FanNation - The Republic of Sport

It's late, I'm tired but I can't shut this down. Do you ever find yourself staying up later and later to see if someone responded to your blog or to your post? Do you find yourself minimizing your blog at work and then frequently peaking at it during the day? If so, you have developed Fannation User Dependence Syndrome or FUDS. FUDS is a common compulsion that affects many sports fans across this nation of ours. The difficultly regarding this syndrome is that it attacks the afflicted slowly and reveals its symptoms covertly over time.  Here are a few ways to tell if you have been exposed, are a carrier, or have developed full blown FUDS.

Exposed:

You occasionally view the site but only when something in the media has sparked your interest and you're curious to what others are saying in regard to the issue. You have less than 50 comments and have yet to upload your image. You have a few friends but can't remember why you invited half of them in the first place for lack of contact in the last few weeks. Not to worry, you have only been exposed and can be vaccinated to prevent FUDS from developing any further.

Carrier:

You check the site daily but only if it's convenient for you and your family. You usually wait until they are asleep as not to disturb them with your tapping keys or the glow of your screen. You have at least 20-50 friends and are pleased that your profile has been viewed over 250 times. You've added pics and selected a starting lineup. You find yourself watching the clock and anticipating others response to arguments you have posted. You enjoy the occasional online scrap but use the site for information on your teams more than anything else. You've switched your image several times because you can't decide on which one looks the coolest and represents you best. You have considered adding Fannation to your favorites but haven't gotten around to it. You check your Fanmail but don't bother opening your group mail. Your bio simply states that you're the biggest "some U" fan ever!  If these symptoms describe your situation, you on the verge of outbreak and should immediately seek professional assistance. You are not too far gone and can be salvaged but there will definitely be scarring.

Full Blown FUDS

You are obsessed with checking the site as often as possible. You have Fannation set as your home page on your laptop, computer at work, and every mobile device you own.  You take unnecessary restroom breaks at work to check your blog and battle that idiot that swears his conference is better than yours. You have time to nuke a hot pocket while your computer is loading the images of all your friends' icons. Your comments number in the thousands while your blog posts are kept in an alphabetized folder on your desktop.  You notice when others have changed something in their profile. You wear the title homer as a badge of honor and will defend your program to the bitter end. You think that everyone opposing your view is an idiot and obviously can not understand the reason your team didn't get a bowl bid. You get angry when other members of your Fan Group don't comment enough and feel they are neglecting their responsibility as a sports fan. You have developed a discoloration of your facial skin commonly diagnosed as screen burn from countless hours of blogging. Your fingers are as callused as a lumberjack from the hundreds of thousands of key strokes made in frustration.  You seldom sleep and when you do you wake in a cold sweat screaming "Please be my friend!"  The final stage of this condition concludes with total loss of motor functions and profuse drooling. You will not respond to stimulus and your typing becomes garbled and unreadable. You are forever lost to FUDS.  If this....you, or dascribes somwon you no, ron durt wak tu th  ........kjkdugc..211!!!j  jjjjerioppoofhen  kjvumcckl;sd>..................hib............ut........................a...........................