The Strange Psychology of Superfans (with

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Humans can develop intense relationships, even obsessions, with the things we’re fans of. A huge part of our identities, our emotions, and our lives get tied up in these things. Why are we like this?
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[@agoogolofgeese]

This is so intriguing to me as someone who’s never been a sports fan, or a super fan of any kind. I’m not even sure there’s anything that I’m a “big” fan of either. Like, I like Star Wars more than most other media franchises, but I don’t really follow it or know everything about it. It’s hard for me to imagine being a superfan of something.

[@devluz]

I wonder if some just lack whatever causes people to be fans. I feel repulsed by it. Going to a sports game, concert or convention feels like a stressful workday to me.

[@adriano_omg]

Same here. There are some things I like more than most people, like some comics, and specific books and games. But I wouldn't spend more than a minute of my life arguing in favor of any of it. What I do know is that I don't usually like superfans, because I hate fanaticism of any kind.

[@TheSkystrider]

Akira super fan? Nah, just like it eh. Ah and yeah superfandom is totally a nurtured thing. Some of us just never got huge reward for following sports. Eg, if you got into reading fantasy or comics or got into just about anything besides sports like rock collection or bugs or anything... then sports would be just so dull in comparison. How can a touchdown or goal even begin to compare to the incredible thrill of Frodo and gang escaping the ring wraiths! How can we get excited about some random sports player success when what really sings in our minds is the loyalty and friendship of Sam Gamgee! Something has to have meaning and value to be valuable. What's so valuable about some person who isn't my friend or family becoming a successful sports player? Of course I'd be thrilled if it was a family or friend!

[@tonylopez6213]

I agree, I have things that I like, few that I don't like but most I'm neutral. But I am not a fan of any teem, celebrity or franchise. I do not like that horrific orange color though. I prefer marron & white LoL!

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

Just like the fanaticism can be nurtured in children by enthusiastic parents thinking "It's cute" at that age and encouraging it... I think some of us just get raised with a more desirable slant toward "At least PRETEND like you've got a lick of damn brains, kid." SO we don't have to throw a fit when our team wins or loses. We don't have to lose our sh*t if tickets to our favorite band/singer/group are sold out before we get it together to afford to go. We can deal with the disappointment just by saying, well, there's always next time, or maybe their next pass through the town two cities over if I keep up with the finances and have time to plan better... no big deal. Just a personal example... AND think of it what you will... BUT when I was 4 or 5, it was the 80's and I was bordering on obsessed with the "Dukes of Hazzard" on TV. Truth be known I never really lost the speed-bug or being a "gear head"... AND I did go to courses to be a sport and stunt driver, just for personal edification... BUT at 5 when asked what I wanted to do when I grew up, I got into a habit of wanting to be a stunt driver for the "Dukes of Hazzard"... Now, understand around this same territory of time, there were deaths of stuntmen AND camera personnel on the set OF THAT SHOW... Maybe my parents over-reacted, but they restricted my access to TV until I could absorb the understanding that a car is a BIG responsibility... I shouldn't want to drive like a g** d*** maniac, jumping over other cars in traffic and tearing sh*t up all the time. That was TV BECAUSE it was stupid and self destructive fun... NOT because it was something a sane adult would do with his or her life... blah-blah-blah... Notice, I DID take those courses??? Well, that started in the military and the FUN courses for "Mil-spec Defensive Driving" (aka "Vehicular Combat Driving")... AND I've had a BLAST in every track and course I could afford to get to. I highly recommend it... BUT that was a distinct DISCOURAGEMENT from becoming or showing my colors as a "fan"... even of a TV show with wild automotive stunts and effects... At the wheel, I am a bit of a prick about everyone wearing seat restraints (yes, I've had a few vehicles with harnesses rather than conventional seat-belts) and conducting themselves within reason in or on the vehicle. I don't hate the show, nor the car... I don't hate or resent my parents. It was arguably a pretty young age to expect a "mature" answer to whatever I wanted to do when I grew up... BUT I can understand a reluctance to encourage that... AND I still got a motorcycle license AND motorcycle at 15, and have since put more than a million miles down the roads in more than a dozen countries over the last 30 years. I'd still rather be on a bike than in a cage, so whatever... and while I knew who Evel Knievel was when I was a kid, and he was just cool... "and so what?" ;o)

[@smartereveryday]

Congrats on the win Joe. Also, Roll Tide til I die. 🐘🌊 Also, Vincent was the best interview in this video. That guy is amazing.

[@besmart]

We can only dream of being as big a fan as Vincent. Hope he took it ok. 😜🤘

[@andybearchan]

There is a great episode on Bluey on how sports rivalry appears to kids. Also, a great example of how parents can include their kids in fandoms in positive ways.

[@MariaMartinez-researcher]

@@besmart I think the psychological studies about fandom may have a fundamental flaw, if they don't study why people, put in the same situation as fans, don't become fans. Example, me. Chilean here, low-middle-class, boomer. My parents were fans of a soccer team called Colo-Colo, the most important in the country. I declared myself a fan of Universidad de Chile, its most important adversary - but it was mostly for kicks, because in truth, I don't care about soccer. I became a Star Trek fan in a household were there was zero interest in science fiction. Same with classical music (my mom called it "your damned music," they never went to concerts - I was in choirs for years), movies (I started to go on my own as soon as I could do it on my own), books (I became a librarian; my dad wanted me to be a secretary), politics (they were leftists, I am centrist), and everything I can think of, I have always done/liked it on my own. Even more, I once joined a Star Trek fan club - left it after a while; they were more interested in costumes and trivia than in actually trying to build a science-based, non-discriminatory society, which I think it's something really important we humans could (should) do even if we don't ever meet people from other worlds and never figure out how to trek to the stars. So... How can psychologist who study fandom explain the cases of lone wolfs like myself relying on biology and social pressure only? This video and your mention of love reminded me of another video of yours I disagreed with: the one explaining parental love as a genetic imperative. What about adoptive parents? Don't they ""really"" love their kids? Explaining the exceptions to the rules is what, I think, makes studies really positive - as in truthful.

