What Does Being a "Fan" Mean to You?

[PhoSita]

Tired of seeing veiled accusations thrown to and fro around here about who is and is not a "true Celtics fan," I want to push people to articulate what being a fan of the Celtics, or any sports team, means to them.


For me, being a casual fan means you enjoy watching the team play, and you identify to some degree with the team.  When the team is losing, or playing badly, it's not too hard for you to simply change the channel and stop paying attention for a while, even years.

Being more than just a casual fan means that you have a genuine emotional tie to the team.  This is not something you can turn on or off.  When the team does well, you feel good.  When the team does poorly, you feel bad.  Even when you want to stop paying attention to the team, you can't, because you care whether you like it or not. 

You feel that being a fan of that team is a significant part of who you are, which is why you feel that your own fortunes in some way rise and fall with those of the team.

For me, being a fan has nothing to do with your attitude about how the team is doing, it is all about how following and watching the team affects you.   


What does fandom mean to you?

[Csfan1984]

You enjoy and follow the _____.

[slamtheking]

to me, a fan is someone that follows the team whether they're winning or losing.  They support the players on the team --> desire to see the players perform well and/or develop into better players. 

fans can have different opinions on players' performances and/or development as well as have different opinions on what the team can/should do to improve. 

as much as I find the concept of dumping any talented player with the goal of becoming as horrific a team as possible for a better chance at a higher lottery pick in the draft incredibly distasteful and revolting, it doesn't make believers in that philosophy any less of a fan than someone who's rooting for the team to win as many games as possible. 

[greece66]

@Phosita
I dunno if being optimistic makes one a better fan, but it doesn't make one less rational either.

Similarly for 'pessimism', many ppl here wear their 'realistic' approach to the team's situation as a badge of honour. IMO this is what provokes most of the criticism.

I have nothing against someone who argues, say, that the C's are a 30 wins team; nor do I think he is less of a fan. But if he goes from there to arguing that holding such a belief makes him ipso facto a better thinker, then we have an issue.

PS I am not writing about you, your posts are reasonable. But there is a certain tendency in the forum; we've all seen these comments.

[notthebowler]

To me it is parallel to parenthood.  This is MY team and I will support them through thick and thin.  I may criticize them, but I'll be (danged) If I'm going to listen to some Lakers fan criticize them.  Even if the Lakers fan is making the same points I just made yesterday.   

When things are going well, I may get a little giddy.  When things are going bad, I may be a little harsh.  But in the end the Celtics are still my team. 

We've all seen the parent who tells their child what a great singer they are (for example) when their voice would make a dog howl.  I don't agree with their methodology, but I understand their passion for their child.  I at least make an effort to be honest and objective with my children.

We've also seen the parent who criticizes their child endlessly.  No matter what they do, the neighbor's kid could do it better.  To me these parents and fans are the most difficult to understand.  How can you say you love your child when you treat them like crap?  I know I've wanted to call FPS (Fan Protective Services) on a few posters here for what I view as an embarrassing and completely illogical level of negativity.  Maybe they would come to your house and remove all Celtics' clothing, books, posters, etc.  You could go through a court-ordered program to get them back.

Seems fair and reasonable to me.

And by the way...I'm joking.  Just wanted to clarify the obvious before someone with a stick up their rear-end chastises me over my metaphor. 

[D.o.s.]

@Phosita
I dunno if being optimistic makes one a better fan, but it doesn't make one less rational either.

Similarly for 'pessimism', many ppl here wear their 'realistic' approach to the team's situation as a badge of honour. IMO this is what provokes most of the criticism.

I have nothing against someone who argues, say, that the C's are a 30 wins team; nor do I think he is less of a fan. But if he goes from there to arguing that holding such a belief makes him ipso facto a better thinker, then we have an issue.

PS I am not writing about you, your posts are reasonable. But there is a certain tendency in the forum; we've all seen these comments.

