ABSTRACT
Charland (1987) once noted that for an entity to constitute itself as a separate and unique culture, three rhetorical tenets should be present. Fantasy sport arguably encapsulates all three of Charland's postulates. First, an entity must establish its own language. While this traditionally involves full linguistic differences (e.g. English vs French in eastern Canada), groups such as fantasy sport participants certainly incorporate lingo and other forms of vocabulary that are seemingly foreign to non-players. (Even an avid sports fan may be baffled when told a fantasy football league is a “PPR league,” which in fantasy lingo means “points per reception.”) Second, according to Charland, the entity must explicitly declare itself a formal culture. The formation of groups such as the Fantasy Sport Trade Association (to be discussed in detail in Chapter 4), coupled with many online and traditional media outlets specifically dedicated to not just playing but discussing fantasy sport, fulfills this tenet. Finally, for an entity to be constituted as a culture, there must be both an in-group and an out-group (see social identity theory; Tajfel and Turner, 1986). In essence, to define itself as something, an entity also must define what it is not. Subcultures often are defined not just by their avid members, but also by the fact that not everyone “gets” them. Pro-gun cultures are an exemplar of such a divide: they believe the right to bear arms is a critical part of modern existence, while others, members of an out-group, fail to comprehend the seeming obsession with firearms. The same is true for aficionados of everything from vampire literature to model trains. It also is true for fantasy sport, as the motivation for play is self-evident for some and inexplicable for others who do not understand the broad-range appeal. This chapter is intended for both the in-groups and out-groups of fantasy sport. We will delve deeply into general conceptions of why people play, offering explanations for non-fantasy players. We also will explore specific emotional responses and desires generated by fantasy sport, for those who feel the compulsion to play more frequently in more immersed manners without fully understanding why.