[@yoshtg]

i don't know exactly where i should place destin, on the one side he is a very curious and smart science guy but on the other side he is a religious redneck. i wouldn't even have thought that something like this is possible, like, usually you are either one or the other not both at the same time. like how can you know that the universe does not revolve around humanity and humanity not being the center of the universe but then despite knowing that believing that not only humanity would be the center of everything but the religion of the western culture (christianity) being the ultimate truth. it makes no sense. like how do you come to the conclusion that the western cultures religion would be the ultimate truth if science shows us that not only are there many different kinds of cultures and religions which already makes it unlikely for christianity to be one out of the hundreds religions thats coincidentally the right one but then we also know that we humans arent even the center of the universe, we aren't even the center of our solar system. so not only do we know that its very unlikely that out of all religions you are coincidentally born in the region where they teach the correct one but its even more unlikely that ANY religion in humanities existence gave us the truth because the people who invented these religions didnt even know basics about physics back then when they invented the religions

[@alexfolfy1657]

@@yoshtgyou just explaind exactly how I feel about religion

[@jerryjung1169]

I love how he 100% talked about our political biases without ever mentioning it at all. Well done.

[@tomlxyz]

This is just about in group vs outgroup which applies to any groups and doesn't have to be political

[@neo.d1]

so true!!

[@PeterFreese]

This was a particularly interesting video for me. I have always been confused by fandom and find myself uncomfortable around super-fan behavior (whether sports, music, celebrities, religion, etc.). Even for something I would normally like, I find myself distancing from those who view it as a tribal purity thing or shibboleth. I guess my individuality-assimilation curve is skewed very far to the left.

[@richardh8082]

@PeterFreese Same

[@crazywilly85]

Same here.

[@brandonspencer7093]

I'm a superfan of TND. I think these people are cowards who redirect the energy normally used to save their society towards a lame sportsball team.

[@elisebrown5157]

Same here as well. I certainly have things I enjoy, but I don't define my personality or my identity by them. I really really don't understand all the energy around sports, especially. I would like to understand more why people fall where they do on that individuality/assimilation graph. What is it about our individual biology that places us where we fall?

[@Drewface14]

Yep I scrolled to the comments to see who else thought like this. I am also a left side of the graph person, which means we are unlikely to make a club about being on the left side of the graph. The right side of the graph should make a right side club though that would be pretty funny :p

[@TalEdds]

Being an introvert and individualistic, I never understood the fascination with certain people, sports or otherwise, like parasocial relationships. This video gave me some idea why people think this way.

[@ryanhorsley9965]

I'm with you. If someone is intelligent, high-achieving, talented, or otherwise distinguished by personal achievement, I really can't see how they can relate to the idea of resigning their individuality to wear matching costumes, purchase tacky trinkets, and parasocially devote themselves to the minutae of the lives of game players who they will never know personally. Seeing the two hosts of this channel adopting this behavior is an odd cultural artifact which I find interesting.

[@ghostfacepacifist6046]

​@@ryanhorsley9965Its simple Mr.Burns, because they're part of the community. Traveling to a event & hanging out with your friends & family is 50% the reason people go to sport event or any events for that matter

[@semaj_5022]

​@@ryanhorsley9965 Community and shared interests are a huge draw, regardless of how "intelligent or success" a person is. I don't think being a fan of something detracts from anyone's individuality, but increases it by adding another aspect alongside their other, preexisting traits. Of course when someone goes _full_ super fan and makes that fandom their whole personality, that's another matter. But you can be pretty damn into something, wear the clothes, have the bumper stickers, etc and still he distinctly "yourself."

[@victory9285]

Really? But introverts are deeply passionate people, a lot even struggle with obsession.

[@jobigoud]

I also have a hard time understanding it. In the video I still think the people are giving tongue in cheek answers, they can't really be serious when they say they wouldn't accept if their kid brought a fan of a rival team home. Same as for being a superfan of your country (that you didn't choose) to the point of thinking that it's superior to the others.

[@mountvernon5267]

"We won! We won!" No - the people playing the sportsball game out on the field won...you watched.

[@ryanhorsley9965]

Parasocial relationships are weird. I doubt the players, coaches, and team owners have any interest at all in the fans outside of their ability to spend money and offer sexual favors. Otherwise, the fans are just the annoying losers who keep you from being able to eat at restaurants or be in public in peace.

[@semaj_5022]

​@@ryanhorsley9965 Or, you know, the people who bring money to the industry? There's a ton of players and coaches in sports that go out of their way to not only acknowledge their fans but also give back to them. Without fans, competitive sports wouldn't really exist. Also, it's okay to just..let people enjoy things.

[@StyeAI]

​@@ryanhorsley9965so negative

[@magnumxlpi]

I hate people that say "we" when referring to their favorite team. "We played really well yesterday. So proud of us". Like you didn't do anything and no one talks like this about anything else. No one gets a new phone and says, "yea really proud of the work we've done. We upgraded the processor, better camera. It's amazing to see what we've done"

[@joel29585]

you probably would if you worked at Apple though, right? even if you were in the HR department or something and had nothing to do with the development of the phone. being a longhorn fan isn't a formal organization the way that a company like Apple is, but it's still an organization, albeit an informal one. I think people use "we" like this all time in talking about their work, nation, religion, ethnic background, political party etc etc even when they didn't contribute much or anything to whatever success or failure they're referring to. Just doesn't seem that strange to me.

[@magnumxlpi]

@joeldeeter2958 no I wouldnt if I had nothing to do with whatever was being discussed 😂 I feel like your life must be pretty meaningless if you do this. You have nothing else going on that you've done personally, so you attach yourself to the accomplishments or failures of others?

[@silviavalentine3812]

​@@magnumxlpicouldn't have said it better!

[@semaj_5022]

People saying that don't think they're literally part of the team or anything, just a member of the associated community. That is what the "we" is referring to. It's referencing association, not personal accomplishment. Language has nuance, you know.

[@4124V4TA-SNPCA-x]

I often hear the same after elections by non politicians with no perceived gains at all. Like they are a super fan of an unrelated political party... Go figure.

