# Who cares if you hate sports? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 9, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841 "2004-12-09T00:04:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/1 "2004-12-09T00:04:50Z")
Inspired by this thread: > **[I hate sports....](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=290789)** > > … but I love fitness. I’m in the gym 5 days a week. I run, bike, ski, weight train, swim (grudgingly despite the fact that it’s good for me). I’m physically fit and I like the sense of health and accomplishment my workouts give me. But I cannot... and a bit by this one: > **[sports pre-empting regular programming](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=290627)** > > i have plenty of time to write this pit thread. i do not watch very much television to start with, but i do like the amazing race. it isn’t on here. instead we have the creighton university/kent state basketball game. calling the station resulted... What’s up with people who think hating and/or not following sports is a virtue? It’s fine if you don’t care for them, but don’t expect a commendation on your intelligence and good taste because you’re “above all that.” It’s a matter of preference, not a matter of character. I once got into a discussion about baseball with a couple of fellows within a larger group, and one fellow puffed himself up a bit and said he was proud to say that he had no idea what we were talking about. Well, suppose a couple of fellows were talking about opera, mechanical engineering, the best places to eat in Toronto, or the care and feeding of pet wallabies. I could say, in candor, that I had no knowledge of the subject and no interest in it, but why would that be something to be proud of? I don’t think you need to be embarassed, but there’s certainly nothing to be proud of. Sports are part of our culture, and professing your pride in your lack of knowledge and interest is similar to someone boasting that they’ve never read a book or hate all forms of music. It’s their right to do ignore books and music, but that ignorance is value-neutral – it’s neither a virtue or a vice. I take no pride in my ignorance of gardening or jazz, and I figure those interests bring joy and satisfaction and perhaps even spiritual bliss to the people who enjoy them. Frankly, I respect anyone who is really interested in something, whatever it is. Anyway, I’m sorry, for you, that you can’t share in the pure joy of something like the RedSox winning the World Series or the Packers falling behind 35-0 in the second quarter, but you seem to make up for it in the gloating, so I guess it all evens out. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/2 "2004-12-09T00:14:21Z")
Just out of curiosity, why didn’t you just post this in the first linked thread? I mean, the title was “I hate sports” and as of right now it only has two replies, so you could have gotten in on the ground floor. _:: leaves to start a thread titled “I hate people who don’t care about people who hate sports” ::_ ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/3 "2004-12-09T00:14:46Z")
It is merely a counterpoint against those morons whose only interest is watching sport. Not those people who have interests in watching sport and also in other things, or those who actually take part in sport, which are both commendable. I agree that the “I’m glad I don’t know what you are talking about” mentality is stupid and insulting, but I don’t think that is what the two linked threads are doing. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/4 "2004-12-09T00:16:01Z")
I made a thread being anti-sports coverage a little while ago but I can’t find it right now. My opinion still applies. People that are “into” sports feel free to talk about it in casual conversation as if you should have the same interests as you do. I like aviation. Imagine the reaction people would have if I just walked up to someone and started talking about some flight that I thought was cool. Also imagine if a spread my arms out and flew around the room making airplane sounds while I was doing it. That is the equivalent of what several baseball fans did to me talking while the Red Sox were in the world series. They talked while doing air swings. You would be annoyed too if “opera” were a major segment of the nightly news and took up a section of the paper if you had no interest in it. Combine that with the fact that some of your favorite shows were pre-empted by opera coverage and people forced you to talk about it the next day. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/5 "2004-12-09T00:20:09Z")
You know, I really dislike people who hate people who don’t care about people who hate sports. I think. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/6 "2004-12-09T00:20:46Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Just out of curiosity, why didn’t you just post this in the first linked thread? I mean, the title was “I hate sports” and as of right now it only has two replies, so you could have gotten in on the ground floor. > > _:: leaves to start a thread titled “I hate people who don’t care about people who hate sports” ::_ Because I thought it would be bad manners to shit in his thread. