site banner

Small-Scale Question Sunday for September 11, 2022

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

12
Jump in the discussion.

No email address required.

So it looks like football (soccer) is the main religion of my country and if I want a leg up in this corporate world being able to discuss football would be a big help. I actually play football (quite well) but discussing it has never interested me. But I'm learning that so much of the world is about people being able to relate to you and being able to label you and supporting a team would be a big help .

My first question is should I even try this? I am only explicitly trying to do this so I fit in. I truly have no passion or care for these millionaire players and coaches and their billionaire bosses. Will my peers be able to smell this on me? I think it's trivial for me to catch up and figure out current events (know the most popular players on the most popular teams, know recent transfers, know the scores of big games etc.) but will it be suspicious when I can't remember that really big thing happened 5/10/15 years ago?

Also should I support a big team or little team? I think supporting a little team makes me seem more authentic. The little team I'm thinking of is local as well. However I've noticed that peoples mood can be severely affected by their team winning or losing. So if I choose a big team who's doing well will I subconsciously gain more respect from peers because my team is probably always winning meaning I'm almost always more calm than them?

I'd love to hear any opinion on this whether you're a true fan who thinks I'm desecrating the game, or your someone who thinks this is an interesting endeavour or if you think I'm weird for even thinking about this and I should forget the whole thing all together.

but will it be suspicious when I can't remember that really big thing happened 5/10/15 years ago?

Probably not. I have friends that picked up various sports more recently and it doesn't seem inauthentic when they just shrug at older stuff and say, "yeah, I didn't get into it until [insert event]". This is me with cycling.

Also should I support a big team or little team? I think supporting a little team makes me seem more authentic. The little team I'm thinking of is local as well. However I've noticed that peoples mood can be severely affected by their team winning or losing. So if I choose a big team who's doing well will I subconsciously gain more respect from peers because my team is probably always winning meaning I'm almost always more calm than them?

I don't know soccer well enough to know for sure, but picking one of the juggernauts is probably not going to win friends and influence people less they're very popular locally.