[@Dibudab]

The whole tribalism thing has it's dark sides. Most of my experience with sports fandoms is with fans being aggressive, oppressive, violent and obnoxious. Something you don't see with any other type of fandom really. I hope that it's different with American Football, but where I'm from seeing Soccer fans in their colors always has me on edge and feeling endangered. I know that many of them feel (and often are) empowered by that tribalistic us Vs them mentality. Some of my most dangerous encounters with random strangers were with sports fans that I had no business with.

[@ryanhorsley9965]

It is often that bad, but not commonly. Some sports fans definitely use their obsession with their team as an excuse to harm members of the outgroup (other fans or non-fans) and damage property. Most are merely benign people who really don't have any success to call their own so they develop a parasocial relationship with a team and claim its success as theirs.

[@maromania7]

Ongoing fandoms don't usually hit this because there's new content to keep things flowing, but they can DEFINITELY still run into issues with mob mentality. Sports groups act like that because they're meeting in such massive numbers with fever pitch emotions, but the same can happen with ANY fandom. Like when Yu-gi-oh fans sold out a stadium for the new pack...but when the Exodia release was cancelled, the riot turned into practically a hostage situation where government riot police had to swarm in. Look at the "Pickle Rick" incident, at homestuck fans becoming suddenly notorious for getting kicked out of hotels. It's mob mentality. Fandoms don't SEEM as bad because you don't see them rioting through the streets like sports fans, but when they get together they can definitely be just as bad

[@0rderofTheWhiteLotus]

I feel genuinely EXACTLY the way you do. I can't disassociate such superfandom from tribal aggression and division

[@jamesmnguyen]

Coincidentally, Dream, who was mentioned in this video, experiences cases of extreme tribalism with his fans. There are people who strongly defend him to the point where he had to publicly tell his fans not to make aggressive comments towards others.

[@AryaPDipa]

lol you thought aggression and things like that only happens in sports fandom

[@feliciaycl]

Hey Joe, I am sharing your channel with my "Public Speaking" class; it is part of my assignment to share who is my favourite youtube that is good at giving informative speeches. I want to thank you for your awesome videos. Your videos, especially those from last year have been very inspiring to me. I have not heard/thought of those topics you brought up. I truly learned a lot from your videos. Keep up the good work and please make more quality videos to tickle my brain. And yes, I am one of the patrons who love to support you.

[@sciencenerd7639]

It's fun to be a fan, just don't get too carried away

[@Morningblossom]

The part about assimilating our parents "fandom" was very interesting to me, because I feel I experienced the opposite. As children my parents liked to take me and my siblings to games all around the country and I am just so not interested in anything sports. I hated having to spend time in the Stadions and I still wouldn't choose to go there. If you asked my favourite team I would still say my parents' team, but I would deny being a fan.

[@DianaTaffie]

Might've been related to pre-adult rebellion feelings that most people have and being subjected to games so much made you rather resent than fan over.

[@arifbagusprakoso2308]

Maybe, you're just love 'being unique' more than 'being in group'. In a graph shown in video, your happiness is optimum towards left side. But still, the fact that your parent shape your favourite team support the 'parent (society) assimilation' theory.

[@JermoZif]

I adore a book that's called The Five Levels Of Attachment. It conceptualized the different degrees of attachment from preference to fanaticism. Very insightful and highly recommend.

[@VicJang]

Thanks. I’ll check it out.

[@Sunflowersarepretty]

Im not into sports but I am into music and movie fandoms. To me its all about finding people who have a similar taste in movies or shows like me and it just feels good that you've something in common with a person you don't know.

[@goldman77700]

A sense of community can be empowering.

[@tanishachoudhuri]

Very well said, I am part of a music artist's fandom, the people around me, not so much, it's nice knowing that there are people in the world who have the same interests as me, like Joe said, it gives me a sense of belonging even though I don't know these other people personally

[@SparkyWrench]

I was in a leadership training group and we went to Austin and got to speak one on one with state officials. One of the most interesting things we were told from the LEO side was that when the Cowboys lose domestic violence calls increase dramatically, esp when it's an important game.

[@safaiaryu12]

Community!! Yes!! That's the biggest thing!!! I have met SO many wonderful people through sharing fandoms. Pokémon Go is a big one. It was big when I moved to a small town where I knew hardly anyone. I made a huge, tight-knit group of friends of all stripes that I still keep up with after moving away. I met my partner talking on a forum about YuGiOh, and made many more friends in that fandom on a couple different websites over the years. My love of theatre connected me with one of my best friends, who ended up getting me into my current career, which I am good at and is very meaningful to me (and has nothing to do with theatre, lol). This isn't exactly what you're talking about, but it does remind me of the concept of social capital... or cultural capital... I always get those confused. But basically, there is inherent value in things like art, reading books, watching movies, etc etc because they help you make connections with others, and those connections can help you move up in the world. I think fandoms are like a hyperfocused example of that. Also... I really love how media fandoms inspire creativity. Depending on your skills and level of devotion, a fandom can inspire a person to learn how to create art, learn to sew an outfit or mold props, learn how to moderate a forum or build websites, learn to write and create deep characters and interesting plots and write compelling arguments, learn how to code or animate or develop a game or other software, learn literary or film analysis, engage in history or dance or martial arts that they wouldn't otherwise be interested in, maybe even learn to run a business because of something in their fandom... Listen, I think all of that is INCREDIBLE. So what if you got into Japanese language because of watching anime? Or if you found your love of reading by starting with Twilight?? I don't think it's okay that we make people feel ashamed of this stuff. Yes, there are a couple awful people who give fans and fandoms a bad name, but overall, I genuinely think fandoms make the world a better place.

[@jdperdomo]

I'm all in for "being part of a group" and being fan of some band or sport team. It can be really fun. But fanatism seems to bring more problems that you might like. Where I live, football fans (soccer, in this case) frequently kidnap bus drivers and their buses to bring "fans" to the stadium. They might fight to dead for their team, and don't mind hurting anybody on the other side, or even the referees/umpires/whatever. Doing that for something so superficial, even when it can clearly affect your emotions, feels pretty "backwards" to me. I understand that most people don't do this, but some also allow it or even celebrate it. "Condemnation" seems to be the right thing to do in this extreme cases. I've met people that, since they like Megadeth, hate Metallica. Wich might be some of the stupidest behaviors ever. I can understand if you don't like a band, but hating it because you think you can't like both... It's your loss. Both Megadeth and Metallica are amazing, and enjoying both can give you more hapiness. At least, that's how I feel. Also, fanatism can prevent you to see the "wrongs" in whatever you're doing, specially if it affects your family.

