[Eric-G]

While I’m a ‘normal’ male in most respects, I don’t understand the sports mentality. I laugh when I watch a football game and see fans and players alike beating on each other when they’re happy! ‘Hey dude, (slap) our team just got a touchdown! (punch arm). We rule! (Jump up and high-five each other hard enough to turn skin red, bellow real loud for 10 seconds, spill beer, belch.) I just don’t understand. Why do players and fans do this?

User Detail :  

Name : Eric-G, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 34, City : Colorado Springs, State : CO, Country : United States, Education level : 2 Years of College, 

[Patrick30441]

They do this because they get excited about the game. What you describe is merely celebration for scoring a touchdown or something. If you’re wondering why the celebration is so extreme, I think it’s just because people have so much interest in watching or playing the sport; this makes the outcome that much more exciting. As for the IQ level thing: Sports are often more physical than mental. You might see this kind of behavior at a football game, but not, for example, a chess match.

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Name : Patrick30441, Gender : M, Age : 21, City : Menlo Park, State : CA, Country : United States, 

[Jim30704]

I say avoid those who feel that the sports section of a newspaper should be 10 times the thickness of the business section. Our local paper is a perfect example. “Super fans” who slap, punch, belch and wet their pants do this as a substitute for personal accomplishment. It’s not a fault of the team; at least they’re doing something.

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Name : Jim30704, Gender : M, City : columbia, State : SC, Country : United States, 

[Dan]

These guys you observe learned this from their fathers. Team devotion can go as many years back in the generations as the team itself has existed. Back in the olden days, times were much harder, and diversions such as movies and ballgames were a much-needed break. And since people spent 60 hours a week at the factory and the rest of their time at home or a bar, they used such events as a release. According to my grandparents, people were actually rowdier in their time. I don’t get too excited, either. Since my family is from northern California, there’s supposed to be this legacy of devotion to San Francisco teams. I just saw no reason to adhere to it.

User Detail :  

Name : Dan, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : na, Race : Chicano, Religion : Pentecostal Christian, Age : 21, City : Los Angeles area, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[CP19351]

According to a book I read, this behavior is due to the fact that all humans have the need to touch and be touched (in a non-sexual way). Women usually feel more comfortable about hugging each other and displaying physical affection, but men often have no opportunity for physical contact besides sports.

User Detail :  

Name : CP19351, Gender : F, Age : 21, City : Montreal, Quebec, State : NA, Country : Canada, 

[Mamageph]

As a female football fan, I can tell you it is done out of excitement. I don’t hit anybody, but I boogie like crazy when my team does well. I just get so happy that I can’t sit still. So I don’t think it is just a male thing.

User Detail :  

Name : Mamageph, Gender : F, Age : 27, City : Smokey Point, State : WA, Country : United States, Occupation : Mama, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

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