People, Please: For the Love of Pete, It Was April Fool's
Color me confused -- three days ago, FOXSports.com runs a poll, the results of which force me to conclude that NASCAR fans are dumb not the brightest bulbs in the socket. Now, the site steps up with another poll, the results of which force me to conclude that NASCAR fans are of much higher wattage than I thought.
While the rest of the blogosphere wastes energy and continues to chide Car and Driver for its April Fools' Day hoax, FOXSports.com asked its users if the magazine's effort was "irresponsible" or "just a prank." While perhaps not enough to restore my faith in humanity, that more than 70 percent of the 116,000 votes weigh in on the side of "prank" does provide me with a glimmer of hope that all is not lost.
Well, at least until the next incidence of brazen stupidity on the part of the masses forces me to confront my own inherent righteousness and intelligence all over again.
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You just do not get it. Nascar fans are not stupid, we have been made to feel as if we MUST defend Nascar from all outside attacks, either real or in jest, We have been made to feel like 1) Hillbillies, 2) toothless rednecks, 3) racists, ( the confederate flag) it is heritage NOT hate, 4) inbred, stupid grade school dropouts, beer drinking, smoking, gun toting lazy, slow talking etc, etc, etc,. You mention the south, or Nascar and that is what comes to the minds of people, Nascar is not just a sport, and it just as much a sport as football, it is a way of life. We feel that we must defend it from any and all threats, real or not.
cgmjemus@yahoo.com
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JanMiller--Who doesn't get it? Ksgbobo or me? Not sure I see the car and Driver piece as an aattack on NASCAR in any way shape or form. Was it pehaps not in great taste, given the times? Sure. But an attack on racing? I don't think so. To a certain extent, I think the sport and its fans are too thin-skinned and help perpetuate the very stereotypes you are so annoyed about.
And, while I agree with you wholeheartedly that NASCAR and its fans really aren't anything like the images you mention, the fact remains that both the governing body itself and the broadcast media still use those very stereotypes to help 'sell' the sport -- Larry the Cable Guy? An over-reliance on 'country music?' A (I think) shameless patriotism that allows for nothing other than blind devotion to the good ol' US of A, love it or leave it.
I happen to think NASCAR, in contrast to most other sports, has a very difficult and delicate challenge in determining what its audience is and 'should' be. Is it rooted in the past (and to disagree slightly and politely, its heritage is tied to some of those unfortunate stereotypes) or is it or can it move into something different?