In all honesty fishman island should have been Nami’s second arc much how Whole Cake Island was Sanji’s, if anything the themes of prejudice and hatred covered in that arc could have been done well with Nami i.e how not even the people we love are susceptible to prejudices (nobody is above racism and even how easily people can fall to propaganda* etc), yeah she gets her whole talk with Jinbei and Hachi by extent but those are two men who both had a hand in her abuse/imprisonment, IDK we should have just gotten a lot more of Nami interacting on with the fishman society and how her past experiences does in fact colour and effect how she navigates a society that suffers from intense prejudices even with her trauma.
*yes I know that Oda does show the propaganda with the celestial dragons and the marines if I rmbr correctly (whilst also showing it is a negative) but I don’t think he showcases it enough with regular people (which are victims of propaganda more then rich folks)
Football fandom has its highs and lows. Conversely, excessive fandom can tarnish the sport. This issue came to the fore recently at a European fixture at Villa Park.
30th November 2023, Aston Villa versus Legia Warsaw - a night of history building for the ‘Villans’. Yet the immoral behaviours of a select group of opposing fans, dimmed the light on proceedings. Pre-game planned and targeted Violence struck fear and uncertainty to the safety of those involved.
This season alone, there has been similar issues seen at the Newcastle versus PSG fixture as well as AC Milan in their home Champions League game. This pattern of behaviour is cause for concern in the running of European competitions.
In this intense environment, I’ve learnt to appreciate that acting critically as a fan is the idyllic way to express emotions. A critical fan is one who exercises their loyalty to a team or individual, it can involve ‘attempting to change your team or fellow fans for the better.’
Some fans act critically in a space of passion and unity, binding individuals together. However, not all as seen with the examples above. This raises the question – where is the change in their behaviours going to come from?
A catalyst for resulting actions
Current unruly behaviour in sports stadia is a catalyst for so many contemporary issues within football such as hooliganism, misogyny and violence. This, I believe, is why the microscope should be targeted towards addressing excessive spectatorship in the hope resulting issues can be tempered.
Integrity: a guide to follow
Individual integrity is a fundamental cog in a progressive society. Yet the actions we saw at Villa Park suggest there’s a negligence by some to act morally in a shared space. This shared space or Imagined community of horizontal unity, is a great way to depict how actions in a public setting should take into consideration of those around.
Can fandom exist without getting out of control? It is in my contention that until there’s widespread awareness of the issues outlined, there won’t be any significant change.
A deep-rooted matter
We know that examples of unrestrained fandom are not just of present times. The impact of traditions and role models has only seemed to expose and encourage younger generations to express negative behaviours. This is why I call for change and action to limit the future impact of unethical behaviour within football.
Spectatorship is intense due to its embedded interest. However, the Villa Park example fails to accept that affiliation and devotion is an acceptable reason to act un-morally.
It seems as the stage grows, as the stakes increase, the acts of loyalty by fans are in danger of taking over the sporting event itself. Without digesting into more examples, I take you back to the England Euros Final where the actions of individuals eclipsed this event. I ask, will excessive fandom always have a damning societal effect?
Sportswashing
Football is commonly characterised as being about passion, togetherness and community. These are the values that should be upheld and celebrated, rather than the unruly behaviours that shine a negative light onto the game.
Minimising and normalising unjust fans' actions turns the shoulder on fronting this current issue within football. This ‘glossing’ over of repetitive negative actions, begs the question – can there ever be a complete control of unmoral behaviours within the sport?
A fan’s perspective
Camaraderie. inclusion. Escape. Passion. These words encapsulate what it means to be a supporter. Spectatorship brings a sense of belonging, it’s a form of escapism.
However, this escapism has its dangers - the excessive loyalties manifest at Villa Park, resulted in violence and the re-emergence of the negative fan stereotypes that exist within football, such as: misogyny, aggression and abuse. How would you feel knowing your safety is uncertain when attending these matches, especially European ones?
Why now and where next?
The recent examples of excessive fandom re-iterates the notion that this is a current and ongoing issue that needs widespread attention. By increasing awareness of this issue, my hope is that we can help put the focus on what it means to be a critical fan. By doing this I believe there can be a greater emphasis on enjoying the game and appreciating those around us to bind fandom and football in a more progressive society.
Do you agree that tackling excessive fandom, could stimulate a positive response for other current issues within football such as sexism, racism, and violence?
The reason why people are so anxious and are getting ahead of themselves is because they have been following external measures. These external measures are cumulative patterns in the collective conscience that decide whether a person reaches a mark of perfection - whether they deserve something or not.
This means that since the beginning of humanity, we have been attuned to ideals and behaviours that are outside of us - the capacity of our nervous system. No wonder we naturally begin seeking validation and attention for everything we do.
Recently, I have been noticing a surge in individual-centred behaviours. By this, I mean one is constantly validating their own behaviours while dismissing or belittling others. This is a nuanced topic. It's good to know your needs, but it isn't fair to dismiss others'.
Humanity can nurture connections only when we begin accommodating each others' differences. This effect ripples when we begin accepting the contradictory ideas of ourselves.
Once we start becoming aware of our emotional patterns, at a point we need to confront our suppressed selves. These emotions were suppressed at some point because they weren't considered ideal. However, when we shine a light on our shadows, we are no longer in denial. When agree to shine a light on our suppressed self, we are learning to accept their presence. We are no longer dismissive of it.
This acceptance integrates these characteristics back into us, making us whole. Here on we can see the previously dismissed quality as a rightful part of us, and navigate life with this new information. We become protective and respectful towards ourselves.
This is why it's necessary to work with our nervous system. It provides a visceral map of our unconscious behaviours. It makes us aware of them. This teaches us to attune back into it, and our bodies.
Our nervous system is the seat of our presence and accelerates our subconscious mind to ground into our bodies. It teaches us to connect with ourselves, so we can connect with others.
Daily writing promptWhich aspects do you think makes a person unique?View all responses
So, what truly makes a person unique? To me, it’s the beautiful ensemble woven from the different threads of our holistic being. It is the unique way the fusion of a body, mind, and soul live together in every being, each of such vital threads shaping the unique picture that is us.
Photography by Raffaello…
