Is the average fan now smarter or dumber than 10-15 years ago?

[Coffee]

I'll bite.

Encourage learning. Limit your information intake from all forms of social media. Do your own independent research, looking at multiple sources, when forming opinions and informing others. Ask yourself "is this objective, or is it subjective?" when trying to separate fact from fiction. Don't be afraid to say "I don't know" or to ask others to explain something a second time when you need it.

And most of all, keep fit and have fun.

I appreciate you, man

 

[The Crypto Guy]

100% dumber because you have "fans" who think they know their crap going off "fancy stats" that are completely useless if you go only by them (which most do).

15 years ago you would evaluate players on how they played, by acutally using your eyes.

 

[Machinehead]

Totally disagree that hockey fans have gotten dumber.

I can bring up something like "you know, I keep hearing this guy is great, but the other team scores an awful lot when he's on the ice" and people will be receptive to it, and willing to discourse about it.

Even 6-7 years ago, stuff like that would be met with ape noises.

Adam Fox became the first analytics Norris winner in 2021. That vote and the momentum leading up to it was pushed by young media members citing on-ice stats. People were receptive to it. There's no way he wins that Norris ten years ago.

Our knowledge of the game, and the way we talk about the game, has clearly evolved recently to include new ways of understanding it.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

100% dumber because you have "fans" who think they know their crap going off "fancy stats" that are completely useless if you go only by them (which most do).

15 years ago you would evaluate players on how they played, by acutally using your eyes.

If the average fan is "100% dumber" than previously, then the average fan's intelligence right now is currently zero.

Which means that every current fan's intelligence is zero.

Which means that your intelligence (and my intelligence) is zero.

Congrats.

 

[Washed Up 29YearOld]

idk bro Reddit fans are pretty dumb and the most ridiculous opinions get upvoted the most. I'd say fans here are generally much more knowledgeable.

Sure you have your trolls and homers but the hockey knowledge on this site is truly invaluable and irreplaceable to other mediums.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

If the average fan is "100% dumber" than previously, then the average fan's intelligence right now is currently zero.

Which means that every current fan's intelligence is zero.

Which means that your intelligence (and my intelligence) is zero.

Congrats.

Glad you understood.

Gratz.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Glad you understood.

Gratz.

But if I understand, then my intelligence must be greater than zero.

Although I'm confused about that, so maybe zero is fine.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Probably the same.

But online discourse has gotten worse across the board

 

[sufferer]

Dumber.

 

[Crow]

When I talk to people irl about hockey it’s mostly criticism of the local team that lacks a lot of understanding and it gets pretty dumb. Most people don’t even understand what a rebuild is, or they make factually inaccurate comments, lack awareness and nuance.

When I talk to people online there is some of that, but also a lot more cheerleading for their team and players that is full of bias and half truths, an attempted dissection of stats and manipulation of data to support a forgone conclusion to prop up their favorites.

Not sure which one is dumber. The latter is more popular than it was 10-15 years ago.

 

[JianYang]

I don't think the average fan has changed all that much.

The hardcore fan has probably change more. Hardcore fans are more analytical now with more information available but sometimes I question how that information is used to reach certain conclusions.

 

[hangman005]

I don't know if I'm an average fan... but I feel I've got dumber.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

I feel like while social media and analytics have made it "easier" to see more highlights/study players, it has made fans dumber as they'll take a social media post, clearly put out there for engagement/clicks or posted by a bias fan as dead serious.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

But if I understand, then my intelligence must be greater than zero.

Although I'm confused about that, so maybe zero is fine.

Zero is fine.

 

[Satoru Gojo]

The average human being is dumber

 

[JianYang]

I don't know if I'm an average fan... but I feel I've got dumber.

By participating on these boards, you automatically are not an average fan.

 

[Summer Rose]

I don't know if I'm an average fan... but I feel I've got dumber.

The more you learn, the less you know.

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

I’d argue Hockey discourse is actually on the better side when compared to general sports such as soccer or basketball.

Here is every basketball discussion in the world, at once:

"Jordan was better than LeBron, don't be ridiculous."

"LeBron, good, tho. He ball."

*repeat ad nauseum*

 

[landy]

Dumber. They look at stats and thats it.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

The average human being in NA is dumber. I'm definitely a lot dumber. That's by design from above. It follows that the average hockey fan will likewise be dumber. I can definitely see that, reading this board.

 

[tabness]

About the same in terms of smarter/dumber, just more sure/firmer of their opinions as well as having the impersonal medium of the internet and super easy access to data/info to craft whatever narrative.

Thus becoming more polarized

 

[pi314]

“Covid” either made you all dumber or revealed how dumb you already are.

 

[Crow]

“Covid” either made you all dumber or revealed how dumb you already are.

I think it’s just the latter. The dumb was always there.

 

[Neil Racki]

Back before internet .. you went to games, you talked hockey with other season ticket holders (back when it was cheap) ..... youd be lacing your skates up at sunrise for ice time in midget hockey ... then go home and play street hockey til the sun set

Hockey fans were more hardcore ..

Pre interent, I think a lot of hockey fans were also former hockey players .. it was a lifestlye

Now .. its internet tribalism with strangers who never played or skated

 

[x Tame Impala]

Society at large is getting dumber with the availability of information. Hockey is no exception. Posting those game charts isn't an argument. The eye test gets you 80% of the way there and advanced stats give you an extra layer of insight.