Muggles (from a players perspective)

Submitted by MrSmith on

I had read about some people being upset that athletes use the term muggles and I wanted to clear it up that we (or at least the players I know) do not do it to be mean or cause divisions.

I dont know who came up with it but we thought it was funny because we all you the fans and us the players represent all the same colors and we are all on the same team but just different people.  We all bleed blue so we never thought it might hurt peoples feelings because I love Harry Potter I even went to the theme park back home thats how much I love it.  Muggles are not even the bad word in Harry Potter but I dont want that to excuse it if there is confusion.

We are not trying to seperate ourselves or be superior its a lot of stress and long hours and jokes get us through.

 

I Don't Read Blogs

November 5th, 2014 at 9:32 AM ^

I think this is a good and reasonable perspective. I also think it's the perspective that most fans and players have. I haven't really been watching Twitter closely, but usually it's the lunatics on the fringe who become upset by stuff like this. 

ChicagoBigHouse

November 5th, 2014 at 9:39 AM ^

Thank you for the perspective, however, I wonder if the players like Elliot Mealer are using the term in a more negative way. A more "us vs. them" mentality, the "them" being less special individuals. Although I'm not a Harry Potter fan, it does seem like a negative term, and going public with that serves only to drive a bigger wedge between student athletes and students.



As Ace said in the most recent podcast, students who are fans, love to interact with the student athletes when they are on campus. They want to feel like the students are part of the "us" in the "us vs them" world of sports instead of the "them."

WFDEric

November 5th, 2014 at 12:05 PM ^

I could understand this line of reasoning yesterday. Today it's been explained to you by a former player so your no longer part of that 5%. I would think (IMHO) that you would only have a need to voice reason and understanding to verbiage that was confusing to you yesterday and move on. No harm no foul. 

We (Fans) were contacted by a former player who is still in contact with his former teamates. It should be very simple to understand and there should be no reason for any on going negative discussion toward the current players of the team we are fans of. I'd hope that the powers to be at MGOBLOG would make a similar statement with warning to those who do.

pescadero

November 5th, 2014 at 3:43 PM ^

Two differtent views are exhibited regarding Muggles in the books:

 

1) The "bad guys"  view - Muggles should be done away with.

2) The "good guys" view - Muggles are cool, but they need us to protect them. A typical "noblesse oblige"/"benevolent dictator" viewpoint.

 

It's similar to the historical idea of chivalry and that women needed to be protected by strong men - it's condescending.

 

 - Rowling has said she created the word "Muggle" from "mug", an English term for someone who is easily fooled. She added the "-gle" to make it sound less demeaning and more "cuddly"

- In the Brazilian translation of the series the term "muggle" was adapted to "trouxa", which literally means "fool"

 

 

MrSmith

November 5th, 2014 at 9:48 AM ^

I think that it is right what you said, that sometiems people can make it mean.  In Harry Potter muggle is the word for regular people that not wizards.  Mudblood is the bad word.  Anything that makes other people feel bad about themselves or uncomfotable like they do not belong is not okay.

I love the fans I love the students they are what makes Michigan great and the reason I chose Michigan over Tennesee.

I am not throwing Elliot under the bus. Because Elliot was block for me, we laugh together have fun, thats my brother, and sometimes we do not understand how much we effecteveryone or they listen to us.  That is what got me to do gardens was finding out that people listen to us and we have a influence.

1464

November 5th, 2014 at 11:32 AM ^

I don't know if it's ever meant to be mean, but honestly, the us and them mentality can be pretty hard to shake.  I remember making plays on Friday night and people would come up to me on a Monday in class and talk about them.  It made you feel like you were on a bit of a pedestal.  I'm not the most humble person in the world, but also not the most entitled.  I can only imagine what it feels like when millions of people are watching, instead of hundreds... it's easy to feel self important when all eyes are on you.

Fitz

November 5th, 2014 at 11:59 AM ^

Mudblood is the bad word but only because it means that they have dirtied their blood by mixing it with muggle blood. They obviously couldn't insult a wizard by calling them a muggle since they clearly have powers so they have to use a word that associates them with muggles.

If you look at the word from a positive/Harry point of view, the word doesn't carry any negative connotaions, it's just used to refer to non-magical people. However, from a Voldemort point of view, muggle does carry a negative connotaion. Muggles (and to a certain extent squibs) are so far beneth the wizarding community that they aren't even worth mentioning and are best either killed off or enslaved by the purebloods.

