Hope is a Dangerous Thing

[Machsy 2,858]

What canvas?....still on my feet

I always thought that.

Always been defiant.

These last couple of weeks my knees have buckled a little.

It's just getting so f*****g hard to keep subjecting myself to such inevitable heartbreak.

[timD 994]

Tim, I've been giving a bit of thought to this business of indoctrinating children. I do it regularly in my day to day job but my own children is another thing entirely. I've long hoped that the on-field tide would turn before they're old enough to actually realise what's going on but I think I need to plan for the inevitable. I've decided the first thing I can do is try harder to not associate the act of actually watching Melbourne with anger, frustration and poor language. So for the next couple of years I might try to isolate myself from the family during game time. That may be difficult. Secondly, I'm going to photoshop a picture of their grandparents, great grandparents and even great great grandparents with Melbourne jerseys on. I might even create a story about a former player whose lineage is linked to our own. But above all else I've decided that I'm going to indoctrinate their friends. I've done it with a couple of mine, why can't I do it with their friends and their friends' parents? It's the isolation a young Melbourne supporter feels that is the greatest enemy. As long as they've got a couple of key friends to be miserable with they may just survive their adolescent years and hopefully in a decade or two they'll actually enjoy following the red and blue during their young adult phase. Thoughts?

G'day mate,

I think all the ideas you have are good ones - especially the 'indoctrination of peers' one! It is not so hard for me as my boys get to go the footy with me, my father and my brothers - the sense of in-group is easy to build. The other thing to consider is showing them the various vidoes on youtube of Dees footage set to music. i think there are some excellent pieces there and my kids have been listening and watching that stuff since pre-verbal age.

Go full-on behavourist: reward pro-dees' behaviour and put on extinction (i.e., give it nothing) all other ideas, comments etc. Remember that, as Dad, your attention, praise and genuine approval are just about the most powerful reinforcers they'll get. That lasts until about age 13. Then it shifts strongly towards peers and doesn't come back until early-mid 20s. And that is where the genius of the "capture the peer" program will come into its own.

[Return to Glory 8,412]

I always thought the sisters were unfairly maligned in that film.

[Machsy 2,858]

timD, I completely understand the role Demonland plays in providing an outlet for the frustration that goes with being a Melbourne supporter and agree that the club shouldn't be above receiving criticism when it's warranted but 90% of the negativity involves failings of past regimes. As I said, it's time to move on. If we keep opening up old wounds, the group mentality will worsen. Imagine you're a passionate 13 or 14 year old who stumbles upon Demonland for the first time . . . . I genuinely fear for the next generation. I think we need to embrace what makes us special. I was introduced to a friend's visiting parents last week and the usual line came up about me not being a bad bloke apart from the fact I follow the Dees. I quickly responded that it's like a badge of honour to me and should speak volumes as to my character, loyalty and resilience. It's tough to shake the chip on the shoulder when the team is doing so poorly but as a club we need to boost our esteem and our pride. Obviously, it would be easier if that started on the field. But the last 8 years have shown us that we can't necessarily wait for that to happen.

It's a badge I've worn proudly, especially in the last decade, but I have wavered in recent weeks.

I'm just glad you made this thread to remind me of it.

I'm ready for the fight again.

[Biffen 12,940]

I always thought the sisters were unfairly maligned in that film.

Cinderellas' sisters got a bad rap too.

we need one of these narratives to come true.