What gives members the right.....

[ezbian]

to bitch & moan when their team is playing bad.

I have been thinking about this over the last week or so, basically because of stories of Geelong supporters sending emails to the club expressing their disgust in the teams performance, and others even taking the extreme steps of sending in their membership cards.

What is the main reason we go to the football? I would say it is for entertainment, others may spin something from Maslow's hierachy of needs about a sense of belonging, but for most I would say AFL football is a form of entertainment. If we take this theme what gives the members the right to be so upset and angry when their teams don't perform.

I am not having a crack at anybody who is passionate about their football side, god knows I have left many games feeling angry and despondant about the way the Cats have played. I have sprayed abuse at players from my side etc etc, but what is it about football that triggers people. Why is something that is predominantly a form of entertainment become like a religion.

If I was investing in a company, looking to get a return on my investment and that company had poor performance and lost my money I would get angry with that company. But a football club doesn't give me any return on investment, I buy a membership to support my club and receive access to their matches. I don't sign up with any expectation of a return on my investment. Football is entertainment.

Most of us would go to the cinema to see a movie. If that movie is terrible I would imagine very few of us leave that movie and right a email to the General Manager of the cinema venting our frustration about the entertainment he has delivered. We don't write an email to the director of the movie venting our frustration. We don't send back our tickets! Movies are entertainment, and if a movie is bad we might tell our friends not to go to the movie but we don't act like the world is going to end.

Effectively when we buy our memberships we are buying an advanced ticket to weekly entertainment. Yet when that entertainment doesn't go the way we would like, some people feel that they are owed something by the club, players etc, almost a guarantee on their investment in entertainment. I have never heard of a football club paying a dividend to their members?

I am sorry this isn't heavily football related but i just wanted to comment on what is a truly unique phenomenom. Yeah i love it when the Cats are flying, and I can be disappointed when we lose, but do I enjoy going to the football regardless of the result, yeah i guess I do. Do i get what I sign up for when I purchase my membership, yeah I do. I get priority access to a certain number of designated games, which I think might be enjoyable.

The world won't end tomorrow if the Cats don't win and the majority of us will front up to Essendon the week after. Do the club or players really owe members anything??

 

[nananana catman]

If I was investing in a company, looking to get a return on my investment and that company had poor performance and lost my money I would get angry with that company. But a football club doesn't give me any return on investment, I buy a membership to support my club and receive access to their matches. I don't sign up with any expectation of a return on my investment. Football is entertainment.

Most of us would go to the cinema to see a movie. If that movie is terrible I would imagine very few of us leave that movie and right a email to the General Manager of the cinema venting our frustration about the entertainment he has delivered. We don't write an email to the director of the movie venting our frustration. We don't send back our tickets! Movies are entertainment, and if a movie is bad we might tell our friends not to go to the movie but we don't act like the world is going to end.

Effectively when we buy our memberships we are buying an advanced ticket to weekly entertainment. Yet when that entertainment doesn't go the way we would like, some people feel that they are owed something by the club, players etc, almost a guarantee on their investment in entertainment. I have never heard of a football club paying a dividend to their members?

I think members have every right to bitch and moan if the team is playing bad, especially when they can do much better.

You pay for food at a restaurant and it is bad, you complain, you see a bad movie, you diss it to your friends.

Without members, footy clubs at the elite level wouldn't exist. With 32,000 members paying on average about $150 a year, that is about 7million dollars they contribute (pardon me if that is wrong) which is basically the salary cap.

If we are paying there wages, we can demand good performances and be annoyed when we dont get them.

And we do get a return on our investment, just ours hasn't been very good since 1963

 

[catempire]

ezbian, it gets to the point where if they play as badly as they do sometimes it stops being entertainment and starts being bloody annoying. I don't know about you, but I don't pay hundreds of dollars a year to be annoyed. You might say, well don't pay then. That's true and I'm sure that's what many people have done with the Cats. In fact, until we win a flag this club can never be a truly successful club, not only trophy-wise but also financially. A city of 200,000 people should be able to do better than 32,000 members. At the moment it can't because there's a whole lot of negativity that is associated with the club. I've digressed...

I keep coming back out of the faint hope that we'll win a flag one day. I think when that time comes it will all have been worthwhile. The tragic history is getting old though. I'm not sure I've got another two decades of failure and disillusionment in me!

 

[Micksy]

Watching Geelong play terribly is entertainment?

Are you sure you're on the right board?

Doesn't sound like the words of a Cats fan.

 

[Shell]

DID ANYONE SEE THE HERALD SUN TODAY?!?!?!?!

*****ING ESSENDON SUPPORTER TWITS BITCHING AND MOANING ABOUT WINNING 4 FLAGS INSTEAD OF "7 OR 8"... NOW THERES A BUNCH OF *****WITS IF IVE EVER SEEN A *****WIT!!!

