h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The German Football team has just won the World Cup of Football (soccer). This has made many Germans very happy. If Argentina had won the world cup there would have been many Argentinians very happy and they would probably have had a national holiday. If England had won the world cup they would be dancing in the streets of Bradford and elsewhere.

My question to hootoo is why? Nothing has changed in their life, nothing at all. Yet suddenly these people are exceptionally happy because of something to do with 11 men kicking a ball around in South America

I too am unaware as to why watching a desired outcome occur would result in pleasurable emotions.

It's like when idiots smile when they find out that a punchline of a joke is funny. Why? Why become emotionally invested in something which gives you pleasure?

You'll still eventually die when the universal rules of entropy kick in.

There was a similar reaction with wining and loosing populations at the end of a war WWI and WWII in particular.

Perhaps international events of this type are a war sort of substitute to vent the feelings of violent rivalry of the crowd.

Those who don't have an interest and participate might be a tad more sophisticated.

Because some people are passionate about *something*?

You obviously don't follow *anything*

Books: probably can't get past the first chapter.

TeeVee series: don't bother with them.

Films: Only watch the opening credits.

Sport has a following, a *loyal* following. Whatever sport that may be. Tennis, Baseball, Rugby, Cricket, oh yeah, and Football.

If your favored team/player/X-factor contestant wins, you are happy (even if only for a moment)

Do you you want to kill joy, however brief it may be?

It doesn't. Next question.

The World Cup and the Olympic Games are far preferable to war. Let's be thankful for them.

The Germans are certainly better at football than wars.

Poor leadership not poor soldiers

Are Germany and Argentina the last two countries the UK declared war against?

I've got no problem with people enjoying seeing the side they choose to follow win. I get happy when the side I choose to follow wins. I try not to get too upset about it when they don't - I certainly go out and hit people

What gets me sometimes is the arrogance that comes with it. My brother-in-law has this very self satisfied smug attitude about Manchester Utd - as if he somehow contributed to their success in some way (OK, maybe paid to watch them a few times - that's it).
Last season was excellent in that regard

Emotional investment is definitely where it is.

What makes you happy for few small moments Stone Aart - maybe we can question that?

I certainly *don't* go out and hit people

Too late

>> I certainly *don't* go out and hit people <<

Is that a punchline like what Mr606 referred to

>> What makes you happy for few small moments Stone Aart - maybe we can question that? <<

Difficult to pin down but I suspect chemical imbalances in the brain.


I asked the question because I was interested in the apparent transitory and somewhat arbitrary nature of happiness or lack thereof on display. The roar of delight from one crowd and the descent into tears and apparent sadness from another crowd.

603, Stone Aarse. It's Mr603.

A buttocksful of remorse to you for my error

>>> I certainly *don't* go out and hit people <<

Is that a punchline like what Mr606 referred to shrug <

No it was me correcting a typo in my previous post

<>

We never declared war on Argentina.
We did declare war on Germany, but that was Oldco Germany. The owners went bust and went into a 45 year administration period before being relaunched.

We have never been at war with Sevco Germany (yet).
This is Sevco Germany's first World Cup win.

I think the last country we declared war on was Japan.

>>Is that a punchline like what Mr606 referred to

>603, Stone Aarse. It's Mr603

Mr 606, on the other hand, is almost certainly a Liverpool fan from Dorset complaining about a match he's just seen on TV.

On a related question, why do fans choose to switch their allegiances from the players they support in their club side, to those players in the national side? (Especially since so many players in the club side won't be from the fan's home country)

Do they?

I like to see the players from my chosen club do well in the world cup.

Having said that, I support Scotland so my interest in a national team of my choice winning is limited these days