[@TheSwauzz]

The biggest example of how detrimental tribalism is in modern day is the US two party system. It needlessly pits one side against another, and therefore no one stops and thinks about how everyone's point can have validity. I argue that Joe and Destin are not superfans. They aren't serious when they say they hate other fans. I guarantee they will be playful and teasing, but not hateful. Sadly, there's still too many that are actual fanatics and are ultimately dangerous because of it. Since when is being literally obsessed with anything a good thing anyway?

[@ikhbjhbkm5]

Old habits die hard. 500,000 years ago anything not ""being part of [your] group" was trying to kill and eat you.

[@dailydopamine3239]

Here in Argentina the fanaticism for football/soccer is incredible; it has risen to the point where away fans are banned from attending games due to the risk of violence breaking out

[@markrepp8750]

Been a big fan of both of you guys and watch both of your content. This was a real uplifting moment for me seeing you guys together.

[@ImeanWhoElse]

What if you're a rare introvert who is annoyed by group activity? This stuff ALWAYS seems weird to me. I just can't hack the wanting to be surrounded by strangers and becoming a Super fan of things I can’t control. A lot of this stuff that people say are biological just doesn't register to me. I hope I'm not a psycho.

[@TalEdds]

I am exactly with you on this. I am slightly on the spectrum, so it kinda makes sense to me why I am the way I am.

[@DianaTaffie]

Just autistic most likely. A lot of us are more borked than most of us AND normal people realize, and this is one of those things. Makes me sad i can't experience being a fan, not even a super.

[@DudeWhoSaysDeez]

Same, I have absolutely zero interest in going to a game with thousands of people, all screaming, over a team that catches a ball.

[@DianaTaffie]

@@JohnLA1980 Being rational is not very human, though. And you WAAAY overestimate the number of people not being superfans and other stuff.

[@ChinnuWoW]

@@DianaTaffie You think that millions of people is an overestimation out of the 8 billion in the world? So less than 0.1% aren't superfans of a sports team? It's actually more like billions. Superfans don't even make up the majority of people. You're insane.

[@CountGremlin]

Never understood the hype about sports ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

[@ryanhorsley9965]

It allows people of low achievement and personal merit to live vicariously through big, strong, fast men for an hour or two. Once the game ends, they can go back to being feeble broom-pushers until the next game allows another escape.

[@Tharkon]

One thing that always confused me about sports fans (besides that they enjoy completer strangers playing a game over playing it themselves for some reason) is that their appreciation for one team somehow seems to depends on their hate for other teams, and not just the other teams, but hate for everyone that does like those teams. It's something that you don't see as much with movies or music or games.

[@Istandby666]

But you do see it in religion. It's amazing how religious people belittle others who don't believe in the same ideologies as them, including other religions.

[@iprobablyforgotsomething]

It can happen in music. Check out kpop fan-wars. And you can see it in the American music scene whenever two or more artists have a beef with each other and suddenly fans are choosing sides and engaging in internet warfare (though thankfully not usually irl, even if the actual celebs do get violent with each other).

[@Istandby666]

@@iprobablyforgotsomething You can go back to the 80's and see the same thing. Look up Debbie Gibson and Tiffany. Our Internet back then was magazines.

[@CorpusOrganic]

from that survey, i'm a superfan of facts. took me a moment to figure out. at first i thought it was science. but that didn't fit. possibly education. only took me realizing that would include history, social studies and such to realize that didn't fit i hate seeing facts losing more then you can ever imagine. the biggest thing i hate about being wrong is when it's because i don't have the facts straight, or don't the facts

[@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88]

I love this colab!!

[@michaelmayhem350]

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege it owning yourself.

[@jasminnyack1724]

So I am a socially anxious human so I am a fan of things, but I get overwhelmed and stay outside of groups. But I am SO FACSINATED by superfans. One, I do love how it seems to be connected to people and that world takes over things because it seems like you get to be part of a group. But also, sometimes the amount of money people spend on it. (also I tend to be a fan of ActualPlays like Critical Role and Dimension20)

[@TheSwauzz]

As many others, I'm not a superfan of anything. I'm just a regular fan of many things. My passion lies in being accepting and open to pretty much everything so I can learn and grow. I have never liked to put myself in a box, which does come with it's own challenges. But I find superfandoms promote unhealthy competition and toxicity, general close-mindedness and prevents exploring other things that might be beneficial or interesting. Not to mention how violent people can become over something that ultimately does not matter. The rest of my family is super fans of something. I wonder why it didn't stick with me. I would posit it's even more detrimental these days because of the internet. Many people cement themselves in echo chambers, which continues to perpetuate damaging biases and ill thoughts and intent towards others that are different than them. Different perspectives should be lauded, not shunned. Other people's passions can be celebrated and respected without a need for a rivalry or judgment.

[@DaKoTazy]

This crossover made me indescribably excited

[@DudeWhoSaysDeez]

As someone who has absolutely zero interest in sports, I find it interesting when people devote their entire personality and lives to a team.

[@radiumbreon2109]

Watching this as a current UT student is hilarious. The celebration after the game was insane over here in Austin. Hook ‘em Horns! 🤘🏼

[@zolacnomiko]

I love that your sportsfan shirt colors precisely match the Be Smart logo

[@jasonremy1627]

The collab I didn't know i needed. But, oh did I.

