"We" or "They"

[polak]

I was just creeping HF and saw they had a pretty interesting thread on this matter.

When you are referring to your teams, do you use "We", as in, "We beat Edmonton 20-0" or do you use "They", as in, "They beat Edmonton 20-0"?

It's a pretty hot button issue over there so I'm wondering what you guys think?

Personally, I use "we" and "them" interchangeably. I'm a Calgarian, who pays money to support the CALGARY Flames so personally, I think geography alone dictates that saying "we" is fine. The Flames represent our city just like the Athletes who represent Canada in the Olympics. When people talk about how many medals their country won they say "we have x medals". I don't think it's any different. I'm not going to say "I" won the cup, but CALGARY sure could have and I'm from Calgary so "we" would work.

Then there's also the fact that sports teams encourage fandom and passion like almost nothing else out there and one thing that is for sure is that players, coaches, managers, even owners come and go. But the Fans are usually there forever. That alone might justify saying "we".

[trublmaker]

we...they are our team

[northcrunk]

I support the Flames so I use "we" when talking about them usually.

[nik-]

We is fine. I don't understand why people get annoyed at it.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Personally I try to avoid the "we" thing... I don't use "they", I try to just use the team's actual name. But sometimes I slip into "we".

[heep223]

I was pondering this recently, when I saw someone make fun of another for saying "we". IMO it doesn't matter whether "we" or "they" is used, however for similar reasons to yours I prefer "we" because well the players, the fans and the city are all in it together!

Curious, was there a definitive conclusion on HF?

[btimbit]

Agreed, 'We' is fine. I'm emotionally invested in this team, and they represent the city I live in.

[rubecube]

Do I think using "we" is a big silly? Sure. Do I still do it? Yep. I'm also a grown man who gets the names of other grown men on the backs of my jerseys. That's also weird but whatever. The whole concept of sports fandom is pretty bizarre if you think about, so I'm not really going to make a big deal about behaviour within the parameters of that culture.

[Sport Psych]

Research shows that fans tend to use "we" more often when their team is winning, and "they" more often if the team is losing. It's a phenomenon called "Basking in Reflected Glory."

[CroFlames]

I use we when we're doing good, and I use they when they're doing bad

[Cflames_12.5]

I like we. We are in this together.

[codynw]

I always have said "they". It feels wrong to say "we".

Especially in the context of something that happened during gameplay. Like "we ice the puck way too much" or something like that.

[cKy]

I use 'We'. I have been a life long Flames fan, and I have been emotionally invested in this team through the highs, and the lows for a long time. I think a fair point is to say the Seahawks use the 12th man motto, and that's what I am to the Flames. 'We' all share the same emotions as the team does (although the level of that is different).

They win, I'm in a great mood for the night
They lose, I can be very much in a bad mood.

Without them, there is no We
Without We, there is no us.

[GioforPM]

I usually say they (or more usually "the Flames"), unless of course I'm talking about fans. I just don't feel like I get credit for their accomplishments ("we won!!"). I'm a little more lax on "if we get the first overall pick..." type of expressions.

It's a little peeve of mine but not on the order of some others that I have whined about here, like "died on his stick" or requests to management that aren't reading this forum like "please trade XXX", and I imagine I've slipped and said "we" in a few times myself.

[Major Major]

This is semantically irrelevant. Most use either depending on the context. I don't see how anyone could react passionately on this issue.

[shogged]

There is no flames team without the fans, so it's we for me!

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Major Major

I don't see how anyone could react passionately on this issue.

It's called 'being a pedant'.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Major Major

This is semantically irrelevant. Most use either depending on the context. I don't see how anyone could react passionately on this issue.

Go over to HF Boards and look. Some people definitely take issue.

It is silly in a way, taking "credit" or pretending you're part of the team but sports brings it out in people.

Originally Posted by heep223

I was pondering this recently, when I saw someone make fun of another for saying "we". IMO it doesn't matter whether "we" or "they" is used, however for similar reasons to yours I prefer "we" because well the players, the fans and the city are all in it together!

Curious, was there a definitive conclusion on HF?

Most people said they use "we" but there were a few people that basically swore against it.

[bc-chris]

i usually use 'the flames' or 'they'

i figure 'we' is more for the players since they are the ones that make up the team

i think what probably really put me off of 'we' was the stupid "we are all canucks" slogan from a couple years ago... and we all know, the canucks are no good

[CsInMyBlood]

"We" for sure, I've been called out for it on this board in the past and I don't care.

I hope we play well tonight.