obligatory "Vancouver riot 2011" post
I feel like I need to write about the stupid riots to get my own thoughts straight.
Growing up, I was not a sports fan. In fact, I pretty much hated organized sports and didn't want anything to do with them, and would be somewhat proud to differentiate myself from those who were really into sports. Maybe it was because I was never great at them, maybe I assumed people who were really into them had nothing interesting going on otherwise, maybe I simply stereo typed sports people as being dumb jocks. Instead, I was into skateboarding, art and music, and had/have no problem identifying with many people from those crowds.
Social psychology classes have been some of my favorite. I've learned a lot about how people identify with one group over another, and how it can both change one's identity and cloud judgment towards other groups. I've also learned about how certain events or circumstances can strengthen group alignment/ collective identity. For example, those who do support the local sports team may feel more proud of where they are from and start to allow some of their identity to depend on their location or favorite team, and start to feel more aligned with others in their community. The general concept can explain how things like community involvement and church groups can strengthen one's sense of community too. Not rocket science, but stuff I hadn't bothered to think about before. Thinking about things like this hadn't changed any of my hobbies, it has only made me over analyze things like getting tattoos, etc.
I also started to see the hypothetical value in sports, and the arrogance of assuming my hobbies were any better than anyone elses. Finally not being as closed off (and having a husband who is pretty into some sports), I was able to get caught up with the 'local sports team' with everyone else this year, totally jumping on the bandwagon, finding myself interested in the details of what was going on. I realized what was happening (you have to start to identify with the team to actually care how they are doing), but went with it: I suddenly cared a little bit about sports. It was pretty fun. I could feel the ups and downs fans feel when they watch sports, and for once I understood the appeal.
Then the riots happened. I was (and still am) pretty disappointed and heart broken. I can't help but think that I wouldn't have had the same sense of being let down if I hadn't started getting into the games. I would have thought the people were stupid, but it wouldn't have bothered me as much. I would have been able to disassociate myself a more easily from the rioters. I could have blamed it on the fact that the rioters liked hockey, something that didn't apply to me. But no, I cared about the game, and so did these insanely bad people.
Since the riot happened, I have seen many people blame whole groups of people: hockey fans in general, Canucks fans specifically, Canadians, Vancouverites, people from the suburbs, people from specific suburbs, young people, men, and people who 'need jesus'. It is always a group that the given person doesn't identify with. I am guilty of it too, feeling like those involved must be totally uneducated (grasping at straws basically). It's not true though, plenty of college kids were there. Human behaviour is complicated, and we don't naturally have the tools to explain all of it, but stereotyping is a short cut that gets us no closer to any real understanding.
Growing up, I was not a sports fan. In fact, I pretty much hated organized sports and didn't want anything to do with them, and would be somewhat proud to differentiate myself from those who were really into sports. Maybe it was because I was never great at them, maybe I assumed people who were really into them had nothing interesting going on otherwise, maybe I simply stereo typed sports people as being dumb jocks. Instead, I was into skateboarding, art and music, and had/have no problem identifying with many people from those crowds.
Social psychology classes have been some of my favorite. I've learned a lot about how people identify with one group over another, and how it can both change one's identity and cloud judgment towards other groups. I've also learned about how certain events or circumstances can strengthen group alignment/ collective identity. For example, those who do support the local sports team may feel more proud of where they are from and start to allow some of their identity to depend on their location or favorite team, and start to feel more aligned with others in their community. The general concept can explain how things like community involvement and church groups can strengthen one's sense of community too. Not rocket science, but stuff I hadn't bothered to think about before. Thinking about things like this hadn't changed any of my hobbies, it has only made me over analyze things like getting tattoos, etc.
I also started to see the hypothetical value in sports, and the arrogance of assuming my hobbies were any better than anyone elses. Finally not being as closed off (and having a husband who is pretty into some sports), I was able to get caught up with the 'local sports team' with everyone else this year, totally jumping on the bandwagon, finding myself interested in the details of what was going on. I realized what was happening (you have to start to identify with the team to actually care how they are doing), but went with it: I suddenly cared a little bit about sports. It was pretty fun. I could feel the ups and downs fans feel when they watch sports, and for once I understood the appeal.
Then the riots happened. I was (and still am) pretty disappointed and heart broken. I can't help but think that I wouldn't have had the same sense of being let down if I hadn't started getting into the games. I would have thought the people were stupid, but it wouldn't have bothered me as much. I would have been able to disassociate myself a more easily from the rioters. I could have blamed it on the fact that the rioters liked hockey, something that didn't apply to me. But no, I cared about the game, and so did these insanely bad people.
Since the riot happened, I have seen many people blame whole groups of people: hockey fans in general, Canucks fans specifically, Canadians, Vancouverites, people from the suburbs, people from specific suburbs, young people, men, and people who 'need jesus'. It is always a group that the given person doesn't identify with. I am guilty of it too, feeling like those involved must be totally uneducated (grasping at straws basically). It's not true though, plenty of college kids were there. Human behaviour is complicated, and we don't naturally have the tools to explain all of it, but stereotyping is a short cut that gets us no closer to any real understanding.