I dislike sport because people who follow it tend to start using
the word "we", where they actually mean the word "they"
( Kroney, Wed 10 Aug 2011, 16:37, 3 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

Some people can validly use the word we when describing a team or club.

(Barry from Eastenders is, despite the words written above, not a woman, Wed 10 Aug 2011, 16:41, Reply)

I'm pretty sure you can't "validly" use we for a club
unless you are actually a member of that club. But, like I said, it's hardly really annoying. Or at least, if it does really annoy you, you should probably stop for just one fucking minute and have a think about how you are utterly wasting time and emotion on something so minor.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 10 Aug 2011, 16:44, Reply)

Oh right, it's the twelfth man argument
It's a shame that the other eleven on the pitch couldn't give a shit if you got run over by a bus after the game.
( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Wed 10 Aug 2011, 16:45, Reply)

Hahahaha

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 10 Aug 2011, 16:47, Reply)

Depends if it was the team's tour bus
Then they might give a shit about you rudely getting in their way and selfishly spraying your viscera up the front of said bus, inconsiderately delaying them in getting to their hotel.
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 10 Aug 2011, 16:47, Reply)

you missed out
"where they will repeatedly spitroast vacuous bimbos whilst lighting cigars with £50 notes"
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 10 Aug 2011, 16:50, Reply)

A very valid point!
And you wouldn't want to delay their arrival to such an important task - what sort of team player would that make you?
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 10 Aug 2011, 17:00, Reply)

as an active team member
you should probably deliver them your girlfriend and your sister* to ensure that you are actively assisting in their relaxation.

*Unless you're Bert, in which case this is defining example of "two birds with one stone"
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 10 Aug 2011, 17:03, Reply)

It's not the twelfth man argument.
It's the fact that it isn't just about eleven men kicking a ball about.
(Barry from Eastenders is, despite the words written above, not a woman, Wed 10 Aug 2011, 17:10, Reply)

No, it's about 22 men kicking a ball about
and hundreds of yobs having a punch up in the car park.
( Kroney, Wed 10 Aug 2011, 17:17, Reply)

I like this

( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Wed 10 Aug 2011, 17:23, Reply)

I would slightly agree with this
with the exception of talking about the performance of a country where that country is your place of birth or residence, when "we" is clearly acceptable.

Although, it's not really that annoying now is it? It's not because the person actually thinks they are involved. It's because two teams are usually involved, and "they" is reserved for the team you don't support. Means using "we" simplifies things. Although, people could just use the team names I suppose.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 10 Aug 2011, 16:42, Reply)

How would you know how annoying I find it?
You can only use the "although, it's not really 'X' now, is it?" line if you have some empirical evidence that it really isn't X. Which you don't.
( Kroney, Wed 10 Aug 2011, 17:01, Reply)

granted.
Ok, I'll rephrase. as above, "if it does really annoy you, you should probably stop for just one fucking minute and have a think about how you are utterly wasting time and emotion on something so minor"
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 10 Aug 2011, 17:07, Reply)

You say "we" when you mean "they", don't you.

( Kroney, Wed 10 Aug 2011, 17:14, Reply)

for England, yes, because I am English
for other teams, no, because I've no investment in any of them. Except the hockey teams I play for, where I can rightly say "we" as I'm part of the team.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 10 Aug 2011, 17:20, Reply)

I really, really fucking hate that. Surprisingly.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 10 Aug 2011, 16:47, Reply)