Tiger_heart
Well-known member
We supporters have been, since 2005, in a state of hopeful despair. A state where one may feel hopeless or deeply discouraged about a situation, but still clings to the possibility of a positive outcome. That's us, isn't it? Picture the last game against the cows. Anyone looking at the result would have thought "Wow, a close game" (and certainly was as far as the score was concerned). Yet having watched the entire game, and adding the benefit of the day after, this game was another replay of many, many others before.
I do wonder if the players themselves share this feeling. Hopeful despair is not necessarily a negative state. It can be a powerful motivator, pushing individuals to continue striving towards a positive outcome despite the difficult emotions they may be experiencing.
I hope we can make the 8's means there is a possibility that we won’t. You wouldn’t “hope” to be on time if you are sure you will be there early. There is no need for hope when something is certain or very likely (law of probability).
Despair is more like a certainty that things will go wrong or remain in a bad state. Hope is like 50/50, but with an emotional sense that luck and/or positive thinking will help push things in the right direction.
My sense is that as supporters we are starting (if not there already) to edge toward a stage of uncertainty or ambivalence, in between hope and despair. Hope is uncertain, so it's not perfect, but it's got the neutral connotation we want. I don't know that we'll be able to do better.

I do wonder if the players themselves share this feeling. Hopeful despair is not necessarily a negative state. It can be a powerful motivator, pushing individuals to continue striving towards a positive outcome despite the difficult emotions they may be experiencing.
I hope we can make the 8's means there is a possibility that we won’t. You wouldn’t “hope” to be on time if you are sure you will be there early. There is no need for hope when something is certain or very likely (law of probability).
Despair is more like a certainty that things will go wrong or remain in a bad state. Hope is like 50/50, but with an emotional sense that luck and/or positive thinking will help push things in the right direction.
My sense is that as supporters we are starting (if not there already) to edge toward a stage of uncertainty or ambivalence, in between hope and despair. Hope is uncertain, so it's not perfect, but it's got the neutral connotation we want. I don't know that we'll be able to do better.
