The Value Of “Casuals” 🙄

I hear it a lot in basketball conversations.

“Only ‘casuals’ hold this opinion / don’t understand this / think this way.”

It came up a lot after the 2024 Women’s College Basketball Tournament. Many people who’ve been longtime watchers of WCBB didn’t like that so many “casuals” were now opining on a game that we’d previously ignored.

Labeling someone a “casual” is a way of putting them down because they don’t follow or (allegedly) “know” the space as well as you.

[Ironic, as many of the people who use this language are mere spectators themselves, who’ve never done the thing they’re gatekeeping.]

Still, “casuals” are a good thing.

If you’re a fan of something, and you want more people to know about it, partake in it and support it, you should be HAPPY for the emergence of casuals lending their attention.

“Casuals” represent the masses. They’re the late adopters. The followers who show up once something is accepted into the mainstream and deemed safe and adoptable.

Yes: Casuals are annoying when you’re an early adopter yourself.

You knew about it before it was cool. You supported it when no one cared. Now, you’re getting pushed to the side as all these Johnny-Come-Latelies want to join the party.