I like The Roar – a place for retort at commentators’ wisdom or dribble, and a place to dribble yourself. It beats by far all other forum sites.
People have extreme views, and sport is not exempt. Sport includes bias in its DNA. You choose a team, and subsequently hate the other, objectiveness leaves, though you claim it your own. Add the anonymity of the internet, and you have the catalyst for an explosive mix.
Commentators criticise the anonymous nature of internet opinion, and rightly so. It gives a mask (accept for the red column and some foolish enough to do it in the blue) to say what you like without consequence, which thus often gets quite bitter and rude. But old John Laws said there’s two sides to every story (which confused me because I didn’t see Lawsy as too interested in the other side).
When in the same physical space, most like to agree with peers, even when they don’t, just to pretend you have solidarity, fearing argument. But anonymity on the net gets rid of all that. It exposes what one really thinks, the ugly truth as they say, and I like that.
Anonymity gives courage to the normally meek, like me.
Is this what Jesus meant in the prophecy, “The meek shall inherent the earth.” Was this code for, “Wait till you see the internet in 2000 years, it’s just the tool for you meek!”
Does this mean the many horned goats in Revelation will appear with their terror? Sounds scary, but it would be nice to see if it’s all true without lying on the death bed wondering. December 21, 2012 some say is doomsday – galactic alignment.
Sport commentary for too long has been the domain of a few. The Roar let’s us in – and without discrimination.
I’ve been amazed I’ve been published at all. I must appall most readers here, so I’m thankful I’m allowed anywhere near it.
A Roarer commented recently that writing on here (for me) is cheaper than a trip to the quack. I thought that funny, by the way, and I agree. I admit I’m bonkers, and The Roar is a nice release valve.
And for all the argument, isn’t that what sport is for? To simulate fighting. Humans love fighting.
But debate of sports opinion is a nice little make believe substitute for our primeval urges, which cause no real harm.
And the virtual nature of the internet is nice. If I were in the same room as some of you, surely there’d be odds on violence – it’s how I was taught to solve matters – but we’re not, and so we learn civility while disagreeing.
We learn that other opinions exist and how to accept them, and thus we live in peace, not something everybody can do.
To The Roar’s crowd credit, they do get worked up, but avoid the gutter such as one swear word responses like other sites, including YouTube channels etc, which is a credit to all Roarers and keeps it viable. Keep it up.
So for all those who vent their spleen; to anyone I’ve offended and annoyed; to the few I’ve ‘had a go’ at; to those who hate my stuff; to that one person who likes my stuff; to all who contribute, bloggers and readers; let’s smoke the Christmas ham together and let us pray:
Thank you Lord, for making people out there as crazy as me, who spend working days wasting bosses time, commenting on something so futile as sport, and if we agree or not, we still share in each others’ madness, and thanks for the internet and The Roar.
Merry Christmas to you all, don’t kill me on the road, read you next year, and remember, while our opinions differ and many of you are just wrong, I, like Jesus, love all of you over opinionated sports freaks.
Peace brothers and sisters, and if someone riles you, enjoy it, don’t take it to heart.
And finally, my Roar of the Year award goes to… Vinay Verma, for the sheer passion and imagery of his words and the imaginative titles he creates with seeming effortlessness.
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