 

Without knowing which side a person is on, the term could be used derisively to show that the non-athletic population doesn't have merit or it could just be used simply as a way to show how different groups have differing opinions on the issue.

BigCat14

November 5th, 2014 at 4:08 PM ^

Thank you for being down to earth and participating in what I believe to be a cultural Blogging family!  I realize you know and maybe even have communicated with Elliot about this topic.  I am wondering if you feel based on reading the comments and commenting yourself in response to comments:  Is there a possibility that players are irritated with fans in general (to a greater degree the MGOBLOG community for any number of reason?  I am simply asking if there is a possibility?  If the answer is yes, there may possibly be a feeling of seperation?  If that is the case I am hoping that you being a part of both worlds can help bridge the gap of misunderstanding?  

Personally I am irritated, not with who he is or his physical football skills, with Clowney and to a larger extent the hype that surrounded his hit and subsequent fumble recovery!  In conversation I always stick up for you and the circumstances that were out of your control.  The media stunk that one up. Because most non or fringe fans unfortunately will see you in THAT circumstance on the field.  I will speak persnally (more than likely felt MGOBLOG universally) as a fan(s) who watched you run with and block with heart twice your size against dudes twice your size I took some offense.  

Players like Elliot are in similar boats as the MGOBLOG community was/is in his corner for what he experienced with his family!   It does hurt a little (now we are adults and should be able to advance in life without too much issue here) to have any ambiguous thought about the term 'muggles' and how it was really meant and then portrayed publicly!  

To conclude, there are no big worries for me about this situation.  I know players had/have a greater degree of knowledge of who DB and BH and CO. are.  As fans we want players to know we support them and this great university!  We hope for their on the field glory to bring us glory as fans!   Hope all is well with your present and blessings to you and your family for your future!  

 

Go Blue! 

This did not line up under the comment by MrSmith I intended it for 

MrSmith

November 5th, 2014 at 9:23 PM ^

Maybe they are upset but no the players I dont think are irritated by the fans.  Its the heat of the moment sometimes when fans are really disgusted at you because you made a bad play or something like that.  Everyone makes mistakes we all have our days like a hard day at the office.

I feel like the players that dont really know the fans because we dont meet the fans when we are in school.  When I played didnt know the fans and know how they really felt. Now that I know how the fans really feel about how when we play, when were out there competing and how much passion and you guys really love football I can relate now to how you feel.

I think that I can relate now because I have two years off the field.  I was never really active on the computer like that and now I see there is so much more to then what we know during being a player.  And you right it is about building bridges and fixing miscommunications.

 

M-Dog

November 5th, 2014 at 9:37 AM ^

Thanks.  You make a good ambassador for the University.

These divisions are silly.  If you live a full life, you will be an alumni 20 times longer than you will be a student.  You will be a fan 20 times longer than you will be a player.  We're all in this together.

GO BLUE!

OldBlue78and81

November 5th, 2014 at 9:35 AM ^

That makes perfect sense and is a good explanation. I think every insular group develops its own terminology for others. Heck, businesses often talk about customers and clents in much more derisive terms. Thanks for taking time to offer that explanation.

BJNavarre

November 5th, 2014 at 9:36 AM ^

I suspect the combination of some former players publicly using the term while saying condensending about the fanbase has people riled up. I, personally, don't care if players use the term, or if former players have issues with the fans (they should), but that should mostly be kept private, and when their concerns are made public, it should be done respectfully. Otherwise, it puts the player in a bad light, as well as the program.

MichiganStephen

November 5th, 2014 at 9:36 AM ^

If anyone ever goes, make sure you go into Hogwarts. Even if you aren't into the ride inside, walk through the queue and marvel at the extreme detail that went into everything inside.  Quite a spectacle.

Jon06

November 5th, 2014 at 9:36 AM ^

I think it's less the word being used than it was the sentiment being expressed using it.

