Fuck sake. I get back from a lovely football-free day to find that shambles up-thread got dragged out the bin and around the kitchen floor some more.
Anyone who has had depression or has been in a bit of a dip knows that small things take on irrationally large and personal proportions. Continuing to give the needle to someone for whom that is obviously the case is the point where banter becomes bullying. Unfortunately things become a bit more blurry in cases like football, where individuals invest themselves heavily in a club or identity and see themselves as being personally under fire when their team gets laughed at.
Now, Iām very much of the opinion that if you support a top flight football team - particularly one of those elite that has knocked the ladder away for everyone else, which accounts for about 90% of posters here - you have to accept that most people want you to fail, and fail badly. That is part and parcel of the immense privilege that comes from supporting those teams. So no, Iām not going to tell you to stop pointing out that Arsenal re-enacting the Battle of Britain with banners over a godawful display at West Brom is quite funny. Generally I think these threads are humorous and decently spirited. Generally.
What I will say is, be slightly more sensitive. If someoneās obviously going a bit spare about the football, donāt throw their words in their face. Donāt use them as part of your amusement, see if you can poke them to say even more silly things. I think most of you are non-trolling functioning adults (feel free to c+v for your CVs) who should be able to tell when somebody can take a ribbing and when somebodyās had enough. Try and remember what itās like when your own team get humiliated.
On the flip side, you have to know when to switch off. Iāve stayed on here feeling increasingly resentful as City shit themselves whilst RFWare posts about it not being funny for the fourth time in a row, and nothing good has come of it. For god sake donāt feel you have to fight a corner. I also want to echo what bugduv said - if you feel somebodyās getting at you and/or has posted something unacceptable, message them and politely tell them as much. Everyone here is a virgin bedwetter whoād sooner cycle ten miles than give genuine personal offence, and itās good to remind yourself of that.
400 words guys. Canāt even remember what Coming From the Mill looks like now.
