That's the difference, though.
The vast majority of football fans have never played competitive football in their lives, and are thus not familiar with the advanced mechanics of the game, the training strategies or the physical demands it puts on the players. Rowing fans, on the other hand, are almost invariably ex-rowers; as an ex-rower myself, whenever my team-mates and I get together to watch the Boat Race, we inevitably end up talking about ergs and split times and feathering blades and stroke rates and pushes and all the rest of it. I've never had a conversation about rowing with someone who's never been in an eights boat.
( .Yeti. El amor en los tiempos del cólera, Wed 30 Mar 2011, 11:35, 1 reply)

Again with the generalisations
1) You'd be surprised how many football fans have played football. Or how many rowing fans have never rowed, for that matter.

2) And anyway, not having done something precludes you from talking about it and having an opinion does it?
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 30 Mar 2011, 11:40, closed)

Not at all.
It's what the internet was invented for. Like everyone else, I just love to hold opinions on things I know nothing about. This is generally in regards to music and films, and I like to make condescending, disparaging remarks about bands or fims I don't approve of, despite never having heard or seen the art being discussed.

For example, try telling a fantatic you've just seen the remake of The Wicker Man - they'll tell you it's shit, whether or not they've seen it.

This attitude is prevalent across the board - politics, food, sport - you name it, enthusiasts will have an opinion on it, whether or not they're well-versed in the point under discussion.

It's fun - especially when engaging the overly-sincere or worthy.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 30 Mar 2011, 11:50, closed)

I call bullshit
The internet was not invented for that. It was invented so the shamed could wank without talking to a shopkeeper.

The rest is just happy accident.

Wait..what was your point again?
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 30 Mar 2011, 11:54, closed)

what point?
I WASN'T DOING ANYTHING!
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 30 Mar 2011, 12:00, closed)

Nothing to see here.

( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 30 Mar 2011, 12:05, closed)

I'd noticed you do this a lot.

( Wet-chinned bag shanker Cannot parse Wogan, Wed 30 Mar 2011, 11:57, closed)

Me and ...
everyone else in the whole world.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 30 Mar 2011, 11:59, closed)

Ever!

( Wet-chinned bag shanker Cannot parse Wogan, Wed 30 Mar 2011, 12:11, closed)

If so, you'll have a laugh a minute on Wordpress .

( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Wed 30 Mar 2011, 20:40, closed)