[@LebXToxic]

Don’t think the dream analogy aged well 💀

[@miss__anthropy]

First of all, as a UT alum, obligatory HOOK 'EM, even though I don't care about sports. As for fandom... a few months ago I discovered the band Sleep Token (WORSHIP), and it was like some switch in my brain got flipped. I am a grown-ass adult woman, but this band makes me feel like a teenager. I've developed friendships based on this band, I own [redacted because of how embarrassing it is amount of money] worth of merch, I dive into the lyrics and the Lore (yes, bands can have Lore!) and try to interpret it with other people. I drove four hours to see them in concert and showed up 3 hours before the doors opened and waited in 95° heat, and the line was already three blocks long when I got there (side note: Sleep Token fans are INTO IT). Being around other people who were looking at the merch stuff and saying "oh, I already own something with that pattern on it" or making a pun on a song lyric and having the people around you Get It were amazing feelings. I don't really have any animus toward people who dislike the band, though. I figure different people like different things. But being able to connect over something you feel strongly about is such a unique and amazing feeling. I hope everyone gets to experience that at least once.

[@lazy_biscuits08]

I became a huge shows and movies nerd a few years back! And honestly this made me realize why the discussion threads for the shows I watch feel like the best part to me.

[@seanmccaul3034]

I am a super fan of Be Smart and PBS Digital Studios! More accurately, I am a super fan of people and things that make the world a better place and move us closer to the kind of world we want for ourselves and our children. Scientists, health workers, philosophers, and activists (and the causes they support) have replaced the things that I used to follow most enthusiastically. But, as you may have guessed, I am a well-established nerd myself. Great episode!

[@saelesbonsazse9919]

I'm not a superfan of anything! My brother says I lack "passion". But I've always felt confused as to why someone would engage such bizarre behaviors as those of fans and superfans and why people normalize them. We, the not fans, are somehow the outliers in a world of fandom!!

[@maromania7]

because most people are big fans of SOMETHING, so yes. You are the outlier by not having a fandom. That's not a bad thing, but it's normalized because it is normal, in the basic sense of the word.

[@maithyy1711]

i have been a fan of a manga series named "Bungo strays dogs" for nearly 3y. And it's true that other people in fandom has kept me up in long-term 😊

[@Nebraska-CatFanDanOzzy]

Joe great video and congratulations on UT’s season so far! Also Congratulations to your friend on his team beating mine in the Sugar Bowl last year!

[@Nebraska-CatFanDanOzzy]

BTW Go Cats! Hopefully we’ll get you on 10/5😊

[@crazywilly85]

What's weird to me is seeing brand fans, like cars, Nvidia vs Amd, Apple etc.

[@Gloworm17]

Brands like Tesla and Apple use this to their advantage. Making an "elite" tribe.

[@crazywilly85]

@@Gloworm17 Yeah, its shitty behavior from those companies. Also weird that people don't see that they are being taken advantage of.

[@buddinghumanist6285]

All sorts of fandoms, as well as political and social tribes generally, have made me more and more uncomfortable over the years; in fact, in our current world, I think they might be more harmful than helpful (no, this doesn't mean people can't enjoy stuff/agree on stuff together and adore each other's company). The biological basis of it all is interesting, and the fact that something's biological certainly doesn't diminish its meaning. However, the biological basis of something also does not necessarily make that something virtuous or moral. Fandom/tribalism/etc. is another urge that we must learn to control if we are to survive and, ideally, flourish.

[@TheSwauzz]

Agreed. Tribalism is not a necessity any longer. Giving in to those base instincts just tells me you're not evolved enough. People feeling bored with their lives or alone is a big contributor to becoming a superfan of something. I find sports superfans to still be a different breed of people. A lot of them use it as an excuse to drink and party, or it's literally one of the only ways they know how to socialize. The more a person pigeonholes themselves into their fandom, the more they essentially isolate themselves from fans of other things too. I also think people confuse being passionate about something with being a superfan of something. They are not the same thing at all. People can feel passion for or about something without being a superfan.

[@TalEdds]

I see this biological drive causing the people in the world to splinter apart. I am all for fighting this natural urge, to bring all people together and advance as a species.

[@buddinghumanist6285]

@@TheSwauzz I couldn’t agree more, my friend.

[@buddinghumanist6285]

@@TalEdds Exactly. 👍🏻

[@joshklein2662]

I wonder how the intensity of peoples’ answers to similar survey questions would vary between people who are superfans of something with an opposing force (like sports, i.e. the “enemy” team) versus superfans of something without an opposing force (like a famous musician). Great episode!

[@VicJang]

Great video! I’m personally a big fan of a metal band and used to be a extreme super fan (level 10, if you would) of a piano KZbinr. (No longer “super” due to the change of attitude of the KZbinr toward their fans, which is likely caused by their burnout, unfortunately.) Having been a super fan myself, I find the biological side of being part of a fandom fascinating and would love to know more about it. Especially when the fandom focuses more on the appreciation of the thing rather than the rivalry, because sometimes there’s not much rivalry involved when I’m just deeply in love with a band, a musician, or a person as a fan. Also, it would’ve been awesome if you also spoke with super fans in other fandom such as musicians, video games, anime, etc besides just sports fans. But I understand the context was the football game so it makes sense that you focus on people you met that weekend. Nevertheless, great interviews and analysis!

[@Jim-Stick]

This was a cross over I wouldn't expect but I am delighted to see.

[@kcpth]

Great collab... I love watching you both. I hope you guys will collaborate with other science shows like ASAP Science and SciShow

[@OurHeroXero]

It is a very thin line that separates a fan and a fanatic (and transitions from one to the other can be dangerous). Be safe everyone.

[@joel29585]

great video! and hook'em horns - that win at Alabama was incredible

[@melaniegilbert3226]

Joe and Dustin on the same channel. This is my happiness for the week.

[@UnknownFlyingPancake]

I feel like there's a huge difference between general fandom and something like sports. People can be drawn to music because it suits their taste, or people because they express an aesthetic or demeanor that they like or identify with. They can like a show or game for the characters, story, design, etc. A lot of times people become fans of these things regardless of what the people around them are fans of, sometimes in straight up opposition to their family's taste. A lot of people are huge fans of things all by themselves without any friends or family that share the same interest. Sports teams seem to be unique from what people would typically call "fandom". I think this video paints an extremely wide brush and as a result does a strong disservice in understanding these phenomenons.

