Survey says...

Recently, I noticed I wasn't getting positive feedback from everyone, which is expected. It's a blog and you can't expect everyone to be nice to you. One comment in particular, left on both my blog and Tiffany George's blog suggested that no matter what a woman does or says, a man will ignore what she has to say when he's in a room with his friends, unless he's faking interest or she's an attractive person. I didn't find any validity in this statement, but it's not up to me. This is something clearly believed by people, and I thought it would be an interesting experiment to crowdsource based on "typical stereotypes" and see what the general public had to say.

On a Thursday a few weeks ago, I put out on Twitter that I would be asking a series of questions, intended for men only, and asked for their thoughts on the subject matter. I was not expecting the responses I received, and many of them backed my gut feeling that this was false. Below are the questions I asked, and the answers I received. Some questions were pulled directly from comments I received, and others came from statements I have heard from other sports fans. What better way to find out what the real assumption is than polling the people?

I would definitely like to know your opinion on the things stated. There's a lot of material here, but each raises a great point.

Question 1
As a man, are you generally interested in what a woman has to say about sports?

@dmoody46 - Regardless of gender, the first thing that comes out of a person's mouth will usually determine my interest of what the person has to say. Personally, talking to women about sports seems to be less of a headache to me than talking to men. Most of the time, men always have to be right and it turns into a testosterone match. Women, on the other hand, will debate but won't cause your head to explode either.
@loubezjakfmn - if she is passionate and knows her stuff about sports then yes makes for great conversation
@NYSportzNut - yes as women can bring a different perspective about sports related issues.
@dcplaya - Yes as long as they are knowledgeable enough to understand the sport or are willing to become knowledgeable
@smo513 - As a sports fan, and a man, I am interested in what anyone has to say about sports AS LONG AS they know what they are talking about, or are trying to learn something. I don't like listening to people talk about sports who don't know what they are saying or have horribly wrong information, man or woman. I give everyone the benefit of the doubt initially, until they say something stupid that allows me to form an opinion of their knowledge.
@mcmcglynn - Yes I love talking about sports to women. They have great passion about the sports they follow.
@micahsussman - yes, I value any opinion on sports as long as it is based in fact
@reddy_dean - I do care about what a girl has to say about sports, because stereotyping is generally very bad.
@TheHappyRecap - Very interested!, there's been so much repetetive drivel from the boys club these past decades, it's nice to hear new voices.
@BrandonFlorkey - I'd say yes. I started following you based off your opinions on different sports-based hashtags.
@asloan23 - Yeah I'm interested in what a woman has to say. Just to see if they have a different take on things or different perspective
@onbasemachine - I LOVE women that like sports, especially baseball. This girl I was talking to was a baseball fan.... And I loved discussing baseball with her. Male or female, I'll talk sports with anyone.
@redsfan1966 - I am usually interested in ANYONE's opinion on sports...
@jasonhickey - I'm interested in what intelligent sports fans have to say. It doesn't matter what sex you are, just as long as you're not a lout about it.
@jmillender – Absolutely. As long as she has informed questions and knows what she is talking about
@UC_SID - I am, especially if they're knowledgeable about sports. Women often bring a diff. POV and perspective ... Also, women tend to be more passionate and know more about the game itself & not just a fan. Most men are just fans. Women are fans but most can give legit reasons why
@VBH126 - yes as long as it's a somewhat informed opinion. totally different perspective on most issues than guys (obviously)
@metstwerp - It depends on how much she knows about the sport. But I wouldnt care what a guy said about a sport either if I knew he didnt know what he was talking about. If I know a person is knowledgable on the subject being discussed, I dont care what sex they are. This pretty much goes for any subject, not just sports.
@thedodgerhater - It of course depends on what sport she is talking about. For instance, I wouldn't really care if a man OR woman was talking about UConn ladies hoops. But yeah, I find it's so rare to find women that talk about sports at an in-depth level, so when I do come across such a woman/discussion, I'm definitely interested in what they have to say. Part of it is intrigue and part of it is admiration. A lot of guys find it very attractive. The other part of the male sports fan population is threatened by it and will try to shoot them down because of a self-conscious intimidation factor.
By the same token, if a girl is saying things that are either unfounded or incorrect about certain sports topics, it would almost be better if they didn't try, because I personally would be bothered by it, just as if a man were as ill-informed.

Question 2
True or false: If you’re with your friends you are not interested in what a woman says about sports unless she’s hot. Why?

