Vuvuzela and World Cup gripe

Just wanting to vent a little. I have had to practially abandon watching the World Cup because I just cannont stand the sound of those horribly stupid vuvuzelas going on throughout the game.

I cannot for the life of me understand why they don't ban those from the stadiums. I keep reading about "African tradition". Who cares, its a STUPID tradition, if it is even a tradition. This is the WORLD cup, not the Africa cup, and it is ruining the experience for everyone. All the standard soccer chants, peaks and valleys of cheering, everything that makes soccer fun is ruined by these $2 pieces of junk. Beyond that, the fact is that the decibel levels can cause permanant hearing damage for the spectators and players.

I've heard that some of the tv stations are going to start using better sound filters to eliminate the sound. Way to go FIFA for allowing the World Cup to be ruined with this child's toy.

I possitevly hate loud noises.

But if it helps the agonizingly slow death of soccer along, well, then it does...

At first, I had no idea what you were talking about.

Then I went to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vuvuzela

As soon as I saw the photo, I understood. I've seen those before:


Check out the second paragraph from the Wikipedia page:

Quote: Wikipedia

Vuvuzelas have been controversial. They have been associated with permanent noise-induced hearing loss, cited as a possible safety risk when spectators cannot hear evacuation announcements, and potentially spread colds and flu viruses on a greater scale than coughing or shouting. Vuvuzelas have also been blamed for drowning the sound and atmosphere of football games. Commentators have described the sound as "annoying" and "satanic" and compared it with "a stampede of noisy elephants", "a deafening swarm of locusts", "a goat on the way to slaughter", and "a giant hive full of very angry bees".

Man, they don't pull any punches, do they?

This is nothing new. These things get used at every soccer game everywhere. They used to sell them at baseball and football games when I was a kid.

It's like the scent at the Venetian, 99.9% of people like it or don't give a shit, and 0.1% have to get all Bridezilla about it.

Quote: Chuck

This is nothing new. These things get used at every soccer game everywhere. They used to sell them at baseball and football games when I was a kid.

It's like the scent at the Venetian, 99.9% of people like it or don't give a shit, and 0.1% have to get all Bridezilla about it.

I've watched the last few World Cups and they have never been an issue. The complaints are getting to the point that FIFA is actually considering banning them. The players have been complaining signficantly as well. At least for me, the games are unwatchable after about 15-20 minutes of it.

Quote: Chuck

This is nothing new. These things get used at every soccer game everywhere.

Yes, but in other places they used them on occasion rather than all through the game.

But if it helps the agonizingly slow death of soccer along, that's fine by me.

I've read about a possible solution, if your TV has an equalizer or you are listening over a sound system with one, then you can try turning down the medium pitch sounds around 500Hz (466 Hz to be exact).

Robin

Maybe with RSA getting shutout 3 zip today, there will be a little less enthusiasm in the stands!

A lot of people hate these things. Me, Ive just got used to them, I drown them out the same way I do people at work who annoy me - Selective Deafness.

As for the slow death of "Soccer" Nareed - It aint gonna happen.

Quote: Croupier

As for the slow death of "Soccer" Nareed - It aint gonna happen.

It has to. People have a great capacity for self-delusion, but eventually they'll realize the fake enthusiasm for a game where nothing ever happens is, well, phony.

A good first step would be to make all games last 120 minutes. It's hard to keep up make-believe enthusiasm that long.

Quote: Nareed

It has to. People have a great capacity for self-delusion, but eventually they'll realize the fake enthusiasm for a game where nothing ever happens is, well, phony.

A good first step would be to make all games last 120 minutes. It's hard to keep up make-believe enthusiasm that long.

Baseball, anyone?

Baseball has one redeeming feature: Abbot & Costello's "Who's on First" bit :P

Quote: Nareed

It has to. People have a great capacity for self-delusion, but eventually they'll realize the fake enthusiasm for a game where nothing ever happens is, well, phony.

A good first step would be to make all games last 120 minutes. It's hard to keep up make-believe enthusiasm that long.

I take it you've never played "soccer". If you had you'd know a lot is actually "happening".

Quote: ruascott

I take it you've never played "soccer". If you had you'd know a lot is actually "happening".

Oh, I've played. From first grade til the end of junior highschool, I probably played at least twice a week in physical education class. Not to mention two or three class tournaments at school every year, and the odd tourney at summer camp.

Nothing ever happens. Wait, let me ammend that: nothing remotely interesting ever happens.

I've watched it plenty, too. I even attended some games during the 86 WC (acronym chosen on purpose and maliciously so). The best part of all games was the hour or so before each game, when I would read a book or magazine while waiting for the games to start. At the time I was trying to "get into sucker." It can't be done.

Nareed, while you were posting on this board, you missed a really great win by your team!

Quote: teddys

Nareed, while you were posting on this board, you missed a really great win by your team!

I'm quite sure the Steelers didn't play today.