Honestly, some people get really into it with fantasy football and other stuff. They know everyone's stats. They know the strategies. It can get really intense. At the end of the day, it is a game so I understand. But I just ultimately get turned off by the culture around American football to the point that it's virtually impossible for me to get into it.

[–] REgon@hexbear.net 11 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (7 children)

Nah no hooligan stuff, though we do fire roman candles once in a while, but that's just for the vibes. I know a few hooligans actually, but that's more from my upbringing. It's mainly the big leagues that have those, they're surprisingly chill actually. Just dudes who found out they liked to fight and decided to meet up with like-minded individuals instead of assaulting random strangers in the street.
They agree beforehand on where to fight, with how many and with what allowed and when to stop. Really seems like there's no (nonconsensual) harm in it.

Edit: related story. One time I was at a bar with some of them. A guy comes up to me, sizes me up, asks me if "I wanna go?"
I've been in fights before and I'm pretty good at talking myself out of them. Ridiculing yourself is great, if you make yourself seem pathetic then they're less likely to go for you, since it would be weak of them to do so.
But if you're asked "do you wanna go?" Then that's it. There's no answer that doesn't start a fight. And this guy just came out of the blue, really fucked with me. No buildup.
I felt so stupid. I know there's some chuds and chud-adjacents in that culture, even in good clubs. I was looking kinda queer, of course something was going to happen. Stupid.
So what do I do? Well I make sure I have at least legal cover, for if something bad happens. I loudly proclaim "no sir, I do not wish to fight you. Sorry for provoking you." Maybe I'm lucky and I'll get attention from those around me. A few half-glanxes thrown my way, but no one reacts otherwise.
Fuck.
The guy is big. Not super big, but bigger than me. And he's a fighter, I'm not. I've been in fights, but mainly to get out of them. He fights often, and well you can tell. So I'm in for it.
What does he do? He shrugs, says "alright, have a nice evening" slaps my shoulder as he says "take care" and walks over to another guy, who he sizes up and asks if he would like to go.
The other guy says "nah man, not tonight" oh okay, see you around and on he goes. Fourth guy askedsays yes, they go outside.
Later on I catch them at the bar sharing a beer lol.

[–] anarchoilluminati@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Just reading the story.

That's really funny. You really over thought it but I totally understand. There are some situations that seem like a trap. I'm glad you got out of it without any issues though, seems like a cool group.

It reminds me of one time I was walking around going to get lunch in very infamously rough downtown and I happened to be dressed up because I was working. Then as I was walking this bigger and tough-looking, street guy standing at a corner just one-armed shoved me out of no where. It didn't push me back far nor made me lose my balance but it did make me stop. So I look at him, shake my head slowly and just clearly say "Nah, man" almost as if disappointed. He looked at me bewildered but didn't say or do anything so I took the opportunity and I just walked away and nothing happened. I have no idea why I responded like that but I feel like because I confidently responded that way it defused it by virtue of being so surprising to him, granted my response surprised me too and was completely spontaneous. Worked out.

People get robbed and shit there all the time so it could have easily escalated. I used to walk around there alllll the time and that was the only instance of even coming close to an altercation or anything. I got lucky I guess.

[–] REgon@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Your story is fantastic! That guy must have looked over his shoulder for the rest of his day, thinking he accidentially interacted with some big shot.

[–] anarchoilluminati@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago

And I definitely did NOT look like a tough, big shot which probably confused him more. Haha

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