@metstwerp - Its a macho thing. Guy needs to act like "aww, she's just a chick, what does she know". Meanwhile one of two things is going on. Either he is interested in what she says but doesnt want to show it, or is intimidated that she knows more than he does. I think most guys will "fake" interest if she is hot, but that has nothing to do with being with friends. Thats just a guy wanting to get laid. That "fake" interest may actually be real though as per previous statement. Did any of this make sense?
@dmoody46 - For me, this is false. If you and I were out somewhere and you brought up something to prove me wrong and someone told me that I was put in my place by a girl, I would tell them that they're right and carry on with my life. If someone knows something that I don't and it's brought to my attention, so be it. Intelligence is a bigger platform for me when it comes to talking about sports than gender and sex appeal.
@thedodgerhater - For the most part, when a dude is out with his friends, his main goal is to get phone numbers, etc. The same guys that are interested in what women have to say about sports alone/sober, are the same guys who would care about what they have to say no matter the scenario.
Sleazy dudes always feign interest in what girls have to say about any topic... which is why they are sleazes.
@smo513 - Sometimes true, sometimes false (probably not the answer you were looking for). Many times, when guys are watching sports with their guy friends, a woman's interruption doesn't usually go over well and isn't usually taken seriously. However, if a woman says something that is insightful, then the guys may form a different opinion about her and welcome her in future conversations. I have seen this happen quite often.
@jmillender - For me, false. As long as she knows what she is talking about. Looks have NO bearing (although good looking girls who know sports is cool). I have often had better sports conversations with females than some males. I think our generation is moving past the "females don't know or belong in sports" mentality, although I think some females sportscasters are hired for there looks and not what they know.
@reddy_dean - Not true for me, but there are a lot of shallow people out there so I'll say True, I guess.
@micahsussman - True (mostly) Guys have to seem macho, and unless the girl has a VAST knowledge of sports, the guy thinks he knows more
@redsfan1966 - unfortunately that statement is typically true...
@dcplaya - Usually true, doesnt want to seem inferior in front of his guy friends about sports. Also doesnt want to get shown up by girl
@soulsesdents - You might be hanging with the wrong guys. I can appreciate when a woman shows knowledge about sports. Seems no different.
@NYSportsNut - false...as long as she comes across as knowledgeable.
@UC_SID - For me, that's false. Only time I don't want to hear what a woman has to say about sports is when SHE'S faking it ... honestly I'd rather talk sports w/ a woman because w/ men it usually ends up being a shouting match of "your team sucks"
@asloan23 – false
@vbh126 - if she knows her shit, i'm interested. most don't (which is not a knock, just fact from my experience). bonus pts if hot tho
@redsfan1966 - The guys probably feel "threatened" or "weak" if a female appears to know more or the same about sports..the hot thing..welll
@mnmcglynn - false. if she knows her stuff guys love that . nothing worst then girls who thinks all sports are stupid.

Question 3
Do you know any women that know more about sports than you or have taught you something you didn’t know? Is this intimidating?

@metstwerp - You know more than me on more than one topic, especially when it comes to current teams and players. This does not bother me in the least. My female friend was a sports writer for a couple of years, so it certainly wouldnt bother me if I found out she knew more than I did on a particular topic. I would be no more bothered to know you know more than me on a subject than if it was a guy.
@smo513 - Yes, I know several women that know more about certain sports than I do. I don't think it is intimidating at all, because I am always willing to learn new things about sports that I don't know much about, so if someone wants to share some knowledge, I'm always willing to listen. On many occasions, I have asked women questions about particular sports.
@jmillender - I have not met one but would not find it intimidating.
@dmoody46 - I do know women that know more than me or have taught me something that I didn't know, but it typically does not intimidate me. For example, when it comes to talking about the Mets, Islanders, or other teams that my girlfriend follows more than me, I don't try to be all macho and act like I know what I'm talking about because I don't. I use it as a chance to learn, not a chance to prove that I have testicles.
@thedodgerhater - I do have some female friends I've met through Twitter that know a ton about Minor League Baseball-- especially the Giants farm system. It's rare that I run out of things to say about a topic, because I pride myself in being able to have at least a basic conversation about everything from the Blue Jackets to the Daytona 500, but it is a little strange at first to not know as much as someone on a topic, whether it is a man or woman.
Personally, I'm one of the guys (who may be in the minority) that find sports knowledge by women extremely attractive, and although not exactly a concrete prerequisite for some sort of relationship, it's definitely a considerable factor.
@UC_SID - yes I do, and know it's not. Of course, I'm always willing to learn from those who know more than myself
@asloan23 - Yeah Andrea knows more about hockey than I do and no it isn't intimidating
@NYSportzNut - outside of twitter, I do not know many women who are as into sports as I am... I can have great sports convos with many of my female followers on twitter though and its not intimidating at all.
@redsfan1966 - Yes....I guess it is slightly "emasculating"...
@tonester5 - I actually know one that is very close in knowledge. not intimidating - more attracting.
@reddy_dean - Yes, women have told me something related to sports that I didn't already know. No, it wasn't intimidating.
@michasussman – Yes on both accounts. It can be intimidating, but its more exciting as it gives us something more to talk about.
@philhensel - you know much more about hockey than most ppl (including me) I know do. No I'm not intimidated
@tinosorambler - I've never met a woman who knows more about sports in general than me, but I have met a couple with better specific knowledge
@mnmcglynn - I know tons about all kinds of sports but I often meet women who know more about one sport then me. Baseball the most.
@aka_elvis - again depends on the woman...but then again I've been just as many clueless men as women so it is what it is...
@jmillender - Doesn't matter as long as the person saying it is credible.

Question 4
If you read or hear a valid statement about sports, does it make a difference to you or change your perception if it is said by a man or woman?

@metstwerp - No. Information is information. I dont care how I get it.
@soulesdents – not at all
@redsfan1966 – no
@UC_SID - no not really. It'd affect my opinion of the person but not because of their gender
@micahsussman - um no, valid statements are valid for a reason
@philhensel - problem is most sideline reporters (primarily female) rarely say anything valid. Always ask same? What are u gonna do in 2nd
@tonester5 - Does not change my perception, man or woman.
@reddy_dean - No, it doesn't matter. Men and women alike can be fools.
@dcplaya - Not at all. If the statement is valid or meaningful, who cares what gender it came from.
@mnmcglynn - it depends on the subject but for the most part no...there are some items in sports that are gender specific.
@dmoody46 - No. Validity trumps gender every day and twice on Sundays

I must say I wasn't expecting this big of a response. It was interesting though to find so many people that, for the most part, believed these statements to be untrue. What are your thoughts? Do you agree with these faithful tweeters?