And you complain about Geelong supporters haveing a bit of a whinge?!?! Bottom line for me, i'll always support them, but they shouldnt be immune to criticism!

Theres no doubt all Geelong, Bulldogs, StKilda and Melbourne fans have got the right, if anything to do that!!

 

[ezbian]

Watching Geelong play terribly is entertainment?

Are you sure you're on the right board?

Doesn't sound like the words of a Cats fan.

No I don't like to see them lose, and yes i get disappointed, I said that. But take last week for example, watching little Gaz light it up, watching Rooke bust his guts, watching Jimmy put his head over the footy continually, yes thats entertainment, even though we lost.

I am not saying people can't get angry, but honestly does it really make a difference to how the players perform?

I just think you know what you are signing up for. 16 sides playing for 1 trophy. Not great odds.

Does finishing second make you feel any better?

There would be approximately 480,000 members of AFL clubs in this country, all living in hope that there side will win the flag. Say you win the flag, as a supporter then what do you do? You start all over again and do it again next year. Yeah people can get angry, but writing emails, standing at the race waving your membership card at the players, blah blah, its just over the top, and doesn't make one iota of a difference to whether they win or lose.

 

[CF]

So do you think a member should just politely clap and cheer regardless of the indifferent sh ite the players have dished up over the last 6 weeks when after round 2 we were being touted as flag favourites after our most successful preseason in years???? Is it any wonder the fans are angry. I agree some do go overboard, but we do have the right to be angry about a club that is under performing like these blokes are at present.

 

[MrAaron]

DID ANYONE SEE THE HERALD SUN TODAY?!?!?!?!

*****ING ESSENDON SUPPORTER TWITS BITCHING AND MOANING ABOUT WINNING 4 FLAGS INSTEAD OF "7 OR 8"... NOW THERES A BUNCH OF *****WITS IF IVE EVER SEEN A *****WIT!!!

And you complain about Geelong supporters haveing a bit of a whinge?!?! Bottom line for me, i'll always support them, but they shouldnt be immune to criticism!

Theres no doubt all Geelong, Bulldogs, StKilda and Melbourne fans have got the right, if anything to do that!!

REPORTED !

now to get back on topic. Club Members pay a hell of a lot of money for a season long membership, they buy food and football related stuff from the footy shop no doubt and they expect to perform well each week. Anything short and the players/coach needs to be held responsible. They are being paid a hell of a lot of $$ to play like a professional in their expert field. Anything short of that and they have no right to be there.

If you under-perform at your work you shold be sacked after the odd warning right ? why not with afl footballers also ?

 

[eliiiiza]

So do you think a member should just politely clap and cheer regardless of the indifferent sh ite the players have dished up over the last 6 weeks when after round 2 we were being touted as flag favourites after our most successful preseason in years????

As mentioned in the other thread, dead silence and some tumbleweed would be highly effective...

 

[Shell]

So do you think a member should just politely clap and cheer regardless of the indifferent sh ite the players have dished up over the last 6 weeks when after round 2 we were being touted as flag favourites after our most successful preseason in years???? Is it any wonder the fans are angry. I agree some do go overboard, but we do have the right to be angry about a club that is under performing like these blokes are at present.

My own rules and standards:
- criticize during the game (you need to vent frustration and the players cant hear you so, who cares?)
- boo only umpires and the opposition
- never boo your own side
- never clap after a loss
- never wave around wooden spoons
- never hurl abuse as the players walk up the race
- never spit

Thats what I follow

 

[MrAaron]

My own rules and standards:
- criticize during the game (you need to vent frustration and the players cant hear you so, who cares?)
- boo only umpires and the opposition
- never boo your own side
- never clap after a loss
- never wave around wooden spoons
- never hurl abuse as the players walk up the race
- never spit

Thats what I follow

then you have no passion for your club

if your club is under performing, they need to be told. yell at them, hold up signs telling them they suck big time, wave around wooden spoons & also burn fake money and rip up fake membership cards

Also email your club with abuse to get your point heard

 

[Shell]

REPORTED !

now to get back on topic. Club Members pay a hell of a lot of money for a season long membership, they buy food and football related stuff from the footy shop no doubt and they expect to perform well each week. Anything short and the players/coach needs to be held responsible. They are being paid a hell of a lot of $$ to play like a professional in their expert field. Anything short of that and they have no right to be there.

If you under-perform at your work you shold be sacked after the odd warning right ? why not with afl footballers also ?

ohhhhhhh im scared.

Im trying to point out the fact the some other examples of supporters and what THEY whinge about.. and how absurd their whinging can be, if they really have a think about IT!!!!

And players get dropped, sacked, de-listed and traded.. der

 

[MrAaron]

ohhhhhhh im scared.

