I read what you say Bobobalde and firstly it puzzles me, but more importantly, it concerns me.
It concerns me because perception IS reality. And if you, and others THINK that the Yellow Fever is elitist and a closed clique, then despite the people involved not intending and not wanting it to be, it will be.
So we NEED to change those perceptions.
The Yellow Fever "in-crowd" couldn't be less elitist. Honestly.
The call went out about 6 weeks ago for people to volunteer to contribute. In any way you can or want to. The people in the "in-crowd" are CONSTANTLY discussing how to get more people involved informally and formally. If you want to contribute, step up.
The door is WIDE open.
I was not involved in the core much at all until recently. I put my hand up and Smithy and Dale virtually grabbed me and dragged me in to be involved. Others have stepped up too, and are putting in hours of effort to broaden things and get more people involved. A lot of us have worked really hard over the last few weeks on a number of fronts, and we are gagging for more pairs of hands. If you care and you want to help, step up. Your input and passion will be warmly welcomed. And I think you'll see just how not-elitist this "in group" you speak of are. If you are reticient about introducing yourself come and talk to me. I'll break the ice for you.
I was walking to Bethel Woods from the Backbencher last night. Morale was low. Understandably.
And it was commented, in a lamenting tone, that if a dozen or so central people moved away, say for work, things might implode.
That's NOT how anyone at all wants it to be.
As Ballane notes above the Fever Zone was conceived and is actively promoted as an active supporters zone. It IS supposed to be where you stand not sit, and sing and chant not stand there quietly. People who stand in the zone to soak up the atmosphere and don't join in the chanting, and/or do not attempt to start chants really do annoy me and others.
You quote an example where people outside the zone during the football united tour yelled out.
I think the criticism that the performance on that day was flat was a valid one. It was a shoddy disjointed shambles that day.
However I think you are misinterpreting the response. Well, at least misinterpreting the intended message in the response. It absolutely is and was not:
"Only we can start chants".
It is:
"For goodness sake… don't yell out and criticise that we are not doing a good job of starting chants… start a chant yourself if you don't think it's happening. We WILL join in... It's not up to us to always lead the chants!"
Patrick's tweet is again not an example of elitism, it is an example of frustration that people THINK it is elitist. It is frustration at people not joining in and chanting in the zone, and/or frustration that others are not starting chants. The desire from within the core group you describe is precisely that it NOT be us leading everything.
I spoke to Smithy last night about him having a go at the guy and telling him to fuck off to another aisle if he wasn't going to chant. He asked me if I recognised the guy to apologise to him for him. Smithy had had a few beers and said he would apologise himself, but he wasn't sure he would recognise him. He agrees that it was out of line.
But, it does need to be said. Leeches stop others around them feeling comfortable joining in chants. If you are not going to join in the chants I strongly think you should move elsewhere. Everyone agrees things are better when the chanting is louder and more coordinated. That is very very difficult to achieve when people in the zone are not joining in. People are (generally) afraid of embarrassing themselves in New Zealand sports crowds. It is a function of our tall poppy syndrome. If you stand there not chanting the person next to you, who might be thinking of joining in is likely not to join in because you're not... Don't be a leech and suck the passion out of the zone.
Join in. Embrace it. Contribute.
Incredible Stamina. No Shame. Yellow Fever.