That Internet dating thing

ElGuapo · 2010-01-15T10:52:52.000Z

Only the socially awkward guys’ balls are blue by regulation.

Editer · 2010-01-15T10:58:36.000Z

As far as WarrenM’s self-appointed topic cop moment, I don’t think any dating advice is verboten here. There are radically different levels of self-confidence and social comfort in this forum, from “should I try to kiss on the first date?” to “how many drinks before I invite her into my hot tub?”.

I’ve been happily married for a bazillion years now, but if I was single, I’d appreciate the kickball tip. Don’t knock people for offering suggestions.

Shadarr · 2010-01-15T11:02:00.000Z

JM:

Cricket has been around for a very long time. “Kickball” was presumably invented fairly recently. Is it just some sort of cultural cringe about playing football?

I suspect the entire point of kickball is that it’s not an established sport. Soccer or baseball or even softball are established, and as a result you get more ex-jocks and people take it more seriously. I used to play soccer after work with co-workers, just a bunch of people divided into two teams with backpacks for goalposts, and even that could get pretty intense. If you’re talking about co-ed leagues, most teams are loaded with guys who grew up playing and they have exactly the minimum number of women required and no more.

Without ever having played, I’m pretty confident the reason kickball is popular is because it’s silly. All those guys still pissed off they didn’t get on the varsity team in university can play in the city soccer league, we’re going to get one of those big stupid elementary school recess balls and kick it around.

To whoever suggested broomball:

Are you talking about the game played on ice with shoes? I don’t know about where you are, but around here that is a vicious game. I don’t know anyone who’s played and not gone home with bruises. If that’s the case, I think I’ll pass.

ElGuapo · 2010-01-15T11:12:22.000Z

Well, one of the girls I was talking to at the bar afterwards just emailed and said she is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACU. ALU? AC something. Some part of the knee. Edit: ACL. So I guess you can get injured. Yeah, it’s that game. Bruises make for good stories!

Brian_Seiler · 2010-01-15T11:22:21.000Z

I would hate to have to take that injury to the PT wing. I think I might get my ass kicked.

Griddle · 2010-01-15T11:28:55.000Z

Shadarr:

Are you talking about the game played on ice with shoes? .

Curling?

Shadarr · 2010-01-15T12:00:11.000Z

ElGuapo:

Well, one of the girls I was talking to at the bar afterwards just emailed and said she is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACU. ALU? AC something. Some part of the knee. Edit: ACL. So I guess you can get injured. Yeah, it’s that game. Bruises make for good stories!

Torn ACL? Jesus! I was just figuring you’d get whacked on the shins, fall a lot and pull your groin.

ElGuapo · 2010-01-15T12:01:23.000Z

Shadarr:

Torn ACL? Jesus! I was just figuring you’d get whacked on the shins, fall a lot and pull your groin.

That happens after the games, after the bars close, back at her place.

Brian_Seiler · 2010-01-15T12:03:09.000Z

ElGuapo:

That happens after the games, after the bars close, back at her place.

So what you’re saying is that I’m already having a dating experience, just without the lady?

spiffy · 2010-01-15T12:07:38.000Z

Shadarr:

To whoever suggested broomball:

Are you talking about the game played on ice with shoes? I don’t know about where you are, but around here that is a vicious game. I don’t know anyone who’s played and not gone home with bruises. If that’s the case, I think I’ll pass.

Well, we had a random Broomball game for an engagement party activity with just as many girls as guys. Guys generally set the pace of the game with better overall athleticism and coordination, there was the obligatory idiot who wacked people with the stick too hard, girls on their ass too often to be enjoyable, and people like me who play hockey enough to rule the game without trying too much. Most people had a good time, but it’s not a good socializing game because of the pace and overall movement.

Kickball is great because during most times, there are only two people directly involved in the play, most people can kick, and even if you can’t, a badly kicked ball is still hard to deal with when you have a beer in your hand, everyone else is sitting around with only yacking and drinking to keep busy. IE, for the very reason baseball is boring as shit to watch makes it a great socializing game to “play”.

Shadarr · 2010-01-15T12:28:37.000Z

spiffy:

people like me who play hockey enough to rule the game without trying too much.

I hadn’t thought of that. I hate being way better than everyone else.

nlanza · 2010-01-15T12:32:49.000Z

Griddle:

Curling?

Hey, there are curling injuries.

During my first game in the local league, a guy two ice sheets over slipped, fell backwards, whacked his head on a stone, and got carted off the ice by paramedics.

JM1 · 2010-01-15T12:41:27.000Z

Anders Hallin:

I’m Swedish, and I knew kickball was somewhat of a pastime in the US!

You’re a Swede with something of an obsession with the US. I’m not sure you count :)

John Many Jars:

It’s a playground game that’s just like baseball, except you kick a big purple inflated rubber ball instead of swinging a bat at a little hard ball. It’s the same kind of ball used for the game “four square,” if you have that on playgrounds across the pond.

Thankee kindly.

Shadarr:

snipped

I think you missed the point. Fair enough if it’s a silly sport, but the name itself has to be the silliest thing.

crazy_jane · 2010-01-15T13:00:06.000Z

I’ve done a lot of dating offline, but two of the three people I’ve had really serious relationships with, including Quatoria, I met online. This is because a person who can write well is a complete turn-on for me. Quat’s profile was so good that I wanted to talk to him – even before I paid attention to the pictures he posted and realized he was gorgeous to boot. (I wasn’t the only one who liked his profile; he got messages from several women on OKCupid around the time I met him.)

Raife · 2010-01-15T13:06:58.000Z

Haha, you almost had me there. The second part gave it away, though.

John_Many_Jars · 2010-01-15T13:30:07.000Z

JM:

Thankee kindly.

I just remembered the other major difference between kickball and baseball: in kickball you can throw the ball at a base runner, and if it hits him he’s out.

Shadarr · 2010-01-15T13:30:55.000Z

JM:

I think you missed the point. Fair enough if it’s a silly sport, but the name itself has to be the silliest thing.

Are you talking about cricket again?

Mightynute · 2010-01-15T13:31:48.000Z

John Many Jars:

I just remembered the other major difference between kickball and baseball: in kickball you can throw the ball at a base runner, and if it hits him he’s out.

If you’re playing with the smaller balls (slightly smaller than a volleyball, larger than a softball), a sidearm throw right at the runner’s front knee brings guaranteed hilarity. With the larger “playground” balls, it’s all about “Boom, headshot”.

Demon_G_Sides · 2010-01-15T13:48:37.000Z

Mightynute:

If you’re playing with the smaller balls (slightly smaller than a volleyball, larger than a softball), a sidearm throw right at the runner’s front knee brings guaranteed hilarity. With the larger “playground” balls, it’s all about “Boom, headshot”.

As a camp counselor and avid fan of kickball, this is the truest statement about the game made so far. Hitting someone from the knees down is going to end with a sideways cartwheel motion. Headshots are going to have the hilarious head jerk to the side followed by a second of stunning that will have almost everyone on their knees laughing.

Hanacker · 2010-01-15T13:49:01.000Z

I always thought kickball had to be played with a red ball. Or does “purple” mean purplish-red?

Edit: And “No headhunting” is one of the few rules of kickball. I don’t think we ever came up with a penalty for failure to follow the rule, though.