I understand the "it's like watching an ex shagging a richer bloke" metaphor'

[Monty91]

but whilst this may understandably consume us with jealousy, it seems disproportionate to actively wish profound misfortune on her.

So why do we do it with footballers? Why not just hope he doesn't succeed, rather than wishing career ending injuries on him and the like? He'd be devastated if his career ended now. There's no suggestion that he's such a bad person to deserve that, surely?

[Selkey - Wenger's hairpiece is a masterstroke]

[Monty91]

a disproportionate response.

[Ardbeg1977]

I just want us to up our game and beat the Mancs fair and square. That's the best way to show him that he was wrong.

['Neg]

[BK]

(She may come back to her loyal husband when she's done swallowing loads and feels like settling down again http://www.awimb.com/images/smiley_icons/cry.gif)

[Monty91]

whereas the impression is that many people would be genuinely pleased if Van Persie suffered a career ending injury.

And secondly, your point does raise the question of why it's considered ok to wish (and genuinely hope for) a career ending injury on someone who decided to move to another football club, yet is absolutely beyond the pale for someone to wish cancer (whilst not actually meaning it) on another human being for saying something stupid on a message board.

[Mc Gooner]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2VhB7vaZI0

[sodd]

['Neg]

[Monty91]

A person who pretends to wish death on someone is despicable and a person who genuinely wishes a profound life-altering misfortune on someone because they changed employer is absolutely fine?

['Neg]

privileged life of a top footballer. A bit in the same vein as "they should run until they drop dead in every game because they get paid a lot for it". so wishing cancer on a less fortunate common schmuck who is seeking some pleasure from posting on a message board might perceived as more harsh and unfair?

[ArseMart - Enjoy every sandwich]

[All Guns Blazing]

Most of them, if not all, are just venting aimlessly.

[Monty91]

the human inclination to not really give a f**k about anyone beyond our private sphere of family and friends.

[sodd]

Of course it's down to how joshingly the comments are intended, or not.
For instance, at a game once, someone shouted out to Graham Roberts, " I hope your wife dies of cancer, Roberts".
Wishing serious ill or banter?
I know you're not really an evil git and that you say stuff for effect, but to someone coming on here 'cold', as it were, it might go down like a cup of cold sick.
It's the Frankie Boyle factor.

[Monty91]

on here if he did break his leg.

[sodd]

[Monty91]

air our deepest, most unpleasant thoughts without the concern for the social etiquettes that we have to negotiate in all other walks of life?

[All Guns Blazing]

An injured Van Persie is football's loss.

The man is just too damn good.

[ArseMart - Enjoy every sandwich]

[Mc Gooner]

[Ashberto]

have a similar fitness record for the duration of his career for them as he did for us.

The little boy inside me still admires him. The bitter, twisted adult really wishes he would stop scoring all these goals for them.