This question is about football bias.
I realize that it's human nature to be biased when it comes to certain things.....like in High School football and your mom thinks everytime somebody touches you it's a penelty....
I also realize I am annoyed by a lot of things that other people can tollerate....
But I can't get over how insanely biased people are about their favorite sports teams (football in this case)
So, the questions
On a Scale of 1-10, 1 being the least and 10 the most...and feel free to give examples when applicable:
At what point do you think someone's bias has gotten out of hand?
How biased do you think the average Football fan is?
How biased to you think the average Yahoo Answers Football fan is?
How biased are you?
just thought I'd throw something else out that wasn't about the Patriots/Colts, green dots, or how to get on MySpace at school....
2007-10-30 03:58:41 · 9 answers · asked by retired 6 in Sports ➔ Football (American)
I think someone's bias is out of hand as soon as they lose the ability to answer any question without somehow having to comment on a particular school or conference (eg. the constant mention of the vaunted SEC).
I believe that the average casual fan is extremely biased, many times because they cheer for a team while not necessarily really caring about, or understanding, a sport. I believe that the greater the knowledge or understanding a fan has, the less (usually) they're biased. With being a serious fan comes the ability to just enjoy the game for its own sake.
The average fan on here is incredibly biased, and that bias is obviously what made you ask this question. Many of the answerers on here are just people cheering their team without any regard to answering a question. I'd definitely put myself on the opposite end - I'm not completely unbiased, but I'm pretty close. I have no allegiance to any college football conference, and while I'm a Bengals fan I realize that they are not the Patriots/Colts. Again, I love the game for its own sake, and I don't need a rooting interest to enjoy it.
2007-10-30 04:08:05 · answer #1 · answered by Craig S 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Yeah, homer-ism runs rampant among bloggers and message board posters, and I think it is worse online than in person.
1) When has someone's bias gotten out of hand?
Basically when they say something completely unrealistic. For instance, if I were to say "I fully expect the Eagles to turn the season around and make the playoffs." That would be out of hand. Although I would like to see it happen, and it would not be a COMPLETELY ridiculous scenario, it would definitely be a stretch, and it would show that I'm a biased idiot. If I worded it something like "If the Eagles can manage a win against Dallas this weekend, they will be in a good position to make a late post season run, but that is a pretty big 'if.'" it would make my point much more believable and would make my statement more credible. Unfortunately, people on Yahoo do not understand this.
2) How biased is the average football fan?
Tough to say... It really varies person to person. For instance, my two best friends are Green Bay fans. We watched the Eagles game, and obviously afterwards, I was fuming because Philly lost the game on two muffed punts, despite clearly outplaying the Pack. My one friend was like "Boy, I'm glad we won, but I'll defintely admit it, we got soooo lucky." My other friend said, "What? That's not lucky. It's just good football. We played a better game and won." Obviously, if the tables were turned, Friend #2 would have been fuming about how lucky the Eagles got. Basically the average fan is about a 6.5 on a 10 scale - they defend their team to a point, but will give in when it is obvious that their team sucks. However, in most cases like the situation I just described, the average fan will flip flop their opinion on "lucky plays" depending upon if their team was the team "getting lucky" or the team SOL.
3) How biased is the average Yahoo Answers fan?
Higher than the average fan I would say. Probably closer to an 8 or 8.5.... maybe even a 9. You have some people who are reasonable, and will admit that the Rams probably are not going to the playoffs this season. Then you have the Pats "greatest team ever" "die hard" (but in real life 85% of them just started liking them in or after their first Super Bowl year) fans. The best part about Yahoo Answers has been watching the progression of the fans.... over the summer you had the Rams, 9ers, Saints, Bears, Bengals, and Jets fans in here saying things like "people were idiots not to pick the Bears or the Saints for the NFC Champs." I haven't seen too many of them around lately! I think you get many more fair weather fans on Yahoo Answers. I picked the Eagles VS Ravens for my Super Bowl... so... yeah... haha, it's not dead... not quite yet at least.
4) How biased am I?
I'd like to answer 1, but I know I am. I did pick my team to win the Super Bowl this year (although, in all reality, it was not a ridiculous pick). Basically, I always try to think positive for my team, and since I have a better all around knowledge of them, I feel like it affects my judgement sometimes. That being said, I don't normally say things that are too outrageous, but if I am on the fence about an issue, I'll give my team the benefit of the doubt. However, there comes a point where you write your team off. If the Eagles lost this past Sunday, that would have been my point. If they lose this Sunday, that is my point because I know their season would be over. I readily admit when the Eagles get a call that goes their way or if they get a lucky play (so in my Packers friends scenario, I would have had friend #1 mentality). I probably am about as biased as the average fan, so probably around a 6.5.
2007-10-30 05:07:33 · answer #2 · answered by Jim Baw 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Someone's bias gets out of hand when they don't think logically about who's gonna win, or when they think everything should be a penalty against the other team.
How biased do you think the average Football fan is? 5 I think they're somewhat biased, but not too much
How biased to you think the average Yahoo Answers Football fan is? 8 Alot of Yahoo Answers fans don't think logically about what they're saying.
How biased are you? 3 I'll say that I'm slightly biased, but not too much to get in the way of thinking logically about my team losing.
2007-10-30 04:19:15 · answer #3 · answered by Jordan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bias gets out of hand the FIRST time someone reports someone on YA for their opinion. I claim to "hate" certain teams, but would never hate on (report) one of their fans, because everyone has a right to like or dislike any team they choose. The avg fan is bias at about a "5" level IMO. The avg YA fan is bias at about a "7.5" level IMO. I am bias toward my Kansas State Wildcats on a "10" level if I think we have at least a 40% chance of winning a particular game. I KNOW when we are in over our heads and humbly keep my mouth shut. When KSU has been wronged(like in the 175+ yd penalty game against Auburn), I will tell it, but I don't wish Auburn or their fans ill will, it was the officials and they are object of my rants AND, I will eagerly admit when I am / was wrong. I talk alot of crap, but I also eat crow with dignity.
2007-10-30 04:24:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
personal attacks instead of facts mean someones bias is out of hand, average football fan is a 5 or 6. yahoo answers 9 or 10. personally, im at about a 7-8. God help my bears this year. every team in chicago goes the way of the cubs.....
ps for anyone who cares. accuscore has the patriots as 60-40 favorites on sunday. only the steelers and the jags have a better chance of winning.
2007-10-30 04:05:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
At what point do you think someone's bias has gotten out of hand?the commish is out of hand
How biased do you think the average Football fan is? 6
How biased to you think the average Yahoo Answers Football fan is? 10
How biased are you?1
2007-10-30 04:02:55 · answer #6 · answered by HamThugger 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Rams vs. Dolphins in the Stuper Bowl.
2007-10-30 04:09:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
is this a valley girl question? i try to limit my own bias, and reality is good at reinforcing that limit. O^O
2007-10-30 04:02:37 · answer #8 · answered by BulldogBlitz 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
roll mother freaking tide. like, omg. alabama is the best team ever!! you will never be able to outdo bama or win as many championships as us. wooo roll tide! i love bama.
bias enough for you??? loll......
2007-10-30 04:05:13 · answer #9 · answered by Adrian- Roll Tide!!!! 4 · 2⤊ 9⤋