# Request to all international soccer fans: STOP THAT FUCKING BUZZING! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 12, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942 "2010-06-12T18:49:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/241 "2010-06-15T03:04:55Z")
Not sure if this has been linked already, but even if it has, [it’s awesome](http://i.imgur.com/CGbjS.png) enough for another look. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/242 "2010-06-15T03:58:03Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > [Apparently, the inventor was a big admirer of Saddam Hussein](http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/22/vuvuzela-ownership-row). > > Says it all really, the torturing bastard! It gets worse: Not only is he responsible for this abomination, not only does he express admiration for a murderous, mindlessly destructive dictator, but he’s apparently also started _selling_ earplugs, a solution to a problem that he is responsible for. ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/243 "2010-06-15T05:29:55Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > “England defender Jamie Carragher said the noise did not bother him when he came on as a half-time substitute during the 1-1 draw with the United States and he said he had already bought two to take home to his children in Liverpool.” Scouser!!! The noise didn’t bother Carragher? So how DOES he account for his horrendous performance in that game?? 😛 I love the World Cup, but have to add my voice to the buzzing cacophony of vuvuzela detractors. The high-pitched monotonous droning of the vuvuzela really does ruin the atmosphere, at least from the perspective of a television spectator, which, let’s face it, is the perspective for the vast majority of World Cup spectators. The noise was terrible at the Confederations Cup last summer (also staged in South Africa, as it tends to be regarded as a warm-up to the following year’s WC), and it’s even more annoying this year. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/244 "2010-06-15T07:13:07Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I had the dubious honour of playing rugby union\* for\* Rugby School. We weren’t very good. Posho 😛 I went to nearby Princethorpe College. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/245 "2010-06-15T07:37:18Z")
The mute button is there for a reason. Use it. And don’t give me that shit about hearing what is going on from the announcers. It’s soccer. Nothing is going on. ---
**Author:** ![yendis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ed8c4c/32.png) [@yendis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yendis)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/246 "2010-06-15T07:42:16Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Welcome all citizens of the world to Sunny South Africa, the land of rainbow colour and wonderous sound. > > VUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!! Not bad for a first attempt Ivan, but to really get the authentic vuvuzela sound you need to modulate it a bit. So its not a flat vuuu but rather vuvuvu, like this: **VUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVUVU!!!** ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/247 "2010-06-15T11:11:02Z")
I was tempted to stick a few more “V’s” in there as well. Bah! ---
**Author:** ![Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fake_Tales_of_San_Francisco)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/248 "2010-06-15T11:32:32Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > I live in a country which has four major codes of football, but I lived in the UK for a few years. The UK habit of calling soccer “football” - as if it were the only code - initially came across as ambiguous, and then when I learned it meant “soccer” it came across as arrogant, but then after a while you get used to the fact that the one code is just so pervasive in the UK that it is not surprising that it has come to be simply “football”. (I am from the UK, but have lived in Australia, the USA and throughout Europe) Only people I know who live in either Australia or the USA don’t know what I mean when I say ‘football’, so it’s generally easier to refer to the sport like that. My friends in France, Belgium, South Africa etc know what I’m talking about, it’s the game that much of the world plays. Aussie Rules football is completely ignored, and when we have to make the _very_ rare reference to football in the USA it’s _always_ called American Football. Comments on how boring it is, all just seem to have a trollish tint to them to me. I personally don’t enjoy watching football, and any sport for that matter, though I’ll happily play them. Even though I don’t like them, I don’t feel the bizarre need to tell people who thoroughly enjoy it how terrible and yawn inspiring their sport is. Kind of childish really. Do you argue over whether the PS3 or the Xbox 360 is the best too? The constant horde of bees on the TV is really fucking annoying and has pretty much ruined what little interest I had in it anyway. It’s a pity, because the atmosphere for the World Cup is usually pretty incredible. