I wrote a diatribe in response but then didn't send it at the time.
There is some truth to what you said.
Here goes a short form of it - and being concise is good.
There is something of a strange mentality that comes from Edwardsville and the 'heater' incident is a prime example of Edwardsville at its 'finest'.
Let me explain.
I have seen this happen not just with teams but with adults too.
I have been to parties in Granite where some family members have moved away from Granite City. It's quite rude to think that at a party where food and drink is provided, that some still manage to walk in with a Starbucks in hand or a bottle of Evian.
It's like these people pack the Beamer with all of these 'extra' things and are preparing to 'rough it'.
Usually the women have hand bags full of all kinds of siht, such as hand sanitizer - and bottled water is a must. The worst of them have their Copy of the Intelligencer by their side - because it really is a Foreign publication and no, we don't have a daily paper - and we don't care.
Now any good daddy or mommy would pack things for the kids. I understand that and will not knock it.
But I am talking about the things people bring for themselves to 'weather the storm' while being forced to be here.
It's not a surprise that they brought heaters for Poor Sebastian - and I'm sure there were a few Conners too.
Bringing the Evian to the Party or bringing the other accoutrement is a subtle way of showing that they are a step above and they are entering territory that's a step below. To show that they are better equipped, they conveniently remember to stop at DIERBERGS or Starbucks just to show that they have these things in their town and will make sure that their Granite counterparts see what they have and envy that if they want it too they have to go somewhere 'better' to get it.
The heaters are an extention of that behavior.
I may think that it's actually not a bad idea for Granite to consider.
So now here's where I do an about face.
Yes, I understand the 'Poor Sebastian' mentality.
And yes, it seems like typical Edwardsville behavior. "When traveling to Granite, pack the car full of things so we can limit our contact with Granite water, air, or skin contact. Wear something with the Tigers, bring the Detelligencer, and make them see how enlightened we are."
Secretly, I am laughing - and enjoying a nice network of straightforward roads, the surety of good city services, and some of the lowest cost of living anywhere in the USA. They are struggling to get up and down 159, paying taxes out the wazoo and living their 'wonderful life' when not doing those two things.
But I want to give the benefit of the doubt - while the heaters could be the 'poor Sebastian' mentality where some a$$hole parents wanted to show how "Inadequate" Granite City is...and that's the motivation of all Edwardsville Obnoxiousness is to show how backward and inadequate we all -- it's possible that the coach felt that it is not good to go from bone chilling cold to sprinting.
It's not bad for the players to be warm so that when there is a line change, the body is already warmed up and not going from shivering to sweating.
So if it's the Coach -- I give him credit and maybe Granite should do it too.
If it's the parents -- then I agree with Whatusay and furthermore believe that it is the typical Edwardsville mentality. It's that visible show that they are visiting Sihtsville, and have to bring their accoutrement to survive here. They study every inadequacy and do their damnedest to exploit it. What is the funniest thing about their behavior -- they think they are being Coy while doing it!!!
But before you agree with me..how many people here felt the need to being accoutrement to 'survive' an away game in East St. Louis.
Hell, I'm not even innocent..I've simply never had a reason to go to ESTL for an away game.
Anyway - I don't want to take this out on the kids. I hope the Warriors always win, but since I'm an adult now - I simply don't care about the other teams...and hope that ALL young people take their learning seriously so that we as a nation will once again be able to compete in highly technical areas.
I have had a lot of experiences with the 'Edwardsville Mentality' but I can't take it out on the kids. Like Mr. Myagi once said "No such thing as bad student, Daniel son, only bad teacher." So anyway...enough on that topic...
It's a mentality that we all recognize when it happens..but hey, like Opi said in one of his posts... We can choose to accept the labels and the inferiority that others give to us... or we can RISE above it.
<Steps down from the 3 Dee soapbox>
Good posts WUS -- had me laughing.
Sorry I had to add so much social analysis..but I bet others can identify with this 'mentality' of which I have spoken.
on February 10, 2011, 11:44 pm, in reply to "