Civilisation is in the process of collapse

[Animavore]

I think violence at sports is cultural to both sports and countries. While their rugby fans are fine, the Brits, along with the Dutch, and Russian football fans are notorious for fighting. The Irish are notorious for being great sports.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.indepe ... 37052.html

My money is on Russia to win when they fight England in the World Cup.

[pErvinalia]

I am completely mystified by violence at sporting events.

One word: Beer.

Totally disagree. Go to any international rugby match. No separation and no alcohol restriction. Even during a Scotland England game many a dram would shared between rival fans and not single problem. The key is mentality. Plain and simple.

Rugby fans aren't real men. They're all lawyers and accountants.

(except this rugby fan... )

[pErvinalia]

I am completely mystified by violence at sporting events.

One word: Beer.

Totally disagree. Go to any international rugby match. No separation and no alcohol restriction. Even during a Scotland England game many a dram would shared between rival fans and not single problem. The key is mentality. Plain and simple.

Very much agree. Billions of draughts of beer are consumed at sporting events, and rarely are there beer-induced instances of violence.

In Merka you all drink light beer. You can't get drunk enough on that stuff to fight.

Having said that, all(?) major sporting venues in Australia only serve mid-strength (and sometimes light) now. I don't know the official reason for it, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't to cut down on thuggery and vulgarity in the crowd*. All forms of sport in Australia are big on losing the thuggish reputation and promoting a family friendly atmosphere.

*I speak from experience as I got chased out of the Gabba (the Brisbane cricket ground) by the cops while considerably drunk during one Test Match. I had an excuse, though, as it was the most boring day of cricket since the game was invented (excluding any English batting innings during the 80's).

[Forty Two]

At the local American football, hockey, baseball and basketball stadia, all manner of beer are available, both in cans and drafts, light, regular, pilsner, lager, dark, red, IPA, you name it. They have bars mixing drinks as well, so you can get mixed drinks or even just a whisky/whiskey, whatever.

They generally stop serving alcohol towards the end of the game, so people don't keep drinking right up until they get in their cars. That's the only restriction.

I think the fighters tend to bring their own alcohol to the games and start well in advance. It's rather difficult to drink enough beer in an hour or two to modify one's own behavior markedly, especially for a seasoned beer drinker.

[pErvinalia]

Well AFL games go for a couple of hours. And cricket goes all day (well, about 10.30 to 5.30)! Sitting in the blazing sun all day, drinking since 10am. It's a recipe for shenanigans...

[Rum]

At the height of football hooliganism here in the UK in the 80s I was in the busy shopping centre of the city of Bristol when two sets of football so called fans decided to have a pitched battle. There were several hundred guys on each side. I was with my ex and we along with thousands of other shoppers took shelter in shops, which pulled down their shutters until the violence passed. It was really very scary. The shop we sheltered in told us it was a pretty regular thing.

When we came out there was broken glass and splashed blood on the ground. Stupid brainless tribalists.

Luckily we don’t get that sort of thing on remotely the same scale any more though there are trouble makers out there even today.

[Scot Dutchy]

They are all sissy's and willies these days. Them were the days; a couple of bottles of Strong Bow and take on the world.

[Hermit]

"Went to the ice hockey to watch the fights and a game broke out."

[Forty Two]

I will always remember that, because I saw that game as it happened (on t.v.) when I was a lad. The NHL really started to crack down on fighting after that. Bench clearing brawl rules came into play, and anyone entering the stands would really get penalized. It was another 8 years before the final demise of the bench clearing brawl, but I don't recall any more fan involvement in the fights after that Bruins-Rangers game.

Once hockey imposed 10 game suspensions and $10,000 fines for players leaving the bench, folks were less prone to jumping in the fray.

[JimC]

Same in the AFL. Brawls between dozens of guys from each team were common in the past, particularly during the breaks in the game. The AFL started to put in heavy fines (the "melee" rule), and the incidence dropped sharply, although it still happens occasionally.

[pErvinalia]

"Went to the ice hockey to watch the fights and a game broke out."

[pErvinalia]

Same in the AFL. Brawls between dozens of guys from each team were common in the past, particularly during the breaks in the game. The AFL started to put in heavy fines (the "melee" rule), and the incidence dropped sharply, although it still happens occasionally.

I know it's politically incorrect to say this, but I used to eagerly wait for the all-in brawl in the rugby league State of Origin series. There was always at least one per series back in the day. But the ARL have cracked down on them, and unfortunately they are very rare these days..

The early 90's was the golden era for fights in the state of origin. Those teams had some of the biggest players ever to play the game. I won't name them, as I don't anyone here follows league state of origin. But a number of players well over 6 foot 2 and about 115 kgs or so.

Here's 1993. Listen to the commentary. It's gold.
"Go boys!"
"Nothing wrong with that. Two big men having a go."
....


1991, the famous fight between Mark Geyer and Wally Lewis (and the rest of them). Geyer about 6 foot 4 and 115kgs. Wally a fair bit smaller, but as tough as any player ever to play the game.


1995 one, one of the best. Again, listen to the commentators.
"Well we've seen plenty in Origin, but this is one of the best" said in excited and gleeful tones.


I was actually looking for a particularly famous fight that was carried on into the tunnel after both players were sent off. But I can't find it. I thought it was the Wally vs Geyer one..

[cronus]

Whimper hypothesis is interesting, to describe the coming collapse, in this century.

https://www.npr.org/2008/07/22/92616679 ... rs-and-why