JimLes
Well-Known Member
I know exactly what you mean, but I also feel this is very nearly a dangerous philosophy. It feels only one step removed (because booing is anonymous and limited in time and space) from the "I love you, therefore I beat /psychologically abuse you" argument.
It's nearly the same argument for why spousal abuse was tolerated for so long in this country: it's the idea that love and hate are essentially the same emotion; we can't really love unless we're also capable of intense damage to the object of our love (because we love them so much and so strongly want them to please us).
This is specious and then some.
As a fan, there has to be some way for us to express our displeasure without being told that we're bad fans or not fans at all. It's not just sports either. My wife just bought me a floor ticket to see Iron Maiden in August. I'm going with my groomsmen and we're all big fans. 3 teachers and a chemist.

Entertainment is entertainment. You pay expecting something. Generally, that something is that people entertaining you are putting in the effort. I don't love every Iron Maiden song and I know Jazz will lose games. That's fine. I'm just looking for effort. If the effort is not there, is there something I can do to express displeasure other than stop following the band/team? That's usually how athletes and musicians react if you try to stop buying their product. They generally say "you're not really a fan" if you don't unconditionally follow them. It just seems that the logic here is "gives us your money and shut up." I don't want to stop being a Jazz fan or stop spending money on the team. Do I have no other option except to shut up or leave?