Im trying to point out the fact the some other examples of supporters and what THEY whinge about.. and how absurd their whinging can be, if they really have a think about IT!!!!

And players get dropped, sacked, de-listed and traded.. der

Not everyone, for the amount of players that get sacked and delisted and traded fo runder performing, the averages just odnt work out.

If it did 85% of the Bombers 1st team would need to be traded in October right ? Just doesnt happen.

 

[Shell]

then you have no passion for your club

if your club is under performing, they need to be told. yell at them, hold up signs telling them they suck big time, wave around wooden spoons & also burn fake money and rip up fake membership cards

Also email your club with abuse to get your point heard

Oh im passionate baby!! Trust me on that one.. people are embarrassed to sit next to me at the footy!

I live and breathe this footy club and im sure i have navy and white blood pumping thru my viens. I just dont agree with immature, stupid, vile acts that some other supportes get up to.

PS. GO GUNNERS!!!

 

[eliiiiza]

then you have no passion for your club

What a gross generalisation. Who are you to tell us what and what isn't passion?

 

[ezbian]

Not everyone, for the amount of players that get sacked and delisted and traded fo runder performing, the averages just odnt work out.

If it did 85% of the Bombers 1st team would need to be traded in October right ? Just doesnt happen.

Why do you think that is? Because these guys are the leaders in their field.

If you want to keep the occupation theme running, they are the specialists doctors or surgeons, they are the QC's.

Their wage is simply reflective of their position in their field. There aren't too many blokes in the VFL who don't get there shot, if they are worthy.

 

[CF]

As mentioned in the other thread, dead silence and some tumbleweed would be highly effective...

cool I hope someone takes some tumbleweeds along this week....maybe some loud crickets to chirp would enhance the effect

 

[eliiiiza]

You bring the crickets (I don't like bugs) and I'll hustle up some tumbleweed!

 

[Shell]

cool I hope someone takes some tumbleweeds along this week....maybe some loud crickets to chirp would enhance the effect

haha, yeah tumbleweeds were my idea

Where do you suppose, youd GET tumbleweeds?? And how many tumbleweeds would you need for a football ground??

We'd also want to make sure we have good quality tumbleweeds too...

Maybe i just like saying the word 'tumbleweed'

LOL, thanks for that whoever said "who are you to say who is or isnt passionate" Luckily for Elvis Aaron Presley, im in a good mood tonight. Otherwise i wouldave ripped him into shreads!

 

[Shell]

You bring the crickets (I don't like bugs) and I'll hustle up some tumbleweed!

HEY!! read my above post!!!

And thanks Liza.. twas you

 

[eliiiiza]

haha, yeah tumbleweeds were my idea

Where do you suppose, youd GET tumbleweeds?? And how many tumbleweeds would you need for a football ground??

We'd also want to make sure we have good quality tumbleweeds too...

Maybe i just like saying the word 'tumbleweed'

LOL, thanks for that whoever said "who are you to say who is or isnt passionate" Luckily for Elvis Aaron Presley, im in a good mood tonight. Otherwise i wouldave ripped him into shreads!

I like the word weeeeeeeeeed. It just sounds funny.

Weeeeeeeeeeed.

What IS tumbleweed made out of? Good idea, Shell!

No problem

 

[Micksy]

As mentioned in the other thread, dead silence and some tumbleweed would be highly effective...

Anyone live up on the road to Mildura?

I remember seeing tumbleweeds rolling across the road on the way up there a few years back.

I think we should all chip in for someone to drive out and collect a few boxfulls so we can release them - free-range style - onto Kardinia Park after the next shameful loss.

After this weeks display of course. You can't just collect a boxfull-o-tumbleweeds overnight.

By the way...I'm serious about this. Reckon they'd let you carry boxes in on gameday? With tumbleweeds in em?

 

[eliiiiza]

Nuh uh. I love in Geelong.

Ooooooo. I've never seen real tumbleweed.

I reckon they would. hehe. But the effect wouldn't be as good if people cheered or clapped our boys off.

 

[Shell]

Anyone live up on the road to Mildura?

I remember seeing tumbleweeds rolling across the road on the way up there a few years back.

I think we should all chip in for someone to drive out and collect a few boxfulls so we can release them - free-range style - onto Kardinia Park after the next shameful loss.

After this weeks display of course. You can't just collect a boxfull-o-tumbleweeds overnight.

By the way...I'm serious about this. Reckon they'd let you carry boxes in on gameday? With tumbleweeds in em?

Hahaha!!!

Shell has now added another rule to her list:

- releasing tumbleweeds onto the field after a loss is okay.

(IMO, they are inoffensive, very light in weight and can cause no harm, physically or emotionally.. unlike spit, wooden spoons, abuse, etc, etc)

 

[CF]

could the cheer squad get them in under their jumpers maybe??