Rage Online

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A22915398

I particularly like &quotThat's the thing when you support a club that is run poorly - there is always another division to drop into.&quot

And just think of all the local derbys we could go to if we did drop another division..

Secretly, I think some people who use this forum would like that.

&quotSnake&quot wrote: Secretly, I think some people who use this forum would like that.

Who do ya think that is then Snake, cos it certainly ain't me.

I'd certainly volunteer for the post.

Obviously success is better than failure but nobody's going to tell me there isn't some sort of masochistic satisfaction involved in watching your team becoming unimaginably bad.

I mean if we were just interested in enjoying ourselves in some uncomplicated way we wouldn't be drawn to football in the first place would we?

This reminds me of a conversation I had with a workmate many years ago on a Tuesday morning when I told her I'd been to the chess club the evening before.

&quotDid you enjoy yourself?&quot she asked.

&quotI never enjoy myself playing chess&quot, I replied.

&quotWell why do you do it then?&quot she countered.

I didn't know the answer then and I'm far from sure I know the answer now.

&quotPeña Oxford United&quot wrote:This reminds me of a conversation I had with a workmate many years ago on a Tuesday morning when I told her I'd been to the chess club the evening before.

&quotDid you enjoy yourself?&quot she asked.

&quotI never enjoy myself playing chess&quot, I replied.

&quotWell why do you do it then?&quot she countered.

I didn't know the answer then and I'm far from sure I know the answer now.

Have exactly the same conversations about my running, although I suspect the answer involves personal challenge. As for football, 95% of it isn't enjoyable, but when that elusive 5% does come along, it makes up for the rest.

&quotPeña Oxford United&quot wrote:I'd certainly volunteer for the post.

Obviously success is better than failure but nobody's going to tell me there isn't some sort of masochistic satisfaction involved in watching your team becoming unimaginably bad.

I mean if we were just interested in enjoying ourselves in some uncomplicated way we wouldn't be drawn to football in the first place would we?

The only pleasure (masochistic or otherwise) derived from persistant failure is when it stops. It's like banging your head against a brick wall it feels good when you stop. As I've said before every season of failure is one in the emotional bank to make the pleasure in success all the more sweet if and when it finally arrives.

Having said that going to football even when you lose can on the whole be a pleasurable experience. The days of hope leading up to the game, the journey to the game and the pre match pint and banter are all enjoyable whatever the result. Yes, there's the pain of watching an inept performance and the ache you get for a certain length of time (depending on how important the game is) after a defeat but even that is tinged with the hope you cling on to that next time it will be better.

&quotMally&quot wrote:The only pleasure (masochistic or otherwise) derived from persistant failure is when it stops.

I don't think this is true.

&quotPeña Oxford United&quot wrote:

&quotMally&quot wrote:The only pleasure (masochistic or otherwise) derived from persistant failure is when it stops.

I don't think this is true.

OK then, try this:

The only pleasure (masochistic or otherwise) derived from persistant failure is in the anticipation of a time when it will stop and be replaced by success.

The only other explanation I can think of for taking pleasure out of failure is the perverse pleasure of feeling sorry for yourself. I worked out a long time ago that this doesn't work and serves no purpose.

Well, it obviously does serve a purpose of some sort (though I'm not saying that's the motivation here) because people do it....

The pleasures of being an Oxford United supporter:

1) It's our team. We feel more connected to our club than any Premiership fan ever will. We can make a difference.

2) It's a journey. Only us and Carlisle to my knowledge have played in 5 divisions. With which other team could you get such a tour of English football clubs and grounds?

3) It's not cheap, but it's affordable. My colleague's season ticket at Arsenal cost him over a grand. He can't afford to go to away matches. St Albans was a tenner.

4) The players may not be great, but we're not paying them obscene money. That makes it more watchable. Our players share cars, Premiership wankers own 15 each.

5) We are real fans of a real team, not wannabe fans of an overhyped charade of a league. How many of your colleagues watch the team they pretend to support?

6) One day we will win something again (please!?). 16 teams in the Premiershit never will.

7) Great memories: Tuesday nights at the Manor, Jim Smith mark I, everything 84-87, Tranmere away, Joey Beauchamp, Crewe away, Peterborough home, Matt Elliott, Paul Moody, Yellow Fever(!).

any more...?

&quotYF Dan&quot wrote:any more...?

John Aldridge
Ray Houghton
Everton and Arsenal at home in '86 (staying up, won the cup)
.
.
.
9-1 against Dorchester '95
Promotion in '96
Middlesbrough away '98 (Lost 4-1 but didn't care 'cos we finished 12th)
Everton away '99
Charlton away '02
Slumdon home '02

&quotPeña Oxford United&quot wrote:
&quotDid you enjoy yourself?&quot she asked.

&quotI never enjoy myself playing chess&quot, I replied.

&quotWell why do you do it then?&quot she countered.

I didn't know the answer then and I'm far from sure I know the answer now.

I'm depressed now. No, I'm even more depressed now. My social life is taken up with running, golf, chess, snooker, watching football and it's made me realise I don't really enjoy any of it!

Running hurts. One tee shot at the weekend ended up behind me. I lose at chess. I lose at snooker.

Perhaps the football's not that bad after all!

You a serious chessplayer?

&quotMally&quot wrote:

&quotPeña Oxford United&quot wrote:I'd certainly volunteer for the post.

Obviously success is better than failure but nobody's going to tell me there isn't some sort of masochistic satisfaction involved in watching your team becoming unimaginably bad.

I mean if we were just interested in enjoying ourselves in some uncomplicated way we wouldn't be drawn to football in the first place would we?

The only pleasure (masochistic or otherwise) derived from persistant failure is when it stops. It's like banging your head against a brick wall it feels good when you stop. As I've said before every season of failure is one in the emotional bank to make the pleasure in success all the more sweet if and when it finally arrives.

Having said that going to football even when you lose can on the whole be a pleasurable experience. The days of hope leading up to the game, the journey to the game and the pre match pint and banter are all enjoyable whatever the result. Yes, there's the pain of watching an inept performance and the ache you get for a certain length of time (depending on how important the game is) after a defeat but even that is tinged with the hope you cling on to that next time it will be better.

All this soul baring makes me chuckle. Considering we finished second last season. It could have been far, far worse.

&quotPeña Oxford United&quot wrote:You a serious chessplayer?

No, I 'enjoy' playing at an elementary level. I'm certainly not in your league!