Most of us muggles are alumni who are committed to seeing the Athletic Department live up to the standard of excellence we associate with the state of Michigan's flagship university. Anybody who thinks a good fundraiser, wizard or not, shouldn't be held to that standard doesn't understand what this place is all about.

michiganfanforlife

November 5th, 2014 at 9:37 AM ^

I really appreciate you posting your thoughts here. This is one of the things that makes this blog amazing -that we actually have former and current players blogging on the site. Go blue, and I can't wait to see how the season ends!! Mr Smith, do you think Johnson should get the start this week? IMO Drake showed some burst that we haven't seen all year.

MrSmith

November 5th, 2014 at 9:44 AM ^

He did have a good game and people are talking about how Drake got off (like how he did good and played well).  It would be exciting to see how he play against Northwestern I hope he do get his chance to shine, he deserves it.   

FreddieMercuryHayes

November 5th, 2014 at 9:37 AM ^

Once again, I'm really glad to have you contribute to the board giving a different perspective.  Personally, I don't think most people are angry with the use of 'muggles'; this kind of thing always happen.  I'm pretty sure the mods/writers/owner of this blog do the same thing about 'stupid posters' when having a drink and laugh together.  But in this case, I think the mods/writers/owner of this blog do actually care very much about the readers and posters.

And that's the main problem here.  It's not the use of the word 'muggle' to most people; it's the way it was used in an already existing narrative that the fans' opinions on how they are treated by the athletic department doesn't matter.  A lot of fans just feel like the athletic department, under the guidance of Dave Brandon, is treating them like chumps.  And when players, who fans really want to support, start calling out fans for not 'knowing anything' about the AD, or implying that it doesn't matter what fans think about the AD, it just makes them feel like even bigger chumps.  The whole point of loving college athletics is that the fans have the shared experience with the athletes through their mutual university.  It is very disheartening for those you support to dismiss what you find important.

MrSmith

November 5th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^

I feel you bro I feel you.  I think what is happening now is that the players feel attacked and blamed.  Most of us dont read blogs and never did we just see the hate that people say on twitter.  We really love the fans and the support of the fans.  I think David Brandon made a mess.  And when we played we love after games saying hail to the victors in the student section and we were happy.  Which brought everyone even close and felt even together.

 

It is a bad situation and here is to new beginings.

TheLastHarbaugh

November 5th, 2014 at 10:56 AM ^

Twitter is a big part of the problem. I think it definitely messes with your perception of what's going on because generally people don't message someone with indifference. It's either strong positive emotions or strong negative emotions, and because it's only 140 characters it doesn't leave any room for nuanced discussion.

I'd also like to think that the vast majoirty of people hounding you guys with negative messages aren't your fellow Michigan students and alumni, but are Michigan "fans" who don't really have any ties to the program outside of liking to watch them on TV. Then there are the trolls and the Spartan/Buckeye fans who are going to do what they do.

MGoCarolinaBlue

November 5th, 2014 at 1:30 PM ^

I agree with everything you're saying--but I don't think people on this blog (not necessarily you in particular) understand the point that Mealer wanted to make, which is that players are inside the athletic department every single day and we are on the outside looking in. When we get on twitter and badmouth the coaches or AD (I have never done this, but I'm pretty convinced I'm the only one that hasn't) we are badmouthing people that are very important and influential in these players' lives. In addition, the players are more informed than we are about their coaches and the way they coach and the difficulties the program is facing--they have direct experience of that every day while we are on the outside looking in.

MonkeyMan

November 5th, 2014 at 9:40 AM ^

I do not really know what a "muggle" is in Harry Potter, but it really doesn't matter since the meaning of words change as they are used in new situations. 

Just as a fan of the English language- I can tell you that certain words contain a feeling to them due to their associations and the fact that they sound similar to other words. It is for this reason that a new car is called the "X-5000" or something like that instead of "the Plodder".

"Muggles" just sounds like an insult- whether it is intended or not- and that is how many will use it and how many will take it. It is what it is at this point- you can't change language associations.

I think players who respect their fans will steer clear of the term.

Fuzzy Dunlop

November 5th, 2014 at 9:47 AM ^

I do not really know what a "muggle" is in Harry Potter, but it really doesn't matter since the meaning of words change as they are used in new situations. . . ."Muggles" just sounds like an insult- whether it is intended or not-

 

This is ridiculous.  90% of the population knows what a "muggle" means in Harry Potter, and it is not remotely an insult.  You don't get to change the meaning of the term and assume it is an insult just because you are not familiar with the source material.