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/249 "2010-06-15T12:34:09Z")
Okay, I’m used to xenophobic retards pissing on soccer like they knew a goddamned thing about it anyway, and I’m appreciative of the TeeVee ESPN investing in it a little – at least Neil Everett doesn’t smirk quite so hard when he’s forced to say the word “nil” – but in my opinion, if you’re a sports commentator and you don’t know shit about the sport or the tournament you’re commenting on, then shut the fuck up. Heard on ESPN Radio this morning (paraphrased): “What’s so exciting about a tie, anyway? And this Langdon (sic) Whatever Donovan or whatever his name is …” I mean, come on. You’re ESPN. It’s the World Cup. Get your shit together or clam up. Imagine hearing “What’s so exciting about tying the series 2-2. And this Kobe Whatever Beef guy …” I swear, every four years is both the most exciting and the most exasperating time in sports for me. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/250 "2010-06-15T13:39:15Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > It gets worse: Not only is he responsible for this abomination, not only does he express admiration for a murderous, mindlessly destructive dictator, but he’s apparently also started _selling_ earplugs, a solution to a problem that he is responsible for. To paraphrase Homer Simpson: “To Saddam Hussein! The cause of, and solution to, all of soccer’s problems!” ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/251 "2010-06-15T13:42:10Z")
We love our football and it’s played by millions around the world. Americans love their American football but it’s not played by millions around the world. Sour grapes from the US. I’m glad not to be watching ESPN then **Jack Batty**. I don’t have a radio presently, but when I do I usually tune in commentators there while watching on TV too. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/252 "2010-06-15T13:54:50Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Heard on ESPN Radio this morning (paraphrased): “What’s so exciting about a tie, anyway? And this Langdon (sic) Whatever Donovan or whatever his name is …” > > I mean, come on. You’re ESPN. It’s the World Cup. Get your shit together or clam up. Imagine hearing “What’s so exciting about tying the series 2-2. And this Kobe Whatever Beef guy …” Were you listening to something on earlier than _Mike & Mike_? They’re both pretty respectful of the World Cup, even though neither is a fan. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/253 "2010-06-15T14:14:47Z")
I left my place at about 7:30 this morning, and ESPN radio was the last station I was tuned into. After punching the car radio, I tuned to a new station, so I don’t know what the program was. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/254 "2010-06-15T16:01:28Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > You might wish to consider that some people express an opinion (a gripe even) without making a statement as a spokesperson for the human race. I do not like soccer. The TV has soccer on because another member of this household likes and watches soccer. The noise is annoying. The OP mentioned the noise was a factor preventing enjoyment. I concur. > > Whether any other human being on this planet likes what I have to say about it, it’s my opinion. MY opinion. I don’t care whether you like it or not. So there. > > (By the way, I was content to let your remarks about my other post pass, on the grounds that you have a right to your opinion, too. It just appears you don’t really enjoy other people stating opinions without it becoming Vox Populi.) WTF are you on about? I’ve never even replied to any of your posts. I quoted **sven** and I addressed my remarks to **sven**. Next time don’t make gross generalizations about another poster’s posting habits until you’ve got the right poster. Jeebus. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/255 "2010-06-15T16:10:12Z")
I’m laughing my ass off about that one. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/256 "2010-06-15T16:19:27Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > It’s soccer. Nothing is going on. Go fellate a leprous goat, you ignorant pillock. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/257 "2010-06-15T16:20:19Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > [A right and proper response here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sD_8prYOxo&feature=related) to all the ignorant fuckwits in this thread who fail to appreciate football. I love this! But I’d listen to Cleese read the phone book. It’s all true. IMO, such deep dislike of soccer/football has to be taught. Someone when these guys were young inculcated them with a contempt of the game. Add to that the ordinary testosterone pissing contests that make up 99% of all Pit threads and you have what we see here: people who can’t just say, “It’s not my thing, but it’s cool to see the world excited about this event” or even, “not my thing, but go