Comments while playing

Torn · Post by **Torn** » 28 May 2007 16:23

You should all move to my town in Switzerland if you want to stop that..Why ?

Because it is small enough that after 3 or 4 session you've got all questions covered up and everyone knows you as the guy (or girl of course

) that is playing this new sport called Footbag all the time with a devotion none of their kids ever had at any of their hobbies

Actually it's kinda fun sometimes because the same people walk by over and over. One that has seen me playing footbag since the very beginning is really a nice guy who always motivates me actually ^^
This usually goes like this :" Oh hi you are exercising again...Amazing how much energy you put into this sport and it looks really cool. And everytime I see you, you get better...keep going

" (to mention here: he is a father of one little boy as far as I know)

Unfortunately this is only the case when I practise in my little village, when my friends and I go for a big session in St.Gallen (little town near my little village

) the usual questions are asked of course. But then we are enough people so one can keep shredding (in circle) whilst the other two answer all the questions

At our footbag club we have some kids that really are nerve-racking. They don't want to learn anything but still come and waste our sessions and then they say things like "I want to be a really good soccer player" I don't dislike them but sometimes I just say "Well then go and practice that sport and leave us with our sport because we like it and we do practice to get better and don't only wish to get better without actually doing anything"

Nevermind..Normally I like to answer questions about footbag because the more people know what it really is the more people come to events or support us financially or start playing footbag themselves

professor · Post by **professor** » 28 May 2007 22:28

All I need to say is in my signature.

james · Post by **james** » 29 May 2007 08:33

Camille I completely forgot about the gangsters with their sound effects!! God damn is that annoying! Each sound get's progressively louder and more obnoxious. You end up dropping just to shut them up.
Also the commentary must be 10x as frustrating because you are of the female persuasion.

I've also had people tell me to stop showing off, put your shirt back on, etc.
At college Nick and I were known as 'the naked guys'.
Though I do recall wearing shorts.
I used to strip down anywhere anytime for shred but now I only do it if it's really hot out or the atmosphere is appropriate (i.e. tams). I don't have a problem taking my shirt off, but it seems like people are faaaaar less inclined towards footbag when you're sweaty and half naked. Not that I particularly care mind you, I just don't need any kind of negative feedback when I'm shredding.
I've also noticed that recently (the last couple of years) most players, even in large groups (like at a tourney for instance) play with t-shirts. Just seems weird to me. Weird enough that I feel weird taking my shirt off a tourney.
Shirt off is the most natural shred state for me. Beater is number two. Seems like players these days are reluctant to strip down.
Strange indeed.

Oh and Marvlman I don't ever seem to get that problem of fending of cute girls, maybe I'm doing something wrong? They never seem to be interested in footbag (or my sexy body) for more than a passing glance. I've been playing for six years, haven't met ONE girl playing footbag and maybe had a handful come up to me and ask about the sport.

Also, people can't get enough of ducks and dives. 'hey do that thing where it goes over your head again....WOOOOAOAAAHHAHAH!

Benjaminzors · Post by **Benjaminzors** » 30 May 2007 01:03

I find it kind of depends on where it is I'm playing.

The usual spot is outside Morrisville's cafeteria, sure it's convenient for everyone to meet up, but it's a high-traffic area with a lot of people flooding in and out, ntm all the people ogling at our circle through the windows.

I usually just get some awkward looks now and then, but lately I had been getting a few genuinely positive comments which were pretty cool. Like: "Dude, I've seen you're moves, and damn I'm impressed." And once I had an entire middle/high-school tour group stop and watch for a while which was cool, I asked if any of them wanted to join and a few hackers were brave enough to step forward, that was a pretty sweet day.

As per the somewhat negligent or negative.. I'm pretty much in agreement that the most asked and most annoying question is:
Them: "Do you Play Soccer??!"
Me: "No." *followed by consecutive knees*

Closely followed by:
"That kid smokes too much pot"
(Sure I fit the stereotype what with the long hair, hemp jewelry, and hacky sack, but I've never smoked and probably never will)

"Can you teach me how to do that??"
(Actually have had several first timer's manage a toe-stall after some basic instruction, but it's still annoying)

"Can you stall like that with a 'REAL' hacky sack?"

"I could do that if I had the special shoes..!"

Had better luck with comments at my Girlfriend's college down in New Paltz, I guess hippies + art students appreciate footbag more than Technology & Agriculture kids.

Don't even get me started on the gangster kids or I'll end up fliping out and "bust a cap".

