[link]

I mean, this is basically me.

I still like Sportsball as a term. It's handy for those of us confused by it. Especially when everyone around is all WOO! about things.

I guess what I don't understand, though, is if [whatever sport is happening] isn't your thing, but you want to discuss it (or feel like you have to discuss it because of people around you), why not say "basketball" [or whatever sport]? Not calling it by its name is what comes off as so dismissive to me.

I mean, this is basically me.

Okay, but he does actually know it's football. It's literally the word "sportsball" and use of it that drives me insane.

I don't think people who aren't sports fans should have to know stuff about how any given team is doing, much less the intricacies of the game or stats on specific players. I think if sports isn't your thing, talking about it is a huge waste of time, but sometimes you get trapped in a social situation when people are talking about it.

But it's the FB posts of "I see some kind of sportsball happened this weekend." that drive me bonkers. Because it comes off as "I don't actually care enough to know what kind of sporting event took place, but I want everyone to know that I don't care." Why even post that in the first place, if you really don't care enough to even know what kind of sporting event it was?

t edit I'm kind of irrational about this and can't really explain myself without getting SUPER tetchy. Sorry. (Shit, maybe I do need a Snickers.)

Speaking of balls, for those who have not seen this when I reposted it on Facebook, I present to you "What If Animals Were Round?" [link]

Okay, but he does actually know it's football. It's literally the word "sportsball" and use of it that drives me insane.

Only because he's at the actual event.

But it's the FB posts of "I see some kind of sportsball happened this weekend." that drive me bonkers. Because it comes off as "I don't actually care enough to know what kind of sporting event took place, but I want everyone to know that I don't care." Why even post that in the first place, if you really don't care enough to even know what kind of sporting event it was?

Because everyone is suddenly talking about it? It's like anything else where there's a critical mass of discussion. A commentary on the commentary.

"I see some sort of large event happened," I muttered, bemused at the sudden influx of commentary about it. "I feel I should have known there was a large event happening. I did not, but apparently, it happened and it was large and very important to people. Okay."

(And really, being in the group of people who use sportsball as a term, bemused is pretty much the baseline reaction to the reaction.)

And sometimes, because it's, "Oh, crap. Apparently, there was sportsball, if traffic was any indication." or "Hey, is there some sportsball happening this weekend that I need to account for in planning my route to IKEA?"

It's a catch-all term that's less clinical/formal than "sporting event" would be.

And, you know, I *don't* actually want to have to figure out what sporting event happened. There are more of you than there are of me, which I get. I'm the one who's weird, not the rest of y'all.

It's why those of us who are not into sports kind of cling together, much like those of us who think Hiddleston is epically weird-looking and not at all attractive.

(Speaking of Hiddleston: [link]

(Borderline NSFW)

"What If Animals Were Round?"

That is hysterical, especially when they bounce. But I felt sorry for the crocodile that got stranded.

I think I first saw the term "sportsball" in The Oatmeal. I thought it was funny because it's so me (as was PM's video). I don't know what season which sporting event happens in. I honestly don't know what type of event is crowding the streets of my college town unless my sister's BF mentions it. He's a big sportsball fan, and I use the term there to indicate that he likes ALL of the sporting events that involve balls. Football, basketball, baseball, golf. I don't mean it to be dismissive and I hope I haven't ever sounded that way, I'm just indicating my own ignorance.

I *don't* actually want to have to figure out what sporting event happened.

That's fair. My question (about why not just say "basketball") was legit, not snarky. I mean, I'm snarky about the usage of "sportsball," but the question was serious, since I don't understand why people do what they do about 95% of the time.

I think I first saw the term "sportsball" in The Oatmeal.

...yeah, I thought that comic was shitty and dismissive, too. I guess it's just a sore spot with me.

And the weirdest part about this whole thing is I think it's linguistic for me. For real. Because it's not like I'm a huge fan of any particular team, though I'm happy when the Reds and Bengals win.

"What If Animals Were Round?"

Hilarious and disturbing.

I felt sorry for the crocodile too. Though my thought about the cheetah and antelope was, "Okay, now maybe they can talk through their differences."