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/7 "2004-12-09T00:23:14Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I made a thread being anti-sports coverage a little while ago but I can’t find it right now. My opinion still applies. People that are “into” sports feel free to talk about it in casual conversation as if you should have the same interests as you do. I like aviation. Imagine the reaction people would have if I just walked up to someone and started talking about some flight that I thought was cool. Also imagine if a spread my arms out and flew around the room making airplane sounds while I was doing it. That is the equivalent of what several baseball fans did to me talking while the Red Sox were in the world series. They talked while doing air swings. > > You would be annoyed too if “opera” were a major segment of the nightly news and took up a section of the paper if you had no interest in it. Combine that with the fact that some of your favorite shows were pre-empted by opera coverage and people forced you to talk about it the next day. I’ve often been pulled into conversations on other people’s pets, families, workout regimens, gardens, home improvements, vacations, and so on, and I generally try to be interested, since it’s all part of being a friend. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/8 "2004-12-09T00:23:54Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Because I thought it would be bad manners to shit in his thread. Bad manners? **It was a thread about hating sports, _in the BBQ Pit_!!** Jesus fucking Christ, what has become of us? _:: hyperventilates ::_ ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/9 "2004-12-09T00:24:16Z")
> [@Rufus Xavier](#): > > You know, I really dislike people who hate people who don’t care about people who hate sports. > I think. Oh yeah? Well fuck you, pal. I hate people who dislike people who hate people who don’t care about people who hate sports – especially when they are namby-pamby about it instead of just admitting it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/10 "2004-12-09T00:24:40Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Because I thought it would be bad manners to shit in his thread. Bad manners in the Pit? HAH!!! ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/11 "2004-12-09T00:25:52Z")
I hate sports. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/12 "2004-12-09T00:25:59Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Bad manners? **It was a thread about hating sports, _in the BBQ Pit_!!** Jesus fucking Christ, what has become of us? > > _:: hyperventilates ::_ Well, if someone wants to open a thread on how much they hate x, I don’t see why I need to hijack it and make it a thread about hating people who hate x. I myself hate green x, especially with ham. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/13 "2004-12-09T00:26:29Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > I’ve often been pulled into conversations on other people’s pets, families, workout regimens, gardens, home improvements, vacations, and so on, and I generally try to be interested, since it’s all part of being a friend. None of these were firends. They were all strangers or casual aquaintences. That is my point. One was during a job interview and I felt I had to fake interest and knowledge to have a chance at the job. I didn’t get it so I guess I didn’t do well enough. I guess I should have run around the room with my arms spread out talking about the flight characteristics of the Enola Gay. ---
**Author:** ![Greathouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greathouse/32/2992_2.png) [@Greathouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greathouse)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/14 "2004-12-09T00:26:49Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Bad manners? **It was a thread about hating sports, _in the BBQ Pit_!!** Jesus fucking Christ, what has become of us? > > _:: hyperventilates ::_ That’s right, God damnit! you fuckers. Start acting like the assholes we all know you are. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/15 "2004-12-09T00:28:27Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > None of these were firends. They were all strangers or casual aquaintences. That is my point. One was during a job interview and I felt I had to fake interest and knowledge to have a chance at the job. I didn’t get it so I guess I didn’t do well enough. I guess I should have run around the room with my arms spread out talking about the flight characteristics of the Enola Gay. You would have made a good impression, I’m sure. Once in a job interview, the interviewer made a sexist joke, and I felt compelled to fake-laugh. I still regret it, 10 years later. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/16 "2004-12-09T00:35:01Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Because I thought it would be bad manners to shit in his thread. Anyone else experience deja vu upon reading this? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/17 "2004-12-09T00:37:24Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Once in a job interview, the interviewer made a sexist joke, and I felt compelled to fake-laugh. I still regret it, 10 years later. Did you get the job? Maybe the joke was test… ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/18 "2004-12-09T00:39:35Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > Anyone else experience deja vu upon reading this? Is that where you hear the same word twice in a row? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/19 "2004-12-09T00:44:37Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Did you get the job? Maybe the joke was test… No, and it’s an interesting thought, but I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841/20 "2004-12-09T01:17:26Z")
I used to have the attitude described in the OP. I think its a perfectly understandable position, if not entirely reasonable. Really, there are so many times you can stand being called a faggot for not liking pro sports before you develop a bit of an attitude about the whole thing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-cares-if-you-hate-sports/278841.md?page=2)