[@rickuslastname6305]

I always found that watching people watch sports was more fun than watching the actual sport.

[@Istandby666]

That sounds like going to a club and not drinking just to watch drunk people making fools of themselves.

[@rickuslastname6305]

@@Istandby666 pretty much. I also like watching music videos with no sound on. Watchin people flail around to no music can also be pretty damn funny

[@Istandby666]

@@rickuslastname6305 Now you have a glimpse into the deaf world.

[@rickuslastname6305]

@@Istandby666 I guess lol Come to think of it, watching a drunk deaf person try to sign might also be pretty funny. I'm sure that exists somewhere on the internet.

[@foxwaffles]

I went to a concert once and honestly seeing the way people dressed up and enjoyed themselves was half the fun! I had no idea what to expect and the people were just as memorable as the performers!

[@derpderpington100]

This brought back so many good memories. I'm a superfan of geeky things like Star Wars and Doctor Who, but I'm also a huge fan of FC Barcelona. My friends all know this and many of them are Barca fans as well. I love the feeling of community that comes from this and I remember crying for an entire hour (tears of joy) when Messi won the world cup in 2022. However, it was always very important to me to respect the opposition team and acknowledge that they're just fans like I am. Therefore I've never had a problem with fans of real Madrid or with Real Madrid themselves (Barca's arch rivals) - in fact, many of my favourite footballers of the 2010s were from Real Madrid.

[@JSalesFilm]

fandom results in so many vulnerabilities. Definitely good to be informed about why it exists. Thanks for making this.

[@caliaslorema3008]

I did a pretty in-depth paper on this in one of my sociology courses. I even went to live college football games (I had never even seen a game on TV all the way through) and did a participant observation, took detailed notes, and documented the signs, signals, rituals, etc. It was fascinating to watch!

[@TheRealJBoss]

I am a big Toronto Maple Leafs fan and it's definitely due to the times I would watch with my mom. I even wrote a mini paper on it as well as two others for university. One comparing two great players currently in the game and one about helmet use. But it's funny the whole episode I was waiting for a reference to hockey and OF COURSE the clip is a leaf in the penalty box getting roasted. Great episode, love a great crossover.

[@montikore]

I'm a huge fan of destin. His channel is amongst my very favorites. Great collab! 🤘🤘

[@saraellwood630]

Fans of something that make it difficult for me to enjoy said something are the fans i dont enjoy. I have friends that infodump passionately, and its fun to talk to them about their favorite things. However, there are people that gatekeep, are mean about dissenting opinions, and/or are generally intense and hateful about their passions.... i cant stand these folks.

[@vishvdhanraj5547]

Amazing Video. I really enjoyed the way the math added up and how the graph demonstrated how our brain works like this. Thank you for this great video. Also, I'm a super-fan of Pokemon.

[@fartzinwind]

I'm in IT for a a few constructions related companies, where cearly 99.99999999% of the employees are into Outdoor hunting, phishing and sports ball. I'm that .000001 % of the company who has ZERO interest in sports. I often get asked "well are you into e-sports" and I say no. I don't follow any teams of any kind in any sport. People genuinely can't seem to process that. You can see the gears grinding to a holt in their heads, they still bring up names of teams and players as if it's inhuman to not know them. I get asked "what team are you rooting for" all the time with Zero context as if everyone who could possibly be in the building knows exactly what game they are talking about. There have even been several Pro football players in my office that are just huge dudes hanging out in jersey shorts to me, I didn't know their names before anyone told me. They are always super chill about hanging out at our office.

[@raylea72]

My dad was in the military and we were stationed in Alabama back in the 80's. Destin is absolutely correct about the "Bama vs Auburn" question. On the first day of school in this new place (after having spent all of elementary school overseas in DOD schools) I was asked by just about everyone I spoke to which team I was a fan of. ROLL TIDE!!!

[@rh451]

What is absolutely terrifying is super-fans of their political party. They prioritize the comfort of being a member of the party over the consequences of the actions their party takes.

[@drcbeartooths]

I'm not a fan or super fan of anything ... AND found this way interesting and fun. thanks. please make lots more of all your topics - I am enjoying each!

[@TheSkystrider]

Since a little boy I've never understood the draw to *watching* sports. *Playing* sports is for sure one of the most fun things to do! Some people love making art or writing code or rescuing dogs or researching xyz - but have you ever met anyone addicted to *watching* people do those things? I personally love dirt biking, downhill skiing, hiking and camping but I dont watch anyone doing those things. That would be so dull.

[@silviavalentine3812]

Exactly! Why watch when you can experience it yourself is what I always said. There's actually a south park episode about out it

[@krellend20]

I've long had this niggling thought that I am some sort of alien living among humans. The feeling waxes and wanes in strength, but I think this video has possibly made it stronger than it ever has been before. This entire psychology is just so far outside my own personal experience it's like I'm learning about an entirely different species.

[@TheSwauzz]

Nah. You're not alone at all. More and more people agree with you when it comes to super fandoms. As they say, it's pretty cringe.

[@richarizard526]

What kinda thought 🤨

[@richardson0327]

A fan of your channel!!

[@WooMaster777]

Where did this rivalry between my two favorite science guys come from, and why am I now JUST discovering it? I LOVE the back and forth between these two! 😆😆🥰🥰

[@MosheMaserati]

That was good shite. Thank you for making this point, and tastefully so.

[@atxrich]

So cool to watch this. I was at the game too. As a Texas Longhorns fan, that was an awesome win.

[@marialeroux5094]

As a person from Oklahoma and Sooners fan, I don't know if I could keep watching this channel. 😜

[@PLuMUK54]

I remember well the 1966 football World Cup final. It was a warm day, mum had got the windows open. I was with my dad, not watching the match, but outside building a wall. We were repeatedly disturbed by mum's screams, and she kept running to the door to tell us what was happening. We just put our heads down, and ignored mum. That sums up me and sport. I've never watched any for more than a few minutes. Even during Sports Day at school, I'd slide down onto the floor so teachers didn't see me, then get out my book and read. I suppose that you could say that I am a fan of reading, but there is nothing else. What I am wondering is, is this an aspect of my autism? Can I only cope with being a fan of one thing?

