Have you ever found yourself picking a side or forming an opinion on a character just because of something someone said? School and social media are both echo chambers where students can surround themselves with what they want to hear; however, it can be vital to hear the other side to have empathy. Senior Gus Barron believes that picking sides is human nature.
“I think students are pretty quick to choose sides. You pick one thing and automatically hate the opposite of it or whatever correlates or clashes with it,” said Barron, “It just comes natural, that’s just how rivalries and competing begin.”
People typically surround themselves with their own opinion, whether that be friends at school, social media, or family. Many of the students’ fandoms actually come from their parents, such as sports, politics, or TV shows. It can become very easy to be a part of a polarized fandom that feels defensive. Barron mentions that although these fandoms can be toxic, having the same opinions as someone else helps reinforce your beliefs and bring people closer together.
“ [Being a part of a fandom or sports team is] how you get along with other people by being with people you know. It’s like ‘I guess, have the same opinions as you and cheer for the same team,’” said Barron, “I picked a side, and it was just because of my family. You know, they all cheered for the same teams and stuff, and it naturally just happens, so we hate the same teams, and we love the same teams.”
Being a part of something like a sports team or a fandom allows people to feel like they contribute to something bigger than themselves. It gives students something to put their dedication and other emotions towards. Humans are inherently social creatures who biologically crave interaction, so it only makes sense that students want to be a part of a fandom or sports group. Barron relates what he believes it means to be a true fan.
“[Being a fan] means always rooting for [your side], whenever; even if the seasons are bad, and never being a fair-weather kind of fan, just not being ashamed of the team that you cheer for,” said Barron.
Although these groups do have their good attributes, some fandoms and sports groups can become toxic. People will choose another team or character and automatically dislike them because of the side they are on, with minimal consideration and insight into the other side. Being able to respect both groups can be important for longevity support to both sides. Social media has a habit of placing an emphasis on the negatives, giving its viewers a bad outlook on opposing groups. Senior Erin Getgood mentions the influence the media has on students’ decisions about groups.
“A lot of [polarization] has to do with media and what’s available to the public. A lot of people don’t dive deep enough into the research and get both sides of the story before they make up their mind,” said Getgood.
People commonly talk down to the other side of the sports teams or fandoms without realizing the effects it has on the other side. It can be difficult for students to open their perspective to another group, as a lot of people are very set in their ways, resulting in negative talk about the other side to project a false sense of superiority. It’s a lot like the sunk-cost fallacy, where people are scared to abandon something they’ve invested a lot of time and effort into. Getgood adds to how people from opposing teams converse about the other side.
“ [Other sides] talk so down to other people. They don’t respect others’ opinions, and I think that’s a real problem,” said Getgood. “It’s just how our world is today, people get so deadset on what they believe in and people refuse to change their minds”
It’s good to be apart of something like fandoms or sports but its important to remember to stay open about all sides to create understanding. After a long day, it can be nice to sit on the couch with family and friends and indulge in the fandom of choice, which brings about feelings of camaraderie, like when students are cheering together on the same side of the bleachers. Sophomore Bella Gehener mentions how these groups bring people together and create lifelong lasting friendships because of the bond over the same interests.
“It gives you a friendship. [Friendships from fandoms can be important to have] because you could have them throughout your life and you always have someone, if you need someone to talk to,” said Gehener.
