Soccer

an activity defended by its fans based chiefly on the following, poorly-reasoned premises:

1. It is the "most popular 'sport' in the world." This poor reasoning adheres to the two-pronged logical fallacy of collectivism: (1) what many enjoy does not mean all should enjoy; (2) what many enjoy does not make an activity "good". Further, fans of soccer who base their fandom on its popularity engage in self-perpetuation: "i'm a fan because it's the most popular sport in the world."

2. Soccer requires significant athletic skill and conditioning. Though soccer may, indeed, require significant skill and conditioning, the argument of soccer supporters fails quickly when they attempt to parlay this argument as making soccer's physical requirements superior to the conditioning required for sports such as football, etc. The simple fact is, the activity of soccer, like sports, is played in short bursts of speed, and long lags of standing or shuffling around - the same "lapse of activity" that fans of soccer find fault with baseball, football, etc.

3. Soccer players are tough. This is perhaps the most laughable of rationales, as, even though it may hold water, anyone ever observing "soccer dives" would instantly dismiss this reasoning. Those wishing to proffer the "but they're REALLY HURT when they take dives" defense need look no further than any one of dozens of compilation videos on youtube of soccer players crashing to the ground in agony after being brushed by an opponent.

1. Soccer fan: "Soccer is awesome because it's the most popular sport in the world!"
Common-sense observer: "So does that mean that the most popular items in the world are awesome, and should be followed by all? Is Muhammad the most awesome name in the world? More people in the world practice Christianity than any other religion - does that make them right, and others wrong? Does it just make Christianity the most awesome religion?"

2. Soccer fan: "You have to be a REAL athlete to play soccer. You have to have strength and speed and skill! Not like those other, wus sports!"
Common-sense observer: "Are you implying that it takes less skill and coordination to, for example, hit a 90+ mile-per hour fastball in baseball, or to use proper leverage to re-direct the rush of a 315 pound defensive tackle in football, than to do anything in soccer?"

3. Soccer fan: "Look at Player X! He's on the ground! He got MAULED by Player Y! Player X may never play again he's hurt so badly! Soccer is such a tough, physical game!"
Common-sense observer (five minutes later): "Looks like Player X is back in the game. Like nothing happened. Even though, when Player Y brushed past Player X, you'd have sworn Player Y shot seven rounds of double-barrel buckshot into Player X's chest at point-blank range."

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