This has been a trying season for Blue Jackets fans. You didn’t need me to tell you that, but I did on Monday. As such, fans are starting to get angsty. And with that angst, people are engaging in the 21st century’s favorite past time: Arguing online.
In December, things reached a boiling point. The Blue Jackets had choked a three-goal lead to the Kings, their eighth blown third period lead of the season. People were angry. One segment of fans demanded answers. Another was mad at the first for not seeing the progress this team has made this season. Brian Hedger called one of our writers a jackass. Good times all around.
Today, I want to look into this dynamic. Why is there such strife within the Blue Jackets fans online? And what is the role of criticism in fandom?
How to be a fan
I think a large part of the arguments in CBJ land are caused by (aside from social media being a toxic environment by design, intended to use anger to drive engagement) a fundamental difference in what people think being a fan means. I think most fans fall into one of two mindsets – True Fans and Mature Fans – and both think that they’re the Real Fans.
The first group, True Fans, believe that the role of a fan is to enjoy the team, and that the only way to enjoy a team is to highlight the positives. After all, if the role of sports in society is to be entertainment, why would you not reap the benefits of that entertainment? True Fans take pleasure in the little things; “It sucks that we lost, but Cole Sillinger got a hat trick, and Adam Boqvist played a great game.” They view the Mature Fans as miserable naysayers, bringing the doom and gloom of the real world into what is supposed to the distraction from the real world.
The other group, Mature Fans, believe that the role of a fan is to engage with the sport, being there for the ups and downs in the hopes of sustained, long-term success. After all, if the goal of sports is to win a championship, you should be making sure your team is making progress towards that goal. Mature Fans see themselves as investors; they trade the drudges of underwhelming years for the reward of playoff success, and hopefully the ultimate catharsis of a championship. They view True Fans as naive optimists, trying to create short-term success by ignoring the issues that will prevent the team from competing long-term.
Both groups think they’re the Real Fans, that they’re smarter than the others because they actually want the team to be successful. The issue is that they have different definitions of success. So who’s the real Real Fans? Both and neither, they’re both equally valid mindsets to have, and most people have traits of both. I know I tend to lean towards being a Mature Fan, but I try to look for highlights as they come and be slow to jump to conclusions. But their fundamental differences greatly changes how True Fans and Mature Fans view criticism.
Understanding criticism
First things first, let’s define criticism. For the purposes of this article, criticism can be defined as the negative reactions and feedback of fans resulting from individual events in-game, such as a bad call, unorthodox line combinations, missing an empty net, a bad turnover, a goal that should’ve been saved, a choked lead caused by those last three things, etc. Things such as noting an individual player’s tendency to be out of position, or a team weakness like a poor powerplay, are valid examples. Personally attacking an individual player, either through direct contact or encouraging others to do so, is not criticism, and is beyond the scope of this article.
To the Mature Fan, criticism is a necessity in fandom. Issues that hold the team back must be addressed, whether that means individual players need a change in ice time, or those in charge of overarching structure need to be replaced. Until changes are made, the team won’t be able to compete consistently, let alone win a championship. Venting their desire for change is how they express their fandom. In their view, True Fans, who want everything to be sunshine and rainbows, don’t understand what it takes to truly succeed.
To the True Fan, criticism is a discouragement. They’re trying to enjoy themselves, and view sports as a distraction from everyday life. Why would you bring the negative into what’s supposed to be a positive? Take pleasure in the little things, and if a play or a game makes you upset, let it roll off your back and move on to the next one. In their view, Mature Fans are a bunch of grouches, and are trying to take away the happiness that sports brings them.
Rethinking conflict
As is the nature of the internet, this difference in perspective leads to conflict. To a Mature Fan, voicing criticism is fundamental to fandom. To True Fans, the goal of sports is to maximize enjoyment. As such, these two perspectives are naturally at odds with each other.
The goal of this article is not to persuade True Fans to Maturity, or vice versa. Instead, the goal is that, when a Mature Fan sees a True Fan express excitement for a great play, they can understand that those little things are what drive the happiness of that person. And when a True Fan sees a Mature Fan vent about yet another turnover and wanting changes to be made in the organization, they can know that that person ultimately wants the same success they do. And maybe, just maybe, we can come together as a fanbase and unite behind watching our favorite hockey team.
Or at least not have writers calling people a jackass.