An interesting debate/point I overheard yesterday

A football fan was saying that regardless what happens football has to continue because many people find great enjoyment from it and it reduces their stress so during times like these it's vital.

A very valid point.

However the reply from a woman in the office was that it may reduce stress when your team wins doesn't it actually increase stress when they play badly or lose? Isn't their a proven link between domestic violence and football? With partners and kids trapped at home is it not bad idea to bring the additional risk into homes via football right now?

Again a very valid point.

Her next point was anyway I, and a lot of other women find shopping extremely relaxing and stress reducing. If football is allowed regardless as it reduces stress for mainly men shouldn't shopping be allowed that reduces stress for mainly women? When footballers play football they grab each other, hug, and touch each other constantly. When I shop I touch nobody.


Found myself agreeing with her so much but not wanting to at the same time

 

Shopping may reduce stress for the women, but that heightens stress for the men. Thereby negating the fact that the men have watched the football. So only football should continue imho

 

Some good points there.

I'd counter it with (a) you can sit at a computer and shop online.
(B) you can still watch the match on TV.

Neither are ideal. It's unfortunate but it's I reckon for most the 'physical' aspect of both pastimes. I wouldn't bother with football in normal times if I couldn't meet up with mates and socialise and physically attend a match.

Similarly online shopping in akin to watching games on your own on TV. Not that shopping is my thing but for some it'll be the physical aspect of trying on clothes etc. Chatting to friends. Calling for a drink or a bite to eat.

 

It’s about escaping, in truth stress of Barnsley losing is usually gone by 5.05 and I return to the real world. But, for two hours I’m in a normal world. The idea that when your team loses you become a wife beater is the same Middle Ages dogma/ defective logic used by those who think all Irish and Muslims are terrorists.

 

5:05? If we lose against Wednesday it ruins my entire year!

Additionally ST is correct. Studies have shown links between football and domestic violence. Not that everyone is a 'wife beater'.......

On the flip side it can work the other way. Like the famous baby boom 9 months after that day in 1966.

 

Well I'm a woman and hate shopping but love watching sport, particularly football and Barnsley in particular. But a lot of people don't so for me I don't think football should have a special pass.

 

No one is suggesting that your team losing turns you into a wife beater. However, people who suffer domestic violence will tell you there are triggers for when this violence can erupt.

 

More Leeds in my case being from a WF postcode. Wednesday are in the same category as Hull, Donny. I’ve not seen studies linking Football and domestic violence, but I would still like to see how they prove it and eliminate the effects of alcohol and personality disorders out the equation.

 

I've read over the years about the connection. I couldn't lead you directly what articles I read but I'll have a search.

Jay could be your man.

 

My daughter studies this stuff at Uni, she’d also find it interesting, but I still feel linking should not be blaming. Ford and Vauxhall aren’t the cause of drink drivers!

 

and now you know when I was born lol

 

Think there were studies during the World Cup into more domestic abuse when England lost but I think alcohol will be a large cause. And also men can be abusive on a daily basis without drinking any alcohol or watching football. 2 women die daily, it's a shocking statistic in this day and age.

 

You'll do for me Helen

 

Just put football and domestic violence into Google. There's tons of it. A report came out a couple of years ago that studied domestic violence over a number of world cups. It's not football that does it of course or we all would who watch football, it's horrible people that do it, usually men, but football can be a trigger for these people.

 

Sort of my point. A thug is a thug, a bully is a bully all the time not just Saturday.

 

The thing is, the people they abuse learn how to avoid the triggers, know what to do and what to say, or when just not to be there. People are locked in together. Seeing the person who abuses you switch on the football and reach for a beer will be terrifying for many people right now and there's no escape.

 

My friend used to hate it when football was on as her husband got really aggressive when Man U lost. She left him years ago and now has a season ticket from Bradford with her new fella and really enjoys football after dreading the season for so long. Edited to say that he didn't drink at all due to his religion.

 

They can shop online as we can watch football online

 

I understand he argument, if not the experience as fortunately, I’ve never seen it/ felt it. The root cause though is not football, it’s bad people (for want of a better term). Also another factor may be crowds. I am feel it’s more passive and less emotive watching from home with empty stadiums. No opposition fans gloating and goading. Like watching high quality Sunday league in some ways.

 

Its not only the match for me but the 3 or 4 days prior to it, reading our forum, opposing teams forums, the look forward too, putting on a acca, the banter, its more than the 90 minutes for me anyway