[@christianterrill3503]

What if I hate everything?

[@Kleineganz]

I've definitely got some superfan interests, although mine wax and wane depending on how active the fandom is (and that changes when the thing I'm a fan of is actively producing new content vs. when it's dormant or even 'cancelled'). For example, I was obsessed with the Stargate franchise for years, participating in the message boards on the SyFy network website, blogging about it on one of my early websites, hunting for any scrap of fan fiction I could find (back before websites dedicated to such things existed), and even cosplaying as my favorite characters. But after the last Stargate show (Universe) ended, the fandom eventually quieted down. Fewer new fan fiction stories were being written, participation in the message boards waned, and when SyFy took down the boards entirely, a lot of the fandom splintered. In terms of TV shows, my most recent fandom has been Supernatural, which has so far maintained itself fairly well since the show ended in 2020. Part of that is helped by some of the actors from the show being active on social media, a short-lived spin-off series happening, and the availability of footage on KZbin from the dozen or so conventions that the main and recurring cast participate in every year. What I find interesting in this particular fandom however, is that we're a splintered, contentious bunch. We're not brought together by our mutual love of the TV show, because some of the fans aren't really superfans of the show... they're superfans of one particular character and the actor that portrays them. There are superfans of Sam Winchester, others who prefer Dean Winchester, and even those who love the character of Castiel, the angel. And for some reason, despite the fact we all are fans of Supernatural, some Sam Winchester fans absolutely loathe Castiel fans (and some even loathe Dean Winchester fans), and vice versa. (For what it's worth, I'm just a superfan of the show as a whole. I love all the characters equally. I am a "shipper" but I don't hate anyone who doesn't also "ship" the same characters that I do, nor do I hate any character that isn't part of my favorite "ship.") This is one aspect of fandom I do not understand. Does this happen within sports fandoms as well (some fans of XYZ team love one particular player and therefore hate all the others, or hate on one particular one)?

[@Biga101011]

I miss Stargate. Probably wasn't quite a superfan, but close.

[@Kleineganz]

@@Biga101011 it was such a good show. Did you ever visit the message boards?

[@Biga101011]

@@Kleineganz I did not. I think if it was still ongoing and active I would do that now, but I wasn't very active on the Internet at that time. Haha

[@windbringer9890]

as a A&M fan my respect for your taste in sports has fallen greatly

Thanks for the video. I don't have these feelings for any sports team and hope I find out why with your vid. It's been always a mystery to have friends and family so into sports but me. And, thankfully, it seems that it is not uncommon with these other comments.

[@anita4609]

As a European I tended to associate sports superfandom with violence and vandalism. Is that not a thing in the US? Like don't you see fans of opposing team engaging in physical altercations after a football game?

[@PetulantWolf]

OMG I was just curious about this yesterday and was thinking I should find some resources on it! And as a nerd that follows both of you'll, this was a great start to my day! Thanks guys ❤ P.S. I wonder how many people think about a topic and a video comes out the next day. Must be a lot!

[@collin4555]

Baader-Meinhof phenomenon

[@melaniehopkins3647]

I am in love with David Tennant. I used to write him letters to his home address in London but after some thought I decided it might be considered stalking, so i stopped. If people called me a fan, i would correct them and say I am not a fan or even a superfan. I am in love with him. I have no desire to see him or meet him unless the experience would be as memorable for him as it is for me. I'm 65 years old and realize that what he puts out into the world may not be who he really is. But I still love him unconditionally. I am married and very much in love with my husband, so I am sure I know what love is and I love David Tennant. The only fan letter I ever sent was to Robert Heinlein. I admit I am a superfan and have read almost everything he wrote more than once and everything written about him. I have other favorite authors that I am a fan of. I try to read everything they've written at least once.

[@christiancaputo7602]

I’m an Oklahoma State fan, and today, after this video, I’ve made the controversial decision to cheer for OU against Texas on Saturday, purely cause that one guy was mean to Oklahoma

[@jeynarl]

So maybe I could say I tend towards being a superfan of stuff like star wars or memes or humor in general, but as a pub trivia lover I really like to learn about stuff I don’t know about and in many cases learning about what makes other people or groups tick. I really enjoyed this video

[@tagAught]

Definitely a super fan of science fiction and fantasy! And yes, the in-group is a powerful pull.

[@MinecraftTestSquad]

Heyyy!! I'm not big into sports but I love the UT campus and I'm a student here. Bio major :D:D That's super cool to hear, maybe if I'm lucky I'll stumble into you one day and get a chance to greet you

[@CanTheyBeatMeTho]

As a former Bears and White Sox fan, the ability to be a Super Fan of ANYTHING has been destroyed. Everything I like is permanently stuck at casual level.

[@SunsetDragon]

This is unrelated to the video, but I had this video in my tabs for a while. I clicked on it (forgetting it was a Be Smart video) and started watching. I was immediately like OMG IS THAT JOE FROM THE BE SMART CHANNEL?? before realizing it was his video.. ahaha..

[@trevinbeattie4888]

Counter question: why do I, who am also a big science nerd, not care one whit about sports teams? (In spite of that difference I love you both 😊 and I love this dive into psychology.)

[@peterq1978]

this is generally for sports fans, for Trekkies for example too.....

[@richardh8082]

@trevinbeattie4888 Also same.

[@jnmarshmello2728]

I have the same though process

[@peterq1978]

i am both a NUFC fan and a sci-fi and science nerd, this is a generalization.

[@semaj_5022]

Then there's weirdos like me who love certain sports and science both, though if I had to pick only one it would definitely be science.

[@J.A.Smith2397]

2 of my favorite KZbinrs!

[@13thravenpurple94]

Great video Thank you

[@AliceYobby]

I recently got into baseball for the more aesthetic qualities of the game & enjoying watching the highest level of competition, and I have a team that I root for that I react very, *very* emotionally to when they win or lose, but the common fandom traits of hating rivals & fans of rivals, especially when it results in incoherent logic I don’t understand, I get genuinely confused by. For example, saying “your team sucks!” while simultaneously saying “my team is the best, because we beat your team” - when it should be one or the other - either you beat a good team and you’re special, or you beat a bad team and most teams could. This is more common in baseball with specific players - like they’ll say an opposing star pitcher who gave up a home run to their team sucked all along, and if you say “so does that mean your team wasn’t notably good for getting the home run?” they’ll say no, as if those statements aren’t in contradiction.