But yeah, oddly enough I have way more girls stop and actually try playing than guys, I'm all for supporting the sport and what not, but it is bothersome to stop what I'm doing to see them abuse my bag up and down the courtyard D:.

I have yet to get a defined spot for play going since I've been home for the summer, probably gonna try my luck at the local park and see how it goes.

King Monkey · Post by **King Monkey** » 30 May 2007 02:19

James: One or two of my non-footbag friends used to take the piss because alot of vids had people without shirts. I found it quite funny that they could be so immature about it, to the point where i couldnt tell if they were serious or not, that they found it strange?
I mean, thousands of people watch swimming on television or live, or wrestling, and no one says a thing about it. But footbag is somehow different?
As you said, weird...

Camilleon · Post by **Camilleon** » 30 May 2007 07:10

Yeah James, I actually commented on this at weed march- that no one plays shirtless anymore! It's SOOO weird!!! Especially for weed march. Back in the day EVERYONE I played with was topless and I'd be in a bikini top. I think that lately people are trying to look more "professional", as in more serious, so they try to wear footbag related shirts or athletic gear or something that tells the average person that we aren't a bunch of hippies. It makes sense to switch I guess... but I agree that it's not fair for other sports get away with no shirts. No shirts makes sense! Footbag is such a heated sport, I almost always play in a tank top or a bikini top. And I don't even sweat like all of you.

My previous post was really negative... A lot of people do genuinely compliment us. We get a lot of "Wow, you guys are just amazing" or "I'm impressed!" Most people here seem to either appreciate it and crowd around to watch or chat, or just ignore it altogether. I guess that's why we continue to play in public. Spreadin the good footbag word.

DJJAZZYJEFF · Post by **DJJAZZYJEFF** » 01 Jun 2007 12:55

I really don't understand the "do you play soccer?" question. I mean, does a footbag look like a soccerball? No. Is it like a soccer ball? No. We got this yesterday in Buffalo, and it really baffles me.

Overall we got a lot of positive comments, with a few random idiots saying "you suck." There was also "Haaaaaaacky Saaaaaaaaacky."

There was a mom with a young child, maybe 4, and the kid said "that's cool," which was nice to see.

shreddaily · Post by **shreddaily** » 01 Jun 2007 12:59

whats so hard to understand???

people keep a soccer ball in the air and circle it with their legs.

sounds like footbag to me.

comments have seemed to stop in my shred spot... I kind of miss them.

DJJAZZYJEFF · Post by **DJJAZZYJEFF** » 01 Jun 2007 13:22

shreddaily wrote:whats so hard to understand???

people keep a soccer ball in the air and circle it with their legs.

sounds like footbag to me.

comments have seemed to stop in my shred spot... I kind of miss them.

I guess....maybe it's just that *I* wouldn't make that connection. It's probably that I never see soccer players do freestyle or whatever it would be called. When i think soccer i think the game.

dyalander · Post by **dyalander** » 01 Jun 2007 18:48

I'd still make the connection, I mean the whole kicking of a ball like object is kind of fundamental to both. I've seen people tell capoera dudes that they should play soccer, and they don't even kick a ball like object, they just kick.

monkeybilla · Post by **monkeybilla** » 01 Oct 2007 16:38

i havent gottent much people to say things its do you play soccer or i cant even move my legs like that. the one i hate the most is you guys have no life.

james_dean · Post by **james_dean** » 02 Oct 2007 03:54

dyalander wrote:I'd still make the connection, I mean the whole kicking of a ball like object is kind of fundamental to both. I've seen people tell capoera dudes that they should play soccer, and they don't even kick a ball like object, they just kick.

wow. that is so retarded. people are so dumb.

re the get a life comment. some random guy who seemed like he might've been on some pills came up to us on sunday and watched for ages. then he goes "you guys need to get out of the house!" we're like what? we are out of the house, what are you talking about?

Frank_Sinatra · Post by **Frank_Sinatra** » 02 Oct 2007 05:07

I was kicking a week ago at a park near my house, and this little girl ran ahead of her mother & watched me for a little while. Then her mother caught up with her, looked for a second, and said "its the shoes. That's all there is to it."

I looked at her, said "that's not true" and just turned my back to go get some water. Didn't start playing again until she had moved on. So emphatically ignorant.

But then later on some Swiss foreign exchange students saw me playing from across the park and came over, and knew what footbag was & we talked about it, so there you go.