' trash. Nobody ever gets hurt, or indeed touched in any way. If people don't like getting yelled at AT A SPORTING EVENT, then they should grow a fucking pair. )

So what was the favorite thing any of you have ever done while part of a group? What made you feel special, like you truly belonged?

 

[Rii]

People are overrated.

 

[K-Star]

I like being part of a group. One time me and my friends from DDR club wandered around downtown whilst loudly singing the theme song to the old Pokemon cartoons. Good times...

And just now on my way back from the library I saw a group from the Baptist Student Union gathered at Speaker's Circle with some drums and a guitar and they were singing worship songs. Since I recognized some of the songs they were singing, I walked over and joined in. Found out that a girl from my art class is part of that group too. I might go hang out with them more often now (mom would like that... she wants me to get more involved with Christian groups on campus).

 

[trekkiedane]

People are overrated.

Correct. What do you need with people when you can have trekkies?

 

[sidious618]

Fun? You shouldn't be having fun, you're a Trekkie.

 

[Michael Chris]

Can't think of anything stand out. I was handing out water with people from church today, which was awesome.

As to your game, I think that's more of a mob!

 

[Garrovick]

I like my Mid Morning Coffee group. We old fogies sit around and make up stories about things we did 40 years ago. Made up because we can't remember that far back in detail.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

As to your game, I think that's more of a mob!

Did you even read the rest of my message? We are not a mob. Only people with a grudge against the Yankees (which I grant are probably all over the place, certainly on this board) would ever say otherwise.

Nobody has ever been hurt. We don't grab people and shake them up. We don't even steal their caps or whatever. All we do is yell. Is that being a mob? My understanding of that term was that mobs are violent. We are not violent. Nobody ever gets hurt. And we don't destroy property either.

If fans of other teams are so thin skinned that they can't stand a few hours in the bleachers with us, then they should shut the fuck up and leave. This is not a coffee klatch. It's sports on a very basic level. There's going to be some yelling. It's what fans do.

Nobody has the right not to get yelled at. No one.

I admit I probably *wouldn't* wear Yankee gear in Boston, but if I did, I would fully expect to be subjected to a similar verbal torrent. I would not wear Yankee gear into Fenway Park without expecting some reactions. I'm sure it happens all the time over there. But I know that's as far as it goes - in either ballpark. We don't beat up on Sox fans, and they don't knock the shit out of us. We yell at each other, but that's it. And even then, it's all in good fun. It's just normal talkin' trash. What the hell is so mobbed up about that?

 

[Michael Chris]

Dude, relax, it was joke. And I don't care in the slightest about the Yankees. I hate the Red Sox too. I was at the WS with the Rockies watching my beloved team getting slaughtered. OTOH I still wouldn't yell at anyone.

Although I certainly think you were caught up in a sort of mob mentality.

 

[miraclefan]

People are overrated.

Thinks for putting my post up there for me!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I was at the WS with the Rockies watching my beloved team getting slaughtered.

I would consider it a safe bet that the Rockies, along with every other team in the major leagues (indeed, every sport in existence, professional or not), have their own fans who act like this. As I said - it's what fans do.

You think I'm *afraid* of what might happen if I wore Yankee colors to Fenway? The hell with that. Bring it on, I say!

Besides, I was at Fenway a couple of years ago, and I loved it. I don't have such a low opinion of Sox fans that I'd think they'd physically hurt me if I wore a Yankee jacket or shirt or cap there. Like I said, we don't beat them up, and I don't think they'd do it to us either. It might even be fun to *receive* the yelling instead of originating it. I probably wouldn't do it unless the Sox were *playing* the Yankees though.

Just because people cheer and yell, doesn't make them a mob. That word implies physical violence. That's off limits. (True, there was that thing about the 1976 ALCS after Chambliss hit that home run - *that* was a mob. But that was a long time ago. Nobody does that any more.)

 

[Michael Chris]

Le sigh

 

[freak]

I always liked being a part of a group myself when I got invited to friends' birthday party sleepovers in the 90s. It was loads of fun and if someone fell asleep, one of the girls would put whipped cream on the sleeper's hand, get a feather and tickle their nose with the feather so they would hit their face with the whipped cream.
And we would also play Super NES games. They were cool back then! Super Marioland was my favorite. Ah, but those were the good ole days.

 

[Starbreaker]

I marched with a 400 piece band from 2005-2007. Fifty trumpet players and we truly were almost like a family. My freshman year was truly loads of fun.

 

[Mallory]

Nobody has ever been hurt. We don't grab people and shake them up. We don't even steal their caps or whatever. All we do is yell. Is that being a mob? My understanding of that term was that mobs are violent. We are not violent. Nobody ever gets hurt. And we don't destroy property either.

Intimidation and verbal abuse is definitely a lot of fun! Enjoy your visit.

 

[TheBrew]

Nobody has ever been hurt. We don't grab people and shake them up. We don't even steal their caps or whatever. All we do is yell. Is that being a mob? My understanding of that term was that mobs are violent. We are not violent. Nobody ever gets hurt. And we don't destroy property either.

So you're just bullies, then?

And way to miss Michael Chris trying to have fun with you. But I guess you never take off the Mr. Serious Pants.

 

[NickInABox]

Best group experience I was ever innnnnnn.... would have to beeeee... the Trekkies I hovered around on Thursday. Hahahaha. I want to know what forum they were from! Frack!

 

[Daneel]

I had simulated orgies a few times on-stage. They were fun.

 

[SicOne]

I always liked being a part of a group myself when I got invited to friends' birthday party sleepovers in the 90s. It was loads of fun and if someone fell asleep, one of the girls would put whipped cream on the sleeper's hand, get a feather and tickle their nose with the feather so they would hit their face with the whipped cream.

And then off flew the nightgowns and the scissoring began?

 

[NickInABox]

I had simulated orgies a few times on-stage. They were fun.

'Hair'?