Good post. I would add an observation that the myriad "Libertyballers is that way" "closet 76ers fan" style posts contribute in no small way to the hostility.

[PhoSita]

To me it is parallel to parenthood.  This is MY team and I will support them through thick and thin.  I may criticize them, but I'll be (danged) If I'm going to listen to some Lakers fan criticize them.  Even if the Lakers fan is making the same points I just made yesterday.   

The family analogy makes sense to me. 

Often I have felt that while I love the Celtics, I do not like them.   That's not how I feel all of the time, or even most of the time, but it happens.

The main example that comes to mind for me is how I felt during the 2009-2010 regular season.  That team really irked me, though they made up for it in the playoffs.

[Eja117]

If you enjoy something going wrong with the team you might not be a fan of that team.

I mean I might enjoy being right about Jeff Green never getting a rebound but I would have enjoyed it a lot more had he proven me wrong and become the next superstar.

But if you're just like "Ha! I told you he can't play!" and are really invested in that.....you might not be a fan of that team.

[TheTruthFot18]

@Phosita
I dunno if being optimistic makes one a better fan, but it doesn't make one less rational either.

Seems to be working for Red Sox fans.

[D.o.s.]

@Phosita
I dunno if being optimistic makes one a better fan, but it doesn't make one less rational either.

Seems to be working for Red Sox fans.

The expectation for Red Sox fans is to be optimistic now? How surreal.

[PhoSita]

@Phosita
I dunno if being optimistic makes one a better fan, but it doesn't make one less rational either.

Seems to be working for Red Sox fans.

I really have no idea what this is supposed to mean.

[LGC88]

Tired of seeing veiled accusations thrown to and fro around here about who is and is not a "true Celtics fan," I want to push people to articulate what being a fan of the Celtics, or any sports team, means to them.


For me, being a casual fan means you enjoy watching the team play, and you identify to some degree with the team.  When the team is losing, or playing badly, it's not too hard for you to simply change the channel and stop paying attention for a while, even years.

Being more than just a casual fan means that you have a genuine emotional tie to the team.  This is not something you can turn on or off.  When the team does well, you feel good.  When the team does poorly, you feel bad.  Even when you want to stop paying attention to the team, you can't, because you care whether you like it or not. 

You feel that being a fan of that team is a significant part of who you are, which is why you feel that your own fortunes in some way rise and fall with those of the team.

For me, being a fan has nothing to do with your attitude about how the team is doing, it is all about how following and watching the team affects you.   


What does fandom mean to you?

In Bold : That looks like a pretty good definition of being a caring fan in sports.
I was curious so I checked the definition of fanaticism in wiki :
"Fanaticism is a belief or behavior involving uncritical zeal or with an obsessive enthusiasm"
Could it be that some of the fans are afraid to be optimistic and labeled as "fanatic" in a bad sense of it? Just a thought...
Being a fan is having strong feelings towards the events of the sport team you are supporting.
Excessive joy, overall happiness, frustration, obsession, anger, pessimism and optimism.
With all that the most difficult part is to be true with yourself to stay objective.
Being right or wrong is not the interesting part here, since nobody are visionaries.
What matters to me is arguing different ideas, because that's how I learn. And the more knowledge, the more I enjoy being a Celtic's fan.

[Beat LA]

If you enjoy something going wrong with the team you might not be a fan of that team.

I mean I might enjoy being right about Jeff Green never getting a rebound but I would have enjoyed it a lot more had he proven me wrong and become the next superstar.

But if you're just like "Ha! I told you he can't play!" and are really invested in that.....you might not be a fan of that team.

Same, TP.  On the other hand, watching the nba draft has become quite the night of comedy for the Celtics, as far as I'm concerned.  I used to think, "what players are we going to get this year?" but now now I look at it as, "who is/are going to be trade filler/the next d-league superstar(s)?" lol .

[Emmette Bryant]

having fun

[KG Living Legend]

It means everything. Not!