Casual talk and communication disorder
Some three weeks ago or so, right after Italy snatched the FIFA World Cup; I had the following whatchamacallit with a person who works at the company that has me employed. Now you need to imagine the setting of this to be able to understand it; I was alone in the office and working when this person who roots for Brazil stood by the door and said:
X: So… Italy won.
T: Yeah!
X: They didn’t deserve it. Brazil is better. Those Italians don’t know how to play. The Brazilians are world champions.
T: Ok. Then how come they got ousted in the quarterfinals?
X: You know what, we won in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002. All those times, we won.
T: I am not asking you about previous times. I am asking about this 2006 event, why did Brazil get eliminated in the quarterfinals?
X: But we won in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002. Brazil is the best team to ever play; we have the world’s top scorers and legends. Pele, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Robinho…
T: I understand. I am asking you a simple question, why aren’t you answering me?
X: You know what; it’s ok if you root for Italy. All girls support Italy because they think the players are cute.
T: This does not even qualify as a discussion.
X: The other day a girl told me she can’t root for Brazil when Ronaldinho looks like a monkey. You’re all alike, rooting for those stupid players.
T: I do not consider this a real discussion because you’re doing all the talking. You are dodging a very simple question and saying all sorts of things that have nothing to do with what I am asking. Why can’t you give me a direct answer? And don’t you think you have girls figured out and do not assume that since I am a girl I root for Italy because the players are cute. You’re calling players “stupid”? Are you listening to yourself?
X: Who does Italy have in the line-up? Huh? Totti? What did he do? Nothing!
Brazil’s game was only 90 minutes long, I will not judge the team based on that. They are world champions.
T: Italy played much more than 90 minutes in most of their games, and they still won.
X: Fine. You know what, my friend and I are going out for lunch and he’s waiting for me. One final question, who’s the best team?
T: Italy.
X: Brazil.
T: I respect your opinion, we don’t have to agree. But you should respect mine as well.
X: Then don’t wear that Italia T-shirt to work ever again.
T: I’m sorry? I will wear whatever I want.
X: Then I will wear a Brazil T-shirt.
T: …!?!
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July 30th, 2006 at 7:42 am
That is a positively absurd conversation! How did you manage to even sustain 2 minutes of "dialogue"? Beautiful blog, mashallah! I lurk, and felt compelled to be the first to comment :lol:
July 30th, 2006 at 7:45 am
don’t you just feel sick by stupid people who think that we root for teams using "looks" as a criterion!!
July 30th, 2006 at 7:53 am
<p>Thank you so much for the comment, Digital Nomad! Welcome to Tololy’s Box, hope you enjoy your stay. </p>
<p>I was stunned as the whatchamacallit went on and I could not believe that this person was not <em>listening</em> to what I was asking. A simple "I don’t know" would have been suffcient. </p>
July 30th, 2006 at 4:58 pm
Since I wasnt on any side, I guess I have some neutral POV… I think that X had a good argument (although he didnt argue positively with it)…. I think you cant judge a team by one world cup performance, because performance can fluctuate by external factors irrelevant to football matches, and Brazil’s history shows some glory…. BUT at the same time, you cant judge a team by its past performances, you cant say that because Brazil did good in previous world cups, then it has to in future ones or is better simply because of past performances…<br /><br />In short, who wins the world cup is inconclusive to which team is really better (in the lose sense)!! Those arguments work both ways, on Brazil and Italy!!<br />
July 30th, 2006 at 11:36 pm
Funny howpeople still argue about that! It’s not like the end of the world… let anyone win, who cares now? It’s over anyway
July 30th, 2006 at 11:54 pm
I cannot beleive no body can see it.<br /><br />This guy likes you and he was just teasing you. He wants to see get all worked up and start arguing as a way of bringing down the formalities. (I know because I sometimes do that, and it works).<br /><br />Aside from that, I think X has a point in that Italy only won by chance, and that Brazil lost because Berrera made the mistake of assigning and old man like Carlos to guard a bullet like Henry.<br /><br />He also has a point in that girls place a huge weight on the looks of the members of a certain team and less on the actual game performance.<br />
July 31st, 2006 at 4:37 am
<p>This is beyond the point, Sari. I can’t stand this person and it is mutual, but that aside, the point I was trying to make is how this person did not listen to what I was asking. For example:</p>
<p>Q: Why did Brazil lose?</p>
<p>A: We won in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002.</p>
<p>Q: Again, why did Brazil lose?</p>
<p>A: We have the best line-up.</p>
<p>Q: Yet again, why did Brazil lose?</p>
<p>A: you girls support Italy because the players are total hunks.</p>
<p>etc.</p>
August 2nd, 2006 at 10:26 am
I think he was doing it on purpose because he knows you wouldn’t like it and would allow him to get a rise out of you.<br /><br />It must be on purpose, I mean come on, who is that stupid?<br />
August 2nd, 2006 at 10:46 am
I am afraid to answer your last question :)