27 July

Watching the netball, and it was another example of how partisan crowds now are. An entire stadium fell silent because the home team lost. I’m sorry, even when I was growing up that would have been called appalling sportsmanship. Childish. And that’s what it is, adults acting like children, even though they hate being told it. Politics is the same. Partisan team sports. The opposing team isn’t just a team, it’s the enemy. No such thing as gracious losing now, only vengeance and retribution. If you don’t notice the spread and escalation of this schoolyard behaviour I think you’re blind to your own culture. Social media amplifies it hugely, its whole business model is team sports. It’s modelled on a schoolyard. I also remain disgusted when professional (or amateur) athletes cry when they lose. If I’d done that as a kid, I’d have got a kick in the arse, and deserved it.