USA! because I’m American” etc. I hate hockey and American football, but I was thrilled that the Blackhawks brought home the Stanley Cup and loved when the Bears won the SuperBowl (back in the day). Hell, I’m tepid on baseball, but want my Cubs to win a “World” Series at least once in this century. But I’m female, so of course I don’t understand the constant threat that soccer reveals to American male sports fans. :rolleyes: I once heard a few years ago some commentator on ESPN say something like " Pro soccer will never become popular in the USA". And I thought to myself, you arrogant, ignorant prick–it’s in your best interests for pro soccer to take off; consider it job security or at least a challenge. But I think he was pandering to those buffoons who can’t appreciate what they don’t understand or like. I’m fine with it not being shared by everyone; I’m not fine with soccer being dismissed or mocked–ya’ll that are doing it come across as immature, stupid and boorish. Go USA! :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/258 "2010-06-15T16:24:58Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > In general, I suppose I could give that to a disintrested observer, but you ignore the aspect of how draws are scored at a tournement, group, league, etc. level. 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw. So that plays all sorts of havoc when it comes to who ranks where. It affects in-game strategy … especially in group stages of World Cup tournaments. Forest for the trees and all that. So draws effect the overall standings in a similar way that wins effect the standings in American sports like Baseball or Football. I will admit that I forgot about the American football rule that has allowed for ties, roughly 14 in the last 35 years and none since 2008, but imagine if you were able to score gameday tickets to your favorite teams’ match, got time off work and someone to watch the kids (if you have em) get all excited, buy a beer and a sausage and a foam something or other and perhaps a vuvuzela to root and cheer for your team, and it ends up being a draw. Perhaps it’s too American of me, but the idea that nothing actually equals something makes me dislike soccer that much more. We call soccer, soccer, because football is already taken and came, if I’m not mistaken, from rugby “football” which as we all know is English in origin. So Cleese can suck it. And for what it’s worth, American football is in more than just America… [Internationally](http://www.ifaf.org/) [In Japan](http://www.xleague.com/) [In Germany](http://www.gfl.info/) It will never be as popular as soccer because you can’t get a real game of American football together in a dusty lot, but the fact remains it has its’ appeal. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/259 "2010-06-15T16:40:00Z")
> [@buttonjockey308](#): > > So draws effect the overall standings in a similar way that wins effect the standings in American sports like Baseball or Football. I will admit that I forgot about the American football rule that has allowed for ties, roughly 14 in the last 35 years and none since 2008, but imagine if you were able to score gameday tickets to your favorite teams’ match, got time off work and someone to watch the kids (if you have em) get all excited, buy a beer and a sausage and a foam something or other and perhaps a vuvuzela to root and cheer for your team, and it ends up being a draw. > > Perhaps it’s too American of me, but the idea that nothing actually equals something makes me dislike soccer that much more. It’s a bizarre attitude even if you’re American. There is nothing inherently unsatisfying about a draw; sometimes teams are just evenly matched. The idea that they must continue to play until one of them (often almost arbitrarily) wins is weird, but worse still is the potential that they’ll have to decide the match by playing a mini-game which essentially eliminates most aspects of the sport - such as in US college football, or the penalty shootout that decides post-group-stage World Cup matches. I think the basis for it is the American system of playoffs, which is itself truly Byzantine. You play _some_ of the other teams - not even all of them! - just to get to the _actual_ contest, and then you start all over again with a knockout tournament. Weird. In a David versus Goliath scenario like last weekend’s USA-England match, a draw has even more significance - by not losing, the US “won”. That result would not have been possible had the teams been forced to play extra time, since it was clear as the match went on that England was going to score sooner or later. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/260 "2010-06-15T16:43:54Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > WTF are you on about? I’ve never even replied to any of your posts. I quoted **sven** and I addressed my remarks to **sven**. Next time don’t make gross generalizations about another poster’s posting habits until you’ve got the right poster. > > Jeebus. Post #28 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942.md?page=14)