Since hitting my 30s I’ve started getting really invested in middle aged man shit like sports and history podcasts. It’s a cliche and basic in its own way but I’m genuinely surprised by the amount of joy these relatively simple things are bringing me. Especially when I could not have been less interested in sports as a youngster.
Yeah, never been a big football fan my entire life. After starting a serious career I kinda got swept up into it.
I realized in my early 20s I do actually enjoy spectating when I started following e-sports. I was disaffected for a while when that whole space got taken over by influencers, though.
To me it comes down to story lines. I love a great story, as we all do, and professional competition you get to see them unfold in real time. You get to root for your side as it happens and then connect with the people who were there too.
So, hoping to expand my list of topics for small talk football seemed like an easy win. I dunno, not everyone needs social lubricant but it helps for me to have something to ease my anxiety.
I still am a bit behind on all the mechanics but started playing fantasy and it helps get more fimilar with the players.
People reading this probably think I’m a real doofus because this comes natural to them. For me though, it’s like discovering a whole new genre of music and getting to hear the hits for the first time.
Comparing my TV habits to my partner’s I came to the conclusion that following sports is actually very similar to following a soap opera or reality show: you as the viewer are trying to predict the dynamics between the characters and what the outcome will be from a limited selection of possible outcomes. I think it’s the combination of it being unpredictable - you don’t know who will win - but also bounded in terms of possibilities (someone is going to win). That combination lets you kind of switch off your brain while watching it whilst at the same time being pure drama.
Not sure if that makes sense but thanks for reading my wacky theory!
Since hitting my 30s I’ve started getting really invested in middle aged man shit like sports and history podcasts. It’s a cliche and basic in its own way but I’m genuinely surprised by the amount of joy these relatively simple things are bringing me. Especially when I could not have been less interested in sports as a youngster.
Yeah, never been a big football fan my entire life. After starting a serious career I kinda got swept up into it.
I realized in my early 20s I do actually enjoy spectating when I started following e-sports. I was disaffected for a while when that whole space got taken over by influencers, though.
To me it comes down to story lines. I love a great story, as we all do, and professional competition you get to see them unfold in real time. You get to root for your side as it happens and then connect with the people who were there too.
So, hoping to expand my list of topics for small talk football seemed like an easy win. I dunno, not everyone needs social lubricant but it helps for me to have something to ease my anxiety.
I still am a bit behind on all the mechanics but started playing fantasy and it helps get more fimilar with the players.
People reading this probably think I’m a real doofus because this comes natural to them. For me though, it’s like discovering a whole new genre of music and getting to hear the hits for the first time.
I had a very similar experience.
Comparing my TV habits to my partner’s I came to the conclusion that following sports is actually very similar to following a soap opera or reality show: you as the viewer are trying to predict the dynamics between the characters and what the outcome will be from a limited selection of possible outcomes. I think it’s the combination of it being unpredictable - you don’t know who will win - but also bounded in terms of possibilities (someone is going to win). That combination lets you kind of switch off your brain while watching it whilst at the same time being pure drama.
Not sure if that makes sense but thanks for reading my wacky theory!
No, this is how my wife describes it, lol.