[@LichTsula]

I'm a superfan of learning, that's why I like your videos.

[@johnlaycock1389]

I'm also a scientist, a dad, a giant nerd AND a UT fan. I feel so much kinship with Joe right now! Also, I didn't know how much Bryant-Denny stadium looks like DKR.

[@tanishachoudhuri]

It's interesting that you said that social situations is the thing that pushes us to be a part of a fandom, I heard an artist's music on a yt short and I decided to check the artist out, I eventually became a superfan. To me, it does feel like joining the fandom was a purely personal choice, not many people around me listen to that artist.

[@hettyscetty9785]

This is fascinating as a fan of the Scottish Premier League and more specifically Rangers Football Club (don't start a fight in the comments). I get the whole superfan thing and family pressure thing. Most of my immediate family are Rangers fans. But watching Rangers win their 55th league title without losing a match during a pandemic was amazing. Seeing the fans stick with the team after relegation and administration showed how loyal the fan's really were. I grew up watching Rangers, I grew up in the era of Walter Smith's Management. I watched him do a lap of honour around Ibrox park when he retired and stood in silence when he passed. Rangers 'til I die is not just a line in a chant it shows that Rangers is a way of life. That's just my sports fandom's I am also a huge dork. I love things like Ninja Turtles, the MCU, The last Airbender and a horde of other things. I just thought that my love for and current frustration with my team was more pertinent than my love of these things. I also support the Scotland National team who are actually doing really well, something that wasn't happening until around two or three years ago so it's an exciting time for Scottish Football. 'Mon the Tartan Army.

[@drewrenken7328]

I'm a super-fan of The University of Texas. I clicked on the video for the interesting psychological subject matter, and was fully pulled once I saw that it was UT related. Instant subscription to the channel after this video. 25% due to UT tribalism, 75% for the quality content. 🤘🐮

[@onlyeyeno]

I have for some to me unbeknownst reason always had an almost visceral aversion to "enthusiastic expressions of fandom", as well as general aversion of "expressions of crowd sentiment". So "Crowds expressing fanatic fandom" really creeps me out. I don't know when it started, it feels like I've always felt like that, and the best explanation that I've been able to come up with is that it somehow is "rooted" in me in many ways being a rather extreme introvert. This has meant that although I in periods have been very enthusiastic about "watching big events" (sports and others), if there were ""Big crowds of organised fans"" that always was a significant detriment to my ability to enjoy it. And as far as it relates to sport/competitions, I suspect that it's also related to the fact that I also have always been more interested in seeing a good and well played game than "rooting for one side" to win. And this is regardless of "who" (teams or players) that are playing/competing. The only times I rooted for one side over another was(is) if I perceived that one side somehow was "cheating", in which case I root for the other (what I perceived) "more fair side"... This feeling, and my consequent behaviour has cased both personal dilemma and occasional controversy when I myself was active in team-sport, and believed or even knew that a "team mate" was "cheating"(playing unfair/faking...). As I would rather play well and fair and loose than win and feel that we did it by cheating... (A sentiment that wasn't shared by all my teammates...) Now I'm not trying to portray myself as a saint, I've also "played unfair" and broken rules, plenty of times. But it always happened " in the heat of the moment", after something had happened that my at that time"aroused and non rational brain" perceived as "unfair and/or provocative". And if You are engaged in a sport with "heavy body contacts" that is bound to happen.... But I never ever did it "after consideration", and I never felt good about it once my "temper settled". And when that happened I was again in the almost the exact same dilemma as I was if I'd seen a team-mate "do something bad/cheat". I wonder if I'm the only one thinking and feeling along these lines ?? Best regards.

[@jasminemagee410]

Hi from Queensland Australia 🇦🇺. I'm not even a sports fan (as watching it causes me anxiety) but was still completely devastated when both Brisbane's AFL (Australian football) AND NRL (rugby league) teams lost their respective grand finals this season 😔

[@erins9271]

I litetally had to stop watching sports like NHL or MLB and revert to a casual fan. I would become so emotionally devoted to the outcome of my team's games that I would suffer anxiety if they failed to win, and especially fail to succeed in the playoffs. It was all consuming. Now, I support a local low level pro soccer team and an realistic about how well they do. And for pro sports, I have my favourite teams but I only keep track of them through friends and peripherally through the news.

[@TUUK2006]

As someone who grew up in Scotland and saw rivalries between religions and football teams and people judging them based on that and hating them immediately based on them liking the opposite thing, I hate it. Basing someone's personality on nothing more than what they enjoy is childish. I don't care what religion someone is, what "team" they support or what movie and music they like is, I don't see them as that. They're just people. I hate this part of society.

[@allym2787]

Lol. My family bleeds maroon, and despairs that I could not care less. Live long and prosper.

[@chessmyantidrug]

My biggest fandoms are the Kansas City Chiefs and Boston Red Sox. I wear a Red Sox polo at work when they're playing, Chiefs polo when they don't. I follow the Chiefs more closely than the Red Sox these days, but I've been a Red Sox fan a little longer. Most people who know me know my fandoms are a big part of who I am.

[@andrewcurtis2337]

I did not realize Quite How much of a fan of the TV show LOKI I was, until I was watching the 1st episode of the 2nd season last night. My very strong physical and vocal reactions as I watched alone were significant. I would not argue with someone who didn't like the show, but I definitely surprised myself.

[@McCallEdwards]

Thanks for posting this right before the Braves Phillies series I will have to keep this in mind when I'm about to fight a Phillies fan 😂

[@CrazyCuteThing]

As a Ute fan, Alabama fans were very respectful when we played them in the 2009 Sugar bowl. Some fans of other teams are hateful.

[@Smoses_senpai]

I do quite regularly ask myself that question of why do i like this. That’s why i clicked on the video