Today is the day that many people choose to complain or be dismissive of the Superbowl.

I get it. The rise of microblogging, texting, and social media have given everyone the ability to publish their thoughts for others to read and that is a good thing. The Superbowl is a huge athletic, commercial and social event in America and will be the target of much commentary today.

There are people that go out of their way to make sure we all know how much they dislike the Superbowl and try to be as dismissive of it as possible. Usually their critique breaks down into one of the three main lines:

1) There's more important things to worry about...
2) People shouldn't like watching sports...
3) It's too commercial and corporate...

And they are probably right, but it doesn't make complaining about the Superbowl a good thing to do.

This post is for those of you that can't wait for your harsh Superbowl commentary to begin.

When you are dismissive and mocking of something you disapprove of on a cultural basis, such as the Superbowl, you aren't changing anyone's mind, you are just being a jerk and raining on someone else's fun. Don't be a jerk.

That band you like? Yeah, a lot of people hate it, but they don't mock you. The pictures of your kids/pets? Most pictures only appeal to a small number of people, but others don't say they look average or make fun on them do they? What you like for dinner? What TV show or movie you liked? What you think is a good deal to buy? Most people disagree with you, but are kind enough not to mock you publicly.

We get it. You don't like the Superbowl, for your perfectly justifiable position. Great. Don't watch it. But don't be a jerk to those that want to enjoy it.

Go do what you enjoy. Tweet about what you are doing for fun, not about what you are NOT doing.

Personally, I like the Superbowl as a celebration of what people can do in sport and their commitment to working hard as opposed to traditional holidays that celebrate a myth or the achievements of a dead person. Other holidays have their place, but the Superbowl is a celebration of active human endeavor.

Please consider what you say/post not just on Superbowl Sunday, but everyday. Are you being harsh in your comments because it will have some positive effect, or simply to make yourself look better and seem cool? You have every right to be a jerk, but that doesn't mean you have to be a jerk to many people that are doing nothing wrong but enjoying their life in a way you don't.

"If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them." - Dalai Lama

Posted by michael at February 06, 2011 08:12 AM