Under his eye? Or under our eye?

Carry on

Wut

I am ready, willing, and able to continue calling you ignorant. I’m not saying that fans aren’t to varying degrees. Especially since you seem to be ignoring my broader points. I’m empathizing with the fans and taking into account how we got to this point rather than thinking I’m better than them and laughing at them.

You seem to have a serious empathy deficiency, so I can’t explain to you the nuance in that. My broadest point is that rampant capitalism and the elimination of third spaces for community have normalized in most people a pay to participate mindset. And they’re not wrong, because for many it’s all they’ve ever experienced. You, personally ,just don’t value the same things in the same way they do, and you feel superior for it. Of course that’s not every fan in this example, but that’s why the global community at large has enjoyed the world cup, Olympics, chess competitions, the space race, etc.

So, yes. I think your class division crap is ignorant.

Yes, I stand by ignorant. I’m not and wasn’t discussing the obvious corruption and gouging from FIFA. I don’t even watch the sport, but it’s been on full display for a long time.

My issue continues to lie with your judgement of the fans. I’m less concerned with the power of their want for this, but the “why” behind it. Competition on behalf of your community has been a part of cultures across countries and centuries. It’s a big part of the bread and circuses trope. People crave the community and comaraderie that comes from participating in and watching these types of events.

Access to this kind of community experience outside of monetary participation has been whittled away for decades, and we’re left with what the monopoly has left us. I’m not going to insult people’s intelligence for making choices that I don’t agree with, but can understand where the motivation comes from. I think this is just another example of how capitalism has squeezed joy from our lives, but I’m not going to be an asshole and blame the victims.

What a gross thing to say. Even if your ignorant generalization about football fans werr true, being complacent and smug about them being preyed on says a lot about you as a person.

People should be able to enjoy their hobbies and passions without participation being monetized at every turn. I don’t know why that’s a radical position to you.

It doesn’t come off as annoying, but it certainly does detract from any credibility you are trying to have.

If what you are saying is correct, losing an imaginary, anonymous popularity contest doesn’t seem like a good enough reason to keep quiet.

Insects and other animals preserved in amber aren’t uncommon finds in the mineral collecting community. You could get a great specimen for under a hundred dollars depending on where you’re looking and when.

Don’t let your dreams stay dreams!

Oh my gosh, this is so validating! A few different species of birds will flutter in front of the living room window when the feeders are empty to get my attention. They are smart little things!